Page 28 of Gilded Shackles
"You're supposed to be in bed," I say.
"I tried," he says. "My eyes refused."
"Your eyes will listen to me."
"They only listen when they're ready," he says. Dead serious.
To my surprise, Elle laughs. Loud and unguarded, and Pasha immediately straightens his spine like he just got knighted.
She shouldn't sound like that in this house. It's too alive. Too bright.
And when Pasha turns back to her, excitement flashing all over his face, she looks right at him. Not past him. Not through him. At him. For one dangerous beat, it feels domestic. Like a picture I have no business imagining. I've never given him a mother. Not even a contender. It never felt like a risk worth taking.
The thought sparks. I crush it before the universe hears.
Pasha's attention snaps to the carrier. "Is that a cat?"
"This is Sir Isaac Mewton," Elle says, her voice going soft around the name.
Pasha brightens. "The gravity apple guy?"
"Exactly. Only with worse manners."
He glances at me like he needs clearance.
"You can ask her," I say.
He turns to Elle. "Can I pet your cat?"
"Only if you tell me your name." She smiles and crouches down, setting the carrier on the floor.
"I'm Pasha!" He inches closer. Elle nods and opens the carrier door just a crack.
He extends a hand. The cat sniffs once, then head-butts his palm like they're old allies. Pasha breaks into a grin so wide my chest cracks open.
"He doesn't do that for me," Elle says, offended.
"He recognizes a tyrant he respects," I reply, ruffling the top of Pasha's head.
Pasha swats my hand away but doesn't look up from the cat. Already whispering something about them being friends.
Elle watches him for a long moment. Then she looks at me, quickly, then back at him. I can see the equation hitting her.
"My son is eight."
"Oh." She reins in a stronger reaction, but I can tell she never in a million years expected me to be a father.
Oh well, Elle. We've all got secrets.
Pasha pulls the cat out of the carrier before I can stop him. "Can I keep him in my room tonight?"
Elle's face lights up immediately. Seriously, is everything sunshine and butterflies with this woman?
"Sure you can!" she smiles. "But he might get thirsty and hungry, so I'll have the staff send up his bowls and litter box."
"Really?" Pasha asks, like Christmas came early.
"Truly!" Elle squeals, and Pasha laughs in that high-pitched way that makes the walls feel warmer. The next thing I know, she's throwing around instructions and my staff is lapping it all up like she's been here for years.
