Basil (The Brinnswick Chronicles #3) - Michele Notaro Page 0,59

“I read that somewhere, but I didn’t really believe it.”

“Well, it’s true.”

He stared at me for a few seconds before huffing and turning away.

When he didn’t say anything for another minute, I gently asked, “That’s it?”

“I don’t know what ya want me to say. I have enough shit to worry about here.”

“Okay, bu—”

He turned on me. “Will you be able to control my mind?”

“No. And even if I could, I would never do that to you or anyone.”

“To Rasha?”

I jerked back as if he’d slapped me. “Of course, I’d never do that to her! I would protect her with my life if I had to. I don’t mess with people’s heads. I would never fucking do that. I know what it feels like to have that happen to you, and… I would never wish that on another person.”

He searched my eyes for a few seconds, then nodded with a quiet, “Okay.” He fell silent again, staring at his little girl, but after a few minutes, he said, “When she’s better and I have a minute to actually think, you’re gonna tell me what you meant about knowin’ how it feels. I can’t… I can’t concentrate right now.”

Hesitantly, I placed my hand on his back. “I’ll tell you anything you want.”

To my surprise, he leaned back into my touch a tad. Not much, but enough for me to notice that he appreciated the gesture. “Be ready for an interrogation.”

I sent him a half-smile. “I think I can handle that.”

He bumped my chest with his shoulder. “We’ll see about that.”

Sighing a few minutes later, I asked, “Do you need anything? I can get you some food or coffee or anything you need.”

He leaned a little more heavily into me, murmuring, “No. Stay here.” The silent gesture made me smile. He wanted me to stay with him. Even though I knew he’d grumble, I leaned over and kissed the side of his head because I couldn’t help myself. Hiro grabbed my shirt and yanked me closer so I was on the edge of my seat, then he rested his head on my shoulder and whispered, “I’m so tired.” The defeat in his voice broke my heart.

He didn’t mean that he was physically exhausted, although he was that, too. He meant that he was worn out emotionally and mentally from all the years of dealing with hospitals and scares with his daughter alone. He’d been all alone since the day Rasha was born, but he wasn’t alone anymore. Never again.

But I didn’t say any of that out loud since I didn’t want him to push me away again. I wrapped an arm around him and hauled him into me as best I could. It was awkward in the chairs we were in, but I didn’t really mind because he was hurting and it felt right to have him in my arms. The fact that he was letting me hold him like this showed me just how hurt he was.

I stared at his little girl and felt tears fill my eyes. It was no wonder why he had a vendetta against witches. I can’t even imagine how horrible that had been, watching someone you love die in such a horrific way while you were trying to save your newborn baby. Mother of All, my poor viramore. My poor viramore’s little girl.

Rasha was so, so tiny, I could hardly believe she was eight years old. Everything about her was tiny, and being hooked up to all those machines only made her seem frailer than before. That poor baby. I was going to figure out how to heal her.

“Basil?”

I turned to the door where my brother-slash-dad was standing, and I sent him a small smile. “Hey, A.”

Ailin’s eyes swept the room. “Can I come in? Seb’s with me, but he can wait in the hall if you need him to.”

Hiro sat up straight, stared at me for a beat, then nodded to himself and said, “You both can come in.”

Ailin sent him a small smile and stepped inside. Seb was only a few steps behind him, and Hiro gasped out, “What are you?”

Seb froze and blinked at him. “What?”

“You’re not a witch, but you’re some kind of magic user I’ve never come across before… what are you?”

Seb scowled, Ailin’s brows rose, and I turned to my viramore, saying, “He’s an enchanter.”

“The last enchanter,” Hiro whispered.

I nodded. “Yeah. Seb is Ailin’s viramore, so he’s like… a step-dad or something, I guess. Anyway, Seb, this is my viramore Hiro