Free Breaking Out by Gayle Parness

He was right. Garrett would want me to call him.
    “Do you think I should try to find Charlie?
On my own? He might need some help.”
    “No.” He placed his hand over mine. “Charlie
is an asshole for leaving the way he did, and I’m going to wring
his neck when he gets back, but no. Now that he’s gone, you have to
give him his space.”
    “But…”
    “He’ll find his way or he’ll come home. He
and Jay won’t do anything too stupid. The fact that he called Fin
is a good sign. He’s smart, your boy, he knows when to ask for
help.”
    “Five minutes ago you wanted to ream him
out.”
    “Because he hadn’t called, not because he’s a
bad kid or a stupid kid.”
    “Better tell Sinlae. She’s been worried
too.”
    “Sure. We all worry about him.” He squeezed
my palm. “I’ll go find her.”
    I was relieved when he left, not because I
didn’t like hanging out with Sash, but because I wasn’t in the mood
to talk.
    I’d pretty much resigned myself to the fact
that I wasn’t going to be seeing Charlie around for a while, but
the house still felt like a black hole. Empty nest syndrome they
called it. More like chunk missing from heart, syndrome.
    A section of the kitchen shimmered and
Finvarra appeared. I’d never been happier to see him.
    “Little mother, how are you?”
    “What’s wrong? Is Charlie hurt?”
    Fin draped himself over a chair, conjuring up
a large cup of honey wine. “As long as you overlook the black eye I
gave him, he is in perfect health.”
    “You hit him?”
    “He deserved it.”
    “What did he do?” I asked.
    “Nothing you need concern yourself with.”
    “I’m also pretty good at doling out black
eyes.” I fisted my hands and scowled to let him know I meant
business, but instead of getting angry, he laughed at me. Looks
like I wasn’t getting any info from the King of Faerie, at least
not today. “I’m sick of asking questions and hearing a bunch of non
answers. Charlie won’t talk. You won’t talk. Maybe I should call
Kyle. See if he can get some info out of Jay.”
    “Jay is a loyal friend who will not divulge
Charlie’s secrets.”
    I straightened up, resigned to my fate. “Can
I get you something to eat?” I found I wanted Fin to stick around.
After a phone call from Charlie, I tended to get depressed. Maybe
having someone with me would help.
    Fin waved his hand and a platter of breads,
meats and cheeses appeared along with another filled with ripe
fruits. “You look thin.” Fin said, his expression concerned.
“Please share my meal.” I nodded a thank you and dug in. I was
suddenly starving, a part of my mind wondering if this powerful fae
could control even my appetite. But the food tasted so good,
bringing a comfortable warmth to my belly, that I decided I
couldn’t yell at him for being kind, even if he was withholding
information.
    We ate, chatting about what was going on at
the Faerie Court as if we were discussing the last high school PTA
meeting. But it was like that with Fin. When he was off duty, he
seemed to fit in anywhere.
    After a glass of honey wine I felt brave
enough to ask, “What happened to Kennet and Fionna?”
    His eyebrows rose at my audacity, but no one
had a better right to the answer than I did. “They will never be in
a position to bring harm to your family again.” I opened my mouth
to respond, but he raised his hand. “I will not speak of them again
tonight.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “You need never feel that way. They did you
great harm.” I nodded and continued to pick at my food. “Your son
tried to make a blood alliance with me. He sees himself as my
equal.”
    I finished chewing a delicious morsel of
cheese and freshly baked bread, swallowing before I answered so I
wouldn’t choke. It also gave me time to think up an appropriate
answer. “He’s certainly unique. I don’t think he knows where he
fits in.”
    “Unique indeed. I tasted his blood.”
    Good thing I’d already swallowed. “You
what?”
    “It is