Avery wrinkles her nose as if trying to decide whether to be offended and then just shakes it off and leans in closer to Brett, who runs a hand through her hair.
No one who knew him as Boreas, the prince of ice, could ever have imagined him looking so domesticated.
They’re practically disgusting together, just bonding all over everything.
But in my heart, I only envy them.
I glance at the apartment building across from us, trying not to think about the fact that Eva could be getting ready for bed now. Perhaps slipping into something a little more—
“It’s too bad we couldn’t rent something in her building,” Flynn, ever the one focused on our mission, interjects. “It would have been safer to be closer.”
I nod. “The other night, I had to fight three chaos agents. News of Avery’s awakening must have spread, making them that much more motivated to find Eva.”
Brett raises an ash-blond eyebrow at me. “You fought three? Alone?”
“Last night, when I was doing recon on Eva, just to get a feel for who she was.”
“Oh,” Brett says. “Well, I’m glad you took care of it.”
I nod, drumming my fingertips nervously against my knee, thinking about when I’ll be able to see her, touch her, again.
Even today in the elevator, all I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and hold her. Whisper sweet, naughty nothings into her ear about how we’re meant to be together.
Maybe even take off a suppressor and ask if she can feel our bond.
Unlike Brett, I’m not above letting my soul bond feel our true connection.
But not yet.
I’m not going to do this like Brett did. Rush things and scare Eva away.
Though, I admit it’s hard to hold back when you know someone is meant to spend the rest of their life with you.
Ian lets out a grunt. “Maybe I should be the first one to do recon next time. I’m still jealous you saw her first.”
Flynn looks over at him. “You wouldn’t have resonated as strongly even if you had.”
Ian just shrugs, looking bored. I know he’s happy for me, but he’s also getting a bit stir-crazy. He shoves a hand through his tousled white hair, his gray eyes unsettled.
I’m Eva’s soul bond, so it’s my responsibility above all to make sure she’s safe.
But it also gets me out of the apartment and doing something, while Flynn and Ian mostly have to stay here and keep studying the human world and awaiting news of another beacon.
“I put an obscuring veil of darkness around her apartment when I went over today, after the interview. Combined with guarding her at work, it should be enough.”
“The chaos intrusion is that bad?”
I nod. “When I’m with her, I can feel tendrils of chaos from almost every direction. Either she’s powerful or the chaos realm has just stepped up their efforts, knowing they lost out on Avery.”
“Damn right,” Brett says, looking almost human as he brushes hair out of Avery’s eyes. “Not even an army could take my soul bond from me.”
“Aww.” Avery smiles up at him, and I look away because they’re probably about to kiss.
I’d never known if I would actually find my soul bond. I’ve been so busy fighting chaos soldiers and ensuring the safety of my kingdom that it was almost a relief not to have to worry about another bond.
Even now, I’m stressed about how my kingdom is doing without me there as commander.
But when I see Eva, when I think about having this beautiful, strong woman by my side, making her smile, making her happy…
Yeah, I can put off the whole “running the kingdom” thing for a while.
Until I can take her back with me.
“Uh, so she’s medium height, right? I mean for a human woman.”
I sit up, looking over at Ian. “Yes.”
“Brown hair?”
“Yes.”
“Curves?”
“Watch it,” I growl.
Ian turns to me with a shrug. “I think she just left her apartment.” He points to the window. “You might want to go after her.”
I stand and get over to the window in an instant, just in time to see Eva, headphones in and wearing some light jacket over tight running pants, head out into the night, jogging down the sidewalk.
I run for my coat, grabbing it as I leave the apartment. “I’m just going to trail her. I’ll call you if I need help,” I say, though I would never need anyone’s help in protecting my soul bond.
I can fight off entire armies singlehanded.
Fear and fury mingle in me as I run for the stairwell, not wanting to wait for the elevator.
Fury because she should be able to live normally, without so much evil after her. And fear because, while she doesn’t trust me or know she’s in danger, something could happen to her while I’m not around.
I’m torn between the desire to let her come to the natural conclusion of our connection and the need to convince her that she isn’t safe without me by her side.
But first, I need to make sure nothing happens to her.
For now, I can do that from the shadows.
6
Eva
Peace and quiet.
Finally.
The feel of my shoes rolling rhythmically on and off the concrete sidewalk to the beat of my favorite tunes is all I hear as I zone out into my own little jogging happy place.
Puffs of air from my mouth filter around me like thin fog. It’s evening, not quite yet dark, as the sun lingers in sky a little bit longer until it will set in a half hour or so.
I’ve always loved running, even since I was little. And somehow, beyond explanation, I’ve always been good at it.
Like… weirdly good, with stamina that goes on and on.
But there are a couple ways I’ve always been a bit different, and since a million Google searches haven’t helped me figure out why, I don’t think about it that much.
No one else has to know, and I can go on enjoying my existence.
I turn another corner, watching as my shadow bobs on the brick wall next to me, up and down.
Suddenly, it bobs again, out of sync with my body.
I stop.
But when I look again, it’s just my shape projected onto the wall.
Curvy hips that look even more dramatic. Average height. A little chubby everywhere, though I like that about myself and it hasn’t seemed to hamper my attractiveness to the other sex.
I wish it had, because men have always watched me and I have never wanted their attention.
Suddenly, the memory of Tanner in that devastating suit hits me, so palpable it’s like he’s right there in front of me.
Okay, so maybe I want one man’s attention.
Run it off, Eva.
I shake my head, making my way down the street again, not really sure where I am, but not really caring.
I zone out a lot while running, and with my endless stamina, I sometimes end up lost, needing to either map my way home or take a cab if it’s too late.
And today, there’s only been one thing to zone out about, despite all the other problems on my mind.
It starts with “T” and ends with “sex, please.”
I’m so caught up trying to not think about the sultry eyes of the new interim CEO that when I finally zone back in, I suddenly realize I’m in a totally different part of town.