Page 48 of Dragon Thief of New York
He shrugs off my touch. “It’s fine, man. Really. We can’t change the past. And Mom and I have done pretty well on our own.”
“You have. And you’re right. We can’t change the past.” I step back, giving him space. “But we can change the future. And for that, we’re gonna need your help.”
“Come here, baby.” Kat pats the open space I vacated on the couch.
Lincoln sits next to his mom, a curious look on his face. Otto gives me a reassuring smile. That didn’t go as horribly as it could have, but it’s clear it’s gonna take some time to build a relationship with Lincoln.
Kat takes both Lincoln’s hands in hers. “The High Priestess said there’s a way to get my memories back and stop forgetting Damian.”
“How?” Lincoln asks, gaze swinging from his mom to me.
“We have to complete some kind of challenge that only you can give us,” Otto says, leaning around Kat so he can see Lincoln.
I stay at the counter, observing my son’s reaction from afar. I still can’t believe I have a son. Ahalf-grownson. He looks a lot like my dad now that I’m looking closer. He has the sharp chin I inherited from my dad, though mine is now covered with a short beard. His hair doesn’t curl as much as mine, but it’s just as thick and dark. He wears it longer, so it flops in his eyes, and he’s constantly brushing it back off his forehead.
“So… I’m just supposed to give you some arbitrary challenge, and then everything will be fine? How’s that work?”
“Not arbitrary,” I say, my tongue feeling heavy in my mouth. “The High Priestess said you’d know what it’s supposed to be.”
“How?” He shakes his head, leg bouncing up and down. He’s always moving. I think the longest I’ve seen him sit still was during dinner the other night. There’s something endearingabout it, but it also makes me want to wrap him in a hug and hold him steady. Kat doesn’t try to stop him, so neither do I.
He drops his head into his hands. “I’m sorry, but I have no idea what she’s talking about. Shit. Mom’s never gonna remember.”
My insides drop and roll. The stakes are much higher than that. If he doesn’t know what the challenge is, then we won’t be able to attempt it. And my son—a kid I’ve barely gotten to know—will die before he reaches twenty-three.
We all agreed we wouldn’t tell him that part, but it sits heavy on my shoulders. “Fuck,” I mutter, digging a hand into my hair and pulling hard.
“It’s okay.” Kat’s voice chokes with tears. Our eyes meet across the room. Despite all that’s between us and the years apart, I understand the question she’s silently asking me.Should we tell him?
I shake my head adamantly. No kid needs to live with that hanging over his head. This is ours to carry. Not his.
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Otto reaches around Kat and pats Lincoln’s knee, sounding more cheerful than the expression he wears. “You’ll figure it out. We’ve got some time. Just think about it, okay? Maybe it’ll come to you later.”
“In the meantime, your mom and I will just need to stay together,” I add as casually as I can. He doesn’t need to knowthat she might start forgetting even when we’re together. Not yet, anyway.
“Oookaaay,” Lincoln says, dragging out the word. “Um, yeah. I guess I’ll just let you know if I think of something.” His voice is so unsure. I want to wrap him in a hug, but I stay where I am. His knee starts bouncing again. “I should go do my homework.”
“Do you want any help?” I ask.
“Nah, it’s not math.” He stands up. “Just some reading for history.” When he’s nearly at the hall, he stops and turns around. “Can I stay at Matt’s again tonight?”
“His mom’s not sick of you?” Kat tries for a teasing smile, but it’s half-hearted.
He gives her a deadpan look. “She adores me, and you know it.”
Kat laughs. “Everyone adores you.”
My chest tightens with regret. I’m glad to hear that there are people around him who love him, but it hurts that I haven’t been one of them.
“I’d rather have you home,” Kat says, her eyes misty again.
Lincoln gives her a wry look. “And I’d rather not hear my mom having sex with two men.”
“We’re not going to—”
He raises his eyebrows. “It happened twice the last time I was here.”
“You heard.” Kat covers her face with her hands.
