After a stern “snubbing” that had lasted about half an hour and a lot of threatening should he ever leave again, Ushara’s sisters had welcomed him back into the fold and forgiven him for leaving, as had her parents. Vasili had been the most difficult one to face. Unlike Nadya, who had no real concept of time, he did. And the hurt in his eyes had been searing as Jullien went into his room to see him on his return. At first, Vas had refused to meet his gaze. “Vas, you know it had nothing to do with you, right?” “Didn’t feel like that.” Jullien had sat beside him on the floor and watched while he played his game. “I know. But can I confide in you?” Vas had paused his game to look up at him without comment. But the accusation in those pale eyes had been searing and had gutted Jullien to the core of his soul. “Adults don’t know what they’re doing any more than kids do most of the time. We get scared and make mistakes, too. Sometimes bad ones. In this case, I had predators after me that I had to thin out to make sure they didn’t find you or your mother.
