Whoa.
His warning, dominant tone does something to me. I try to swallow, but I can't.
Jessica squeals beside me. "Yes!Go El! You're about to break this bounty hunter, I know it. Just flash him your tits or something, and the poor guy will snap."
Do I want to see Asher snap?
Maybe.
Okay, yes, a little.
But my bodyguard's heated warning is gone as quickly as it came when he strides past me into my house, telling one of the other guys not to touch anything. I shake my head to clear it and take a deep breath, still trying to absorb the fact that Ianandmy half-demon are both alive, and they're here.
It feels so surreal that I'm worried stepping inside will end this dream.
"You have three hunks in your house. You should totally fuck all of them," Jessica whispers in my ear like a blue-haired shoulder devil.
I shoot a look at her, speaking under my breath. "What? No. It's fun to see Asher's reactions when I flirt with him, but I amnot about to get mixed up with any legacy—especially notplurallegacies. I'm looking for a regular boyfriend, remember? After all this dies down," I add quietly.
"El, think this through. Asher is hot, and he's immune to your amplified empath touch. The half-demon is hot, and he clearly followed you here all the way from theNether. Ian is hot, and?—"
"And he's just my brother's best friend, checking in on me," I hiss, glancing through the doorway to make sure none of them are witnessing this silent exchange.
"What, so he just decided the best time to show up and reveal he's still alive is right after you got hit by a fucking bus?" Jess throws her hands in the air. "Bitch, be serious! These legacies all have it bad for you, and it's time for you to get all legacy-ish and try group dating for once!"
She knows how much I prefer pretending I was never born a legacy at all—and right now, there are two more gorgeous men in my house who I have questions for, so there's no way I'm getting into this with her.
Ignoring my ghostly best friend and slipping inside, I shut the door behind me just as it starts to rain outside. Ian is examining the pictures of Jess and me on the wall while the half-demon is eating the leftover chocolate chip pancakes. Asher is leaning against one wall, arms folded like he's grouchy.
I have to say, my bodyguard pulls off grouch better than anyone I've ever seen. Somehow, it just adds points to his hotness scale.
"These are fucking great," the sexy half-demon in my kitchen calls, holding up the last pancake.
"I'm glad you like them." I shuffle, not entirely sure what to do with myself with this many people in my house for the first time in months. My stomach is full of nervous knots I don't completely understand. "By the way, what's your name?"
I should at least know that, since he's licked my soul to Paradise and back.
"Keep the full thing to yourself," Asher inserts, giving my Nether savior a hard look. "If I sense one ounce of demonology, I don't care how happy Heidi is to see you—you'll be out on your ass."
The black-clad half-demon snorts at the warning before rounding the corner to smile at me. "I've been going by Zak since I escaped the Nether, but you can call me whatever the fuck you want to, Candy."
"Zak," I repeat, looking him over again.
It's kind of hard to believe he's a half-demon. Aside from almost mythically sharp, handsome features and a couple of telling pointed teeth, he looks so human. Those gray eyes are mesmerizing, and all his piercings only add to his tough appearance.
He smiles and takes a step closer. "Like what you see? So do I."
My inner animal preens. I can feel the blush trying to creep back onto my face, but I laugh it off and glance at the clock on my oven, trying to figure out how to navigate this unexpected visit as it gets dark and stormier outside.
I'm beyond grateful that both Ian and Zak are wearing mytherun—Ian's idea, I'm sure—because as it is, I'm already drowning in my own feelings.
I glance at Ian hopefully. "Do you guys…would you stay for dinner?"
So quickly, I almost think I imagine it, his blue gaze flickers to my neck, but then he's smiling at me as warmly as I always remembered.
Gods, I can't get over how handsome he is now. Not that he wasn't a good-looking kid when we were little, but it's just so different to see him as an adult.
"We'll stay as long as you want us to, Sunshine."
