Chapter 31
Dark storm clouds rolled in, and Genevieve started to worry about what was coming. She needed to be a big girl and tell Evangeline everything. What if her sister hated her?
Genevieve fought long and hard to save Evangeline from being a wolf. If she had the dagger, she could have taken the beast from her. At the time, she thought it would help.
After experiencing the power of a lynx residing within, she understood the strength. It was a different kind of magic. No longer ill and weak, she wanted to run, to explore. After a couple short days, she no longer missed her magic.
Genevieve cursed herself for the misconceptions she kept for so damned long. She couldn’t forgive herself if Evangeline didn’t.
Now that she finally understood, the last thing she wanted was to lose her sister for a past of regrets.
“Hey, whatever is going through your mind, relax. Evangeline may have questions, but if you’re honest with her, I’m sure it will work out.”
“God, I hope so. You don’t understand. I wanted her to be a witch again. I sought a way to change her back to what she was. And now I understand how wrong that was. And there’s nothing I can do to take back my actions. And maybe if I hadn’t wanted her back in the same role I was, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Neil brushed her hair out of her face. “Can’t think like that, my love. Your sister knows how manipulative your father can be. I’m sure she’s angry, but I doubt she stays mad at you.”
“I hope I can fix what I’ve broken.”
He kissed her softly. “You will. Now relax, and let’s get ready.”
* * * *
Attempting to sort through her thoughts, Evangeline watched Bran set the table.
Her father was a bastard who orchestrated everything, at all times.
Whatever he told Genevieve convinced her to work against Evangeline. She knew it to the bottom of her soul. Yet, it didn’t make anything a damned bit better. It should, but it wasn’t helping her state of mind in the slightest.
A conversation would do one of two things. Prove Genevieve was as much a victim as her, or that perhaps, she was everything Father wanted. Though it was far more likely, she was forced into helping him through some form of guilt. It was why Evangeline helped him when she did.
There were things Robert found in her father’s hands that could easily condemn Evangeline, though he assured her he saw the manipulation and didn’t blame her.
Not that it helped much.
Bran finished up. He’d ordered food from Giorno’s, his favorite Italian restaurant. Her mate crossed the room, heading straight for her.
A smile graced her lips as all the doubt washed away under his smile.
His arms wound around her, pulling her close as his hands curled around her ass. Light danced through his eyes. “You have the nicest ass I’ve ever seen or held.”
Blushing, she pressed tighter. “Now I wish they weren’t on the way.”
“I’ll ease that craving as soon as they leave if you’ll let me.”
She nodded, then leaned up to kiss him. A soft growl rumbled through his chest, revving her engine so high she forgot her sister, Merova, her father, and Zariha.
He backed her against the wall and lifted her ass. Her legs locked around him while he rocked her over his straining length.
Then the damned doorbell rang, and he set her down, backing away with a sheepish grin. “Couldn’t help myself.”
Neither could she. She took a breath as Bran moved behind the kitchen island.
Laughing, she went to the door. They might not see his impressive erection, but they were definitely going to smell the desire thick in the air.
Composing herself, she opened the door. “Welcome. How are you two?”
Genevieve had been stiff and scared one moment, then relaxed instantly. There was still a hint of concern in her eyes, and Evangeline couldn’t blame her. “We need to talk.”
Evangeline nodded. “Yeah, but let’s get some food and settle in, then we can discuss all the rest of this. All right?”
“I don’t want you to hate me,” she whispered, ducking her gaze.
“Why don’t you give me a chance to hear your story and we can figure it out from there?”
Bran added, “After we serve dinner from our favorite restaurant in town.”
Does he remember my favorite restaurant? I know I mentioned it a time or two around him, but that was so long ago.
A million more questions popped up. Like what was up with their date. Man, she wanted their date.
Neil smiled as he came in and shut the door. “Thanks for having us.”
Bran nodded. “We’re family now, right? I want to get to know you both.”
“True, though, this was never what I expected,” Genevieve answered. “I mean, I thought…” She sighed.
