Page 9 of Bitter Heat
Janus sputtered a bit, before wiping his mouth with his napkin to regain his composure. “I’ve had my share of love affairs, but I’m puttingthatbehind me, as well.”
“Turning over yet another new leaf?” Pater asked, laughing. “New leaf for money. A new leaf for love. Oh, wolf-god’s blessings on your heart, lad. Don’t get me wrong. I hope it works out for you.”
“And when it comes to seductions of contracted omegas,” Kerry went on pointedly, shooting a quelling look at his pater, “I do hope you’re being honest about that staying in the past. The alphas around here don’t truck with city alphas messing with their omegas. They’ve got guns out this way, and they’re not afraid to use them.”
Pater groaned softly and shook his head at Kerry but otherwise kept his thoughts to himself. For now.
Janus cleared his throat and settled his earnest, gleaming eyes on Kerry. “The only objective I have for any omegas here in Hud’s Basin is to assist Dr. Crescent in whatever way he deems correct to increase their chances of a positive outcome during labor and birth. And, of course, to assist them through any other illness. Nothing more or less.”
Janus sounded like such a prig talking like that. As if he had any idea what a mountain labor and birth was like in most cases! As if he had any clue about Hud’s Basin at all! Kerry almost couldn’t wait until he’d been on his first set of rounds with Crescent. This confident, bordering on arrogant, alpha would have his eyes opened then.
“Just remember things are different here,” Pater said with a darkness in his tone that Kerry recognized from the days when he’d discouraged Kerry from signing the Monhundys’ contract.
“It sounds like you’re trying to scare me away from Hud’s Basin,” Janus answered a bit haughtily. “But I won’t be frightened off. I’m determined to see this through. I will learn all I can from Dr. Crescent, and if all goes to plan, eventually bring my own services to the people of the area.”
“All right, little priesty,” Pater said with a grin. “May wolf-god be with you and sanctify your aims.”
“Priesty?” Janus asked.
“You remind me of the city priests who come through here eager to spread the enlightened word of wolf,” Pater said. “So sure they can bring the ‘city standard’ to the country poor. Never mind that maybe the country poor don’t have a wolf-god’s damned bit of interest in something new. Not when it comes to their faith. Not when it comes to their way of life.” He patted Janus’s hand like he was an adorable child with dirty cheeks and a dream. “You go right on, priesty. I’ll be here with dinner ready whenever it is you come home at night.”
Janus stared at Kerry’s pater a moment and then pulled his hand away, took up his bread and butter in one hand and his fork in the other, and returned to eating. He looked tired like the road had worn on him, and while hewashandsome—even devastatingly so—he was too thin for his frame. Kerry wondered whether that was natural or due sickness.
“What are your plans for tonight then?” Pater asked, motioning toward the darkening windows. The sun had set, leaving the lingering twilight along with the chirrup of cicadas and frogs. “We often read in the living room until bed. You’re welcome to join us.”
“I thought I’d walk a bit.”
“In the darkness?” Pater asked, his brow wrinkling in concern.
“Is it not safe?”
“If the moon is bright, it’s plenty safe, but if it’s not…” he trailed off. “You’re a grown man. Choose as you see fit.” He glanced to Kerry with mischief in his eyes. “Unless you’d like to go with him, son? You’d know your way around this property in the light or dark better than anyone.”
“Or we could give him a flashlight and be done with it,” Kerry said lightly. His throat ached as he considered walking the property after dark. The last time he’d done that, he’d been considering suicide, and now that he was at least temporarily past that impulse, he didn’t want reminders of it.
“Do we have the batteries to spare?” Pater said.
“Wolf-god above, Pater, if not, we have the gas lanterns, don’t we?” Kerry managed a few bites of his bread and butter and a sip of his tea. “I’m going upstairs. Call for me if you need help with the flashlights or lanterns.” He turned to Janus. “But I’m sure Mr. Heelies will be able to figure them out.”
“Call me Janus, please,” Janus said, softly. “If you don’t mind? Mr. Heelies is so formal. It reminds me of…things I’d rather forget.”
Kerry noted that there was a story there. Something Janus was ashamed of, perhaps. But he didn’t have it in him to care about that now. Kerry found that lately, curiosity was rare for him along with hope.
“All right. Janus, you can call me Kerry.” He glanced at Pater. “Shall my pater call you Janus as well?” It was a challenge and issued as such, but Janus acted like it wasn’t.
“Of course! I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t.”
Janus rose from the table and put out his hand. “I hope you have a good rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Kerry took Janus’s fingers, unsurprised to find them without callouses aside from those acquired by holding a pen. At least it seemed he was a dedicated student. Perhaps he wouldn’t be as lazy and entitled as the rest of the boys Wilbet had brought around to the house in the city.
“When you leave on your walk, stay on the path to the right,” Kerry advised. “It takes you to the lake. The stars on the water are magical. Or so I used to say when I was a boy.” He pulled his hand away, feeling a tingle where Janus’s fingers had touched.
“Until morning, then?” Janus said again with a tone of pleading that Kerry didn’t want to consider too closely. He wasn’t an omega to be conquered by a handsome visiting alpha. He was barely standing on his own feet after having fought his way up to them. Janus and his imploring smile were complications he didn’t need.
“Perhaps.” Kerry wasn’t going to act as though he cared for Janus’s company. “Oh, and avoid the path toward the left. It leads to the caves. Wild cats sleep there. Late spring is their birthing season, and early summer is when their cubs grow adventurous. They’ve been known to tear out a man’s throat if they believe their cubs are threatened.”
