“Don’t feel bad!” Kenzie protests. “I mean, maybe feel a teeny bit bad because this is terrifying for the humans, and more shadow fiends are getting into the mortal world and shit—but that aside, you’re doing it for a good cause. Agreatcause. Those poor humans in the Nether deserve to live actual lives free in the mortal realm, so I support you all the way.”
“At this point, I’m beginning to wonder what I would have to do to get you to stop supporting me so unconditionally,” I joke.
She giggles. “I mean, I guess if you went all berserker and killed someone in my quintet or family, I’d get pretty damn pissy.”
Oh.
Shit. I still haven’t told her about killing Luka’s brother.
Baelfire senses my tension and pulls away with a frown. “You okay, Mayflower?”
I nod quickly, changing the subject. “Anyway…how are you?”
Kenzie gushes for a while about how the holidays were perfect with her family and how her quintet is incredible.
“I mean—we’re all still really hoping that we find our caster at the next seeking,” she sighs. “I know it’s almost a year away, but it feels like we’re just…”
“Incomplete?”
“Yeah. I don’t know how to explain it. I can’t get enough of my quintet, and we’re all crazy about each other, but the dynamic just isn’t perfectly right, somehow. Deep down, we all know it’s because someone isn’t here with us.”
Looking back at the Seeking now, I am so fucking glad that all my matches were there. What lucky timing—especially considering the slight differences in our ages.
I frown. Come to think of it, all of us being there simultaneously was suspiciously serendipitous.
Unbidden, Del Mar’s comments about the gods playing a game with my “orchestrated life” replay in my mind. Between the Seeking and now my quintet being bound to me against all odds…
What game are the gods playing, exactly?
“You’ll find your caster,” I comfort Kenzie, focusing again on the conversation.
“Gods, I hope so,” she huffs petulantly.
Meanwhile, Silas turns off the main road and stops at a run-down gas station, which seems to double as a small, chicken-themed restaurant.
Everett makes a face. “Here?”
“Unfortunately for your fine sensibilities, the nearest country club is well over a hundred miles away,” Silas replies dryly. “Deal with it because we need gasoline.”
“Fine, but we’re not getting food here. I am not letting them serve Maven deep-fried roadkill scraped off the fucking freeway.”
Kenzie overhears Silas and Everett bickering. “Oh—do you need to go?”
“Possibly.”
My stomach growls loudly. Baelfire promptly scoops me up, leaving the car to walk me toward the gas station. Seriously, thisgorgeous shifter needs to learn that I have two highly functional legs.
“I’ll call you again soon. Or better yet, call me,” Kenzie says brightly. “I really do worry about you, May.”
“I worry about you, too,” I admit. “And I will.”
We say goodbye before I pat Bael’s shoulder. “Down, boy.”
He smirks. “What will my reward be?”
Feeling impish, I lean up to whisper in his ear. “Be a good pet and put me down, and I’ll have you crawling for me later. Behave yourself extra well, and I’ll let you come wherever you want.”
He halts, groaning hoarsely and dropping his head back. “Godsdamn it. I really can’t walk around in public with this erection, Boo.”
