"You came. With everything going on," he looks at the four guys gathered around me meaningfully. "I really thought you would wait another year. Why the change of heart?"
"I have my reasons." I look around. "I admit, Everbound isn't what I expected."
"The Decimus family has made a lot of changes, now that Brigid is the Headmistress," he agrees.
"Maybe it sucks less ass now," Asher grumbles.
I look at him, surprised. "You've been here? I didn't realize they made bounty hunters attend."
"No, most of us hunters got our documentation when we graduated from the program. I was just here for Seekings," he adds with a cranky huff.
For the first time, I realize something. Ian has never been to a Seeking because he faked his death, Kaenon was asleep in the Nether, and Zak obviously never came here because he was fighting to the death in the Entity's arena all his life…but this isn't Asher's first Seeking.
He can't be far from Everett's age, which means he's never gotten a single match for years.
Suddenly, my chest aches all over again over what he said to my brother last night—about it not even being a question that he was going to be with me. When Everett brought up the possibility of him getting matches, Asher was so sure it wouldn't happen.
But…what if it did?
What if, right now, in this room, there are other people he might belong with? What if he just thinks I'm "it" for him because he's too downcast on the idea of feeling rejected at a Seeking again?
He was willing to be with me even if I was matched with other people.
I should be willing to do the same for him.
41
HEIDI
"Heidi?"
Blinking, I realize Everett was just talking to me while I zoned out. Asher frowns at me, clearly to ask why I was staring at him, but I turn to my brother with a smile.
"Sorry, what?"
"Where did you find the bracelet?" he repeats, and I realize he's frowning at the charm bracelet on my wrist.
Oh, right. I told Everett I lost it at some point so he would understand why I was a little tentative about leaving my house without finding out the liches in the Nether destroyed it.
"It was under Heidi's bed. Ian found it," Zak shrugs before smirking at Everett. "I'm sure you can imagine what he was up to around her bed.”
Oh mygods.
This is the first time Zak has ever seemed any kind of truly demonic to me. My face is suddenly bright red, and so is Everett's.
He glares at Ian. For a second, I'm scared my brother is going to freeze his best friend, which would be super inconvenientbecause he’s my boyfriend now. There's an intense, unspoken tension between them as they have a little stare-off.
Meanwhile, Asher looks at Zak. "Stop being a shit-stirrer."
"Just wanted to get it out of the way," he shrugs. "The sooner this walking scar accepts that we're hers, the easier it'll be on Heidi."
Just as ice starts to form on Ian's red hoodie, I step in front of him, giving Everett a look. I'm aware lots of people are watching this exchange, thanks to how disturbingly interested in me these people are—and since my brother is a member of the Amato quintet and they're a very big deal.
"I know you're being protective because you love me, but don't pick a fight with Ian. I know he's a thrall and I know he's struggling right now, but he's mine—and by the way, you still haven't apologized for letting me go all those years thinking he was fuckingdead,"I huff, suddenly mad enough to swear.
I forget that I sometimes have intense mood swings, just like any other shifter, until I'm right in the middle of one. Kind of like right now.
Everett blinks down at me in surprise. All my boyfriends are gawking at me, too, and I realize this is probably the first time they've seen me angry. Not that it's impressive, because I'm about as intimidating as…well. A doe.
