Chapter Fourteen
The sheer size of Cyne’s home intimidated her before she even walked through the door. She expected it to be large enough to house his team and two guests. She never guessed it would be a two-story log cabin, large enough to rival a chateau. It reminded her of the fancy cabins from a magazine article that showed pictures of a popular ski resort in Colorado. Its rustic exterior, built from light-colored logs, featured a porch that wrapped around the front and down one side of the house.
Jittery with nerves, she kept wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans. When Cyne first issued the invitation to dinner, excitement overruled any uneasiness. The opportunity to meet other members of his Surmata team, and the possibility they might share some of their adventures with her was a chance in a lifetime. One she refused to turn down. But, crowds, heck, one on one, made Evie spastic. Her social graces equaled that of a two-year-old amped up on sugar.
What if she embarrassed herself? What if this turned out to be some elaborate trap, a weird and freaky interrogation?
She tried to reassure herself with the knowledge Max and Caleb would be present. Surely, they would not let anything happen and would act as a buffer in case Evie went speechless.
“Relax, sweetheart, they won’t bite. Promise.” Max’s reassurance relaxed her. He always seemed to know when she freaked out.
Punctual for once, he’d arrived at her dorm on time, precisely at six. She was thankful for the escort because she wouldn’t have found the house on her own. Tucked in behind the school, solitary on its own acre of land, it hid from sight. While only a fifteen minute walk, the surrounding forest made it seem a world away. A small piece of heaven.
Max grabbed her hand, leading her up the stairs and through the door. A cozy entranceway, done in soft gray tones, greeted them. Directly in front, a large staircase spiraled up to the second floor. On the left, double doors built from old, reclaimed wood led to the living room.
“Everyone’s in the kitchen. Come on.” Max clunked down a hallway to the right, his combat boots heavy thumps on the hardwood floors. Max never stomped. Evie assumed he did it on purpose to alert the others of their arrival. She followed him past the stairs into the spacious area beyond.
The new space housed the kitchen and dining room in an open floor plan. The countertops created an L-shape with four stools placed around it. A dark wood dining table with bench seating contrasted with the white cabinets. Gazing around the space, Evie got the weirdest sense of déjà vu. With a shake of her head, she dismissed it as coincidence.
Caleb stood in the kitchen, prepping vegetables. Next to him, Cyne glanced up and offered Evie a bright smile.
“Hey, Short Stack. Glad you came.” Cyne wiped his hands on a towel before he walked around the counter and lifted Evie up off the ground in a one armed hug.
Taken by surprise, she clung to him, her arms around his shoulders. She managed to squeak out, “Hey, Cyne. Hi, Caleb.”
Caleb only nodded, attention on his work. Max, forgetting Evie, moved to his boyfriend’s side.
Cyne placed her back on her feet as he continued. “The rest of the guys are out back. Supposedly they’re grilling, but from the amount of bottles missing from the fridge, I think they’re sitting around drinking instead.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stared deep into her eyes. “Come on, it’s time to meet the remaining members of the Shadewolf Kaveri. They’re gonna love to see you.”
Confused by his statement, Evie allowed Cyne to escort her past the dining table and out the French doors into the backyard. They stepped onto a large, covered porch, complete with rocking chairs and an enormous chaise lounge. Ornate ceiling fans and a brightly colored outdoor rug gave the impression of an outdoor sitting room. The porch ended at a set of wide, wooden stairs that led to a brick, outdoor kitchen with a second dining table set up under a pergola. The brick extended further out, ending at a fire pit surrounded by sitting stones.
Five guys stood outside, all with their backs to Evie, but she still recognized them. Panic lit through her for a moment, but she took a deep breath to calm herself. She could do this. They were Cyne’s team. They must be okay with her being here.
“Hey, guys. Say hi to Evie.” Five heads turned in her direction, shock evident on their faces when they spotted her standing next to Cyne.
Wrong once again. Apparently, they weren’t expecting her. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
“What the hell, Cyne! She’s a fuckin’ human! When you said you invited a girl, I thought you found a new fuck buddy, not a charity case!” Kuuri Jaoel yelled from his place beside the fire pit. Standing, he cast her an accusing stare.
