He ignores the prompt.
“What does this mean?” I ask.
She seesaws her head. “Monitoring. Restrictions. Quarterly check-ins for reassessment. But ultimately, not my problem since he is, in fact, one of the Nephilim.”
My heart squeezes painfully. “Nephilim?”
She shakes her head. “Not the biblical kind. It’s just our designation for the long-lived, magical shape shifters who cause way more trouble than they should.”
“I haven’t caused any trouble,” Apollo says with a pout.
Sylvia laughs. “What about the town that needed a memory wipe?”
“That was your idea, too, my witch,” he says, pulling her against his side.
She taps his nose. “Yes well, my threat assessment reflected that.”
Amyrah clears her throat again, louder. “The department states you can create two binds to each of your siblings, but that you’re restricted to their domiciles and your own for the next six months for monitoring.”
“House arrest? Seriously?” I demand.
She looks at me flatly. “He tore a protobot in half, and you fried one with conjured electricity.”
I mash my lips together. “Yeah, but, self-defense…”
“Hence six months of observation instead of three years detention,” Amyrah says as she scrolls to the sentencing information.
They did take the situation into account. Bastian and I are considered powerful creatures on Earth, and so of course they want to watch us to see what we’re doing.
“Fine. Makes sense, I guess. But can we go out for lunch at the Chubby Radish?” I ask.
Amyrah gives me a withering stare. “Not. My. Problem.”
Some help she is.
“Binding time!” Sylvia interrupts with a cheery smile. “Café first, or hot springs?”
My eyebrows shoot up my forehead. “Hot springs?”
forty-five
Soulbinding with Brothers
The misty portal opens to a rocky floor, and a thick glowing crystal suspended in a beam of purple light. I stagger forward as the moisture hits my skin and the heat fills my bones.
It’s.
So.
Perfect!
I haven’t even seen the whole springs but just the vibes of this room is incredible. It’s spacious, with romantic lighting, and plants. So many plants! I don’t have a green thumb—I wish I did—but Sylvia has made this place a paradise of green. Maybe I’ll ask her to help me spruce up the library like I wanted those months ago.
Beyond the thrumming purple geode is a pool that’s just for two. It’s definitely their private spot, but it’s so enchanting I can’t help but squeal.
I turn to her with a bright smile. “This is so amazing!”
She beams. “Thank you. I’m sure your bookshop is incredible too.”
