She nods, glancing furtively at me.
Oh, shit. She thinks my theory about her being selected as a saint at birth might be right.
“Anyway. The important thing is, he’s gone. Maybe not dead, but let’s take what we can get for now. So,” she brushes herself off and looks at Baelfire, moving on. “Is your family’s place still a safe option?”
He blinks, trying to catch up. “My family?”
“Killing Iker bought more time before I need to hunt Natalya. We should find a safe place to lay low before the bounty hunters track us down again. Not to mention, I want some time with you guys. In general, but also in bed.”
I almost choke as the blunt topic change throws us all for a major loop. I fucking adore how assertive my keeper is—but now all I can picture is Maven in bed.
Naked and ready to be worshipped, I think with a quiet groan.
Please tell me you’re picturing her and not me,Silas snarks back through the bond.
I flush as I realize that thought wasn’t kept to myself. I’m still not used to this telepathy thing. Crypt laughs out loud at my pure embarrassment.
Baelfire is grinning hugely at Maven, ignorant of the telepathic back-and-forth. “Fuck, yes! My family’s place will be perfect.”
Silas arches a brow. “Are you certain? When was the last time you checked in with them? These are contentious times, and the Decimuses have been known to have big mouths regarding politics. They might have enemies at their doors already.”
“First of all, fuck you because our mouths are perfect,” Baelfire fires back. “And I haven’t talked to my family recently, but that’s only because we’ve been, you know. Busy. On the run. Shit like that.”
“Sounds like an excuse.” I fold my arms. “Maybe you’re just not sure your oh-so-loyal, proud family isactuallygoing to accept Maven as your mate.”
“It’s okay if they don’t,” Maven adds. “I’ve been told I’m an acquired taste.”
Bael snarls at me, his eyes gleaming a darker shade of amber as if his pissy dragon is just under the surface. “They’ll accept her. Not every family is a shitty nightmare like yours.”
“Your family has its own glaring set of fuck-ups,” I snap.
“Yeah? At least mine didn’t lie to me about my curse just to keep me a miserable fucking loner all my life.”
I flinch.
Maven tenses.
Baelfire immediately clamps his mouth shut, gripping the side of his head. “Fuck. Yeah, I felt it as I was saying it. Too soon. Sorry, Snowflake.”
I try to change the topic quickly. “If we’re going to his family’s territory in Canada, we should?—”
Everett, Maven reaches out through the bond, pinning me with a fierce look.
It’s really not important, Snowdrop. I’m bound to you, and nothing else matters to me anymore.
Her lips press together.That’s why your abilities have been so much stronger and sharper. The prophecy was a hoax. Your true curse had something to do with your control. Didn’t it?
So she already suspected it, too.
I nod and try to move on again, grateful when Maven stews silently and doesn’t make me say anything else about this extremely unpleasant new information.
“As I was saying, we should use human means, like a rental car. Transportation magic is tracked too easily, and it would be less than a day’s drive from here to the Purcell mountain range.”
No one argues. It’s quiet for a moment.
Then Crypt grins. “So long as we let our girl drive. I want to sit back and watch other cars on the road panic.”
Baelfire laughs, but Maven arches a brow.
