"Tell them to stay forever," Jessica pipes up. "You're going to need a bigger bed, El."
That makes me realize something. As rain starts to pummel the top of my house and gusts howl out in the dark woods, I yawn and glance between Ian and Zak.
"Do you guys have a place to stay tonight?"
"There's a motel in Koasville," Asher interjects. "They can crash there."
The storm chooses this second to get louder outside until it's shrieking, thunder booming angrily to add to the effect. I give my bodyguard the side eye, knowing he's not about to like this, before I smile at the other two.
"I have a really nice fuzzy sleeper sofa upstairs, and one of you could try the couch if you want. I actually slept on it last night, and it's surprisingly comfortable, so?—"
"Is your bed on the menu?" Zak checks, hopeful.
Asher's jaw clenches. "Don't test me right now, you demonic little fuckwad."
"My girl's standingright there, you shameless hussy," the half-demon scoffs back at him, gesturing at me.
Did I miss something in their conversation? I'm confused, and Asher seems to be, too, but Ian steps up beside me with a soft smile.
"Are you really okay letting us stay here for the night?"
"Of course. The storms up here get pretty nasty in the spring, and I'm pretty sure Everett wouldn't want me kicking his best friend out to weather it at night," I add. Then I hesitate, and my voice gets a little tighter than I mean it to. "He knew you were alive this whole time, didn't he? Why did he keep it from me?"
Ian's expression fills with guilt and something darker. "It's complicated. I want to tell you everything, if you'll let me. But first, don't take us in tonight unless you really want to. We'll befine either way, so don't let us intrude on you getting your rest. Remember, you're not responsible for us or for anyone else. It's just about what you want."
His words almost echo all the times he urged me not to let others' emotions affect me so much. Knowing he's concerned about overstepping makes me beam at him.
"I want you to stay tonight so you don't have to deal with the nasty storm. All of you," I add before I gesture at my bodyguard. "Asher is already set up in the guest room because Everett kind of lost his mind when that whole bus thing happened. Er—actually, I don't know if you guys know about the dumb bus thing, but?—"
"Oh, we know," Zak mutters angrily.
"Of course, you do," I sigh, lamenting how public that whole thing was. I'm never going to live it down, so I change the topic and look at Asher again. "It's not a big deal if they stay tonight, right? I trust Ian more than anything, and Zak kept me alive when I was in the Nether. They're not here to hurt me," I insist, more sure about that than anything in the world.
Asher looks at the vampire and the half-demon, debating. "It's a bad idea."
"Please?" I tack on, batting my eyes and giving him my best begging face.
I mean it to be funny, but the grouchiness leaves my bodyguard's face for a second before he sighs.
“Fine. It's your house. But I swear, if one more freak pops up out of the woodwork to drool all over you?—"
There's another knock at the front door.
I startle, gawking at it along with the others.
Silas made this place nearly impossible to find with his magic. Not to mention, it's dark and stormy outside now, so who on earth…?
I nearly jump out of my skin when Athanis drifts through the front door, not even sparing a look at everyone else in this room before beaming at me.
"Excellent tidings, Elise! I have guided my friend back to you so he may protect you from any more buses.”
23
HEIDI
My heart goesberserk with a mixture of hope and relief just as my inner doe begins prancing inside my chest.
The ancient shifter warrior is here. I can sense him outside—already, his overwhelming, confusing feelings are seeping into the air and making my head spin.