She flinched as his ugly words registered and moved closer to Cyne, wanting to touch him for comfort. But, they’d only just met, despite his friendly hug a few minutes ago, so she fought the urge and settled for stopping close enough to feel the heat of his skin near hers.
“Jaoel! What the hell is wrong with you? We don’t speak to any guest that way!” Soma Dashiel, who stood by the grill, moved in front of Jaoel to block Evie’s view of him. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but it ends now. First thing in the morning, report to the fifth ring. Understood?”
“Yes, Soma,” Jaoel ground out through gritted teeth. “Excuse me, I’ve lost my appetite.”
He stormed past everyone. Evie’s heart shattered into a million different pieces at the utter look of hatred in his eyes when he stomped past her.
She didn’t understand why his disregard hurt. She barely knew the healer, but it felt like a small death from a thousand knife cuts, all centered on her chest. Evie’s hands clenched at her sides, the urge to speak up almost too great to fight. She kept her mask firmly in place, not wanting him or anyone else to know how his words affected her. After all, she shouldn’t have to defend herself to someone she was quickly coming to detest. What right did he have to judge her? He may be sexy in a white coat, but that was all he had going for him. His ugly attitude would make an angel yank the halo from their head and stomp on it in disgust.
No one said a word as they watched Jaoel disappear back into the house. Evie bit her lip, uncomfortable. Maybe, it would be best if she left.
“Evie, sorry about Jaoel.” Soma Dashiel gave Evie a genuine smile, but worry filled his eyes as he glanced over her shoulder, back at the house. “He’s been dealing with something the last few months and has been lashing out. Please forgive his lack of manners. I’m glad you came tonight.”
Soturi Aaron manned the grill, tongs in hand as he turned several steaks. “Welcome to our family home, Evie.”
Evie offered him a small smile and turned her attention to the remaining two. By the fire pit, Soturi Xander and Soturi Jaxon stood and raised their beer bottles at her in lieu of a verbal greeting. With a nod of her head, she acknowledged them.
Cyne grabbed her attention once again. “Take a seat, Short Stack. I’ll grab you a drink. Soda or water?”
“Water, please.”
His warm presence left her as he walked back into the house. Squaring her shoulders, she took a seat on one of the stones opposite the two soldiers.
“Thank you for having me over for dinner,” she said, remembering her manners. Her southern upbringing allowed for no less.
Soma Dashiel came over and sat next to her, his large size dwarfing her. “Are you finding the school to your liking, Evie?”
Remembering her not so pure thoughts from earlier, Evie licked her lips nervously. Before she answered, she craned her neck, looking around for Cammie. Satisfaction filled her when she realized the red haired beauty wasn’t in attendance.
Smiling brightly, she turned her attention back to the man beside her. “Yes, Soma Dashiel.”
“This is our home, Evie. You may address me and the others by our first names.” Soma Dashiel smiled. “Max has talked about you for years, so we feel like we know you. Any friend of Max’s is a friend of ours. No titles are needed among friends.”
“Thank you, Som—I mean Dashiel.” Evie searched for something else to say. “So, uh, are you all members of Cyne’s Kaveri?” Evie mentally counted. “All six of you on one team?”
“Yes,” Jaxon responded before he drained the last drop of beer from his bottle. He set the empty bottle on the ground by his feet. “We’re the largest Kaveri in Surmata history,” he announced proudly. “Usually a Kaveri is made up of anywhere from two to four members. Being a six member team, we’re called out to handle more demon sightings than any other team. Don’t be too surprised if your professors change from time to time. We all pitch in to teach the classes, covering for those called out on a mission.”
Evie stared at Jaxon, surprised by his forthcoming answer. The sneer he wore at their last meeting was gone. Now he looked relaxed, and his eyes were alight.
“Do you like steak, Evie?” Aaron called to her, tongs raised in the air. “Or, do I need to throw something else on the grill for you?”
“Steak is fine. Thank you.”
“I wanted to double check. When I see some of those human girls eating in the cafeteria, I can’t help but wonder how they survive. They eat nothing but salad.” He turned a large piece of meat over. “I don’t understand human girls. If we tried to feed a Surmata female nothing but salad, she would dump it over our heads and kick us in the balls.”
