“Caelan.” I tilted my head.
His eyes flicked to the squirming bundle in my arms. Seymour, the little asshole, sank fangs he shouldn't have, right into my arm, and leaped toward Caelan.
I hissed and slapped a hand over the wound.
“Seymour!” Evie snapped in disapproval. “No biting!”
Caelan caught him in mid-air, laughing as he did. “Hey, little guy!”
Seymour bumped Caelan's chest with his main trap, an odd trilling noise coming from him. Hurt punched me through the bond, and it took a moment for me to realize it was Evie's.
She and I both knew Seymour wasn't coming home with us. Maybe the thought wasn't charitable, but I wondered if Evie could make another slightly less assholish, non-venomous version to replace him.
I liked Seymour, and he liked me, but neither one of us liked each other all the time.
Especially not today.
Evie frowned and came over, brushing her fingers over my wound. Soothing magic bubbled through my veins as the poison evaporated, thankfully before I lost control of all my limbs.
“Sorry,” she murmured.
“You're getting better at that.” I paused and lowered my voice while Caelan was still distracted. “Though I'd much rather you heal me while we're naked and buried in a hole.”
Evie snorted.
Moira clicked her tongue. “Dirty boy,” she murmured.
Garrett let out a long-suffering sigh.
“Is he coming home with me, or is this a pity visit?” Caelan asked a moment later.
I felt the spike of grief through the bond. “Up to Seymour,” Evie said.
She held out her hand and gestured for Seymour to come. The flytrap hesitated for a split second before he leaped into her arms.
Evie tucked him close and stepped far enough away for no one to be able to hear her, leaving us standing there awkwardly. Caelan and I would never make small talk again.
He watched Evie closely, that ring of gold still surrounding his irises. “She looks good.”
I blinked in surprise. My first instinct was to antagonize him because of what he'd done to Evie, but she would want me to let it go. I wouldn't, but I'd pretend to. At least for tonight.
“She does,” I said quietly.
“She's happy.”
I nodded. There was nothing else to say. Evie was happy. She was blooming away from this cursed place and its brooding leader.
Caelan's heavy sigh almost made me feel bad for him.
But he was a dick, and I'd stopped feeling sympathy for him the second he made Evie feel regret about who she was. I wasn't sad that he'd lost someone so amazing because I'd gained her through trust while Caelan had gained her through stubborn stalking.
“Do you feel good about yourself?” Caelan growled.
Garrett straightened, eyeing Caelan's posture and position. He'd step in if he needed to, but there was no need. I was well equipped to take care of myself.
“Are you fucking kidding?” I said quietly. “I feel amazing.”
Garrett snorted. Moira tried unsuccessfully to cover her grin. She reached over and gripped my forearm, squeezing gently. Partly in warning, partly in approval.
