Chapter 15
Olivier paced the entrance of the cave. It had been far too long for his ungrateful, bitch of a daughter to still be in there. There was no other way out. Genevieve couldn’t find it. And sure, she had been weak, but she volunteered to go for the dagger.
She’d been going since she was a child. Once a year at least, hoping to get deeper and farther in. Always the same story. She would go down, down, and down, and within a few hours, she would be pushed out the entrance.
And Evangeline had been in the cave all day long. She found the dagger. That was the only answer. Finally, the ancient witch granted the boon. Now Merova would be expelled from the cave, to wander the world, and Zariha could finally end her life and reward him for his loyalty.
Zariha appeared before Olivier. The shadows that flowed around the dark mystic avoided the wounds that still dripped fresh blood.
The creature hissed. “You were so sure Evangeline would fall under your sway.”
“Yes, well, she always wanted to protect Genevieve, whom you took too much from,” he sneered, holding onto his courage, which quickly faded.
“You are a fool to have sent her repeatedly. You’re the one who doomed your daughter to death.”
He sighed. “Yes, well, we all make foolish mistakes on the quest to power. Like you did when you attempted to force Merova to grant you the dagger time and time again.”
Zariha slapped Olivier, sending him to the ground, grasping his face. Cold seeped into his skin, through his veins. “Aren’t you curious what happened to Evangeline?”
Olivier picked himself up. “You saw her? Is she the reason for your injuries?”
“Aye, she is. The bitch has the dagger. And interesting enough, she has her magic back.”
“She used the dagger on herself?”
“That, I don’t know. However, once I find Merova, I’ll find out. She’s always had a soft spot for those who’ve lost their magic.”
Olivier paced away. “And she cut you with the blade?”
“That’s why I’m not healing properly. I need Genevieve’s essence,” he hissed.
“That is not possible at the moment. I have no clue where my daughter is. However, there’s another woman descended from the Merovingians that you could use.”
“No tie to you?”
“Not of my blood.”
The creature smiled. “Take me to this female.”
He dipped his head. “Stay out of sight.” He led Zariha to the RV.
* * * *
Genevieve sank onto a couch, and Neil dropped down beside her. She looked into his eyes. “Tell me this is the right choice.”
He huffed. “I can’t. I don’t know that it is, but it’s better than sticking around where your father can find you. Whatever his goals, your health has never been his priority. That damned shadow demon is what was draining you. I know, because it nearly killed me. He’s why I was changed to a werelynx.”
“What did he do?” Genevieve squeaked.
He dipped his head. “Your father brought me up there to hire my company. He wanted me to survey the land, but I had asked too many questions before we arrived at the cave, none of which he wanted to answer, and then that damned thing appeared before the truck. He careened to a stop inches before the creature. The thing dragged me out of the car and placed his hands on me. It felt as if my life was draining away. He drinks magic the same way a dark mage does, only worse. He leaves a taint behind.”
“A taint?” Evangeline demanded.
He dipped his head. “I didn’t know he was involved with the cave. There are other things on that mountain that your father keeps to himself. The dagger was special, though. He was convinced that was meant for him. He didn’t care about what happened to you. It’s why he kept insisting you go back.” Neil dropped his head to the back of the couch and drew in a slow breath that he gradually let out. “I only ran into Zariha once. A small group of werelynxes hunt on that mountain. They found me after Zariha drained me and left me for dead. It’s why I knew you turning would save you. Your decline was slower than mine. I wouldn’t have lasted the night.”
Genevieve caught Neil’s face. “Do you ever feel like Zariha is in your head?”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Evangeline demanded. “When you went in the cave, what happened?”
Genevieve snorted, fear racing through her. “Dad sent me in, told me to find the dagger. It could change everything, bring our mother back, and take away your worst ability.”
“Dreamwalking? Really?” Evangeline could hardly contain the boiling rage. “The bastard wanted to take away the one thing he kept me around for?”
Bran turned Evangeline to him. “Shh, let her tell the story. We already know he’s the worst kind of asshole.”
She dipped her head.
Genevieve continued, “I would walk for what seemed like ever. Eventually I would stumble, and fall out of the entrance. But it always felt like I was slipping through time as shadows pulled at my magic.”
“And now? Does he feel like he’s still a part of you?”
Genevieve shook her head. “Not since becoming a lynx.”
Neil interrupted, “I only dealt with it for a few hours. But sometimes on the mountain, I’d hear him whispering in my head, though he held no sway over me.”
Bran pushed his fingers through his hair. “Shit, maybe my sister can look at them, see if there’s any essence left over from Zariha.”
Evangeline’s eyes widened. “Why would she be able to do that?”
He shook his head. “Sounds like something she told me about the other night. Figure it can’t hurt to call her over.”
“True. Do it,” Evangeline answered.
Bran stepped outside.
“Are you sure it’s okay that we’re here?”
Evangeline nodded. “Yeah, but I may go back to Bran’s for the night. Let you guys stay here. The fridge and pantry are stocked. I imagine your appetite has changed.”
Genevieve giggled. “Definitely improved. But I don’t want to run you out of your home.”
Evangeline smirked. “I assume you want your man. And I want mine.”
“How did that happen?” Genie asked.
