Chapter 16
Tremaine walked to Ceridwen, Robert, and Preston on his heels. If they were really part of this, she was going to answer for once. And considering she knew the creature by name, and they were from the same place, there had to be a story.
“Do you personally know Zariha?” Tremaine demanded.
A smirk crossed Ceridwen’s face. Her brow arched. “We were lovers, until his light faded to shadows, and I realized he was out for himself and no one else. I haven’t personally laid eyes on him in longer than you could imagine.”
“How long?” Tremaine asked.
She snorted. “Hundreds of thousands of years.”
Preston’s mouth dropped. “How the fuck old are you?”
A short laugh left her lips. “Lost track. Doesn’t matter. I haven’t laid eyes on Zariha since our people fled our home world.”
“Okay, and does it make sense he’s obsessed with a Fae? Or could this Merova be a mystic?”
“That I do not know. When I learned of the dagger, it was by word of mouth, and many years ago. She had already locked herself away, to keep herself from Zariha. Now, I have a question. Does Evangeline possess the blade?”
Robert ran his hands down his lapels, his distress palpable. “Yeah, she does. We also assured her neither you nor Draecyn plan to take it from her.”
“We don’t. Besides, unless Evangeline offered it freely, we couldn’t even touch it. And considering neither Draecyn nor myself is descendant of Merova, we couldn’t keep the blade for any length of time. Merova would wind up with it once more. However, that dagger is going to do some interesting things to Evangeline. I hope she’s ready for more power than she ever imagined.”
“What are you talking about?” Tremaine asked.
“Just that the dagger tends to grant the wielder any magic they encounter. They don’t steal others’ magic or siphon it, they simply gain the ability.”
“How did she gain her witch magic back? She wasn’t around anybody who was currently a witch.”
She smirked. “No, but she was a witch. Her magic came rushing back. I’m willing to bet she can translocate now. She also gained any magic any of you have shown her today.”
“Shit, I called on fire while she was helping Bran but she had already dealt with Zariha. We didn’t see him again.”
“Then she must have dealt a great blow,” Ceridwen answered.
One corner of Preston’s mouth lifted. “I wonder if she could shift into other forms by being near shifters.”
Ceridwen smirked. “That’s an excellent question. It’s certainly a possibility, though as far as I know, no shifter has ever possessed the blade. That doesn’t mean much, though. Shifting is a form of magic, so it’s certainly possible.”
Tremaine nodded. “Are you going to meet with her to discuss any of this?”
“Not tonight. But soon. Evangeline needs to seal the bond to Bran first.”
“You already saw?” Robert asked.
She nodded. “Yes. And they mated in a dream, but until they find mutual physical release, the bond won’t seal. And trust me, it’s not going to be long before they can’t keep their hands to themselves.”
Tremaine nodded. “All right, I’ll call Bran and let him know what the plan is. When will you want to go tomorrow?”
“After she calls to say they’re ready. Better that way,” Ceridwen answered.
“I’ll make sure what we were working on is covered,” Robert offered.
Preston snorted. “Already took care of that. Figured this was likely going to take a few days, and I know how little you want Tremaine running off without you.”
Ceridwen shook her head. “Until we figure out where Merova decides to go, we won’t have a solid plan. Zariha will follow her. I understand he’s bound himself to her, or vice versa. Either way, his first priority, now that she’s released from the rift under the mountain, is to find Merova. He’ll want to drain her magic, and that will grant him every ability she’s ever had, like creating any inanimate object, with whatever magic she can think of in an instant.”
“He drained, Genevieve,” Tremaine added. “That’s why she was so weak.”
“Very likely. And Genevieve let that werelynx change her, yes?” Ceridwen prodded.
“Yes, she did,” Preston answered. “She seemed interested in getting her magic back.”
“Doubtful that will happen. The blade changes things for the wielder.”
“Hmm, interesting.”
“Though, with her being mated to another werewolf, there’s the chance Bran could catch some of the magic. The stronger their bond, the higher the chance.”
“Interesting,” Tremaine muttered. “Is there anything we should do for them?”
“All that can wait until tomorrow,” Ceridwen answered.
“Then we’re going home to see our preggers woman.” Tremaine took Robert’s hand.
Robert reached out to Preston, and they were gone.
* * * *
Hardly any information and Savon had to figure out what the hell was going on. As far as she knew, the only thing that could leave a taint was something called a Shadow Fae. At least that was what Ceridwen had told her years before.
