Earlier, Maven insisted I feed on her to heal the others in any way they need. The intoxicating flavor of her blood has only deepened, becoming richer and even more addictive as she has grown stronger with the completion of our quintet.
It was truthfully a challenge to stop drinking from her pretty neck.
Baelfire hangs up and moves closer to our waiting keeper. “My mom said the Reformist aid will be here within thirty minutes.”
Maven glances over her shoulder. Like the rest of us, she is still dirty from the ambush. Yet somehow, the rough look is incredibly flattering on her—her dark hair tied in a ponytail, her olive skin smudged with dirt and blood, the flash of those cunning eyes.
My keeper will forever take my breath away.
“That’s fast,” she replies to Baelfire.
“They kinda started prepping when they saw us on the news,” he shrugs, pocketing his phone.
As if his words summoned it, we all hear a helicopter in the distance.
“Why does that thing seem to be looking for us?” Maven asks.
“It’s a news helicopter. Humans want to see what’s going on. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to land and interview you,” Everett grumbles.
She pulls a face. “Gag me with a knife.”
Crypt laughs. “But darling, I have something far more enjoyable for you to gag on.”
I roll my eyes. Our keeper grins and starts to say something, but we all snap to attention when a flash of green light is followed by a figure stepping into the cemetery from the Divide.
It’s a thin young man, possibly Everett or Crypt’s age. He has brown hair, pale skin, dark circles under his hazel eyes, and only one arm, which holds an almost laughable makeshift weapon of a piece of etherium affixed to a stick. His haggard clothing looks like something a medieval peasant would wear.
Still, his voice is strong when he greets Maven without his expression changing. “You did it.”
“You doubted me?”
His attention slips to the world behind us, and his strange, Maven-like composure slips momentarily as his voice cracks. “Gods. This is the mortal realm? It’s…it’s socolorful. And bright.”
“It’s a fucking cemetery on a dark and cloudy day,” Baelfire points out.
That draws the caster’s attention to us, and he blinks, recomposing himself. “Who are these guys?”
“Felix, this is my quintet,” Maven says breezily, motioning to each of us. “Silas, Baelfire, Everett, and Crypt. Guys, this is Felix.”
His eyes widen slightly like he doesn’t want to show too much emotion. “These are your gods-selected matches? My gods, these poor men.”
Crypt’s eyes narrow. “Did you just insult my keeper?”
Felix coughs, glancing at Maven. “That one looks like he wants to kill me.”
“He will if you answer wrong,” she grins at him.
Baelfire huffs.Quit giving him your smiles, he says through the bond.Those are mine, Boo.
So jealous, she teases.
Meanwhile, Felix flinches back. “Did…did you just fuckingsmile?”
She shrugs. “We can show emotions here.”
“Sure, but…it’syou. That just seems wrong. Not to mention, you seem way too chatty for thetelumI know.” He squints hard at her eyes. “But your pupils are round. How are you not a changeling?”
Maven regards Felix seriously. “Where are the humans? Is the plan going smoothly?”
