Page 26 of Pack: Posy 3
He still ended up half on my lap, like he did when I met him, his head on my thighs, his thumb in his mouth, and his unique eyes fixed on mine.
"Does it matter if he goes to sleep?" I asked Beatrix.
When she shook her head, I began to pet his curls. They were so clean and well cared for now, such a stark contrast to that first day. His bruises were gone, although he was still awfully skinny, but I knew Emerson and Angelo were doing the same as my mates were with me: gradually increasing his food intake so he gained weight slowly but surely.
Beatrix settled herself on the floor next to our love seat, and lifted her hands to hover over the boy, but not touch him. A shimmery haze built in the air, and I thought it best to keep Thoreau distracted while she worked.
"Here's Thoreau," I crooned, making a song of it, "with his pretty eyes and curly hair. He lives with his Bubba, who's a real teddy bear."
"Hey, now, luna," Emerson growled playfully, which made Thoreau giggle around his thumb.
"More!" Thoreau demanded.
"Be polite, Reau," Angelo reminded him.
"More, please, luna," the boy said in a softer voice.
A little flustered, I hurried to make up more verses in the song I was inventing on the spot.
"And there's Gelo who shares his great big house," I sang, "and Leo who can be as quiet as a mouse."
Thoreau's eyelids were starting to droop, so I sang on.
"They live in the forest with the trees, and all around are birds and deer and bees. There's lots of room to run and jump and play, and that is how Thoreau spends every day."
I was out of ideas and looked at the others with pleading eyes, but they only chuckled. Making a face at them, I cobbled together another verse.
"From their yard, they watch the moon rise at night. Reau likes it when it's big and round and white."
"Okay, I'm done," Beatrix whispered as she lowered her hands and the shimmer faded.
Instantly, her mates surrounded her and picked her up off the floor, then carried her over to the couch.
"And Reau's asleep." I let out a deep breath. "Whew. I didn't realize how stressful it is to rhyme on demand. I think I'd better memorize some little songs so I don't have to make up any more."
"You did fine, baby," Cole said with a soft smile. "You kept him calm, which was all we needed."
He turned to Beatrix, who met his eyes and shook her head. Considering how her mates were practically cocooning themselves around her, she was shaken and upset by what she saw.
I don't think any of us are surprised, I muttered to Cole.They transported him in adog crateand told him that Em would kill him or keep him - and he was okay with that. I think that speaks to the kind of environment he was in just as much as any memory reading.
You're right, baby, but it's a formality. The king can't issue verdicts without evidence.
I nodded. Knowing he needed to talk with Beatrix, I told him I'd stay with Thoreau while he slept and they could take their conversation elsewhere. I knew the boy had been starved and abused; I didn't need to know the details right now or be a part of whatever King Julian decided.
All I needed to do was help this boy heal, and that's what I was going to do.
Even if it meant making up silly songs and holding his head as he slept so he wouldn't wake up alone.
7: Photo Albums
Ash
Paperwork sucked.
It suckeda lot.
In fact, paperwork sucked the suckiest of all the suckness in suckdom.
