Sons (Book 2) by Scott V. Duff

was difficult to decide to whom the question was directed since he was still looking at me.
    “Seth likes to say it’s because he’d scare the hell out of people if they saw the real him,” Peter called past Phillips, garnering some laughs through the dining room and grins from us.
    “No, we haven’t,” Kieran said, still grinning at Peter’s remark.  “And while we understand why it’s vexing for everyone, it’s not that high in our priority list of things to accomplish.”
    “If you don’t mind my asking, what is on that list, then?” Fuller asked.
    “We as a community have a war to finish,” Kieran answered, cutting his roast beef slowly.  “My brothers and I have a family to build.  We have a company and research projects to begin.  Seth has a realm to build and manage and the Fae to contend with.  Then there are other, more personal issues for each of us, of course.”
    Lord Daybreak? I heard a tiny voice calling to me.  It sounded a lot like Shrank to me, but it came from… well, it came from inside me.
    Lord Daybreak?  May I have a moment of your time, sir? Shrank called again.
    “Shrank?  Is that you?” I said softly pushing out with my senses to find him.
    Yes, Lord Daybreak.  If this is a bad time, it can wait. I locked onto him as he said this, floating on an updraft before the bridge to the Palace.  He relaxed obviously as I formed a solid link to him.  It was taking a lot of his energy to push his thoughts so far, but beyond that, he didn’t seem upset or agitated.  I looked around the dining room and realized I was the only person finished with his meal, which I thought odd since I was talking through most of it.  Either I wolfed it down really fast or I was really stimulating dinner conversation.  Bet the most on the former.
    “No, Shrank.  I think I can manage, just give me a moment,” I said softly.  Glancing down the table, Peter and Kieran were still eating and Kieran was keeping Fuller and Peraza occupied anyway, but Ethan was done.  I could take him.
    “Mr. Fuller,” I said.  “My regent is calling and I really should see what he needs.  Would you excuse Ethan and me for a few moments?”
    “Yes, yes, of course, Mr. McClure,” Fuller answered quickly, gesturing for someone on the side of the room to come forward.  I presumed to lead us out, but we wouldn’t be going that way.
    “Problem?” Kieran asked softly with concern as I walked by to meet Ethan.
    “I don’t think it’s bad.  Shrank doesn’t seem too upset,” I said, shrugging.  “We’ll be back as quickly as possible.”
    He nodded and went back to dinner, knowing we could call if we needed help.  Ethan pushed his chair forward to the table as I reached him and the man Fuller called came up behind us.  He realized he wasn’t necessary when we evaporated in front of him as I shifted us to the bridge with Shrank.

Chapter 5
    “Good night, Lord Daybreak!” Shrank squealed as he rolled in circles around us in the air.  “Master Ethan!  It is good to see you as well on this fine, star-filled night.”
    The sky was definitely star-filled.  With no city lights to brighten the skyline, there had to be millions of them up there, twinkling in the blackness.
    “Hi, Shrank,” Ethan muttered, looking up at the sky, distracted and maybe a little homesick.
    “Hey, Shrank,” I said, a little more cheerfully than Ethan.  “What’s up?”
    “Well, Lord Daybreak,” Shrank started, flying up even with my shoulders in front of me.  “Over the past few hours, I have noticed an increase in the oddities in the survivors you brought over.  Nothing feels wrong, but some things are not exactly usual in my recollection.”
    “You mean things like the brownies by the lake being taller than they were when they got here?” I asked the pixie.
    “Yes, sir, exactly!” Shrank beamed, literally.  “There have been several other transformations that are more extreme.  Again, nothing feels wrong ,