Evangeline smiled. “I tried to push him away for too many years. I finally gave up the fear and let him in. It’s worth it. As I’m sure your bond to Neil is.”
She nodded. “Thank you. While I was there, I couldn’t force myself to walk away. Then Neil changed everything.”
“Good.”
* * * *
Bran still couldn’t manage to trust Neil. Maybe it was his prejudice. Genevieve, he could wrap his head around her. But Neil was hiding something. He only hoped it was something to protect Genevieve. That he could understand and forgive.
Time for reinforcements, and to make good on his promise that they would be safe in Silvertail Ridge. That meant having Nate warn everyone off. And Bran needed his sister to find out if there was any trace of that thing’s spirit in them.
The phone only rang once. “Everything okay, Bran?” Savon demanded.
“Yeah, look, I need you and Nate to come down to Evangeline’s. We have a bit of a situation, and I need your help. Hoping you can ensure no trace of this shadow thing resides in Evangeline’s sister or her mate.”
“At Evangeline’s? When did you get back?” Savon asked.
“Not long ago, actually. Look, it’s quite a story, but we need help.”
“Right, we’ll be there in a few. Nate is in the shower. I’ll hurry him up.”
“Seriously, offer a shower later if he tries to pull you in with him.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry. You were here for me, I’ll be there for you.” She hung up.
He stepped back inside. Genevieve looked like a deathly anorexic version of her sister. At least she had color and didn’t appear sickly other than starved. Becoming a wereanimal could fix most health issues if the person didn’t die in the transition. And as sick as Evangeline claimed her sister was, it was likely a miracle that kept her alive.
Whatever secrets Neil held pissed Bran off. This was a time to figure out what the hell was going on so they could fix it. Not hide key elements to the problem.
Neil looked up at him, fear in his eyes.
That’s right, better be terrified of me, asshole!
Bran took a calming breath. “So, anything else you care to share? Like, what were you doing for Olivier while you worked for him?”
Neil nodded. “My company does imaging of rural locations. He wanted me to topographically map every inch of the mountain, without sharing any information with me. I had to ask questions, and he fed me to that monster to keep me quiet after I finished most of the work.”
Bran’s brow arched. “Zariha. The guys confirmed what I heard in my head when he tried to snack on me.”
“You’re lucky you survived.”
“I have Evangeline to thank for that. However, I need to understand what you learned about the mountain. We all do.”
“I never found anything solid. It was weird. I could map the cave, I could see it from the air, but from the ground, I never could make it to that spot. Like I was being rerouted somehow. And there was some old story my parents told me about a cave that could only be found by the purest of witches. You had to be a blood relation to the one trapped inside to reach the dagger.”
Evangeline snorted. “I didn’t make it that far down, and I asked to leave, without the dagger. Told her I wasn’t there for her treasure, and my only goal was to get back to Bran, and that you had time to get away from Dad. That’s when a new cave opened, leading me out.”
Bran’s head cocked as he looked at her. Maybe that was the key. You couldn’t desire the blade to be given the blade. Or maybe that was the Fae’s stipulation to give it.
Shit, what did he care? He didn’t want some freaky dagger. He already accepted he was a werewolf, the loss of his wife, the new mate, and everything he had at present. He didn’t want to change anything. One thing mattered to Bran, and that was to move on with his life, Evangeline by his side. He nearly gave up on that outcome.
Oh, who was he kidding? There was no way in hell he would have ever given up on her or their future. He couldn’t. He’d tried, and he stayed there, waiting to see where they could go.
“And you continued to try to find the cave?” Bran asked.
Neil nodded. “Of course. I’ve been in love with Genevieve for ages. I wanted to rescue her from the sickness that would steal her from me.”
Genevieve gulped. “Even without my magic, am I really me?”
He turned to her, capturing her face and looking into her eyes. The truth radiated from Neil. Genevieve was his priority. Love perfumed the air.
Bran was starting to believe his secrets were to protect Genevieve. Still, they needed answers.
Genevieve kissed Neil.
Evangeline led Bran into the kitchen and pulled him close. “Still think he’s hiding something?”
He nodded, and her eyes narrowed.
Holding up his hands, he whispered, “Yeah, I do, but I think it’s to protect Genevieve. Still, we can’t risk the taint from that thing in either of them. Especially your sister.” He pushed his fingers through his hair. “Something feels off, and I’m willing to bet it’s something Zariha did.”
“Okay, so you still think they’ll be welcome here?”
He nodded. “That, I’m sure of. There have been other shifters in town over the years. They eventually leave, but this would be a good place for Genevieve to start. Let them make the decision where to be once she fully embraces her lynx.”
“Good plan. Now, tonight, think I could stay at your place?”
He grinned, pulling her closer. “Any and every night you choose, as long as you let me be with you when you don’t stay there.”
Licking her lips, she leaned up, then sucked his bottom lip into her mouth. He deepened the kiss, running one hand down her back to cup her ass, the other up her neck and into her hair.
Hard, impossibly hard. Shit, Bran needed to be inside Evangeline in the worst possible way. The bond was there, but he needed more of her.
She pressed tighter, trailing her fingers down his chest and abs, ready to sink under his waistline.
The doorbell rang, and she backed away, panting. “Need to get that. Sorry. Didn’t mean to tease.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Can’t wait to have you alone. I need you.”