“Fucking hell, Aaron. Watch your mouth around her. She’s still technically a kid. At least, for a few more days.” Max walked out of the doors, hand in hand with Caleb. The two males looked perfect together. One dark, the other light. Two opposite sides of a coin. Still, an overwhelming feeling told Evie something wasn’t right with them like their souls didn’t mesh perfectly, the edges unaligned.
“Really, Max?” Xander laughed as the two guys took a seat.
“What?” Max turned his gaze to the other man, his features perplexed.
Xander raised an eyebrow. “You lecture Aaron on his language in the same sentence you curse?”
“Oh, Evie’s heard a lot worse.” Max waved a dismissive hand. “I was talking about the ball kicking part. Her virgin ears don’t need us corrupting her.”
Evie ducked her head as a surge of heat stung her cheeks at Max’s words.
A loud smack brought her head back up only to witness Max rubbing his head in annoyance. “What the fuck, man? You didn’t have to smack me.”
Cyne stood over him with an annoyed expression on his face. “Caleb, do something with him please.” Cyne laughed to take the sting out of his words.
“Shit man. You’re just jealous cause you can’t cuss.” Max accused before Caleb could say anything.
“You can’t cuss?” Evie remembered his angry words from earlier, how he replaced the cuss words one would normally say with other words or phrases. “Is it a religious thing?”
Laughter rang out, all the guys throwing their heads back with loud, barking laughter. All except Cyne, who glared at everyone. “It’s not fudging funny, you duckheads.”
Grabbing Evie’s hand, he pulled her out of the seat and sat down in her place.
“Hey!” Evie exclaimed, hands going on her hips.
“Shush it, Short Stack.” Cyne grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto his lap.
“Cyne!” Evie exclaimed, shocked and unwillingly happy with his actions. His casual touches made her feel less hesitant about her own irrational desire to touch him.
“What, Tiny Tot?”
“Let me up.” His informality put her at ease, but there were others around, at least one of which she fantasized about kissing. She peeked at Dashiel to find him engrossed in conversation with Jaxon. No one paid Cyne and her any attention. Gaze returning to the man who held her, she halfheartedly protested, “I can’t sit on your lap.”
“Course you can. There are no seats left. This is me being practical.” He slung an arm around her hips. “Besides, if you sit on our laps all the time, all those human boys trying to get your attention will take a hint. It’s for your protection.”
Evie blinked at him in confusion. “What human boys, Cyne? No one’s paying me any mind.”
“Beautiful, but blind. It’s a deadly combination in a young woman this day and age.” He gave his head a sad shake. “No worries, Little Bit. We’ve got your back. You go on being oblivious to the guys following you around like puppy dogs, waiting for a treat. Or better yet, praying for a rub.”
“I’m the only human here, Cyne. Somehow your argument doesn’t hold water.”
“Oh, I know they aren’t here. Like I said, this is a practice run. Wouldn’t want you to freak out when we do it in public. Max asked us to look after you, and we gave him our solemn vow.” Laughter spilled out of Cyne, dancing merrily in the air. He bumped her up and down on his legs, hard, to stall further comments from her.
She harrumphed, crossing her arms in defeat. She hoped her bony butt poked his thighs.
“You never answered Evie’s question, Cyne,” Xander prompted. Still chuckling, he and Jaxon exchanged a fist bump, causing the muscles on their biceps to contract.
Cyne removed the arm wrapped around Evie’s waist and flipped off the two laughing team members. “It’s nothing, really. I had a bad habit of cursing when I shouldn’t. Selja Nimandy took umbrage with it and hexed me. I can’t curse, no matter how hard I try. Other words pop out of my mouth instead.”
Evie stared at him in horror. “She cursed you?” Evie turned to the others, her words harsh with indignation. “How could you all sit around laughing at him like this?” Angry on Cyne’s behalf, she couldn’t believe his chosen brothers-in-arms would be so callous. “Why aren’t you doing something about it?”
“Relax, Small Fry. It’s a harmless curse.” Cyne rubbed his head awkwardly. “For the hex to release, all I need to do is go one full day without cursing.”
“Really?” Her shoulders relaxed as the anger seeped away. “If you don’t curse until this time tomorrow, the hex will be broken?”
“Yep.”
“Well, then, that’s alright.” Evie resisted the urge to pat him in reassurance. “Tomorrow you’ll be able to curse all you want.”
