Chapter 6

Six

E verly was the embodiment of "right as rain" when he came down the stairs the next morning and joined everyone for breakfast in the kitchen. He smiled nonstop and asked one question after another, as ravenous to learn as he was for bits of cheese, fruit, and oatmeal.

No one minded, though, and Bryn appreciated Nelson's patience and how charmed Nox and Merlin were by Everly's curiosity. There was no denying that Nox and Merlin took their roles as educators and mentors seriously, never shunning a question no matter how obvious it might seem.

"Can I come and watch you teach?" Everly asked as he followed Nox to the door, skipping and hurrying to help the professor with his scarf and messenger bag.

"Whenever you want, buddy!" Nox had said, but canted toward him. " After we fix that creep who tried to hurt you," he reminded Everly softly.

"Oh! Right!" Everly nodded quickly and watched at the window as Nox left for school with Nelson. "That's a cool car!"

"I think we can convince Nelson to take us for a ride when he gets back," Merlin mused. "He won't be long. The university's just up the street."

"Really?" Everly turned from the window, hopping and tripping toward Merlin in his excitement. He was so adorably clumsy, Bryn had to hold onto Everly's hand or keep an arm around him to keep him out of danger.

Merlin laughed and did his best to calm Everly. "What's the harm in a little outing as long as we stick together? I was thinking I'd have Nelson take me to Adelphi when he gets back so I could check in with a friend. Howard owns Bippity Boppity Books and tends to stay abreast of magickal news and gossip," he informed them and was describing the bookshop when Nelson returned.

"You're going to Bippity Boppity Books?" he asked and Merlin nodded.

"If you'd care to take me. Jeff is having the Bentley detailed this morning."

"I'd love to," Nelson said as he offered Merlin his arm.

Merlin raised his brows at Bryn and Everly in invitation. "Up for a field trip? I think you'll both enjoy Howard and the store is quite safe. He's an old white witch and the shop is heavily warded and filled with lovely crystals and healing energy."

Everly brightened. "I want to go! I've never been to an occult shop and Howard sounds nice," he begged as he tugged on Bryn's sleeve.

"Alright! It's a beautiful, sunny day and I can't see the harm as long as we stay together," Bryn conceded and they gathered on the curb next to Nelson's Continental for the short ride to Adelphi.

Never one to drool over cars, Bryn was begrudgingly impressed with Nelson's baby. It rumbled like a big kitten, its sleek black exterior was polished to a mirror-like shine. Everly giggled at their reflections as Bryn opened the back door and they both groaned at the immaculate white leather interior.

"I feel like someone important!" Everly whispered to Bryn as he snapped his seatbelt, making Merlin chuckle from the passenger seat.

"You are very important, Mr. Wells. Did you know this is the same car the Secret Service used to transport presidents in?" he said with a wink for Bryn.

He put an arm around Everly and gave him a squeeze. "See? I'm not the only one who thinks you're special," he said as he kissed Everly's hair, causing him to beam out the window as they drove over the bridge into Maryland.

Once they arrived, Merlin turned so he could see them over his seat, his eyes twinkling at Everly. "As I said, Howard is an old witch so I thought we'd enlist him for a bit of practice."

Bryn's hackles were nearly engaged. "What kind of practice?" he asked warily, but Merlin waved him off.

"Nothing that will harm Everly, I promise," he said, then paused to consider before shaking his head. "No harm should come to Everly, but I have explained the situation to Howard and asked that he protect himself as if he were about to encounter a muse. " He widened his eyes at Bryn, allowing him to guess his intentions. He smiled warmly at Everly. "All I want is for you to try to contain your desire to be loved by Howard."

"Okay!" Everly nodded. "How?" he asked but Merlin held up his hands.

"I have no idea, but all I ask is for you to simply try. Howard has warded and armed himself, just in case."

Everly chewed on his lip as he stared at the storefront. "Are you sure he won't mind and he'll be safe? What about customers?"

"At this hour? Rarely," Merlin said with a laugh. "There's a storage room and oversized wingback chairs in the corners where you can hide your face in a book, if necessary," he said and Everly was excited again.

"Let's go!"

Bryn smiled at Merlin as he reached around Everly for the door, his opinion of Nox's odd little sidekick softening even more. "Let's go," he agreed, holding on tight to Everly's hand as they got out and crossed the street.

Another tiny man with thin, curly, white hair was already gushing with praise and delight as he greeted them at the door. "Agent Nelson, how lovely to see you again so soon!" He gestured impatiently as Nelson lowered and offered his cheek for a kiss. "How is the professor this morning?"

"Teaching and happy," he said and went to a stack of boxes on the counter. "Want these in the storage room?"

"Please!" Howard said as he clasped his hands together. "The UPS man was just here before you and left them," he explained and turned back to Merlin with large smiles for Bryn and Everly.

"Which one is the hellhound and which one of them is the changeling?" he asked Merlin, surprising Bryn and making him laugh.

"You can't tell?"

Howard blinked up at him, bemused. "No, lad. That's why I asked." He offered Merlin an awkward cringe. "Is it him?" he whispered and Everly covered his mouth to hold in a giggle.

