Page 10 of Back in the Hunt

“Right…” Everly paused, assessing his thoughts but there were so many and he still had more questions than answers and no idea of where to start processing everything. “Would it be possible to get a general idea of who’s on our team, so I know the…scale of what we’re talking about and how much trouble I’m in. Since it appears that vampires are real and one wants to kill me,” he said and a laugh burst from Bryn as he nodded.

He lowered into his chair at the foot of the bed and rested his elbows on his knees. “If you think that will help. You’ve got two spectral hounds, a sun god, and two-and-a-half immortals on your side. Merlin and Professor Darrach Clancy. He’s in reserve unless we need him, I’m told. He’s on a cruise with his Valkyriewife. And we’re not sure where Nelson sits on the human-to-immortal scale because he’s extremely new to this and is just as old as he looks.”

“Wow… That is all…comforting. How old are you and your brother?” Everly asked and Bryn smirked.

“We’re still puppies too, compared to Merlin and Professor Clancy. You can’t underestimate Fletcher either. He’s a mortal man, but he might be one of the best I’ve ever met.”

“He sounds nice. How old are you?” Everly repeated and widened his eyes at Bryn. His attempt to evade the question hadn’t worked.

“Well…” Bryn sat back, then jumped to his feet and went to the window. “Part of me is as old as the Wild Hunt and I have no idea when that was or how long it’s been. This part…” He turned and touched the middle of his chest. “Arawn and I were born in America, in 1802. We grew up a ways from Georgetown. Down southwest, in the mountains, but there are memories that stretch way, way back before our lives here.”

“And you can’t die?”

Bryn shrugged, shaking his head slowly. “It would take a lot and it would have to happen in that other place. Do you remember it?”

“No—” Everly started, but stopped when he remembered being someplace so cold and slow, the air was thick. “Was that Hell?” he asked weakly.

“No. That was the place between places. Arawn and I call it the Nothing. We keep souls from getting lost there and make sure they end up where they’re supposed to, but it wasn’t your time yet and you’re not meant for Hell.”

“Oh?” Everly felt another smile tugging at his lips and sat back against the pillows. “You could tell?”

“I could tell.”

“Can you tell me about it?” Everly patted the duvet next to him. “I’m feeling less scared, the more I learn, and that seems like a good place to start.”

Bryn nodded as he went to the bed and sat next to Everly. “I can tell you about the Nothing and Annwn.”

“What’s Annwn? Is it like Heaven?”

“A little. Most of the folk, like us, where we’re from call it the Otherworld. In Welsh, it’s Annwn, and it’s a place of glory and peace. That’s where brave souls go when it’s time for their earthly bodies to rest,” he started and began to unravel the mysteries of the mystical universe for Everly.

Instead of being baffled or frightened, Everly found comfort in finally learning the truth and knowing that he wasn’t as alone as he had always believed.

Three

Bryn was still there when Everly opened his eyes the next morning. Except that Bryn had moved the armchair around and was holding Everly’s hand as he read something on his phone. The room was still dark and Everly could hear wind and rain pelting the window behind him.

“Are you sure that’s safe?” Everly whispered, not wanting to disturb Bryn or give up his hand. It was warm and strong as it curled around his, keeping Everly’s fear of storms at bay for the moment.

There was a soft chuckle and Bryn gave it a gentle squeeze. “It started to rain just before sunrise and you got a little restless so I moved over here to keep a closer eye on you. But I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about hurting me.”

Everly tightened his hand around Bryn’s, testing the connection and watching him closely. “You won’t lose control or hurt yourself?” he asked, but he could see how clear Bryn’s gaze was and hefeltcalm as his other hand brushed the hair away from Everly’s eyes.

“You are beautiful to me and I can see that you’re special and you smell a little better than most humans, but that’s it. I won’t lose my mind or waste away without you.”

“Then why are you still here? Why are you always here?” Everly asked, wrinkling his nose sheepishly. “I like it,” he admitted in a secret whisper, glancing at the door to make sure they were still alone. “I don’t want to hurt you but I like it when you’re close to me.”

Bryn answered with a blushing chuckle. “I like it too and you’d have a problem if you didn’t want me hovering. I’m like a dog with a bone when I’ve found something I like,” he said with a teasing wink. “Or when I’ve found someone who needs my help and protection.”

“Is that the only reason?” Everly asked shyly, unable to lift his gaze to Bryn’s. “We can have sex now if you want to. I wouldn’t mind,” he said, then flinched when Bryn jerked and jumped to his feet.

“Easy!” He held a hand out as if Everly might leap from the bed, his laugh high and cracking. “I’m a little old fashioned when it comes to that. Let me buy you a drink first and pretend I’m gonna call you back,” he said with a self-deprecating grimace. “Even that’s stretching it because I have been a complete dog in the past but you deserve more.”

“You don’t want to have sex with me?” Everly asked, confused.Everyonewanted Everly like that if they got close to him. It was why he never sat next to anyone on the bus or got into elevators.

There was another strained laugh as Bryn paced to the window. “Look, Ev… I’m a man in every way that matters and a manwiththe heightened primal instincts of a beast. And you are very beautiful and you happen to check off some other boxes for me. But?—”

“What boxes?” Everly interrupted, very keen to know what those boxes were so he knew what to do or be more of.

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