He grabs their wrist with surprising speed, reflexes quicker than he usually lets on, but he’s long since learned sometimes it’s better to look weak to appease a threat than to present a real challenge. His words are snarled, mood sour and vicious. “Don’t touch me.” Maybe they haven’t earned that response, but he’s having one those days where even the smallest things are pushing him over the edge.
Colette winced at the grip but made no move to pull away. Of course, it took a lot more effort not to react with magic, but she managed if barely. The last thing she wanted was for him to know she was a witch. “Jesus, what’s up your ass today?” she groused, trying to play it off as more annoyed than actually concerned. “I think I prefer you trying to drink yourself to death over whatever the fuck this is.”
“Well she sure as fuck isn’t happy.” Casey knew that much at least, even when she struggled to understand what was going on in her older sister’s head. She shrugged. “We’re mortal. They can’t just keep avoiding coming for us forever. Thana won’t like it if they try. I mean, maybe the others will find some workarounds but I genuinely don’t care enough to try.”
“No one said she was. Sad just isn’t a strong enough word for the walking disaster that is your sister.” Not that he thought Casey was any less of a walking disaster, she was just…less messy. “I don’t think he wants to deal with your mother either. Your grandmother is terribly amused over the entire situation. Besides, Thanatos is practically the weird wine aunt type that humans love to joke about becoming.”
“Does there need to be a why?” he asked. He wasn’t sure he could put it into words, but he could try. “You’re… I really do think you’re amazing, Ko. More than you might ever believe. You’re smart and brave and you do have a sense of humor hidden in there, even if it’s dark. And you do care. You care about your daughter. Maybe it’s not obvious to everyone, but it is to her and to me and she’s the only one it need be apparent to.”
She could feel the sting of tears and, in that moment, she hated him. Hated him for making her feel anything, for making her want to cry because crying was weakness and she was not weak. But most of all, she hated him for trying to make her think she was worth anything because anytime someone did that, they left and it made it that much harder for her to keep a grip on anything close to stability.
