Shockingly violent anger pierces through me at the idea of anyone trying to keep me away from my future wife. I go still on the stairs, clenching my jaw without turning around.
Luckily, I keep my voice casual. "I figured."
Everett's not buying it yet, and his tone gets cold with warning. "I mean it. She's been through enough, Ian. I'm sure you've already seen what they're putting her through in the court of public opinion. I appreciate that you looked out for Heidi when I asked you to, but that's over. All she needs right now is peace and safety to get through the shit she's been dragged into. If you're not stable,stay the fuck away from my sister."
That tone is deadly.
I should've known my best friend's hyper-protective instincts about his sister would be even worse right now, thanks to the spotlight that she's had forced onto her.
Pretending I'm just agreeing to keep her safe, I toss a look over my shoulder at him. "Of course."
Thankfully, my selective honesty does the trick. Everett relaxes, thanks me again for bringing his dogs back, and makes me promise to come back soon. Baelfire calls something to him from the office, and the elemental grumbles about the shifter as he turns back to join them.
Just before I can slip out the front door of the Amato quintet's house, another familiar voice says my name. Pausing, I see Silas Crane emerge from a stairway that must lead down to a basement.
I haven't seen the blood fae since we were children, but he was one of the only legacy kids I actually got along with, aside from Everett. Baelfire Decimus used to snark that it was because we're both bloodsuckers, but I just appreciate how practical Silas is.
Still, it throws me for a major loop when I catch a glimpse of his telling blackened fingertips as he holds a sealed envelope out toward me.
I blink. "Please tell me I'm imagining things and you're not a necromancer."
"I can't. Although Icantruthfully say I'm glad to see you're still around, after all." The scarlet-eyed fae lifts the letter again. It's lumpy like it contains more than just a letter. "This is for Heidi. I'm trusting you to take it back to her, since I'm swamped at the moment."
I tense, checking furtively up the stairs to make sure Everett isn't there before I look at him again.
"I'm not going anywhere near Heidi."
He sighs, smacking the envelope into my hand like he's running on a short fuse right now. "Everett can't hear you, and I don't have more spare time for this. I won't breathe a word about you or the others staying at her place because frankly, it's not any of our godsdamned business."
I squint at him. "I take it you sensed us through the wards you set?"
"Obviously."
"What's in the envelope?” I hold it up.
"Something she needs."
Vague, but good enough for me. I squint at him, considering. “Any chance you have or know of something an out-of-control thrall might need? Something to help curb the bloodlust.”
Silas is thoughtful for a moment, studying me with those disconcerting blood red eyes of his. “No.”
Damn. At least I know he’s nothing but honest at all times.
“However, my vampire mother once told me that siphons are far more capable of controlling their more predatory urges after they have been bound to their gods-given matches,” he adds, shrugging one shoulder. “A natural presumption, as all legacies grow stronger once they’re bonded.”
I suppose that makes sense.
Not that I give two shits about whoever the gods intended for me, thrall or not. Heidi is it for me, and if it takes longer to muddle through this newly freed thrall nonsense, I’ll just handleit on my own and make sure she doesn’t see me so close to losing control ever again.
Nodding appreciatively at Silas, I turn and leave the Amatos' house, ready to harness my thrall speed once again and get myself back to the woman I love.
30
ASHER
The bus hitsHeidi in slow motion.
I know that's not what happened in real life, but that's how it plays on the screen of my laptop, which I pulled out of a pocket void nearly half an hour ago. Frame by frame, pixel by pixel, that motherfucking bus taking its sweet time wrecking the gorgeous woman I'm supposed to be protecting.
