I gulp, looking around at the eight of them. All of them have their eyes fixed on me. But it’s not comforting. In fact, I think it might be worse than when they wouldn’t look at me.
“Look, I promise I won’t tell anyone any of your secrets. Honestly, I don’t really know a lot of your secrets, other than what everyone is, but I swear I won’t say a word,” I ramble, loathing the trembling in my tone. “Just please don’t hurt me.”
Max’s brows pull together. “Hurt you?” He glances at Emaline, whose eyes are wide with horror.
“Sweetie, we’re not going to hurt you.” She steps toward me and takes my hands in hers. “We’re just trying to decide something.”
“Something that might need to be done, not only to protect our family and our secrets,” Gabe adds, “but to protect you as well.”
“Oh.” Okay, now I just feel stupid, but the feeling isn’t new to me. “You just all seemed so nervous, and I thought you guys might …” I stop myself, feeling awful for having the thoughts I was having.
“You thought what?” Easton asks, his lips quirking. “Come on; finish that sentence, because I’m dying to know what you think about us.”
“I think she thought we were going to kill her.” Hunter appears way too amused by the fact.
“No,” I lie. “I just thought you might … I don’t know.” I sit back down, feeling like an idiot. “I’m just a little freaked out. I’m sorry.” It probably doesn’t help that not all the alcohol and weed has worn out of my system and my head feels a bit foggy.
Easton snickers. “Well, at least she’s entertaining.”
That gets everyone to crack a smile. Even Foster. Although, he’s been smiling more by the hour. But I’m trying not to focus on the reason for that.
I clear my throat as my cheeks start to warm. “So, what’s this thing you guys think might need to be done? Because it seems like you’re a bit hesitant about it.”
“We are,” Emaline says. “Not because it’s dangerous. It’s just very … permanent.”
They sink into silence again as they sit back down.
“I think we should do it,” Hunter utters, staring down at the backs of his hands. “If she’s going to be living with us for the next six months, and a hunter has been in contact with her, it’s the best way not only to keep her from being on their radar, but it’ll also give us peace of mind that our secrets won’t get out.”
“But it can’t be undone,” Holden reminds him. “You can’t unmerge a merging enchantment.”
“Merging enchantment?” I scrunch my nose. “That sounds very … merge-y.”
Foster snorts a laugh.
“Stop laughing at my words,” I protest, though I can’t help smiling.
“I will when your words stop being amusing,” Foster quips with a grin.
“Well, aren’t you two just utterly adorable,” Hunter remarks with a devious smirk.
Easton snickers, and then they fist bump.
Talk about two peas in a pod, or I guess two element protectors in an overly crowded living room.
Shaking his head, Foster lightly punches Hunter’s arm. “Shut the hell up, man.”
Hunter shakes his head, his eyes glinting wickedly. “Payback’s a bitch, little bro.”
“All right, that’s enough.” Gabe claps his hands and rises to his feet again. “Everettsons, we need to make a choice. Either you can do a merging enchantment with Sky, or we can take the risk and simply keep an extra eye on her. If we choose the latter, we can do shifts so she’s never alone, and we’ll have to try to go to Spellbinding world so we can get a few protection spells cast on her. But with what she is, we’ll have to be careful taking her to other worlds without her being merged to us due to the danger.” Tension pours off him as he shifts his weight and rubs the back of his neck. “Or you can choose the first one and … Well, you guys know how that works.”
“But Sky doesn’t,” Hunter points out. “She should probably be told first before we even consider going there, because it’s a big decision for everyone.”
Okay, seriously, what’s the big deal with this merging enchantment?
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Gabe says with a sigh. “How about this? All of you go discuss this in the kitchen while me and your mother explain things to Sky. Then we’ll regroup and make a decision.”
They all nod in agreement then get to their feet, filing out of the room.