"You're right," my brother mutters finally. "You deserve an apology for that. I thought a clean break would be best at the time, but I'm sorry I lied to you. And listen—no matter what happens today, I just want you to be happy," he reminds me earnestly.
My anger evaporates at once. How could I ever stay mad at him, after everything he's done for me?
"I know. Thank you for that."
Although he casts one more look at Ian and the rest of the guys around me, Everett leaves us to return to his quintet. Themingling is still going strong all around us, but at least slightly fewer people are glancing over at us now.
Kaenon meets my eye, smiling softly. "My brave mate."
"Brave and so fucking adorable," Zak grins.
"Thatwasadorable," Asher agrees, his green eyes lighting up momentarily when someone uses magic in this room. He smirks down at me. "One time, I saw a squirrel hiss at Devil. Kind of the same thing."
I fight a smile and elbow him, but then I blink. "Wow. That was like trying to elbow a stone wall. Have I mentioned your body is something else? Seriously, how are you all so ridiculously sexy?"
"It was my true curse all along," Ian jokes before leaning down to kiss my lips, one of his fingers brushing against my birthmark. "Thanks for sticking up for me, Sunshine."
"Like a chihuahua barking at a freight train," Asher adds, shaking his head.
"Stop," I warn him.
"A sparkly little goldfish blowing bubbles at a fucking kraken."
The others are cracking up, and so am I as I try to jab him again and only end up bruising my own elbow, but then Brigid Decimus takes the stage. She's dressed in her military attire with a gold sash over her shoulder and her eye patch in place as she smiles at everyone. Even though she's shorter than I am, she just has such a presence.
A magic spell makes her strong, confident voice carry across the room. "Everyone, welcome to the first Seeking since the fall of the Entity!"
People cheer and clap as they tune in. I glance around, noting that Crypt is near the stage with the rest of the Amatos. I don't see Jessica or Athanis, but I'm still scanning the audience for any hint of Veld or Nivarrah.
Or for any hint of drowsiness. If Veld can put an entire town to sleep, who's to say he won't do it here?
Brigid Decimus goes on.
"Thanks to recent events and some big changes that I'm sure you're all familiar with, this is the largest Seeking ever to be held here at Everbound. However, this one will be structured a little differently from how it's been done in times past. Until just over a year ago, legacies would receive their matches but wouldn't be bound to their keepers until they graduated. Graduating from Everbound is no longer mandatory, and so, today, you will receive your matchesandbe bound to them, unless any match requests otherwise."
People are clapping about this news. Zak hugs me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"This is boring," he grumbles, inhaling near my neck.
"It'll be over soon," I promise.
If Jessica or Athanis don't come back soon, I'll slip out of here just before the actual matching-up begins and go look for Veld myself. Or, if he's not here, maybe we can just go, and I'll figure out some other way to help Crypt and the Amatos stop Veld before he hurts anyone else.
"Now, before we get started, I thought you all wouldn't mind a small address from my daughter-in-law, who?—"
People are already beginning to cheer so loud that Brigid laughs, glancing over her shoulder at Maven as the demigoddess walks onto the stage, her quintet with her. Maven is dressed in comfy black clothes as usual, clearly not worried about impressing.
"Who, as you know," Brigid goes on, "is not only a demigoddess and the reason we're all here today like this, but she is also one of the most remarkable people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, let alone welcoming into my family. I askedher to share her thoughts on this Seeking, so here she is—Maven Amato."
The applause is so thunderous as Maven takes center stage to address everyone that I have to cover my ears for a second, even though I'm grinning at my sister-in-law. Kaenon is also covering his ears from the assault of sounds, and I have to say, it's nice having another shifter around who understands the pain of loud noises. A few other shifters in the crowd are also covering their ears.
But everyone quickly falls silent, awed by Maven and eager to hear what she'll say.
She studies the crowd with dark eyes, her face inscrutable. "Let's clear something up. The gods won't match any of you today."
Horrified, shocked silence falls over the room.
Me? I'm more than okay with that, if it's true. I have everyone I want right next to me.
