"I can find out what happened to her," I say quickly. "I just need some of her DNA."
Vivienne's face lights up with hope, and she hurries into one of their other rooms, leaving Dirk and me alone. For a long moment, we're both silent. Possibly because I've barely gotten to know Kenzie's quintet since I didn't want them to think of me as a friend.
I already care about Kenzie more than I'm comfortable with. I'm not about to start doingfriends, plural.
My eyes stray to the many erotic paintings hanging up in their living room. Kenzie's works. I've seen them before, but my attention lingers on an abstract water painting of a woman sandwiched between two masculine figures, her head thrown back in ecstasy and her hair swirling around them. It's a beautifully sensual painting, but I have to jerk my attention away when I realize I'm envisioningmyselfin that painting.
Between any combination of four particular gorgeous legacies…
Who I shouldnotbe thinking about like this ever again.
My face feels too warm as I subtly examine several other paintings. There's so much variety, so many positions I've never considered.
Because survival was my number one priority in the hellscape I called home, I kept any sexual urges under lock and key after I hit puberty. Except for the time five years ago when I let my curiosity get the best of me and decided to lose my virginity. But that experience hadn't been beautiful or erotic like these paintings. Instead, it led to the worst memory of my entire life, which then led to me becoming…well, this.
After that, I'd forced myself to become more of a thing than a person. Any urges or emotions were kept deeply hidden. It was safer that way for everyone.
It's still safer that way. You can't have them, and they never actually wanted you anyway, I remind myself.
And yet, my eyes keep straying to those damn paintings. Especially the one with a woman sucking off an abstract array of cocks. I've never had a cock in my mouth. The basic concept behind it doesn'tsoundenjoyable, but…is it?
Maybe I should find out. After all, I thoroughly enjoyed my first orgasms. I definitely want more of those. Who knows what other sexual experiences I might enjoy?
Bad Maven. Your purpose has nothing to do with enjoying things. Focus.
Finally, I shoot Dirk a sideways glance, needing to distract myself from my thoughts. He's frowning after Vivienne, still roughly scratching at his neck. And his arm.
Does he have fleas or something? He's a shifter, after all.
When he catches me looking, he stops and grimaces. "Uh...curses, am I right?"
Oh. Right.
I have no idea what Kenzie's matches are cursed with, but I'm surprised Dirk had the guts to mention it. Most legacies are extremely hush-hush about how the Legacy Curse affects them. But if his curse is itching all the time, that seems kind of mild.
I change the topic for his sake. "Did Luka leave you two to fend for yourselves? His jackassery must be chronic."
Dirk shakes his head, scratching one of his palms. "No, he just went to get food from the dining hall since we didn't have anything here during the lockdown yesterday. Actually, he's been the one holding us together ever since we realized Kenzie was…"
His voice breaks, and he clears his throat, looking away. "Look, I was pissed when I found out Luka was such a dick to her before, and I was all for it when Kenzie told me about you hexing him. But then I realized Luka is just like…really,reallybad at expressing himself. He's not a bad guy. Definitely not nearly as bad as the rest of his family—I mean, his brother Levi was probably the most disgusting asshole in the world."
"Was?" I note. I'm only tolerating this small talk because chatter is infinitely preferable to him getting weepy again. "Is he deceased?"
"Yeah, he was found burned to a crisp less than a month ago. Even though they weren't close, it's been pretty brutal on Luka. He's still in mourning."
Well. This is awkward.
Now that I think about it, that vampire I killed when I first came to Everbounddidhave some striking similarities to Luka. Maybe I should come clean to Kenzie about that incident after I find her.
Please let me find her.
Vivienne returns and triumphantly holds up a plastic bag that contains one pale strand of long, curly hair.
"Will this work? I found it on our bed."
"Yes." I accept the bag from her, careful not to touch her fingers. I can't wait to get another pair of gloves from my room. Slipping the bag into Baelfire's sweatshirt pocket, I turn to leave.
But just as I do, Luka opens the front door and blinks at me in surprise. He's holding several bags of warm food in both arms. I don't miss that he glances over Vivienne and Dirk protectively as if he's worried I somehow hurt them in the brief time I've been here.