"It's me! I'm the changeling! I'm Everly Wells."

"Are you?" Howard looked at him closer and then squinted up at Bryn. "I'd swear, the wee one feels stronger!"

That got a gasp out of Merlin. "He does, doesn't he? I thought some sun and a little adventure might boost his spirits. This other gentleman is Mr. Bryn Cadwallader," he told Howard, looking rather pleased with himself. "I'm looking for a book as well."

"Oh?"

That sounded like their cue, so Bryn gave Everly's hand a tug. "Let's get a basket and look around. We'll get some books and fun things to keep you busy at Nox's."

Everly started to nod, then bit down on a panicked squeal. "I don't have any money! I probably don't have a job anymore and my apartment—!" he whispered loudly up at Bryn. "I forgot about my job and my rent is two days late! "

"You've had a pretty intense week," Bryn reminded him and raised Everly's hand, giving it a squeeze and a kiss. "We all had a talk while you were recovering and we don't want you to worry. With the exception of Fletcher and Nelson, we've all had the ability to put away a lot of money over the course of our very long lives, or inherited incredible wealth. You're important, Ev, and it's important that you stay safe. Keeping you here makes our jobs much easier."

"Why am I important?" he asked but Bryn saw that Everly's gaze had caught on the wall of crystals and the long row of glass cases.

"Let's start over there," Bryn suggested and gave Everly a nudge to get him moving again.

If Bryn was as brave as the legends had claimed, he would have told Everly that love was the reason he was important. Because it was becoming obvious to Bryn that he was wildly and completely in love—and lust—with Everly and would do anything to protect him.

The lust part wasn't new, but Bryn had never seen the point in anything else before. Not when Bryn's heart was dedicated to his brother, their duty, and glory. He loved Fletcher as a brother, but he was Bryn's life partner too in that Arawn was loved deeply enough in that way for both of them. Arawn's happiness was Bryn's happiness and he couldn't imagine finding another human as generous and as patient as Fletcher, who'd fit their very unusual family in the same harmonious way.

It turned out that Bryn had been waiting on a changeling.

"We wouldn't have known that a monster was on the loose if it weren't for you," Bryn said and reached for a large rose quartz on the top shelf when Everly pointed at it. "Or that other changelings were in danger."

"That's true…" Everly replied distractedly. His big, black eyes sparkled, just a thin ring of bright white at the edges as they followed the pale pink crystal. He held up his palms, ready for the shoe-sized stone, his teeth digging into his lower lip nervously. "Oops!" Everly yelped when Bryn let go and the weight nearly knocked him into the shelf, but he recovered and cradled it like a baby. "Isn't it beautiful?" he whispered as if it had fallen asleep.

They turned as Merlin joined them. "Did he pick that out himself?" he asked Bryn and he nodded.

"I just did the reaching," he informed Merlin.

There was a gasp as Howard came over. "Compassion, healing, love… It's telling that of all the gems in this shop, this one spoke loudest to you."

Everly nodded quickly. "I could hear it calling to me!"

"Very telling," Merlin concurred, then cleared his throat. "How are you feeling, Everly? How do you like being in Bippity Boppity Books?"

"I love it here! It's warm and smells nice like Nox's," Everly said to his new baby.

"There's a lot of iron in here," Merlin noted with a raise of his brows and Howard hummed as he pushed his glasses up his nose and leaned in for a closer look at Everly.

"Isn't it remarkable? The iron should repel him, but Mr. Wells doesn't seem to mind at all."

Merlin reached for Everly's hands and the quartz. "You're very remarkable. Why don't we put this by the register so it can come home with us?" he asked, brimming with grandfatherly pride.

"Okay!" Everly nodded and searched around them. "A journal?"

"Over there." Howard pointed at the other corner of the store as Nelson returned.

"I put everything away while I was back there. Did you ask Howard about any other missing changelings?" Nelson asked while retrieving his notepad from inside his coat.

Merlin made a sad sound. "I was waiting until Everly was distracted. The journals," he said to Bryn.

"Right!" He pulled Everly along. "They'll fill us in later. Let's see what else we can find," he suggested and Everly took a deep breath and brightened.

"Nox is going to teach me how to journal and he said that we can journal together while you're off on your morning runs."

"That's good…" Bryn said, smiling when the tarot decks caught Everly's attention. "Those are perfect," he chuckled when Everly selected a wild animal-themed deck and added it to the basket. There was a journal nearby for tarot beginners and that went in too. On a rack nearby, Everly found a bracelet set with moon and star charms.

"I wish my ears would stay pierced so I could wear the earrings. But they just heal right up."

Bryn made a dismissive sound. "My ears are pierced. I'll wear them so we can match," he said and Everly looked like a cartoon, visibly swooning as he nodded up at him.

"I'm glad I can't wear earrings now."

The bell over the door chimed, startling Everly. A young woman asked about the jewelry and he was like a trapped rabbit, bouncing and dodging as he avoided shelves and displays. "This way," Bryn said as he left the basket and hurried Everly to the back and into the storage room, turning the lock behind them.

