I must look like a crazy person. But I didn’t think resonance like that could be ignored.
One of the fae must have given her a wave, because she lifts a hand weakly in a polite response, then quickly turns around and takes the other stairway up and out of sight.
She doesn’t even look back once.
I, Boreas Everfrost, now known only as Brett, have had the unthinkable happen in this order-forsaken world.
I’ve been rejected.
Avery
I’ve experienced my share of weird things. In fact, my whole life has been a bit weird compared to others.
But seeing the most beautiful man in the world standing in front of me, beaming, with open arms like he expected me to just run toward him?
That doesn’t just take the cake. It takes the muffins, the brownies, the whole darn bakery.
Maybe he was hallucinating or on something. I hope his friends get him some help.
I shrug out of my coat, still thinking about how that snow pile just perfectly blocked Carl’s car from running into Susan’s. The manager doesn’t keep the place plowed, and it causes a lot of problems. Though, I suppose it was good there was snow there today.
I take off the rest of my winter gear, shaking snow off my hair and face at the same time.
The clock on the wall shows it’ll be dark soon, and I scan through the local news to see what’s going on in my world.
Then I pull out my list, looking carefully through the names and checking locations and thinking about who I should visit.
I’m a little like Santa, but I only keep track of who’s naughty.
You don’t have to worry about me if you’re nice.
As I plan out my night, I turn on the coffeemaker and throw a Hot Pocket into the microwave. Gonna be a gourmet dinner tonight.
Just as I’m sitting down to eat, a knock sounds on my door, rattling the already creaking hinges. I groan, trying to decide if I should answer it.
On the one hand, I just got home from a retail shift, and the last thing I want is to talk to other people.
On the other hand, someone might need more help in the snow, and the people here know I’ll come if I’m asked.
I stride to the door and look through the peephole, but it’s blocked by someone standing way too close.
About to lose my patience, I jerk the door open, but I’m speechless with shock when I see the beautiful man from before, plus his army of hotties behind him.
All of them are so tall they practically form a wall of perfectly sculpted muscles.
Don’t they know the proper distance to stand back when they knock on a door?
“Move back,” I say sharply—maybe more sharply than I mean to—as their eyes widen in surprise and they move into the hallway.
The one in front, the one who had his arms open, eyes me with a cold gleam in the frosty blue depths of his gaze.
For some reason, I don’t want to look away from him.
His striking ash-blond hair is thick and tousled, and his pale skin is flawless like someone using filters in real life. His eyes are almost luminous, like there’s something lighting them from within.
He’s a few inches over six feet, muscular but not like he’s using steroids. Like a fitness model. Or an actor. Or just anyone so beautiful you are utterly unprepared to meet them in person.
Finally dragging my eyes away from him, I note that his friends are the same.
“I’m Ian,” the one with white-blond hair says, moving forward to put his hand out. His features lean toward pretty, but the hard cut of his jaw lends a masculine edge.
“I’m Flynn.” The one with auburn hair and golden-brown eyes shakes my hand next, and all I can do is gape at him.
“I’m Tanner.” The last, a man with dark hair and dark eyes, dazzling against his pale skin, gives me a firm handshake.
The blue-eyed one in front of me is still just standing there stiffly, staring.
“This is Brett,” Tanner says, nudging him with his shoulder. “Brett, say hi to our neighbor.”
Brett seems to snap out of it and glares down at me. I didn’t know blue eyes could feel so heated. “Why did you run away from me?”
Surprised by his bluntness, I walk into the hallway, shutting the door behind me so we can talk in the open where people can see us.
“Why did you open your arms for me?” I retort.
Still, the handsome man glares at me like I’m everything that is wrong with his life, even though I’ve never met him before.
Then he turns on his heel, broad shoulders swaying as he strides to the stairs and disappears down them, muttering curses I’ve never heard before in my life, leaving the rest of us in the hallway.
“Sorry about that,” Flynn says, golden eyes soft as he runs a hand through his auburn hair. There’s a natural sensuality to his motions that I wonder if he’s aware of.
The intimidating one with dark hair shakes his head. “Don’t even ask me to explain him.”
I grin. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“We’re your new downstairs neighbors,” Ian says. “Let us know if you need anything. We’re just going around to say hi.”
Seems a bit weird that they started up here with me, but then again, I did see them earlier.
“I’m Avery.” I lean against the door. “Where did you move from?”
“Upstate,” Tanner says cryptically. “Have you lived here long?”
I shake my head. “Only a few years.” I move around a lot.
“What do you do?” Flynn asks.
“Retail,” I say. “Right now, I work at a board game store.”
Flynn cocks his head. “Interesting.”
“Well, I’m off to eat dinner. It was nice to meet you all.” I turn with a wave because I’m really not good with people, and the longer this goes on, the more they’re going to see that.
“So you don’t feel anything about us?” Flynn asks, and I stop to turn around.
“Feel anything?” I cock my head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Never mind,” Flynn says cryptically, turning to leave. “Just let us know if anything happens or you need us.”
The others wave and leave, following Flynn down the hall.
Tanner looks back, almost as if he doesn’t believe what he’s seeing, but I just give him a wave, confused as to what’s going on right now.
I go inside because I’ve never been interested in romance, and I don’t intend to start now, even if the four best-looking humans I’ve ever seen are living right downstairs.
Instead, I go back to eating my Hot Pocket and studying my list, deciding on tonight’s activities.
I make notes on my phone, then set it aside as I go into my room.
Once there, I strip out of my work clothes, then pull on sturdy jeans and a tee shirt, followed by a tight leather jacket. I check that my daggers are secured inside on both sides before zipping it closed.
I slip another knife in my right jeans pocket, then put on my combat boots—steel-toed of course. One more knife in my boot, plus a club in my outer coat pocket for easy access.
Then I wait for the dark.
2
Brett (Boreas)
I can’t sleep.