Being caught blatantly eyeing him up, I wanted to climb up the oak and hide there for a while until my cheeks were no longer the same shade as my hair. Instead, I had to make do with playing it cool. “It’s been a while,” I said. “I didn’t expect to see you at the Gathering, that’s all.”

“I’m not here for the Gathering. But I’m very curious which unlucky Hellenicus will have to tame you.”

I stuck my tongue out. So much for playing it cool.

As if he remembered something from the past, pain flashed in his eyes for a brief second before he gave a lazy smile. “Don’t worry, Montgomery, if you don’t like the guy, I could help kick his ass for you.”

“I don’t need your help kicking anyone’s ass, Adrian. I can take care of it myself, you know that.”

“Actually, I don’t. It’s been a while since I last saw you, Montgomery.”

And if he wasn’t going to put out his cigarette, he wouldn’t be seeing me for much longer. I’d had just about enough second-hand smoke. As if he’d read my thoughts, he took one long, last drag then dropped the butt to the ground and stomped it out.

“Hey, no littering!”

“No escaping your Awakened after-party either. Why are you out here? You’re supposed to mingle, meet people. Maybe one of them is your other half. Aren’t you excited to find your Romeo?” he said sarcastically.

“Not really,” I said. “The whole thing freaks me out.”

“I get that.” He, surprisingly, agreed. “I don’t think this soul-mate bullshit suits you, anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are Avery Freaking Montgomery. You’re fiery. You’re the type of person who makes decisions on your own accord. There is no way in hell you would willingly wait around for your soul mate to show up.”

Damn. He was right. Even though I’d said to myself that I wanted to find out if Carlo was truly my soul mate and tried convincing myself to go through with this Gathering, deep down I knew that this was really not my thing. It was crazy that Adrian of all people understood that about me when I’d always thought he had never even given me a second glance. What else did he know about me?

“But seriously, why are you here?”

“For the brat.”

“Caitlin?” Adrian’s eighteen-year-old sister, whom he always referred to as brat, Caitlin was every bit the spitting image of Adrian—maybe that was the reason why she annoyed him so much, they were too alike. But here he was, swallowing his pride and coming to the Gathering to support her.

“You’re a really good brother,” I blurted.

“Look,” he scoffed, “someone’s met their destiny.”