Chapter 5

Five

E verly was disappointed that he couldn't watch Bryn bathing but didn't mind being sent to the study to wait with Nox. There were so many fascinating books and maps and Nox didn't mind if Everly touched things. Or occasionally broke them.

"No worries! Merlin can fix it!" Nox said when Everly dropped an astrolabe on his foot. "I try to break a few things a week. Keeps Merlin busy and out of trouble," Nox whispered as he lowered it into one of his desk's drawers. "How about a magick trick?" he asked as he came around and sat on the edge, crossing his combat boots.

He looked so cool with all of his tattoos and piercings. Everly had tried piercing his own ears but the holes had closed. He suspected a tattoo would heal overnight as well, but he could wear combat boots and paint his nails like Nox. "Do you really think I could learn magick? I want to be a witch like you and Merlin, but I don't think I'm smart enough."

"Why not?" Nox hugged his chest, squinting at Everly. "Merlin has books full of spells and sigils and I fully believe that you could master them all if given enough time."

Everly's lips twisted dubiously. "Merlin said I almost poisoned myself with the mushrooms."

"Been there," Nox said with a wince. "Had a very strange year one weekend because I'd confused some psilocybin for some enoki mushrooms while I was already under the influence. That'll teach me for making pasta while I'm stoned, but that's not the point."

"Okay…" Everly said slowly. He didn't know what either of those mushrooms looked like but that sounded ominous.

"Here's the point, buddy," Nox said and snapped his fingers to get Everly's attention. "Certain kinds of magick can't be taught. You just are or you… have it. It's not like learning an illusion or mastering a special effect. Merlin's a wise and powerful witch because he's studied magick for hundreds of years. He's an immortal who's been connected to a magickal source for his entire life: me," he said, pointing at himself. "And my father, and his father, and his father before him…" Nox's smile faded and his eyes glistened. "I considered banishing Merlin to Siberia for his crimes. He would have aged quickly without me and he'd lose his magick."

Everly hid his eyes and began to cry, he was too scared and too sad to know what Merlin had done. "But you didn't? You let him stay?"

"I let him stay and we're fine now," Nox said soothingly. "Family can be really complicated, especially when there are vows of secrecy and generational curses. You and I have fae magick in us . We might be slightly different species, but you and I…" He gestured between them. "You and I are more alike than me and Merlin or me and Nelson. They're human at their cores and they can't change. But you and I can."

"We can?" Everly was fascinated—intoxicated—at the idea that he and Nox could be similar.

"Yup!" Nox smiled brightly as he held up a matchbook. "Our very natures are nature . We are elemental. That's why I can take the flame out of a match and hold onto a palmful of water," he said and flicked with his other hand, flinging drops of water at Everly and making him laugh.

Everly took Nox's hand and opened his palm. "How did you do that?"

"It's easier to start with fire and start small," Nox said as he took Everly's hands, allowing him to open the book and rip out a single match. "Go ahead," he insisted and cheered when Everly struck it. "Watch me closely!" Nox whispered, then pinched the flame with a plucking motion.

The pads of Nox's fingers appeared to suck in the flame, instead of smothering it and creating smoke as it went out. "I saw it!" Everly giggled as he lit another. "Do it again!" he urged and watched closer when Nox pressed his fingers together, the pads swallowing the fire. "Again!"

They went through every match in the book and Everly was sad until Nox made another book appear from behind Everly's ear. "That one's for you, for later. Practice outside, please, and make sure someone's close by in case you need help. Got it?" he asked and waited for Everly to nod.

"Got it!" He slid the book into the front pocket of his hoodie. He kept his hands in the pocket and secretly practiced pinching and plucking as Nox went to a rolling chalkboard that Merlin had wheeled into the study. There were names of other known changelings who were dead or missing and a timeline was taking shape on the backside of the board.

"Were any of the others married or did they have…someone?" Everly asked, saddened when Nox frowned and hesitated.

"Just a few. It's hard to find magickal people, let alone single magickal people. And just because there's magick, doesn't mean you'll feel a spark."

"I always feel a spark with Bryn. I love him," Everly stated, making Nox cough.

