Page 48 of Back in the Hunt

“That’s also around the time Edmund’s grave was dug up,” Fletcher said. “He wasn’t treated that much better in death. It’s a poor county without a budget for an ME or a crematorium, let alone the extra funding for burying paupers. I don’t know if it was superstition or if they were cutting corners, but Edmund was put in a simple wooden casket—in his dirty pajamas and glasses—and was buried with the county’s other paupers.”

Bryn groaned sympathetically and glanced at Everly. He looked shaken so Bryn decided to move things along. “No wonder the anti-Everly’s so angry. Any child—human or magickal—would be damaged. I almost feel sorry for it,” he admitted but Merlin shook his head while writing everything Nox had relayed on the board.

“Feel sorry for the creature that died in that basement. Its soul left when Edmund died, leaving nothing but a haunted shell.Thatis what Hugh Dùbhghlas stole from the cemetery and trained to feed on souls, instead of nurturing it with kindness,” he stated and there were hums of agreement and curses made against Dùbhghlas.

Nox held up his glass for a refill and to start the ball rolling. “If we can lure little Abhartach out again, I can burn whatever’s in there out of it from this side and Bryn and Arawn can bewaiting in case it jumps back into the Nothing and tag team it in there. Either way, we’ll need both hounds there to ferry all those souls once it's gone.”

“What about Douchebag?” Bryn asked, hugging his chest as he studied the board.

There was a worried sound from Merlin. “We will have to proceed cautiously with Hugh. Wemustfind a way to catch him and this changeling in the act—together—or convince him to confess to more than ‘keeping a pet,’” he said with a sneer. “Hugh has already been banished. Many will say that is enough and there will be little appetite to confront him and draw his ire unless we have a smoking gun, as it were.”

“I’ll see what I can do about that,” Bryn said sarcastically. “I’m not gonna lose any sleep if that slimy fuck bites it while we’re taking out his attack doll. And I will gladly watch as his soul is warped into a sluagh by the Nothing,” he added, making Merlin grin over his shoulder.

“I would not be the least bit bothered by that outcome myself. In fact, I anticipate losing my glasses on that particular evening and will have nothing helpful to share about the matter if anyone should ask,” he said with a hard wink at Bryn.

Everyone except Everly agreed that Nox was the ideal bait. Times and locations were thrown around, but the group decided to wait until morning to see how well Nox had recovered before setting a plan in motion.

Bryn had expected more of a fight from Everly and to spend the night convincing him once they were alone. But Everly surprised Bryn by locking the bedroom door and leaping into his arms. Instead of worrying and blaming himself, Everly set about seducing Bryn in his adorably awkward, hilariously direct way.

“I don’t want to talk about tomorrow or the anti-Everly. I want to pretend that I am an incubus and see if I can suck a soul out of a hellhound. With my mouth!” he added andalmostkilledthe mood by trying to wiggle his brows half a minute later. His tongue protruded from the corner of his lips as he tried to see his brows, making Bryn laugh as he kissed Everly.

“Sure. Let’s give it a shot.”

Sixteen

Everly had written the note while Bryn and the rest of the men were staring at Merlin’s board, analyzing Edmund’s tragic story, and planning their trap. They didn’t need him so Everly sat behind Nox’s desk and scribbled out the note, tucking it into his hoodie for later. He had been extra vigorous while they were having sex and now that Bryn was asleep, Everly was ready to make his move.

The more Everly had listened to them assess and calculate in the study, the more he worried about the risks his friends were taking. There was no way Everly would let Nox use himself as bait and he was so scared for Arawn and Bryn, taking on the Abhartach alone in the Nothing. If either of them died, the other would age and die quickly and as much as Everly feared losing them, he didn’t want Fletcher to live the rest of his life without Arawn. Everly and Fletcher would both have to wait until they died to be reunited with their loves again.

It was a very slim possibility, but Everly could survive another encounter with the anti-him and return with something valuable to report that might help the others. Or, he would die and possibly leave behind a useful clue. And while Everly knew that it was practically impossible that he could defeat the Abhartach on his own, he believed it was worth trying if there was a chance he could spare Bryn and his brother or help them when it was their turn to face it.

Waiting while they went off to fight for him again wasn’t an option for Everly. His life would be worthless if the Abhartach took either of the twins but Everly also knew that this was his only shot to dosomething. Bryn and the rest of their friends were preparing to make their move in the next few days and none of their plans included Everly. He was expected to stay in the townhouse where it was safe and the waiting would be even worse this time.

Everly wasn’t afraid of failing because he knew he would see Bryn again soon. Bryn would find the abomination and set Everly’s soul free, along with all the others, and they would be reunited in Annwn. The only thing Everly had to lose was the present and that was a blink in time, compared to an eternity of glory with Bryn. And Everly would rather die first than spend decades waiting.

I have to go if there’s a chance I can save him.

Everly pulled in a deep breath, filling as much of his body with Bryn’s beautiful scent as he could, resolved and ready to fight for his love. He remembered what Nox and Merlin had taught him about intention and was confident thathisintentions could not be any better. That had to count for something and love had worked so many miracles for Everly since the night he was rescued.

He brushed the hair away from Bryn’s face, cherishing it as he slept. “For glory,” he mouthed and traced Bryn’s lip with his thumb before scooting back.

“Where you goin’?” Bryn mumbled in his sleep, one arm reaching for Everly.

He shushed soothingly and tucked his pillow against Bryn’s side and pulled the duvet up. “Have to pee. Be right back.” He pressed the lightest kiss to Bryn’s lips, then backed away silently.

He reached for his hoodie on the armchair, hugging it against his chest as he tiptoed to the bedroom door and into the hall. Everly eased the door shut and listened for a moment to make sure Bryn stayed in bed, then turned and hurried to the stairs in just his pajama pants. He pulled on his hoodie, zipping it as he crept down each step, listening for any creaks, clicks, or whispers before dashing to the front door.

It took just a few seconds to tap in the security code on the pad, disable the alarm, and turn the locks. Once outside, Everly ducked and scurried through the front yard and to the gate. Hepressed his back against the wall, once again listening for any sounds from Nox’s townhouse but the night was silent, save for the pounding of Everly’s heart.

“Step one,” he whispered to himself, then looked around the wall, peeking through the gate’s bars. He hadn’t really thought about what he’d do after he completed step one. That seemed like the trickiest part, after all.

The narrow alley across the street was dark and appeared empty. Everly hurried and opened the gate, then quickly headed in the other direction. He didn’t know how to summon the anti-Everly but he didn’t want it close to Nox’s house. Everly hadn’t done anything to attract the sluagh the first time they attacked so he set off toward the darker end of the street, away from the streetlight. He reasoned that since he was much stronger than he was that first night, he would be a far more attractive and detectable target.

After a few minutes, his steps slowed and faltered and Everly was scared as he waited to be attacked again and he was even more scared of dying. Would it hurt? Would it be dark and cold like last time?

“Bryn will find me,” he told himself with a firm nod, convinced that even if he screwed up, Bryn and Arawn would eventually defeat the anti-Everly and set him and all the other souls free.

He walked for a while, taking the darker streets until he didn’t recognize any of the houses or vehicles around him. Everly turned and turned, searching for something familiar and was suddenly nervous because he didn’t know where he was or how to find Nox’s house again.

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