“You could go,” Sasha said. “But it’d be sorta silly. Viv’d get worried, then she’d get mad at me, then she’d send me to bring you back. So maybe, you know, don’t? Wait, were you looking for the bathroom?”
Micah was still as death, standing by the door. Sasha couldn’t make out his expression, but he couldhear him breathing, too fast, like he was afraid.
“Hey,” Sasha said carefully. “It’s okay. I’m not mad. What are you doing?”
It was quiet for so long, Sasha wasn’t sure whether Micah was going to answer.
“Leaving,” Micah said at last. His voice was so quiet, Sasha had to lean forward to hear him. It still seemed like moving was a bad idea, like he might spook Micah out the door.
“Why? Your house burned down.” Sasha realized how that sounded and winced. “Sorry, man. I’m less tactful than usual when it’s, y’know, the middle of the night. Why are you leaving?”
“I don’t have to tell you,” Micah said, and the dominance in his voice made Sasha smile.
“No, you don’t,” he agreed. “But I’d appreciate it if you did. I’d like to have something to tell Viv when she wakes up.”
“You’ll let me go?” Micah sounded suspicious. “You just said you’d come after me.”
“Look.” Sasha held his hands up. “I don’t have on my boots. It’s cold outside, and it’s not even dawn, and it’s probably gonna rain, ’cause my ankle hurts, this old sprain I got when I was a kid and tripped over a— It doesn’t matter. My point is, I can’t run after you rightnow, but in the morning, my little firebrand’s gonna send me after you.”
Micah sighed, and since Sasha’s eyes had adjusted, he could see the way Micah’s shoulders hunched. “I don’t want to stay here and be a bother.”
“Hmm. Right, sure. You’re not, though. Viv doesn’t like that many people, and if she wanted you out, you’d be out.”
“You do, though,” Micah said. “You like people.”
“Yeah.” Sasha shrugged. “I do. But she rules the roost, friend. She doesn’t want you gone, though, so…”
“Why?”
Sasha ran a hand through his hair, which was in need of a cut, and grinned. He knew why Viv wanted Micah to stay. Micah was a witch, and Viv was going to take care of him. “Guess she likes you. She told me to go hunting again, get some meat on your bones. She knows what your book’s about, too.”
Micah was clutching the book to his chest, Sasha saw. “I’m sorry.” Fuck, he sounded miserable.
Sasha moved closer. Then, when Micah didn’t bolt, closer still. “Hey. It’s not— I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I just want to explain something. Viv’s a witch. I think she wants to see if she can help you.”
“I’m not— I’m not a— I’m just strange.” Micah’s eyes were wide in the dark, shadowed. “That doesn’t make me special. Not like her.”
“Plenty of people say the same about her.” Sasha carefully laid a hand on Micah’s shoulder. “I won’t make you stay if you don’t want to, but… if you think you gotta go, could you talk to Viv first? In the morning. A good night’s sleep, maybe some more food, and you need some clothes and—”
Micah jerked away. “This is what I mean. I’m too much trouble.”
“It’s not,” Sasha said. “You’re not.” He didn’t try to touch Micah again, but he found himself wishing he could. Rub his back, work the knots out of his shoulders. Micah looked sotense. Sasha’s submission was firmly weighted toward masochism, but he had a caretaking streak, too. He doubted Micah wanted to scratch him up, but if he did…
Micah moved cautiously back from the door. “It’s going to be winter soon.”
“And your house burned down,” Sasha repeated. “You think, what, you’re so much of a bother you should just go and freeze to death?”
Silence.
“Oh. You do think that. Huh. Well, no, sorry. Viv’d be mad at me, Zev’d be sad, his mate would be sad. And you’re a nice guy. You helped my friend when he needed it, so I’m gonna help you. Would you just… consider not leaving right now?”
“I don’t understand you,” Micah said, which wasn’t an answer. “And I don’t think— Anyway. I’ll stay. At least until morning.”
“Thanks.” Sasha nodded. “Want something to drink? Something to eat? You could use more food, probably.”
“No.” Micah went to the couch, where he sat and pulled blankets around him. “I’m fine.”
Sasha wasn’t sure he believed that, but one thing at a time. He went and stoked the fire, making the light flare up in the room. “I don’t know how Dragan’s community does things, but we wouldn’t send you out with nowhere to stay in the winter. I can imagine what you must think of us, after Zev and Evgen—”
