Page 34 of House of Kallan
“It’s fine. He’s promised not to leave the facility with Bael.” Tyrus nodded. “Thank you for calling me.”
“There’s someone to see you. I’m going to send him up.”
“All right.”
I hung up and looked at Tyrus. “I have someone coming up. We’ll have to continue this conversation later.”
He sighed. “We got off topic. I really want?—”
“Tyrus. What are you doing?”
We both turned to the new voice in my door. I didn’t recognize the man, but Tyrus did. His face lit up as he got to his feet. He was a good-looking man with dark hair and naturally bronzed skin. Tall and imposing.
“Why are you here?” Tyrus said, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the room. “This is Miss Tatum. That’s Shadow in the window. This is Bael. Did you know Tatum is the Malak’s new wife?”
The man looked at Tyrus with patience as he brushed his fingers over Tyrus’s jaw. I knew without the introduction that I was looking at Iker. It was also very evident that he loved Tyrus, quirks and antics included.
Iker looked at me with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. Ididn’t know he bothered you all day.” He offered me his hand. “Iker Darkyn.”
I shook his hand and my head. “Tyrus doesn’t bother me. He’s only been with me for the last half an hour. I have come to enjoy our chats.”
It was clear by the way Iker smiled at me that he was instantly a fan. It didn’t take me long to understand that Tyrus was a very specific brand of tea, and not for everyone. When someone looked beyond all the qualities that initially might put you off Tyrus to the person he was, Iker was a huge fan.
“This is Bael,” Tyrus said again, shifting the baby so that Iker didn’t have a choice but to look at him. “I don’t know what he is yet. I think he might be a bit of both of us—nightbreed and demon. He’s got some of both qualities, but he hasn’t really shown his features yet.” He touched his fingers, running the pad of his thumb over Bael’s fingers. “His claws have retracted. So he just looks like a little person right now.”
Iker sighed and pulled Tyrus to him. “I think I understand your fascination.”
“What do you mean?” Tyrus asked, pulling his attention from Bael to Iker.
“He’s a mixture of both our classifications. He’s a bit you and me.”
Tyrus studied Iker for a minute before smiling. “Yes!” He turned that excitement on me. I smiled because how could I not?
Iker looked at me. “I realize this might be a bit impromptu, but do you mind having a conversation about Bael with us?”
“We’ve already been talking about Bael,” Tyrus said as he moved back into my office. “You’re just late to the discussion.”
Iker rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, come in,” I said, smiling. “I’ll need to call Taylour in, the director of the placement program, yet to be officially named. But we can begin the conversation now, and I’ll send her a message to join us when she can.”
Tyrus was positively beaming. While I moved to my computer, he looked at Iker. “Where’s everyone else? Why aren’t they here?”
Iker clasped the back of Tyrus’s neck. “Slow down, demon. We’re having a conversation. We’re not taking Bael home today.”
Tyrus immediately sobered. “Oh.”
“Don’t do that,” Iker said, pulling him close and kissing his nose. “I said not today. Not ‘not at all.’ Right?”
A smile touched Tyrus’s lips, and he nodded. “He’s in the orphan room,” he said. “I hate that he’s in there.”
“He probably gets more attention in there than he did with Sadie,” I offered.
Tyrus tilted his head. “That’s a good point.”
My phone buzzed, but it wasn’t the only one. The sound was echoed by two others. That meant it was a system-wide notification. Those were never good. My heart sank as I picked up my cell phone and flipped the screen open.
HOUSE OF RA ATTACKED BY A DIVISION OF SILENCE CONTINGENT. SILENCE DECIMATED.