"Do you?"

Everly nodded. "Yes. He's good and he's funny, and he makes me feel like I'm special. But not in a scary way."

"Those are all the best reasons to love someone," Nox confirmed. "It's a little soon… Do you think there might be a chance that your hormones—pheromones—could be causing you to confuse lust for love? Not that that's not a great start," he added but Everly shook his head.

"I felt a lot of lust when I first woke up because Bryn wasn't wearing a lot of clothes. I know what lust is like and I've felt it before, even if I was scared or when I knew the other person wasn't good. But I love Bryn because he's the first person I've ever felt safe with and I feel special, instead of feeling like a monster or a magickal prank."

"Come here!" Nox groaned as he pulled Everly into a tight hug, surprising him.

"I love you too, Nox." It was muffled against Nox's chest as he stroked Everly's hair and rocked him.

"Oh, you pure, perfect little soul. We're going to whoop this fake Abhartach's ass and then you and Bryn are going to live happily ever after."

"Are you sure? I overheard Arawn and Fletcher talking about us and Arawn said his brother was a hard-headed slut with commitment issues so he would probably screw this up."

Nox hummed seriously, but his eyes watered as he stared at Everly. "That's…" He sniffed hard and gestured for Everly to give him a moment. "That's probably an exaggeration," he finally managed.

Everly shook his head. "Bryn told me he was a complete dog."

"At least you were warned and I get the feeling Bryn didn't want to be tied down before."

"Do you think he wants to now?" Everly asked and Nox grinned.

"I think that's a pretty safe assumption. He's wild about you, Everly. He reminds me a lot of Nelson. They're both hunters and bred for loyalty. They're happiest in packs and live to protect. Bryn can deny it all he wants, but he's been yearning for a purpose beyond his consuming sense of duty and his obsession with glory. He sees that in you and we see it in him," Nox explained.

"We could be each other's purpose!" Everly realized and spun, ready to tell Bryn, but spun back around, pouting. "Bryn wants to be alone while he bathes," he informed Nox.

"Imagine that," he said and gave Everly's shoulder a reassuring knead. "But the rest sounds like happily ever after to me," Nox said, then held up a finger. "It's not a small thing, either. One of the wisest men ever said ‘Love is at the root of everything. All learning. All relationships. Love or the lack of it.' And I believe that with my whole soul."

"Was it the Buddha?" Everly guessed but Nox shook his head.

"It was Fred Rogers. I believe in him and value his teachings, just as I admire Buddha and Jesus and respect the lessons they taught us. They were big believers in love and love is what saved me—and probably mankind, just between the two of us." He tapped his lips and winked so Everly understood that was a secret. "Love is always the answer. If you're stumped or afraid to do something because it's hard, do it for love and the answers or the strength will come to you. If you're lost and ready to give up, hold out for love and it will find you."

Suddenly, it all made perfect sense to Everly. "That was me! I was ready to give up but Bryn found me! I can be Bryn's purpose and protect him too."

"That's right, buddy." Nox offered his fist and Everly bumped it back. "Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something, just because you're small or were born with just a little bit of magick. Intention will always make the difference and if you let love guide you, there's no way you can fail."

"Awesome! How long until I won't turn into an incubus? I think Bryn would love me more, and see that I'm his purpose too, if we could have sex."

Nox whistled as he nodded. "Been down that road as well with Nelson. But I found out that there are so many ways for me to love that man that don't include sex. So many beautiful ways and sometimes, they're better than sex. I learn more about him and myself at times like that and it's an incredible turn on for me."

They were interrupted when Fletcher returned, waving his notebook. "Just got off the phone with the ME out in Richmond. He may have a case like Everly." He gave Nox a serious look and coughed.

"I'll go outside and practice," Everly said as he took out his matchbook and backed toward the terrace doors. "I don't think I want to know about any of that."

"Smart man," Nox said, then jumped to grab Everly but he clipped his hip on the corner of the desk.

"That's fine!" He shrugged it off and turned, smacking his elbow on the door. "Didn't feel it!" Everly waved over his shoulder before carefully skipping down the back steps to practice in the early autumn sun.