Jade
This feeling of unease is getting annoying. I’m home. Lying on my bed, scrolling on my phone. Earbuds in, listening to my favorite Spotify playlist. I couldn’t be any safer.
There are six other paranormals here, seven counting Mal. And Brodie and Carter are both former Council Enforcers. Even Monty is a powerful mage. All in all, this house is probably the safest place in the universe.
Morgan and Sammy are human, but that’s still extra eyes and ears. If something was wrong, somebody would have spotted it by now.
So I’m being stupid. Everything is fine. I haven’t had any more freaky dreams about the fey. I haven’t contacted Flyn, so he is safe. I’ve blocked his number, so there are no messages or missed calls weighing on my conscience.
It’s all good. Except for my heart, but I’ll live. Flyn being alive and well is more important than anything. I cannot put him in danger. The risk may be small, but it’s not one I’m willing to take.
I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. But it’s no good. I’m still feeling on edge. Grunting my annoyance, I pull my earbuds out and sit up.
At first, I hear nothing. Then I realize there are a lot of murmuring voices coming from the dining room. Why has everyone gathered there?
I get to my feet. Have I been excluded on purpose? My stomach twists uncomfortably. I’m being silly. I’m sure it’s nothing.
I leave my phone on the bed and pad quietly down the stairs. As I approach the dining room, I hear a voice that I would recognize anywhere. My heart pounds, fast and strong.
Flyn? Flyn is here? But why?
I burst into the dining room, and sure enough, Flyn is sitting on the sofa. Everyone is surrounding him and none of them are looking friendly.
I rush to Flyn’s side. He sees me and the look of relief on his face makes my heart flutter and guts curl. I stand by him and glare out at my friends.
“What’s going on?” I demand.
“He tracked you down without knowing your address and turned up here uninvited,” snaps Ned.
An icy shiver races down my spine. He’s right, I haven’t given Flyn my address. I wouldn’t do that. Not without checking with everyone first. Not without being more certain about where things with Flyn were going. My found family’s safety and security is not something to be messed with.
I twist my head to look over my shoulder at Flyn. He looks up at me with a sheepish expression.
“I know a guy who can track phone locations.”
My eyebrows rise. I turn back to my friends.
“He’s explained himself,” I say sternly.
I’m surprised, I really am. I didn’t think Flyn knew people like that. I’m taken aback that he’d be so motivated to find me. But, this is Flyn. The most honest and sweet person in the world. There is no way in all the worlds that he has a single nefarious bone in his body. He has probably never even had a bad thought cross his mind in his entire life.
I look out at the sea of dubious, unconvinced expressions. My heart drops. They don’t know Flyn, so their concern is entirely reasonable.
Itake a deep breath. “He is not a Revivalist. Or a hunter. Or someone employed to capture a new harem.”
Behind me, I can sense Flyn squirming. I can also sense his confusion. Most of what I just said must be like gibberish to him.
I hold my head up high and glare out at everyone. They don’t have to be worried about Flyn, and I’m certainly not going to let them do anything to him. The man is innocent.
“Do you vouch for him?” asks Red.
“Yes!” I reply immediately.
The atmosphere in the room lightens. People shift position. From one breath to another, it is not as tense as it was. They are starting to believe me, to trust my judgment.
Carter sighs. “I guess if Gray wipes his mind…”
“No!” I yelp.
