“So, look, everyone has given you about as much privacy and space as this Coven is capable of. If you don’t get up there within a few minutes, we may have a mutiny on our hands . . . starting with Tegan. I’m running out of ways to restrain her.” Tenn pushed off the doorframe and winked.

We both laughed for a few moments even after the door shut behind him. It felt good to laugh.

Everest sat up and hopped off the bed. He was moving better than he had been last night, but his movements were still a little stiff. He walked around the foot of the bed. I took the moment to ogle him in Tenn’s hand-me-downs. I’d always seen Tenn as a massive guy, except for when he was Archie. It was strange to think he’d once been the same size as my soulmate. Granted, something told me Tenn’s muscles had always been a bit bigger, not that he was a bulky guy. The Bishop boys were thicker with bulkier muscles, but Tenn had always reminded me of a lion with slender but chiseled muscles. Everest was built more like Tenn, just a little more slender. Physical strength wasn’t his repertoire. Then again, as a vampire he didn’t need muscles to be strong.

Regardless, he looked good in that V-neck black cotton shirt that had clearly been washed so many times that the material was nearly transparent. The ripped black jeans fit his body perfectly. Seeing him dressed so . . . human . . . so normal . . . it was not conducive to me getting out of this bed.

Everest held his hand out in front of me. “Come, Gali, your Coven deserves my attention. Finally.”

I didn’t want to get out of this bed. I wasn’t ready to leave my Everest cocoon. Yet I couldn’t resist him, so I watched as my body acted of its own volition. I placed my hand in his and let him pull me to my feet. He reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear, so I did the same to him.

“I like the long hair more than I should.” I grinned. “Just so you know.”

He chuckled and tugged me toward the door. “And you have a million questions about the why of my hair.”

“You know me well.”