My aunt’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, that pretty white-haired boy who brought you those flowers in the hospital?”

“What?” I waved my hands in front of my face. “He brought me flowers? When?”

“After Tegan returned you to that hospital and set you out as bait. We walked in and found him sitting with you.” She pursed her lips. “I don’t remember if he was still holding the flowers or if they were on the table next to you⁠—”

“Everest was there that day?”

“Yeah, I don’t know how I feel about this guy.” Uncle Kyle gestured to his clothes. “I mean, how do we trust a guy who wears all white and isn’t dirty? That’s sus.”

“Well, he’s a vampire⁠—”

“Even more sus!” He threw his hands up. “Where’s the blood? How’s he that clean of an eater?”

“Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. I thought I went straight from Avolire to the hospital?” I glanced around to everyone. They were all nodding. “You’re sure he was there?”

Aunt Kimmy smiled and winked at me. “He did not like seeing you back in that bed. Neither did we. He left in a hurry though, all spooky too.”

“OH YEAH.” Uncle Kyle shivered. “That whole turned-into-shadow thing? Creepy. Hella sus, Franks. Hella . . . sus. Keep your eyes on that one.”

I clenched my teeth and swallowed through a hot lump in my throat. He’d been there. Everest had been there right away. He must have left Avolire right after Tegan pulled us out of there and went to check on me. Even thinking I hated him, even knowing I thought he’d betrayed me, even when I thought he was marrying Sam, he came to me. Somehow him visiting me without me knowing was important, because that meant he really cared. It wasn’t for show. Since the day I’d met Everest, I’d been in a loop of confusion, not knowing which way us up or down. I’d assumed he hadn’t seen me since I left Avolire until that night I went to the infirmary after the demon attack. Days and days later. But no, he was there that night. Because I woke up while it was daylight so that meant he’d had to have come almost immediately.

That brought tears to my eyes that I had to blink through so I didn’t embarrass myself in front of everyone, especially my aunt and uncle. I was not ready to talk about my vampire soulmate with them. I was still on shaky ground with him myself.

“Frankie?”

I jumped at the sound of my name and looked up to find Dream-Deacon watching me. My cheeks flushed. “Yes? Sorry, I zoned out for a second⁠—”

“The box said Francelina, didn’t it?” When I nodded, Dream-Deacon shrugged. “Everest calls you Francelina, doesn’t he? Isn’t he the only person who calls you that?”