Shit, now I'm in the line of fire as Maven looks at me.
"Do I look like I give a fuck either way?” she asks menacingly.
With her damned poker face, does she ever look like she gives a fuck?
I consider pointing that out to her before I also choose life.
Her attention snaps back to Ian when he tries to take a step sideways. "Touch what's mine ever again, and I will keep you impaled on a Nether obelisk, watching my ravens peck your ossifying body to pieces every day until you can't fucking regenerate anymore. Got it?"
Ian clears his throat hard, still subtly trying to sidestep so he's not cornered by the pissed-off demigoddess anymore. "G—got it. Yep."
"It was an accident. You can't be a little merciful to Everett's best friend?" I grumble.
"That was more than merciful." Maven's gaze shifts to Heidi, her features softening to something almost pleasant. "I didn't figure out that Crypt asked for your help until you guys disappeared from the Seeking. I would have come sooner, but I didn't realize things had escalated until after Crypt went quiet, thanks tosomeone,"she adds, glaring at Ian once again.
He must have survival instincts, because he's quickly blurred several paces away.
"You're brave," Maven tells Heidi softly. "Also, that old priest is taking fucking forever to officially start the Seeking. So thanks for the excuse to get away from all the staring up there."
"You're welcome, except I actually can't take credit for anything ever again for the rest of my life," Heidi sighs. "Because apparently, I just…nap. I'm a badass like that."
Maven fights a smile at Heidi's rare use of a swear word. Then she moves past us, into the cell where Nivarrah is still sobbing, quietly rocking herself next to her dead tormentor.
The demigoddess takes in the scene without any surprise before she removes a glove and reaches out to lightly touch one of Nivarrah's arms.
Immediately, the fae woman stops crying. She looks at Maven with wide purple eyes, her expression transforming into one of relief and wonder.
Crypt joins them in the cell, gently removing Maven's hand from the comforted fae woman, as if he's decided she's had enough of the touching. Then he puts the fae woman to sleep so she's resting peacefully on the dungeon's stone ground.
"Nivarrah needs help," Heidi tells Maven. "And some seriously extensive therapy."
"She'll have whatever help she needs," Maven promises quietly.
Zak startles before making a face at me. "Hells—why the fuck're you using more of that shitty magic again?"
I'm confused about what he means until I glance down and realize I'm covered in a soft light, all over. Heidi isn't glowing in my arms, though, and I'm not using magic right now.
"The fuck?" I frown. "What is this?"
Maven Amato straightens, looking at me. "It means the Seeking just started. That's the glow of the priests' magic identifying keepers."
43
ASHER
Those words freezeme in place.
Identifying keepers.
Meaning I'm…
No.
Nope. Not happening.
"We're done here. Let's go home," I tell Ian, Kaenon, and Zak as I turn to carry Heidi toward the stairs that will take us out of this musty dungeon.
"What—no, we're not just going home," Heidi protests.
