“Happy to, darling.”
I pause, frowning. “You were in pain earlier. Do you have enoughreveriumto help with that?”
He blinks as if he didn’t realize I’d noticed. “I have enough for now.”
“For nowwill be fleeting when we’re on the run, so gather more from Limbo while we’re here. Everett, you’ll stay here to wash up because all that dirt and blood has been drivingyour poor neat freak brain crazy for the last few hours,” I say knowingly.
His cheeks pinken slightly. “Come on, Oakley. That’s not a priority. Let me help somehow.”
“Fine. You’ll help wash me.”
Now, his blush is flaming red. “I—uh, okay. If…if you want.”
I don’t understand why Baelfire tries to smother a laugh. Crypt mouths something at the elemental I don’t catch, and Everett flips him off.
Whatever. I move on. “Good. Then we’ll eat, rest, and look for a way to disguise you four later since I doubt we’ll be here long. Hopefully, we bought Silas some time coming here, but they’ll be after us, so I need all of you to be well rested.”
I realize Baelfire is smirking down at me in his arms. “What?”
“It’s just hot as fuck when you take charge. You’re a damn good keeper, Maven.”
Crypt grins. “That she is, dragon.”
“Perfect,” Everett agrees quietly, still blushing and adjusting his sleeves repeatedly.
Great, nowIfeel like blushing. Not to mention, how does my quintet still look so fucking gorgeous after the shit day we’ve had? It’s not fair when I know I look like a walking smudge of dried innards. Still, I glance between the three of them and clear my throat.
I seldom do this, but…
“Sorry.”
“Whatever for?” Crypt asks.
“You’ll be in deep shit from now on. The Immortal Quintet and Legacy Council will try to kill you four for going on the run with me. I wanted to prevent you guys from getting mixed up with everything my being thetelumentails, but…I could only be tempted so far,” I finish lamely.
Baelfire snorts as he takes me to the bathroom, setting me on the counter and tipping my head up so I’m forced to look into his amber-gold gaze.
“Okay, first of all? Fuck anyone who has a problem with you. Sure, you’re the scourge, but it’s not like that was your choice—and second of all, we know what you’re really trying to do. You’re a good person. In fact, you’re the most aggravatingly selfless, self-sacrificing person in the world, so you’re not allowed to apologize for anything. Ever.”
He kisses my forehead. “You’ve been through hell, and maybe you did some shit you didn’t like just to survive it, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a fucking hero to all those humans in the Nether. If you ask me, I’m lucky to breathe the same air as you. Got it, Mayflower?”
4
MAVEN
Baelfire'swords do something to me. I'm suddenly unable to look him in the eye because I'm dangerously close to getting emotional. It's one thing to do what I think is right, no matter what it takes or who hates me for it. It's another thing for someone else to see me—reallysee me and tell me I'm still a good person.
I didn't feel like a person for years, let alone a good one.
It's strange to hear.
But also…nice, somehow.
Crypt appears abruptly, sitting on the bathroom counter beside me, making Bael startle and swear. He winks like we share a secret, kisses me deeply, and vanishes again. A moment later, I can't sense his presence anywhere nearby.
"Damned incubus," Everett mutters as he also enters the bathroom. He hands Baelfire a wad of cash and then turns on the shower, testing the temperature.
"Can a snowman like you even test temperatures correctly?" Baelfire points out.
