A Quiet Claim

Kaelen let out a slow breath.

His pulse steadied—just enough to hear the next thing out of Colin’s mouth.

“You used to love that sketchy barbecue place by the sidewalk,” he said, smirking. “I’d tease you all the time — told you one day you’d grow a third eye from all the mystery meat you were inhaling. You remember that?”

The table laughed. Light, harmless.

Kaelen didn’t.

He stared at Colin i