Bonedust

you know that.”
    “I know. It’s fine. If I come back, just hook me up with another one.” He shrugged. As the old lady frowned, he grinned at her. “I have to follow this lead. Don’t look so worried.”
    “I know better than to worry about your scaly ass,” she muttered, looking put off. Then she scurried around the desk to wrap him in a quick hug. She truly was an old softie. “But be careful, nonetheless. I’ll see what I can do about getting your old place back when you come back.” Her eyes narrowed and Urban smiled: End of discussion.
    He gave a short wave and headed back outside. Pan looked at him, long pink tongue flopping out the side of her mouth as she wiggled her butt in a happy-joy dance. “Alright, alright. One more stop,” he said, hoisting the bags higher up on his shoulder.
    He found the tiny house on the edge of town, right where he knew it had been. With chipped blue shutters and a sloping foundation, he couldn’t imagine calling this place home. As Cinthi opened the door, her blond hair piled atop her head in a messy half-bun, her eyes wide with surprise, he knew he couldn’t imagine calling this woman his wife.
    “Urban.” Her voice was hard, tinged with hidden nerves.
    “Hey. Just…wanted to let you know that I’m moving. Again. I guess I don’t know when I’ll be back around.”
    “Okay. And?”
    “You don’t have to be such a frigid bitch,” Urban muttered, crossing both arms over his chest. “Can’t I say a quick hello-goodbye to Annabelle? There aren’t any rules about that.”
    She let air seep between her teeth in a way that made Pandora growl warningly. Cinthi shot the hound a glare that would’ve decimated lesser beings. “Urban, I’m trying to make Anna’s life as stable as possible. She doesn’t need a father who doesn’t stick around. She doesn’t need you. I don’t need you either.”
    Urban ran a hand through his hair. “Just…let me say hello. God, Cinthi, I don’t know when I’ll have the chance again. I’m her father, for Halcion’s sake.” His own voice was a rumble. “I won’t stay long. I have to--”
    “Leave. Oh, believe me Urban, I know. You always end up leaving.” She shook her head, sending blond bangs flying, and stormed back into the house. “The mutt doesn’t come in. I just had the carpets cleaned.”
    Urban held up a finger to his hound before following her in. The kitchen was brightly lit, the table set with bowls of steaming stew. His stomach knotted at the scent—like coming back to a family reunion you really didn’t wanna be at—but he stopped breathing for a moment when he saw her.
    Annabelle sat up at the table, her legs swinging off the edge of the chair. Her hair had been cut and curled cutely around her chin and she looked at Urban with curious eyes. No fear. Never fear. She truly was his daughter. You didn’t need to see the shimmer of scales across her cheeks to see that. “Annabelle…”
    Annabelle looked to Cinthi, who went to her daughter’s side. Kneeling down, she murmured something too low for Urban to hear, and the little girl peered up at him with a shy smile. “Hiya.”
    “Hey.” Words lodged in his throat. He stood there, feeling awkward. “You’ve grown up, little Belle.” Cinthi snapped her gaze to his, but he cut her off without a word. There was no way Annabelle remembered him—she had been less than a year when he’d seen her last. It was a miracle Cinthi even sent him updated pictures.
    “This is your Uncle Urban,” Cinthi said quickly, squeezing the girl’s hand and shooting Urban a warning glance. Play along, or suffer the consequences. “He’s in town and thought he’d drop in. Would you like to stay for dinner, Urban?” She offered a thin-lipped smile, just a show for her daughter. Like a hound protecting her pups.
    Urban slowly shook his head, dropping to one knee on the scuffed carpet. “Can I have a hug, or am I too much of a stranger?”
    The girl wavered, glancing between him and Cinthi for a moment, as if gauging her mother’s reaction. Please, just… One hug, that’s all he asked. Something to remember her by before she grew up and turned against the father who’d left her all alone. His heart clenched in relief as she scooted off the chair and shyly wrapped her arms around his neck.
    He couldn’t help himself. His arms wrapped around her thin frame, holding her close. He took a deep breath, her hair smelling of berries, and he pulled away to look