My friend's ghostly hand brushes over my cheek like she's trying to wipe away a stray tear, but of course, all I feel is the briefest chill.
"You have to tell me everything that happened yesterday—and then tell me the address of the motherfucker who leaked your big secret to the media. I'll go find Carolina Reaper, pass through her a couple of times for some of her mojo, and then rain down hell on the ungrateful fae asshole," she decides.
I yawn, wondering if I can go back to sleep for a while to let my body finish recovering. “Maven is in Halfton, so good luck drifting all the way there and back again.”
"Damn," she sighs. "I really wanted to be an avenging angel today."
"It's the thought that counts."
"Then just tell me everything about yesterday, and I'll figure out how to avenge you later."
My attention moves to the coffee table where my cell phone sits, now with a slightly cracked screen. I'm tempted to check it and see if Everett has said anything about the two recovered sleepers. Noah might have told him if the fae have tried to wake them up again.
If they do, will they start experimenting on Athanis’s gorgeous warrior friend right away? Is he in danger? The idea of him getting hurt makes my gut clench painfully.
I have no idea how I could possibly get him out of the fae research facility, but Ididagree to help Athanis. The thought of that beautiful dragon shifter being turned into something terrible by Marwood is enough to make me sick.
My anxious thoughts are interrupted when someone knocks firmly on my front door. Since Silas spelled this place to be covered in protective charms and camouflaged so no one can easily find it, it must be either him or Everett back to check on me. I wouldn't be surprised if my brother's been texting me all day and is now showing up to make sure I'm still alive since my phone is on "Do Not Disturb."
Biting back a whimper at the soreness in every muscle, I drag myself off the couch, leaving my blanket behind. Out of habit, I check my reflection quickly in the little mirror above where I hang my keys. My hair is in a slept-in messy bun, but my attention goes to the pink birthmark over my left cheekbone, covering parts of my ear and splashing all the way down to my upper lip.
I was so bone-tired and drugged on some pain elixir the hospital gave me when they dropped me off yesterday, all I did was shower and change into a comfy tank top and leggings to crash. I'm not wearing the full-coverage foundation I usually use—the waterproof kind that even conceals tattoos flawlessly—but you know what? Everett's seen my birthmark plenty of times, and Silas is too pragmatic to stare, so I'll get over myself just this once.
Already putting on a bright smile to convince them I'm fine and not secretly still exhausted, I open the door.
"Good morn?—"
I freeze in the doorway, my voice dying off.
Oh, my gods.
This isn't Everett or Silas. It's a stranger. A very tall, buff, tattooed, gorgeous stranger with red hair and brilliant green eyes that widen on me, his mouth dropping open slightly.
Jessica appears on the porch beside him and looks at me. "Oh, hell yes! This guy again?Smash."
My brain is preoccupied with trying to figure out why this ripped-as-a-movie-star man is on my magically concealed house's porch and why I'm not sensing any emotions from him, but my mouth functions on autopilot.
"Um…hi, there. Do you need something?"
His eyes rake over me before he smirks, leaning forward and resting a forearm at the top of the door in a way that highlights his muscles.
"Well, now I do."
This absolute stud just checked me out.
I repeat,he checked me out.
Which would normally be fantastic for my self-esteem, but…
My neck and face are abruptly on fire as I remember the mess I just saw in the mirror. It takes every bit of my control not to lift a hand to cover my birthmark. Thanks to my upbringing, it's pretty hard not to experience some serious panic and embarrassment whenever anyone sees me bare-faced.
The handsome stranger takes in my flushed appearance with satisfaction before glancing behind me into my house.
"I'm going to need your name, number, and a list of all your favorite things, but first, I should probably check on your roommate. Everett Frost hired me to be her bodyguard."
I blink up at him. "My brother sent you?"
His eyes snap back to my face, and it's like his brain is recalibrating. After a long moment, he straightens, still staring at me.