Once upon a time, she had encountered one, and she was able to wash the presence clean from the witch who had been tainted by the creature. Later, she removed the taint from a warlock, but the idiot had been obsessed with an old friend, and managed to mess around with something belonging to a Shadow Fae, and managed to reinfect himself. He was dead soon after.
A few months later, Ceridwen confirmed the Shadow Fae were dead. Every last one of them. What the hell was this other presence? Or had Ceridwen lied?
Evangeline opened the door to find Savon and Nate.
Nate’s brow arched. “You bonded on the mountain?”
“Uh…in a dream. Never mind that, we have more important things to worry about. Like the fact I need to introduce you to my twin, and an old family friend.” She led them in and started. “This is Genevieve, and her mate, Neil. And this is Nate and Savon. Both good friends.” Well, she could call Nate close. Savon and Evangeline were getting there.
Savon looked at the pair. Neil didn’t appear to be tainted, but she would push the magic through him to be sure.
However, his aura was the white of true love and gray for concern. She was willing to bet the concern was for his frail looking mate.
Genevieve was another story altogether. She had so much black shadow throughout her aura, she couldn’t tell what the woman felt. But the lingering shadows were bad news.
Suppressing a string of curses, Savon forced a smile and gathered her words. “Nate is the werewolf Alpha, and he can answer any of your questions.”
Nate jumped right into how they were welcome, and the wolves would be no problem. Savon caught a few phrases, but she was focusing on what she could sense in Bran and Evangeline. There was absolutely no taint in either of them.
Once Nate finished, Savon nodded. “He’s right, we’d love to have you. You’re welcome to hunt with the wolves. But first, can I have a word with Genevieve? Alone?”
“Not without me,” Evangeline and Neil stated.
Savon rolled her eyes and fixed Neil with a glare. “I’ll let Evangeline come with us. You, on the other hand, need to stay put. I won’t be long, and this will be better. I promise.”
“If you harm her, I don’t care who you are, I will dismantle you.”
Savon huffed. “Please, I’d like to see you try.”
Neil shot to his feet and leaped over the coffee table at her with a snarl. Savon threw her hand up and pushed her will at him, sending him careening back into the couch.
Genevieve snarled, her eyes narrowing.
“Oh, don’t you start, kitty-cat. I’m trying to help you get rid of the taint that shadow thing left inside you. And it will be better to do it in private, so snarly-boy doesn’t do anything to stop me from clearing the problem.”
“She’s tainted?” Neil barked.
Savon nodded. “Yeah, and I’ve seen it before. But don’t worry, I can fix this. Now stay there and let her follow me.” She turned to Evangeline. “Can we use your room?”
“Of course. Follow me.”
* * * *
Genevieve kissed Neil. “She means well. I can sense it. Trust her, for me, please.”
He dipped his head. “I smell no malice on her, but I don’t know what she is.”
Nate chuckled. “Don’t mind Savon. She doesn’t like people questioning her methods. She’s a sorceress and part Sylvan Fae. I promise you, she won’t do anything but clear the presence.”
Neil nodded. “Very well.”
Smiling, Genevieve followed her sister and friend up the stairs. Savon oozed power, some almost natural, animalistic, the rest, unearthly. Much like the dark presence at the bottom of that damned cave.
And the farther away from Whiteface Mountain, the better she felt about the ordeal. She no longer felt as if she were out of options, and her only cure was a dagger she’d never reach. And that dark presence that had always been there when she was expelled from the cave.
Had her father known? Did he do this to her on purpose?
A pained sound left her lips, and she muted it as much as possible. “I wish I had listened to you all those years ago,” Genevieve whispered to Evangeline.
“Me too, but you’re here now, and you’ll be safe. I’ll make sure of it.”
She nodded and shut the door. “Now what?” she asked Savon.
“This will be easiest without Neil freaking out. I need to make sure no hint of the shadow remains,” Savon explained. “I’ll chant over you, and the presence should melt away, and go back to wherever it came from, and I’m assuming that’s back on the mountain.”
Nodding, she whispered, “Very well.”
* * * *
Evangeline realized something. With the way Zariha had washed over Bran, it would be best for them both to be checked. She wasn’t sure if she managed to cleanse the evil taint. Hell, she hadn’t even known the creature could leave some of its essence behind.
She rubbed her hand over her face and watched her sister. Bony didn’t begin to cover the problem. Worse than skeletal. Christ, how had she survived?
Shaking her head, Evangeline moved away and let Savon get to work.
Christ, she was practically starved, only she’d watched her sister wolf down more food than anyone should have been able to. Hopefully, she’d gain some weight.
