Time smirked faintly, dry amusement coloring his voice. A ringing endorsement. Still, I appreciate your reluctance to let me suffer.

  I shrugged. We didn’t get off to the best start—you’ve got to admit that. But we’re getting better.

  He inclined his head, acknowledging the point. His gaze grew distant, as if lost in thought, before returning to me, sharp and searching. I waited, sensing a question forming behind those ancient eyes. After a moment, he hummed a quiet note of contemplation in my mind.

  I wish to speak of the memory, now that I have answered your questions about my earlier slip.

  My mood sank immediately. I should have known he wouldn’t let that go. On one hand, it was years ago and after talking with Time a bit, I doubted he’d use it against me. On the other, I hadn’t thought Gerald would put a knife in my back either…

  Time’s expression softened, his tone almost reassuring. You are correct—I would not weaponize personal pain against you. Aside from our… strained start, you have proven decent enough.

  Borrowing his words, I teased, stalling. A ringing endorsement, coming from you.

  He didn’t rise to the bait, merely watching me with a steady, curious patience. It was a refreshing change from his usual commanding demeanor. I hesitated, debating whether to share. The scars would come out eventually, especially if we bathed on the road. Better to rip off the bandage now.

  Suppressing old instincts to hide the truth, I exhaled deeply and thought back to the arguably worst time of my life. How much do you know about orphans on Earth?

  Time tilted his head, then shook it. Not much, I admit.

  So I’d be explaining from scratch then. Yippee.

  We’re placed in foster homes until someone adopts us. The homes are supposed to be temporary, and foster parents get paid to take us in.

  Unease raked over my skin and I pushed it down ruthlessly. I’d decided to share, and I wasn’t about to back out now. Besides, the therapist they’d forced me to talk to insisted I tell someone so, why not now?

  Sure it was ten years late, but whatever. It still counted.

  I ended up with a couple—the Bugels. They passed all the tests and were approved as foster parents. The wife was nice enough, but her husband… wasn’t.

  My chest ached as I absently rubbed at the old scars. He only agreed to foster if it was a girl or a young boy. I grimaced. I really don’t want to think about why.

  With the knowledge I had now, I could guess, but even the thought was enough to make me queasy so I set it aside. It didn’t matter anyway. Mr. Bugel wouldn’t hurt anyone from his cell.

  Anyway, Mrs. Bugel ignored him and brought me in. He wasn’t happy about that. He never hurt me in front of her, but anytime she gave me attention, he’d get territorial. Dangerously, violently territorial.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  I shrugged, avoiding Time’s eyes. I’m sure you can guess the rest.

  Silence stretched between us, heavy and taut. Finally, I glanced his way, unable to endure the weight of his stare any longer. Anger darkened his expression, and when he spoke, his words were sharp with outrage. He locked you in a basement?

  The memories flared, fresh and vivid, but I forced a nod. Yeah. It was freezing, so I’d get sick a lot. Mrs. Bugel would fuss over me, and the cycle would start again. He was careful enough that she didn’t notice.

  A bitter smile tugged at my lips. But he made one mistake. There was an old window in that basement, partially broken and hidden behind boxes. The day he carved up my chest, I knew he’d kill me if I stayed. So, I escaped.

  The glass hadn’t done me any favors, adding dozens of tiny scars around the big one, but they were a small price for freedom.

  You told the authorities, I presume? Time asked.

  Yeah. I scoffed, the memory sour. Mrs. Bugel didn’t want to believe it. She called me a liar, even in court, when they showed her pictures of the cellar and my scars.

  She’d been the only good thing in my life back then. Hearing her denounce me had burned like nothing else.

  Time’s frown deepened. Her delusion in defending him was unfathomable. Karma would never tolerate such actions. If I laid a hand on a child, she would take me to task immediately, as she should.

  I smiled, picturing the fiery woman doing just that to Mr. Bugel. Yeah, she's a badass like that.

  Indeed. A flicker of fondness softened Time’s expression, likely conjuring memories of his wife. The weight between us lightened, and I was about to let the conversation rest when a small, sleepy voice broke the quiet.

  “Are you two going to kiss?”

  Heat shot to my face as I spun around. Maya, still snuggled into Henry’s arm, rubbed her eyes drowsily.

  “What? No! Why would you think that?” I stammered, my voice a strangled whisper.

  Kids were random, I’d seen it firsthand over the years, but where could she possibly have come up with that?!

  She pointed to our hands, mine still resting on his arm. “Aman and Adan do that a lot.”

  Flustered, I yanked my hand back and resisted the urge to bury my face in it. “We’re not like that!” I hissed, sparing Time an apologetic glance. “No offense. I’m not into guys, and even if I was, you wouldn’t be my type. Hell, your wife is–”

  I froze, horrified by what I’d almost said to Time himself.

  Brilliant, Nikolas. Tell the man you would sleep with his wife. That was perfect. A plus, good job.

  I looked away, hoping he wasn’t the territorial sort. Mr. Bugel had done considerable damage for ‘eyeing his wife’. Time could doubtlessly do worse if he put his mind to it.

  Time, to my surprise, didn’t bat an eyelash. Instead, he spoke with calm certainty. “Of course, you would prefer my wife. She is the apex of all that is good in Nexus. That is hardly news.”

  Oh thank fuck. He took that with remarkable grace. Fighting through the wave of relief strong enough to knock me on my ass, I watched as Time turned to Maya and continued.

  “I am happily married to a wonderful woman, as you have likely guessed by now. And holding hands with someone is not an activity exclusive to lovers.”

  Maya nodded, satisfied. “Okay. Good night.” She curled back into Henry without waiting for a response.

  I exhaled, chuckling softly. “Kids say the damnedest things.”

  Time shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “That they do. But now, we should rest. We’ve a long journey ahead.”

  I nodded, stowing the books before settling against a nearby tree. Time did the same. The gentle chirping of insects and the cool night air lulled me into one of the most peaceful rests I’d had in years.