Tradition

Nefretiri

Ivan sits me in his lap, and no one looks surprised or bothered by it.

Luke's house was impressive—a six-bedroom with tall ceilings and a bright, inviting feel. I was startled to see the bedroom he kept for Ivan. The subtle smell of paint was still in the room, and some of the furniture looked new. Ivan had this room for years, but Luke updated it, so I felt more comfortable. The walls, which Ivan explained had been dark green, were now a light mix of blue and green, and all the outfits Taylor bought me were hanging in the walk-in closet with Ivan's clothes. The place seemed big for a guy who lived alone, so it wasn't surprising when he told me he expected us to visit often. I could sense that he was lonely. Luke wanted a family of his own.

"No shellfish," Ivan tells Amanda, Luke's Gamma, who made me a plate.

"You're allergic, Luna?" she asked curiously, skipping anything with seafood.

"Yeah."