In the days following Sean’s enlightenment of the soul bond, he could see why.
David wasnotterrible. Once Sean trudged past David’s icy exterior, he discovered a dynamic, complicated,pleasantperson.
…Who was giving Sean some major side-eye.
“You sure you want me at your side?” David asked.
They stood near the arms tent at the Border Watch. The place was a madhouse, with people coming and going in no apparent order. The Shamans who ran the Exorcism lorded over the chaos with little supervision, and for a rank so high in the hierarchy, Sean was unimpressed by their lack of order.
Perhaps the lazy or inept pixies were the ones who chose the Shaman path…
“I’d prefer you at my side over hidden in the shadows,” Sean said, strapping a dagger to his ankle.
“I thinkthey’dprefer me dead,” David said, gesturing toward the strangers darting not-so-subtle glares his way.
“Hey!” Sean shouted at them. “Mind your business.”
The strangers scampered away.
Beyond the outpost, the mist rose in a dense gray wall, and Sean’s insides tingled with anticipation. Since the moment Bowenn had mentioned an expedition into Viterra, Sean had scarcely been able to wait. Training was well and good, but this was real.Thiswas why he was born.
“Careful,” David said, his tone light. “You start showing them you like me, this whole place might fall apart.”
“Who said I like you?” Sean asked.
Kywyn, shuffling through some weapons in the arms tent behind him, chuckled. “I see you’ve overcome your differences, eh?”
Sean and David exchanged glances. As agreed, neither of them had told their parents about the soul bond, but their sudden comradeship hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Aunt Blaire grabbed Sean’s face and planted a kiss onto his temple. “It’s about time you two became friends. I always knew it was possible. It’s why we kept forcing you together as boys.”
“Yeah,” Sean said, submitting to her hugs. “It all worked out great.”
David snorted.
“Didn’t it?” Blaire said, then subjected David to the same affection.
“Did she just kiss me?” he whispered as she joined Kywyn in the arms tent, bewilderment lining his face.
“I hope you’re feeling guilty about that time you tried to seduce her in front of me last year.”
David’s lips flattened. “I was just trying to get under your skin.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Which clearly worked, since you’re still salty about it,” he added.
Autumn bounded up before Sean could answer, dressed in the most mortal clothes she owned—a white peasant-looking thing and yellow pants. “You guys ready?”
Isobel followed more slowly, wearing a simple blue dress, her face a tad pale.
“You okay?” Sean asked.
She nodded and touched her stomach. “Just nervous, I think. You ready to see what you’re going to spend the rest of your life doing?”
“Whatwe’regoing to spend the rest ofourlives doing,” he corrected.
Bel sighed, giving his temple a kiss. “You’re never going to give that up, are you?” she whispered into his ear.
