The Great Pyrenees trot along with me, stopping to sniff things now and then. Not for the first time, I'm glad they're so mild-mannered and well-trained, even though they sometimes shitted on the floor and ripped apart a few of my things at my place in Hawaii, where I moved not long after faking my death.
Finally, I stop just in front of Everett's house, studying it. It's easy to picture my friend living here. The place is large and striking with a clean, modern-gothic style, complete with plenty of tall windows and a subtle hint of luxury in the construction. A neatly manicured lawn stretches around it. Off to the side and slightly behind the house, I spy a glass greenhouse and an impressive garden.
Just as I'm wondering if Everett and his quintet will even be home, an incubus steps out of Limbo directly beside me.
I startle, swearing, before realizing I know this fucker from back when my parents were hellbent on making sure Ibefriended some powerful legacy kids who could be valuable allies to me later at Everbound University—which of course I never had to attend.
I've also seen a bunch about this jackass online while getting caught up on things on that phone, since apparently the world is obsessed with Everett's keeper and her infamous quintet.
"Oh, DeLune. It's just you," I huff.
The half-monster bastard tucks his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket, glancing down at the dogs sitting with wagging tails beside me before he squints at me.
I'm pretty sure if I'd tipped off the Gateway, DeLune would have killed me by now. Since I'm not obviously threatening, he's just curious.
"I could swear I've seen you somewhere before," he muses.
"You have. Lots of times."
"That so?"
"Yep. Usually, when you were forced to hang out at Everett's place when we were kids. I lived next door to him, remember? He and I were best friends?" I prompt, because how the hell does this guy remember none of this?
"Someone had to take pity on him, I suppose." He absentmindedly pets each of the dogs.
I sigh. "I'm the one who told you where Alaric Frost stashed his expensive liquor once. Didn't realize you'd steal all of it. Also, I helped Evie organize getting supplies to the Nether humans when they escaped the Divide."
Crypt DeLune clearly gives up on trying to recognize me and just vanishes, dropping right back into Limbo without another word. Rolling my eyes at how unhelpful he is, I turn to knock on the door, but it's already swinging open.
When Everett steps out, we're both shocked for a second.
I gawk at the long scar carved down the left side of his face, turning his once-flawless Frost appearance harsh and unsettling. "Gods. What happened to you?"
"Tome?" he splutters. "What the fuck happened toyou?Where have you been for the last fourteen months? Godsdamn it, Ian, I thought you were dead. Where the hell?—"
One of the dogs barks happily at the sight of her owner, and Everett blinks down at them.
"Fucking gods," he swears on a harsh exhale before crouching immediately to pull both of the polar-bear-sized dogs into hugs, scratching behind their ears and letting them lick his face.
With him crouching like this, the collar of his button-up white shirt moves just enough that I see a few intense hickeys scattered on the pale skin of his neck and collarbone.
I stare at the elemental who’s now beaming at his dogs. "Who are you and what have you done with my best friend? Because the Everett I know would never blaspheme, his OCD assdefinitelywouldn't let these rascals slobber all over his face, andyour neck?I know I’m one to talk, but does your keeper fucking bite you? Just how badly did the Upheaval fuck you up?"
"You have no idea,” he grumbles, blushing slightly as he adjusts his shirt to cover the love bites. Then he glances up at me with genuine gratitude written all over his scarred face, still loving on his dogs. "Thanks for getting them back to me, Ian. I don't know how to express how much this really means to me."
I wave off his unnecessary gratitude. "We both know I keep my promises."
Everett straightens and shakes his head at me, still baffled, before he steps back inside, nodding his head that I should follow. "Come in and tell me everything in my office."
Able to step into their house now, I follow my best friend through an impressive entry area and up a grand set of stairs,glancing around curiously on the way to his office. Their house is designed and decorated minimally and tastefully, but it's clear that the once-upon-a-time Frost heir spared no expense.
"Your quintet isn't here?" I guess as he opens a door and lets me into his spotless, surprisingly comfortable office space.
"Silas is handling some sensitive personal matters, but Crypt let me know when you arrived. I'm guessing he's on his way back to help Maven and Baelfire finish hunting an aggressive swarm of harpies," he says like it's just a regular Saturday.
For them, it probably is.
"It's still so fucking weird that you're in a quintet with those guys," I pull a face. "You all hated each other growing up. I'm surprised you haven't all killed each other yet."
