“Youfucking asshole.” Robin threw himself toward Bo, all gangly limbs and fierce love, which Bo met in kind, hugging his brother to him. “You absolute raging jerk, you went dark, andno oneheard from you–”
“I’m fine. I promise. We got held up.”
Everil stepped back to let the brothers reconnect. This, like so much of Bo’s life, was outside the safety of the familiar. He had no siblings of his own. And even if he had, fae families rarely remained close. Decades, if not centuries, between births made for strained associations at best.
“Weshould mean at least two damn phones on you, Bo.” Robin stepped back, clearly noticing Everil and Talia for the first time. Wary distrust in every line of him. “Oh.”
“Robin.” Everil kept his voice soft and controlled. Not unlike how he’d addressed the figment on the path. “I apologize for causing you distress. I fear we were … stranded inan area where phones don’t function effectively. It was entirely my fault, and Bo’s first priority was returning to you.”
“You’re the … friend,” Robin said, arching an eyebrow. “I’m going to pretend to believe you for now. Hi.” His gaze shifted to Talia then. “Hi to you, too.”
“Hi,” Talia piped in. “I’m your niece.”
That got Bo a look, sharp and puzzled.
“Talia, perhaps introductions before you claim a new relative.” Everil stepped further back, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Introductions inside,” said a new voice from the doorway. A woman, older than the brothers, though Everil was miserable at judging human age. Gray-brown hair and a flowing sundress. Bo’s Aunt Jan, at a guess. “Let the young man take the fall for Bo’s escapades if he wants to, Birdie. Inside, all of you, so I can shake my nephew, and we can all get acquainted. It’s too warm out to stand around in sweaters.”
“I understand if you both regret everything as of this moment,” Bo said, with a tired smile for Talia and Everil. He held his hand out, an invitation. One Everil would never again fail to take.
“If I cry in front of the neighbors,” Jan said as she stepped back into the house, “I’m holding you personally responsible, Bo.”
Everil, bracing himself, allowed Bo to lead him into the house. Talia, pushing forward to Jan’s side, clearly had no such hesitations.
“You’re Aunt Jan,” she said. “I’m Talia, and that’s Everil. Don’t worry, he’s alright, just shy. Bo says you’re gonna take me hitchhiking.”
“I said you’dtellTalia about hitchhiking,” Bo interjected, with a light tug at Everil’s hand, drawing him closer. “Please don’t actually take her.”
“Oh, I can tell you some stories,” Jan said, ushering Talia further into the house, Robin at her heels. “Just let me shake Bo and cry a bit first.”
For a moment, at least, it was only the two of them, standing just within the door. Everil took a breath, focusing on Bo, even as his thoughts began to spin with all he was unsure of.
“That went well,” Bo murmured, letting the screen door clatter shut. “Seriously. Robin didn’t flinch, and Jan didn’t hug me. You good?”
“Of course,” Everil answered carefully. But Bo would sense his unease and wouldn’t be angry at him for admitting to it. He squeezed his bond’s hand, glancing after Talia, thenback to Bo. “I don’t know the Protocols here. And I’ve upset you before by misjudging them. I don’t wish to cause discord.”
“Well, if Robin offers you his bed, don’t take it. Feel free to crash with me in mine, though.”
At that jesting reminder of their first awkward night together, Everil smiled. It seemed impossibly long ago.
“Duly noted.”
“Don’t take Robin watching you personally. My aunt says he’s a bird as much as I am a cat. I’m good with you touching me how you usually do, and from the way Robin said ‘friend,’ it’ll shock fucking no one.” Bo spoke softly, occasionally glancing toward the living room, where his family waited. Jan still with Talia, and Robin frowning at his phone. “I told them your asshole ex was trying to get back with you, so they won’t ask for details. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. No one’ll get upset about it. You did good with Robin. It went well. No discord caused.”
With each sketched border and detail, Everil’s anxiety eased. This, a clear outline of what was and wasn’t expected, was what he needed. Bo was the first to understand that. To offer a path to walk along, instead of snapping at him for not simplyknowing.
“Thank you,” he murmured, drawing Bo’s hand to his lips to brush a kiss across his fingertips. “Lead on, my Summer King.”
“You got it, my Winter Lord.” Bo offered him a crooked smile. “C’mon. Aunt Jan’s probably teaching our kid how to hotwire a fucking eighteen-wheeler.”
They entered the living room fully, all seashells and abstract paintings. Talia perched on a chair of bleached wood, looking up at Jan. Robin appeared yet more displeased.
“Hey, Bo? And … Everi? Everil.” The man’s voice was all wariness, and he looked between them, wide-eyed.
“Jesus,” Bo said. “You okay?”
“Our neighbors got broken into this spring.” Robin offered the non-sequitur as if it were of some import. “We got one of those smart video doorbells afterward. Just in case. Motion activated.”
