“But you could,” he quickly said. “It’s like baseball. You just gotta learn the basics.”

The basics of being domesticated? By the Braydens?

Jo supposed she couldn’t lay into Rune for refusing to change when she wasn’t willing to. Of course, she hadn’t cheated on anyone. His talisman seemed to burn in her pocket.

She might want nothing to do with him, but she’d safeguard his cherished belonging until he returned for it.

“Come on, Jo. Just give it a try.”

“What am I supposed to do here all day?” And in general. She was zoning in, but she’d found all her answers. Now what?

Start some kind of life after Rune.

“Spend time with me.” Thad pulled his chair closer to hers, then took her hands. “We’ve got so much to talk about and see. I’ll trace you to the places I’ve been, and you can trace me to all your places.”

“But you’ve gotta have friends you want to hang out with. I’m not gonna be some big-sister bug interfering with your teenager plans.”

“Since moving here, I’ve been going to Val Hall every day so Mom would think I was still in school. Now I don’t have to hide what I am anymore. Plus, you’re the closest Lorean to my age around. Come on, sis. Please? Just give us a week.”

Enough with the eyes! She exhaled. “A week.” She pinned his gaze. “You asked for it, kid.”

Rune hurriedly worked to redirect the protections on this property to ward away Vertas creatures.

His mate was staying.

Josephine had launched an attack on Val Hall, and then the Møriør had destroyed it; this proximity to Nïx’s army put Rune on edge.

From his spot outside the manor, he could see inside Josephine’s new room. Thad was helping her get settled. She’d just returned from her apartment, carrying a small bag of clothes.

Rune had worried she was building up her reunion with her brother too much, that she was sure to be disappointed.

By the end of the night, Thad had all but begged Josephine to stay.

He was her number one. She seemed to be glowing with contentment as they cracked jokes.

Even recounting her memories of Apparitia hadn’t hampered the siblings’ happiness to have found each other.

Her tale had floored Rune. The two of them had barely escaped their home world—and only because of their mother’s sacrifice. Then, floating in the ether, they’d seen behind the curtains of the universe.

Eventually, they’d gone into stasis—as the Møriør did. But that didn’t negate their age.

Apparitia had died thousands of years ago. Josephine must be the oldest living of their hybrid species.

The primordial.

She’d told of a planet imploding? Of her screaming “worldend.” Some in the Elserealms whispered Orion had destroyed Apparitia. Had Rune’s liege obliterated it like a glass sphere? While Rune’s terrified mate had fought to catch a newborn babe in the winds?

Rune had seldom questioned what his liege did, believing Orion had cause for all his actions. Now his first instinct was to confront Orion. But if the Undoing had targeted Apparitia, it must have been for a reason. What if he’d planned to assassinate two hybrid children?

If Rune alerted him, Orion might finish what he’d started. . . .

Josephine laughed and tossed a pillow at Thad. He caught it telekinetically and sent it right back at her.

Where did this night leave Rune? Was he to interrupt this bonding when all her dreams were coming true?

That mortal woman had described Josephine sobbing at the window as she’d given up Thad. Now Josephine had been embraced by this family. No longer was she gazing in from the outside. Rune was.

He burned to talk to her, to be with her. But she’d given Thad a week; shouldn’t Rune give her the same? He told himself seven days was nothing in an immortal’s life—even as he dreaded the prospect.

Yet that didn’t mean he’d leave his mate and his brother here unprotected. Rune would take up residence in the carriage house by the pool, scent-and soundproofing it. From there he could watch over this family, contemplate what to do about Orion, and allow Josephine’s temper to cool.

Unless she called for him, or wondered where he was. Or needed him for blood. Otherwise . . .

I’ll give you one week, little mate.

SEVENTY-ONE

Jo lay in bed, head on her pillow, staring at the talisman on her nightstand.

Sleeping in this big bed without a towering dark fey still felt weird, even after so many days had passed.

At first, the excitement of seeing Thad—and her efforts to live in this household—had overshadowed her grief from losing Rune. She was still psyched to be with her brother, but now she pined for her ex.

Her first day here, Thad had gotten a call from Regin, detailing what had happened at Val Hall after he and Jo had vanished.

Jo had been blown away. Apparently so had Val Hall, thanks to a primordial werewolf.

And Rune had defeated the Scourge. “Somehow your archer scored a phoenix feather!” Thad had excitedly told her. “He used it for the flights on an arrow and shot the wraiths to kingdom come.”

With a surge of nausea, Jo had realized the feather was the key he’d earned from Meliai in exchange for great sex.

Then Rune had threatened Nïx and all her immortals, the “Vertas MVPs” as Thad called them. But in the end, Rune had made a vow never to kill Nïx—so he could neutralize Jo’s vow.