More laughter broke out, Xander and Jaxon practically rolling on the ground as they roared with laughter.
“T-tell her…” Jaxon tried to regain control of himself, long enough to finish his sentence. “Tell her how long you’ve been trying to break the hex.”
Cyne looked put out. Sighing, he murmured, “Three hundred and fifty-two days.”
Evie stared at him blankly, not saying anything. She wasn’t a prude, but she didn’t have an incessant need to curse either. “So…”
“Oh, God, the look on her face!” Jaxon fell over onto the ground, his feet, resting on his seat. A snort next to her pulled Evie’s attention to Dashiel. He laughed silently, his shoulders bouncing up and down with movement as tears ran down his face.
At the grill, Aaron bent over, tongs hanging awkwardly in his grip, hands on his knees with his russet colored hair precariously close to the flames. Caleb noticed the danger as well, reached over, and shoved him backward a few steps.
“Muck it up, aceholes!” Cyne scowled, and Evie felt bad for him. After all, they were laughing at him because of her.
On impulse, she reached up to stroke his cheek lightly. “I’m not laughing, Cyne.”
Jade eyes smiled at her, warming her from the inside. His arms wrapped back around her, shifting her closer as if he cherished her. She relaxed into his hold, resting her head against his shoulder.
The others quieted down and small talk filled the backyard until dinner finished cooking. They gathered around the outdoor dining table. Plates of food loaded down the table, filled with at least a dozen steaks, baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese, salad, and rolls. As they sat and ate, the atmosphere around the table was laid-back and relaxed. Evie couldn’t believe she’d been worried. The guys, well, all but one, welcomed her and treated her like family.
“Hey, Shorty. We are going into town on Sunday. You’re coming, right?” Cyne’s question came out of nowhere, catching Evie by surprise. Noticing her widening eyes, Cyne cajoled, “Please, Small Fry. Don’t leave me on my own with these morons.”
“Fuck you, asshole. Who are you calling a moron, you moron!” Max yelled, his mouth full of food. “Besides, of course she’s fucking coming. Right, Evie?”
Wanting to stall the impending shouting match, Evie quickly agreed. “Yes, I would love to go.”
“Great, now finish your steak. Aaron gets cranky if we don’t eat what he cooks.” Hearing his name, Aaron gave Cyne a dark look before winking at Evie, gesturing for her to finish her plate.
When finished, everyone pitched in to clean up the table and take the dirty dishes inside. Not wanting to miss her opportunity, Evie spoke up. “Can I bring Jaoel a plate?”
She wanted to do this for him, like a peace offering. She couldn’t stand the thought of him going hungry because of her.
The guys exchanged skeptical glances, but didn’t argue. Dashiel took an empty plate from the cupboard. “Hold on, and I will fix you something to bring him.”
Within minutes, they ushered her out of the kitchen and gave her directions to his room, insisting they would finish the cleanup. The short walk up the stairs and down the hallway to the fourth door on the left didn’t give Evie enough time to calm her racing nerves. Hoping he wouldn’t bite her head off, she knocked on his door.
“It’s open.”
Jaoel sat at a desk centered under his window. Black furniture blended with the soft grays and white of his room. His unmade bed sat in the middle of the room, one end against the wall, while the rest of his possessions were arranged neatly.
“What do you want?” The obstinate man didn’t bother to turn around when she entered.
“I brought you dinner.” Evie walked further into the room, her footfalls silent on the gray area rug.
He turned around sharply to stare at her, taking in the plate and drink she held. Guilt surfaced in his gaze, and his shoulders slumped. “Thanks, Evie. I’m sorry about earlier. About what I said. I don’t even know why I said it.”
“It’s okay. I understand.” And she did, probably better than he did. She almost confessed her secret right then, but something held her tongue. Instead, she came to stand by him, placing his dinner on the desk next to him. “The guys, they…uh…they told me about your plans to go into town the day after tomorrow. They asked me if I wanted to come along. Is it okay with you? If I go?”
“Of course, Evie. And I promise, I’ll try to behave better.” He scrubbed his hand across his forehead. “Maybe I just need a good night’s sleep.”
“Okay. I’ll leave you to it. See you then.”
“Bye, Evie.”