Savon chanted, running her hands inches above Genevieve’s body. Shadows rose and disintegrated as they touched Savon’s hands.
Evangeline stood and stared at all the corruption that was pulled from her twin. Genevieve’s eyes closed as the last left her body and a pained cry echoed through the room.
There was thundering up the stairs. Genevieve sank to her knees, a rapturous smile appearing on her lips as her body filled in. She was still too thin, but no longer looked like a stiff wind could break her in half.
Neil burst through the door as Genevieve looked up, relieved, tears in her eyes.
“You—you look a hundred times better already.”
Genevieve gulped. “I feel so much better than even after the change. She took it all away, and I no longer feel empty.”
Neil stepped toward Genevieve and Savon caught his arm. “Let me do the same to you. I didn’t sense anything, but better safe than sorry.”
“Why?” he whispered, staring at Genevieve.
“Her aura was permeated with the essence. Yours isn’t. You may have a trace, and I’d rather get rid of it now, rather than deal with it later,” Savon explained.
Dropping his arms, he nodded.
Savon ran her hands over him, much the same way. Hardly anything leached out of his skin, but he closed his eyes with a sigh as the last was expunged.
Genevieve pulled him into her arms as he stumbled.
Savon grinned. “You’re both doing better. I’ll be downstairs.”
Evangeline smiled. “Me too.” She hurried down and caught Savon’s arm. “Could you do the same to us at Bran’s? Just to make sure.”
“Only if you tell me what the hell happened out there, and why either of you would be concerned about that darkness.”
She drew in a breath and let it out as she wrung her hands. “I went in the same cave as Genevieve. She said every time she went in, it became increasingly worse. There’s a shadow creature down there, and he’s eating people’s magic.”
“Bran didn’t go in, right?”
She snorted. “No, but it attacked us. It went for Bran and flowed over him, trying to take his essence. I thought I was going to lose him.”
Bran shook his head. “You saved me. You pushed it all out. Whatever you did pushed it away.”
A frown pulled at Savon’s mouth as she moved to Bran and started the same spell. She ran her hands over her brother ad tipped her head.
Evangeline murmured, “I wasn’t sure I’d be able to take care of you.”
“You did, so relax.”
Savon smirked and did the same to her. “There’s nothing, no taint. You’re totally fine, both of you. Neil only had a trace of it. All I see in his aura is pure love for Genevieve.”
Evangeline hugged Savon. “Thank you. I can’t lose her, especially now that she’s finally away from my asshole father. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“Don’t have to find out. Maybe tell them to get some rest, and you two finish whatever business you haven’t physically completed. You’ll feel better.”
Nate hugged Evangeline. “Anything you need, or your sister and her mate, just call. You know I’ll be there for you. You’ve been there for me countless times.”
Evangeline nodded. “You got it. Now you two go. I’ll deal with Genevieve and Neil, and then Bran and I can deal with us.”
“Maybe get them to come down before they get too carried away. Give them the tour, then we can go back to my place.”
She nodded. “Good idea.” She turned, hurried up the stairs, and knocked on the door.
It opened a few seconds later, and Genevieve blushed furiously. “Sorry, we had to rejoice in this new development. I feel so much better. I doubt we can keep our hands to ourselves long.”
“Then why don’t you two let me gather a bag, and I’ll show you the house real fast. You’re welcome to anything here. Then Bran and I are going back to his place for the night.”
“Really? You trust me here without you?” Genevieve asked.
“Yes, of course. Both of you,” Evangeline smiled at Neil. “Take care of her while I’m busy with my mate.”
“Later, I want all the details. I mean it. Nothing will be spared. You have to tell me everything,” Genevieve pleaded.
“You have my word. Now, get down there while I gather my things so I can take off.”
Savon nudged Evangeline. “We’re going to take off.” She turned to Genevieve. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“Same here,” Nate offered.
Savon and Nate let themselves out while Evangeline showed Neil and Genevieve the house.
“I’m glad you two worked out. Wish I had known sooner,” Evangeline offered.
He grinned. “Me too. And good luck with Bran.”
“Don’t need luck, Bran is everything I wanted and didn’t think I deserved.”
“That’s foolish,” Genevieve argued.
“No more than you thought you couldn’t have Neil. Now you two have a good night.” She hugged her sister and backed toward the door.
Bran hugged Genevieve. “I’m looking forward to getting to know my mate’s sister and her mate. Tomorrow we can do breakfast.” He went through the door, and Evangeline followed.