Chapter 18
Olivier paced his home. The young woman who was a second cousin to Genevieve and Evangeline sat in his parlor. Zariha would be there any moment to take her essence.
Vanna came to him. “What’s wrong?”
“Genevieve is no longer in the state. I have no clue where she went. Evangeline is gone too. I found someone who has spied on me in the past, and he wouldn’t talk. In fact, he cursed me.” A coughing fit hit him, blood splattering his hand as he doubled over.
“You need a doctor,” she stated.
He laughed harshly. “No doctor. It’s a curse. Earth magic. Maybe shaman. It will pass.” Hopefully, Zariha would see fit to grant him healing, and some power, though he hadn’t acquired the dagger, and he lost track of both of his daughters.
At least the young witch had enough magic to fuel Zariha for a year. She would be a welcome feast for the shadow mystic.
Olivier needed to convince Zariha he hadn’t outlived his usefulness.
A shadow flowed through the door, and Zariha materialized before Olivier. “My prize?” he demanded.
The girl turned to look at him, then screamed bloody murder. The words were something other than French, though close. He couldn’t quite make out what she had said, but Olivier knew she was terrified.
Good, the little bitch was full of demands. Too bad he couldn’t have sent her down into the cave, sparing his favorite daughter, and keeping Evangeline from learning the truth.
Now she knew it all, and she found another way out of the cave. He needed to find Genevieve and threaten her life to get the damned thing from Evangeline.
He still hated his wife, who died when the girls were just ten. Evangeline had clung to her side until the end and hated him ever since. Genevieve was a daddy’s girl. So why wasn’t she answering her phone? Where had she disappeared to?
The spells in her apartment were gone according to Vanna. However, no one had broken in. His assistant couldn’t breach the wards worked around Evangeline’s condo. Which meant no one else could.
And where the hell was that rat bastard Neil? He was gone. Fallen off the face of the damned planet as far as he could tell.
Not even Zariha could sense either of them.
It was time to see if he could find the asshole who protected Neil’s mountain retreat. Ty was as intertwined with Zariha as Olivier was.
* * * *
After making love, Genevieve couldn’t sleep. Neil, however, was out cold. Smiling, she pulled on one of Evangeline’s outfits and wandered downstairs.
The house was nothing Genevieve would have expected for her sister. Then again, what did she really know?
Not much, clearly. And Genevieve felt horrible once again.
For years, she expected the worst of her sister’s motivations. She had asked many times over the years to change her and move her away, or at least just move her away.
Nothing Evangeline had said got through. Until just the other day, she believed the worst about wolves and all other wereanimals.
Evangeline brought two werewolves with her to save Genevieve. Both proved to have compassion. Neither considered themselves, only Evangeline’s well-being. And they worked alongside the mages—the biggest shock of them all.
Who would have thought mages would be so willing to help werewolves and werelynxes. Father had crammed his prejudices down her throat for years.
Sinking onto a chair, she studied the living room. Warm colors. Bookshelves full of books, all sorts of fiction, but there was a lot of romance.
Something Genevieve never believed she would have. And here she was, away from her oppressive father, with the man who’d captured her heart. Neil gave her hope after years of despair, sure she would die before she reached a relic that could save her. And she had never needed the dagger.
Okay, first Evangeline gave her hope, then he added to that hope when he changed her and the pains of moving faded away. She’d been energized, rejuvenated. Maybe she should slip outside and go for a run. Or maybe she should call her sister and plan some time to explore.
She looked around the living room but didn’t see a phone, so she hopped up and made her way to the kitchen. There was a phone on the wall, and a notepad on the counter with a quick note.
Genevieve and Neil,
Evangeline lost her phone in the cave. Call my number if you need her.
Bran.
His number was listed, so she grabbed the phone. She paused for a second. Would Evangeline be upset for interrupting the lovemaking? Would they still be going at it?
Well, Evangeline would ignore the phone if she were busy, and her sister did say to call her if she needed anything.
Did Genevieve really need to talk?
Gulping a breath, she dialed anyway.
It rang twice before a sleepy voice answered. “Hey. This Genevieve?”
“Yeah, sorry to wake you. I should go.”
“No, don’t do that. Hang on a minute.” Something rustled and there was movement. Then a door shut and it sounded like her sister rushed down the stairs. Finally, her voice came across the line. “Sorry. We wore each other out and took a nap.”
“I couldn’t sleep. I should have waited.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m hungry now. Should probably make Bran and me something to eat. That was the plan after we woke up. Is the house okay?”
“It’s beautiful. I never realized you would have bought such a big house. I assumed you were just getting by without Dad’s support. I was such a fool.”
Evangeline huffed. “I have a few businesses and make a good deal of money. Don’t worry about my finances.”
She sighed. “Sorry. I’m coming to realize my assumptions were foolish and terribly wrong. I want to make up for it.”
“We have plenty of time for that.” Her voice had softened, warmth in the tone. “Look, tomorrow, I’ll take you shopping, and we’ll figure out where to go from here. I’m sure my mate will let me stay with him as long as I want.”
“He seems very protective of you.”
Evangeline smiled. “Yeah. And he’s so much better than Jasper was. And yeah, it’s early, but I’ve known him for twelve years.”
She couldn’t contain the gasp. “You waited twelve years?”
“I did. Bran was married when we first met. And I was friends with his wife. After she died, I was away a lot. I thought things wouldn’t work for a multitude of reasons, but here we are, and I’m glad we’ve finally made that step.”
“You never mentioned him,” Genevieve whispered.
A strained laugh escaped Evangeline. “Felt guilty for wanting a married man. He was good to her, but he wasn’t a werewolf then, and they weren’t mated. I knew he was it for me, but there was no way I was going to act on it while he was married.”
“What happened to her?”
“She died of cancer. It took her fast.”
“That’s so sad.”
“Yeah, it was. I still miss Margaret, but she passed away five years ago.”
“I’m glad you two mated.”
“Me too.”
“I’m thankful you let Neil change me. And brought me away from New York. But where are we going to stay after you go back home?”
“Who says I’m not at home with Bran?” Evangeline asked.
“You wouldn’t come back to the house you own?”
“Well, right now, you need a place to stay. Bran has lived in his home for the last ten years. If you don’t like my house, you can always find one, but I can stay with Bran. Honest, I’m happy to let you live in the house as long as you two want.”
Genevieve leaned against the counter. “Maybe tomorrow Bran can show Neil around, and you can show me? I want to spend some time with my sister, now that everything is different.”
“Yeah, sounds good. I’ll be able to answer all your questions. At least all the things I can. I can always find someone who knows more about your specific type of shifter, but we’ll be able to figure it out.”
“I love you, Evangeline.” Tears welled up. “I should have said that more.”
“You did,” she answered with a sigh.
“Yeah, but I also tore you down for what you are. I was afraid for stupid reasons.”
“At least I ignored it, for the most part.” Her voice cracked. “Look, leave it until tomorrow. Either eat, then go enjoy Neil, or go now. Right now, I want to go climb back into bed with my mate. I’ve waited a long time to say that, and for a few years I was afraid to admit it’s all I wanted.”
“At least you’re there. I avoided Neil as much as I could for ages. I wish I hadn’t.”
“Me too. Someone needed to get you away from Dad.”
“Yeah. So thanks. And I’ll let you go.”
“Good night, sis.” Evangeline hung up.
Genevieve took some ham out of the fridge and snarffed it before heading upstairs to climb back into bed with Neil.