Emerald

"I guess you don't want company, do you?" I spin around at the voice, rolling my eyes when I realise it's Will. He grins at me, bounding in like a puppy and I fold my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling bare in just a tee and pajama shorts.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, making my way to my bed as he shuts the door and he sits beside me, the bed dipping with him.

"I don't like sleeping alone." He says with a shrug, and I snort.

It's been a week since I came to terms with Will being my soulfinder and I... I don't know, I thought something would happen. I thought he'd declare his love for me or we'd make passionate love in a meadow or something like that.

But nothing has happened.

We've kissed a little, but that's about it.

I've tried not to let it get to me, but seeing Will's brothers with their soulfinders is killing me. How they're all so cute with each other. How Zed drops kisses on Sky ever few minutes, how Yves winds his arm around Phee and pulls her in for a hug whenever they're near each other, how Xav offers Crystal a foot massage every evening for her to laugh it off and then for him to kiss her nose, retreating to their room for the night to do God knows what and how Trace tries to carry Diamond everywhere. Picking her up bridal-style and carrying her upstairs or over thresh-holds, causing his wife to squeal in protest.

Of course, I'm not the only one to notices this, and from the way Victor spends less and less time with his family and Uriel is up in his room studying nearly every hour of the day, I know not having a soulfinder is killing them.

But sometimes, when I'm alone and thinking about Will, I think having a soulfinder is so much harder.

I'm supposed to love him so much, and I think I do, but the thing is, I don't know him. I don't know if I love him, or if I just love the idea of him.

And that's a killer.

I sigh and shuffle back, getting under the covers of my bed and I feel my pulse quicken as Will mimics my actions, winding his arm around my waist and pulling me towards him, nuzzling his face in my hair.

"I think we're getting better, Emerald." He says, after a while of just staring off into space, neither of us able to sleep.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... I don't hate you anymore. I know it hasn't been that long, but everything's been happening so fast, and I've found out that I don't hate you."

"Well, that's... good." I say, after a moment of indecision.

"Yeah, it is." He replies, pulling me closer to him and I love the way he feels, his woody smell enveloping me and his heat cocooning me.

"I don't hate you either." I say after a moment.

But I think that's because I don't even know him.

oo00oo00oo

We all sit around the breakfast table, drowsily stuffing our faces as Saul leaves the table for a phone call. I'm so sleepy I lean my head on Will's shoulder, his automatic response being to drag my chair closer, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"You tired?" He whispers in my ear, and I nod.

"Sheesh guys, what were you doing last night?" Xav asks as Crystal tries to smooth out her bed-head.

"Probably the same thing you guys were doing." Phee interjects, biting into her toast. Xav looks at her, smirking.

"Don't act like a prude, Phee. You must've consummated the marriage."

That causes the whole table to gag, Karla clasping her hands to her ears.

"Oh God, please stop thinking Yves!" She exclaims and Zed starts banging his head against the table.

"Yves. Please. Stop." He begs, and Will and Xav guffaw at Yves' pink cheeks and Phee's red face.

I laugh along with them, Karla chuffing in disgust.

"My poor baby." She whines, squeezing her eyes shut. "What happened to my geeky, little son?" She opens her eyes and Will stops his laughter.

"He's still geeky, Mom. Just has a wife now." He winks at his younger brother who just rolls his eyes, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

But suddenly, Saul comes in, and the light mood seems to drain away as Karla looks up.

"Saul?" She asks, standing up, and he slips his phone in his pocket, leaning his hands on the table. I expect him to give out to Yves about embarrassing his mother or not having a wall up to protect his mind, but instead his gaze lands on me.

"I'm so sorry, Emerald." He says and my body freezes, Will's arm tightening around my waist.

"Wh-what... why?" I ask, voice wavering.

"The Savant Net called and... and they want you back."