decision, but I refuse to tolerate being manipulated into something.” He held my gaze. “This is a dealbreaker for me.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Fine. I accept that. But when I approach you with something important, I expect you to discuss the matter with me and not just tune me out. That’s one of my dealbreakers.” I straightened my shoulders.
“Then we have a deal,” he said, his somber look fading into a smile. “Come here and we’ll kiss on it.”
“Much better than a handshake,” I said, melting into his arms. But his warning had hit home, and I wondered just how far his definition of manipulation extended.
“Well, apparently my father has need of me,” Curikan said, entering the kitchen. He let out a sigh. “I have no idea what’s going on, but he’s ordered me to return to Scotland next week. I gather there’s some family matter that he’s got a bee in his bonnet about.”
“Oh, really?” I asked, wanting nothing more than to change the subject.
Kipa flashed me a grumpy look and I realized that I had made him party to manipulating my father. If he went along with me, he was helping me deceive my father. If he didn’t, he was throwing me to the wolves. Or the Black Dogs, rather.
“Yes, and frankly, I’m in no mood to put up with the old man right now.” He sighed, shaking his head. “But no one in the family says no to Dougal. You think your mother is a force, wait till you’ve met your grandfather.”
I’d never met Dougal, though I’d talked with him a number of times on the phone. “He wants me to come visit sometime, so I expect that I’ll get to see for myself.”
Curikan let out a laugh, then shook his head. “Oh, Raven, your grandfather eats people alive, and I do mean that. He’s proud of his heritage, and unlike me, his effect on humans, and others, never bothers him. He was always telling me I’m too soft-hearted. He even labeled me an Exosan, and I suppose he’s right. Maybe one day he’ll accept me for who I am. He has mellowed some in his old age.”
I stared at my father for a moment, wondering whether I should confess. But Curikan wasn’t a pushover, and while he respected his father, he wouldn’t let himself be mowed down. “I just thought of something. How can you visit him if you can’t fly?”
“He owns a private jet. He’s sending it for me so I don’t have any excuse not to go. I suppose there’s an upside to it. I’ll get to see my brothers for the first time in years.” Curikan smiled. “I wouldn’t mind that, to be honest. When I was young, the four of us were terrors. Our father encouraged us to…well…run wild. And we did.”
I reached out, taking his hands. “You don’t have to go, if you don’t want to. I know your father can be a lot to handle. I know you moved half a world away to get away from him.”
Curikan held my fingers in his, staring down at them. “My little flame. No, I owe him the respect of visiting him. And truth be told, I wouldn’t feel right moving to Annwn without seeing him first. Though I don’t think he’ll take the news well. But such is life, and we’ll see what happens. I’ll leave for Scotland on Friday. He’ll have the jet waiting for me at SeaTac, so we have several days together still.”
With that, he kissed me on the forehead. “I think I’ll go watch TV with Raj for a while.”
As he ducked out of the room, I heard Raj turning on one of the most annoying programs on the air—The ToonieFuns, a bunch of manic animated critters who sounded like they were perpetually inflated with helium.
I turned back to find Kipa handing me a plate of blueberry pancakes. “You think I fucked up, don’t you?”
Kipa flipped another pancake onto the plate. “Maybe not. Maybe he does need to see his father for a while. But…let it go now. Don’t try to meddle any more or you may really mess things up. Seriously, let it alone.”
“All right, point taken.” I opened the fridge to grab the maple syrup and we carried our plates into the dining room. Curikan passed on breakfast, so we ate in silence as I turned my thoughts to the evening and what was waiting for us.
By late afternoon, I