Page 12 of Kuaket

“And this is my sister,” he told her.

“Kuaket, right?” Anise asked, looking at me with a slightly hesitant expression on her face.

“Most people call me Kua,” I responded.

“And you don’t mind?”

I shrugged. “I’ve always felt like it suits me.” I picked up my wine glass and took a sip. “This is a good bar.”

Kuk nodded and looked at Anise. “It’s where we came on our first date.”

“It is.” She placed a hand on his arm. “And has many fond memories.”

“I don’t want to know,” I muttered.

Kuk chuckled. “Nothing like that.”

“Because you’re not me, right?” I took a drink.

He let out a choking sound.

“So, Kuk said you’re a witch,” I said, at a little bit of a loss for what else to say. It had been so long since I’d met someone my brother was interested in, and I’d forgotten all the small talk that I was supposed to use. The last thing I wanted was to mess this up for him. I might not want what he had, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want him to be happy.

“Oh, yes.” She played with the charm on her necklace, seeming a little nervous about that.

“How did he tell you he was a god?” I asked, more curious than anything else.

“He just told me while we were messaging,” Anise responded. “Said I wouldn’t believe him.”

“Did you?”

“Yes, but only because I figured no one would lie about that.” She took a drink.

“So telling her right away, brother?” I asked Kuk.

He chuckled. “Sometimes you just know when someone’s right.”

An image of Abrax flashed through my mind.

“Are you seeing anyone?” Anise asked.

“What? Me? No,” I responded far quicker than I should, dismissing all thoughts of Abrax from my mind. He meant nothing. He was just a fun diversion for lonely nights. It wasn’t as if he was good company, or knew me well, or anything like that.

“Oh, sorry, I thought Kuk said you were.” She frowned, looking at my brother as if checking with him.

“I don’t do relationships,” I said. “But I have someone casual.” Normally, I wouldn’t want to reveal that to someone I just met, but I didn’t want her thinking Kuk wasn’t telling the truth.

“I see. I’ve had situations like that,” Anise responded. “Sometimes it’s just what we need.”

“See, even she gets it,” I said to my brother.

Kuk laughed. “I never said I didn’t get it, just that your choice of partner is a problem.”

I shrugged. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?”

“Don’t lecture me, Kuk,” I warned him.