Page 32 of Back in the Hunt

Could he?

“What if I wanted to…be with Everly?”

“Like, date him?” Nox asked, his head cocking. “I kind of assumed you two were…dating.”

“No!” Bryn shook his head. “I’ve done my best to keep us both out of trouble because I don’t want to turn Ev into an incubus. He deserves more than that. He wanted to be an accountant,” he said and Nox pressed his fist against his lips, smothering a laugh.

“He’sreallybad at math, Bryn. I tried to explain the basic ratios we use for teas and I thought I’d killed him again.”

“That’s not the point,” Bryn snapped. He gave Nox a pointed look. “I’m trying, but it gets to me when you make jokes about Ev. He knows he’s not a scholar like you and Merlin or a brilliant scientist and surgeon like Arawn. He doesn’t have to be because everything’s alreadyrightin the world, if you ask him. He sees beauty in everyone and everything. He just wants to be a part of it and be useful and I think that makes him better than the rest of us.”

Nox answered with a stunned, watery gasp, nodding jerkily. “You’re right and I am truly sorry. I might be a scholar, but Everly could teach me a great deal about the world.”

“Thank you,” Bryn replied, bowing his head. “So, when will you teach Everly how to control the effect he has on humans and protect himself from that new Abhartach? Or whatever it is,” he added with a sneer.

“I’m not going to teach Everly any of that,” Nox answered, confusing Bryn.

“What? Why?”

Nox held up a finger, smiling. “Remember what Jesus of Nazareth suggested. Everly’s teaching himself. He hasalwaysbeen sensitive and strong. He just didn’t know what was possible before.” Nox wagged the finger at Bryn. “I make jokes because I’m a smartass, like you, but I don’t see something hollow when I look into those deep, dark eyes. That’scuriosityand Everly’s curiosity is like a well and it’s vast. When I toss an idea in there, I see it rippling in Everly’s eyes,” Nox explained in a hushed whisper, growing more excited. “I told him how I pinch the flame out of a match and hold onto it and guess what Everly was doing on the back terrace half an hour later?”

“What?”

“Burning the almighty shit out of himself with a book of matches,” Nox said and they both lost it, giggling and gasping until he coughed and became serious. “Everly lit the fire in the study this morning. It took meyearsto learn that, Bryn.”

“Wow… That’s scary, actually.”

“It’s a good thing he’sgood, isn’t it?” Nox said. “Everly’s teaching himself elemental magick and he’s somehow figured out how to pass through the veil. I think he’s learning those things from usandhe’s absorbing our magick. I’m just letting him…marinate, but you’ve imprinted on him and you havecaredfor him. You sleep at the foot of his bed like a loyal friend and that can only be good for him. And you,” he added, his eyes sparkling.

“That’s what my gut tells me too,” Bryn said with a soft chuckle. “So, how will we know when he’s ready to…date?” He rolled his eyes at the banality of it, but Bryn got a tickle in his chest and he’d swear his tummy actually flipped at the idea ofquiet dinners, holding hands, holding Ev… Bryn ached to hold Everly without worrying he’d ruin him.

Nox’s lips pursed and his cheeks puffed before he made an exploding sound. “I honestly assumed that things had already…progressed and Everly had figured that out on his own too.”

“What?” Bryn asked, backing toward the door.

“Yeah,” Nox nodded. “An incubus can’t survive in the Nothing or start fires. He has an astral body! I think it’s pretty safe to assume Everly can handle sex now.”

“Oh?” It came out as a dry croak and Bryn mouthed an apology when he backed into the door.

“He can’t drain us like a parasite, the way a leannán sí would and like he used to, because of who we are. Instead, Everly’s figured out how to draw strength from his love for us.”

“Our love is making him stronger,” Bryn realized out loud, causing Nox to smirk and sigh happily.

“That’s the way it usually works!”

The wheels were finally turning and Bryn was catching up quickly. “I might make him even stronger by loving him more…”

“Seems highly likely,” Nox confirmed.

Bryn spun and threw the door open. “I have to go! Thanks!” he called as he attempted to run but was immediately blocked by a stream of students when he came around the corner. He had to weave his way through and finally found a breezeway. A quick leap over a balustrade and Bryn was free as soon as his feet hit the grass. He took off, sprinting across the lawn and leaping over backpacks and blankets as he sped toward Nox’s house.

It was a short trip and Bryn had barely broken a sweat by the time he burst through the front door and listened for Everly. He heard him and Merlin in the kitchen and rushed down the hall.

He peeked around the door and smiled when he found Everly on a stool, looking on as Merlin prepared the vegetablesfor dinner. Bryn assumed they were having Kung Pao Chicken because that was theonlymeal Merlin knew how to cook.

“Can I see you for a moment?” Bryn asked Everly, swinging his head toward the stairs.

“Sure! How was your run?” he asked as he slid off the stool.

---