Chapter 22 Heidi #2
But my bodyguard's heated warning is gone as quickly as it came when he strides past me into my house, telling one of the other guys not to touch anything.
I shake my head to clear it and take a deep breath, still trying to absorb the fact that Ian and my half-demon are both alive, and they're here.
It feels so surreal that I'm worried stepping inside will end this dream.
"You have three hunks in your house. You should totally fuck all of them," Jessica whispers in my ear like a blue-haired shoulder devil.
I shoot a look at her, speaking under my breath. "What? No. It's fun to see Asher's reactions when I flirt with him, but I am not about to get mixed up with any legacy—especially not plural legacies. I'm looking for a regular boyfriend, remember? After all this dies down," I add quietly.
"El, think this through. Asher is hot, and he's immune to your amplified empath touch. The half-demon is hot, and he clearly followed you here all the way from the Nether. Ian is hot, and—"
"And he's just my brother's best friend, checking in on me," I hiss, glancing through the doorway to make sure none of them are witnessing this silent exchange.
"What, so he just decided the best time to show up and reveal he's still alive is right after you got hit by a fucking bus?" Jess throws her hands in the air. "Bitch, be serious! These legacies all have it bad for you, and it's time for you to get all legacy-ish and try group dating for once!"
She knows how much I prefer pretending I was never born a legacy at all—and right now, there are two more gorgeous men in my house who I have questions for, so there's no way I'm getting into this with her.
Ignoring my ghostly best friend and slipping inside, I shut the door behind me just as it starts to rain outside.
Ian is examining the pictures of Jess and me on the wall while the half-demon is eating the leftover chocolate chip pancakes.
Asher is leaning against one wall, arms folded like he's grouchy.
I have to say, my bodyguard pulls off grouch better than anyone I've ever seen. Somehow, it just adds points to his hotness scale.
"These are fucking great," the sexy half-demon in my kitchen calls, holding up the last pancake.
"I'm glad you like them." I shuffle, not entirely sure what to do with myself with this many people in my house for the first time in months. My stomach is full of nervous knots I don't completely understand. "By the way, what's your name?"
I should at least know that, since he's licked my soul to Paradise and back.
"Keep the full thing to yourself," Asher inserts, giving my Nether savior a hard look. "If I sense one ounce of demonology, I don't care how happy Heidi is to see you—you'll be out on your ass."
The black-clad half-demon snorts at the warning before rounding the corner to smile at me. "I've been going by Zak since I escaped the Nether, but you can call me whatever the fuck you want to, Candy."
"Zak," I repeat, looking him over again.
It's kind of hard to believe he's a half-demon. Aside from almost mythically sharp, handsome features and a couple of telling pointed teeth, he looks so human. Those gray eyes are mesmerizing, and all his piercings only add to his tough appearance.
He smiles and takes a step closer. "Like what you see? So do I."
My inner animal preens. I can feel the blush trying to creep back onto my face, but I laugh it off and glance at the clock on my oven, trying to figure out how to navigate this unexpected visit as it gets dark and stormier outside.
I'm beyond grateful that both Ian and Zak are wearing mytherun—Ian's idea, I'm sure—because as it is, I'm already drowning in my own feelings.
I glance at Ian hopefully. "Do you guys…would you stay for dinner?"
So quickly, I almost think I imagine it, his blue gaze flickers to my neck, but then he's smiling at me as warmly as I always remembered.
Gods, I can't get over how handsome he is now. Not that he wasn't a good-looking kid when we were little, but it's just so different to see him as an adult.
"We'll stay as long as you want us to, Sunshine."
"Tell them to stay forever," Jessica pipes up. "You're going to need a bigger bed, El."
That makes me realize something. As rain starts to pummel the top of my house and gusts howl out in the dark woods, I yawn and glance between Ian and Zak.
"Do you guys have a place to stay tonight?"
"There's a motel in Koasville," Asher interjects. "They can crash there."
The storm chooses this second to get louder outside until it's shrieking, thunder booming angrily to add to the effect. I give my bodyguard the side eye, knowing he's not about to like this, before I smile at the other two.
"I have a really nice fuzzy sleeper sofa upstairs, and one of you could try the couch if you want. I actually slept on it last night, and it's surprisingly comfortable, so—"
"Is your bed on the menu?" Zak checks, hopeful.
Asher's jaw clenches. "Don't test me right now, you demonic little fuckwad."
"My girl's standing right there, you shameless hussy," the half-demon scoffs back at him, gesturing at me.
Did I miss something in their conversation? I'm confused, and Asher seems to be, too, but Ian steps up beside me with a soft smile.
"Are you really okay letting us stay here for the night?"
"Of course. The storms up here get pretty nasty in the spring, and I'm pretty sure Everett wouldn't want me kicking his best friend out to weather it at night," I add.
Then I hesitate, and my voice gets a little tighter than I mean it to.
"He knew you were alive this whole time, didn't he? Why did he keep it from me?"
Ian's expression fills with guilt and something darker.
"It's complicated. I want to tell you everything, if you'll let me.
But first, don't take us in tonight unless you really want to.
We'll be fine either way, so don't let us intrude on you getting your rest. Remember, you're not responsible for us or for anyone else. It's just about what you want."
His words almost echo all the times he urged me not to let others' emotions affect me so much. Knowing he's concerned about overstepping makes me beam at him.
"I want you to stay tonight so you don't have to deal with the nasty storm.
All of you," I add before I gesture at my bodyguard.
"Asher is already set up in the guest room because Everett kind of lost his mind when that whole bus thing happened.
Er—actually, I don't know if you guys know about the dumb bus thing, but—"
"Oh, we know," Zak mutters angrily.
"Of course, you do," I sigh, lamenting how public that whole thing was.
I'm never going to live it down, so I change the topic and look at Asher again.
"It's not a big deal if they stay tonight, right?
I trust Ian more than anything, and Zak kept me alive when I was in the Nether.
They're not here to hurt me," I insist, more sure about that than anything in the world.
Asher looks at the vampire and the half-demon, debating. "It's a bad idea."
"Please?" I tack on, batting my eyes and giving him my best begging face.
I mean it to be funny, but the grouchiness leaves my bodyguard's face for a second before he sighs.
“Fine. It's your house. But I swear, if one more freak pops up out of the woodwork to drool all over you—"
There's another knock at the front door.
I startle, gawking at it along with the others.
Silas made this place nearly impossible to find with his magic. Not to mention, it's dark and stormy outside now, so who on earth…?
I nearly jump out of my skin when Athanis drifts through the front door, not even sparing a look at everyone else in this room before beaming at me.
"Excellent tidings, Elise! I have guided my friend back to you so he may protect you from any more buses.”