A knotted family tree

Malachai led them all the way back, entertained or not by the task he had done as asked. He told him that he didn’t have a father but after a bit of thought he wondered why. Rhyme wasn’t sure what to tell the child. He wasn’t about to lie to him. ”Well, you look a lot like..” he was tempted to just say someone I know but he was doing the honesty thing. ”My older son Noir. Look, our eye markings are the same.” He lowered his head a little so the boy could get a look before his attention turned to Samara. ”Anyway, you can go play with Haiku if you want, I bet he’d like to spar with you!” He tried to send the boys off as his own nervous energy built in his stomach.

He had no doubt Samara had seen all of that, and Rhyme lifted his brows curiously as he lowered himself to a sphynx like position beside her small frame. ”Nephew, but also.. grandchild?” He whispered softly, suddenly very aware of old ghosts coming back to haunt him.