"Good thinking!" Everly whispered, scanning the darkened room around them. The shelves were neatly arranged and freshly dusted and the earthy smell of incense and scented candles made the space even more soothing. "I like it!" He snatched the halves of Bryn's cardigan and kissed him before he could object.

Not that Bryn would.

He wasn't thinking as he scooped Everly into his arms and kissed him, starving as they stumbled into the door. Neither was Everly. He wound an arm around Bryn's neck and his leg was hooked around a hip as he hung on, lapping wildly and whimpering like a siren. And, gods above, he felt like heaven in Bryn's arms, so light and warm and made just for him.

"Now, please?" Everly huffed when Bryn licked along his jaw and sucked on an earlobe. His legs kicked and he clawed at Bryn's shoulders as he writhed and arched, desperate for more friction.

"Now," Bryn agreed as his hand pushed into the back of Everly's jeans and gripped a perfectly tight, round cheek. "No!" Bryn peeled Everly off and set him down out of arms' reach, panting and throbbing as he took stock. They were so far out of line, getting off in sweet, old Howard's storage room and it was still too soon. "Do you want to turn into an incubus?"

He'd meant to scold Everly but the halfling's dark eyes swept upwards as he considered. "I'm not sure if I would mind anymore if I was your?—"

"No." Bryn pointed sternly. "You deserve more."

That's what Bryn's mouth said but he thought about it. Thankfully, the sound of Merlin and Howard approaching had them moving. They fixed each other's clothes and hair before Bryn peeked around the door to make sure the coast was clear.

"Can we come out?" he asked and Merlin scoffed.

"Not a soul has any doubts about the two of you or what was going on back there."

"Very clever," Bryn replied dryly, glaring at Merlin. "Learn anything useful or did you spend the whole time working on that joke?"

Merlin shrugged. "I excel at multitasking."

"I'm sure you do."

"And I'm sure you were just guarding Everly in there," Merlin countered and raised his brows, daring Bryn.

Nelson coughed and gave Merlin's head a swat with his notebook. "Tell him what Howard told you or we're locking you in the storage room."

"Will you be joining me?" Merlin turned to Nelson and batted his lashes.

"Sure," Nelson said with a nod. "I saw a trunk you might fit in and it looked sound-proof." He gave Merlin a hard look, threatening him with the notebook again before flipping it open. "Tell them about Ronan O'Sullivan."

"Yes, yes! Mr. O'Sullivan!" Merlin ducked and swatted, looking peeved. "Someone attacked the old sea dog a few days ago."

Bryn frowned. "Sea dog?"

"In this case, a seal. He's a merrow," Merlin said and Howard nodded, humming in concern.

"He can be a bit gruff and rough around the edges, but Ronan O'Sullivan is a good man who just wants to be left alone."

"I like your old friend already," Bryn said. "He's okay?" he asked, causing Merlin to snort.

"He's old the way you are and says he's on the mend. His account sounds very similar to yours: a cold shadow in the shape of a child that tried to drain his energy. Ronan can take care of himself, thank goodness, but I'm even more intent on finding this one that calls itself Abhartach," Merlin said angrily.

They all agreed that it had to be found and stopped as Bryn paid for their purchases. Before they could leave, Howard made Bryn and Everly promise to return again soon.

"I love Howard," Everly declared once they were in the car and heading back to Georgetown. "He said I could help at the store when it's safe for me to have a job again!"

"That's great," Nelson said, glancing at the rearview mirror and catching Bryn's gaze for a moment. "If there's anyone who understands the importance of starting over, it's Howard. He's been hurt in just about the worst way possible, but he keeps his chin up and does whatever he can to help his neighbors."

"Why? What happened to Howard?" Everly asked.

Bryn didn't like the way Merlin shuddered and sniffled at his window so he put an arm around Everly for protection. "Why do I know that name? Bippity Boppity Books?" Bryn asked, receiving a weary sigh from the driver's seat.

"Because Howard Sherwood is the father of Julian Sherwood, one of the people responsible for the Moon Murders," he explained in his low, steady rumble, but Everly smothered a watery gasp with both hands.

"Poor Howard!"

No one felt the need to say anything else, because there was nothing else to say about the sweet, old man. Almost everyone in the country had heard about the six young women who had been abducted and the dead girl found tied to a tree in New Castle. Nelson and Nox had been credited with rescuing the girls from Julian's basement, but Bryn didn't need to look very closely to see that there were still scars.

Now, he understood why Merlin, Nelson, and Nox visited a charming yet otherwise unremarkable occult shop on a weekly basis. He felt the same protectiveness toward Howard after only one visit and was suddenly grateful to Merlin for allowing them to tag along. They had learned a lot about Everly and a merrow named Ronan O'Sullivan, but Bryn had met another kind and gentle soul who was worthy of his friendship and protection.

"We'll bring Fletch and Arawn with us next time," he said and Everly nodded.

"I'd like that. Maybe we can bring Howard a gift when we come back."

This time, a smile crinkled the corners of Nelson's eyes when they met Bryn's through the mirror. "You want to bring Howard a gift? That's very nice of you."

"I think so too." Everly hummed thoughtfully as he nodded. "We just need to figure out what kinds of things Howard likes."