“Oh, good. The evil twins are always more fun.”
“Perhaps we could plan this hypothetical wedding another time?” Everil interjected. “There are matters that yet require us.”
“The Council?” Talia asked with a melodramatic sigh. “Lysander said something about the Council.”
Bo leaned in a little heavier at the mention. It’d been mere hours since they confronted Nimai. Less than a day since Bo’s confinement. The man had already faced so much.
“Guessing they got to do the official ‘we were wrong, and it looks like you’re bonded after all’ with a side helping of ‘Everil, keep your human not-pet from spilling information about us online’?”
“I don’t recommend holding out for any actual admission of apology. But we will have to face them again, in an official capacity.”
“Tell them if they mess with you again, I’ll feed them to the void.” Talia crossed her arms, and there was a flicker of real danger behind the teenage insolence.
“You’re not feeding anyone to the void. You have your oath to consider. If anyone is rude enough to deserve being eaten, I’ll take care of them myself.” Everil’s tone went very,verydry. “And wash my face after.”
“Definitely wash your face after,” Bo agreed with a slow, pleased smile.
“Voids get hungry, too,” Talia complained. “Fine. The Council. But I’m not leaving this time.”
“Eventually,” Everil said. “The Council should have called us as soon as Nimai– As soon as matters turned the way they did. They did not. I believe it’s their turn to bide for a bit.”
“I’m not gonna argue with making the fuckers wait.”
“If I count correctly, there’s time yet to make your prior engagement with your family.” Everil did his best to keep the nerves out of his own voice. He’d faced down Faerie’s version of Bo’s brother. He could face the real thing as well. “The Council can wait until after.”
Bo glanced up, his surprise evident through their bond. And the fondness, thelovethat washed through after, was nearly enough to knock Everil from his feet.
“That would be fucking amazing.” The genuine relief in Bo’s voice brought a hesitant smile to Everil’s lips. “Yeah, yes. Fuck, that’d be great. It’ll probably keep them from filing a missing person’s report if they haven’t already. Phones don’t work here.”
The Council would not be pleased. But what did it matter? Everil no longer had to concern himself over properly serving the ambitions of another. Bo’s happiness, on the other hand, was within his remit.
They would have to face the Council, of course. But not yet, not with Bo exhausted and bruised and his family waiting.
“Talia?” Everil prompted.
She grinned, all delight, and gestured grandly. “This way, gentlemen.”
The veil parted, allowing muggy heat to pour into the desert dryness. Bo’s home. His people. Waiting.
How long had itbeen since the start of this? Since Bo had stepped into Brookhaven and turned Everil’s life upside-down. A week? Perhaps a little more? Not much time, even as humans measured it. But enough, it turned out, to fall in love and defy everyone whose judgmentEveril had once feared.
Bo’s Florida was all humid heat, the sky thick with clouds that failed to mitigate the discomfort of close, warm air. The place smelled of saltwater and moldering green. Not that Everil would ever speak ill of Bo’s home.
“I fucking hate Florida,” Bo said as Talia came back into existence. He squinted at the house before them, terracotta with gray-brown shingles and palm trees in the yard. “This isfallhere. Good job navigating, kid.”
“It feels gross,” Talia muttered, leaving Everil alone in the camp of those attempting to be polite. “Wet.”
“Okay. Let’s do this.” Bo reached to take Everil’s hand. “And hope they don’t notice we didn’t bring a car.”
“I fear a car is beyond my ability to manifest.” Everil reached to chase away first his own holly crown, then the oak crown resting in Bo’s hair. Outside of Faerie, it was easy; the oak leaves turning to a shower of green and gold sparks. “Too much iron.”
“I don’t think even you could conjure up an entire rental car complete with alien hats, even without the iron. All those small, fiddly parts.”
Bo laughed, warm and delicious. And how, hearing that, could Everil drag his feet? He squeezed Bo’s hand, keeping to his side as they walked past the car in the driveway, the shriek of iron almost welcoming, after Faerie. He could do this. They’d knock on the door, and Bo would do the talking and–
The door flew open. And there was Robin, looking exactly as he had on the alder path.
“Hey,” Bo said. “I’m–”