“Let’s get our plates and go from there,” Evangeline suggested.
Bran had ordered several family size entrees and several more sides to ensure everyone had what they might want to eat. No pressure, and no rush.
Her head was going to explode with the questions, though. So yeah, there was a measure of weight on her, to hold it together long enough for everyone else to relax. In the meantime, she was pretending to the best of her ability.
After a few minutes of eating, she couldn’t take it anymore. Evangeline asked the first question. “Hey, Genevieve, I was in Father’s head, and I know you wanted me to be a witch again. Was that your motivation to keep going into the cave?”
She froze, her head snapping up, her eyes wide.
Evangeline watched her and felt bad. Still, without answers, she would never understand. “Come on, I won’t judge you. I just need to know why you kept going back when that thing kept draining you.”
Genevieve chewed her lip. Finally, she said something. “In the beginning, I wanted you to come back to us. I knew you thought you loved Jasper, but at the same time, I missed you. And you didn’t always write back.”
Evangeline nodded, her heart twisting. She hadn’t written back because it hurt to know she couldn’t go back as long as she was mated to Jasper. “Sorry.”
“And then, when we came to visit, and you were a werewolf, you looked so sad, so bereft. I thought if you weren’t, you’d be able to come back and be with us again.”
Evangeline closed her eyes. Yeah, she had been sad. She missed her magic, knew her family wouldn’t get her. And damn it, what was she supposed to do?
Genevieve’s voice broke as she continued. “After you lost Jasper, you still didn’t come back, and I wanted the dagger so I could gain my strength back, because by then I was weaker, and I just wanted to be with you. I thought if I had it, I’d be able to make that happen.”
Evangeline’s head snapped up, meeting her twin’s gaze. “And now?” she whispered. “What do you want now?”
A tear ran down her face. “A fresh start, which you provided. I get to start over without all that other stuff weighing me down.”
And all the fear and doubt fell away. Evangeline went around the table and hugged Genevieve. “Even if you never have your magic again?”
“Don’t really care about it. I’ve been so weak, I hadn’t been using it. I don’t miss it now.”
Evangeline moved back to her seat as Neil pulled Genevieve into his arms and kissed her forehead.
Evangeline sat down and smiled wider than she could remember. “Thank God for that. I don’t want to change who I am and where I’ve gotten myself.”
Bran nodded. “You’re welcome in Silvertail Ridge. I already told you that.”
Neil nodded. “Yeah, getting that impression already. No one seems to mind that we aren’t what everyone else is. It’s been a long time since I felt welcome anywhere.”
Evangeline turned her attention to Neil. “Did you know what my father wanted your company to search for when he took you up there?”
“Not exactly, but I knew he’d been taking Genevieve up to that mountain, and every damned time she got worse. I wanted to find out why, so I could stop it. And yeah, I wound up a werelynx because I pushed too far, but I’d do it again.” He sighed. “Maybe I should have called you sooner.”
Evangeline nodded. “It’s okay. We’re where we need to be. But what did you learn about my father?”
Neil leaned forward. “Your father is hunting for powerful relics. Things that defy explanation. He’s seeking power he doesn’t have the means to hold. They don’t belong to him. They belong to those who came before, most of which still roam.”
“What?” Bran asked, perking up.
“I only knew of the dagger,” Genevieve whispered.
“That’s okay. I’m trying to figure this out. I don’t have all the answers. I want to keep us all safe.” Thankfully, her sister relieved the doubt that cropped up after being in their father’s head.
“What can we do to help?” asked Neil.
“Honestly, nothing. And don’t take that the wrong way, but we have a lot of help already, and they know what we’re dealing with. And they have backup that knows how to get rid of Zariha. I just have to find something for Merova.”
“The ancient witch? The one who gave you the blade?” Genevieve asked.
“Yeah, that’s her.”
“She’s not a witch, is she?”
“Not exactly, but she helped create what witches are today.”
“Huh?” Neil blinked.
“A group of Fae mated with the old version of witches, and then they became what they are now.” Evangeline shook her head.
“Yeah, I was confused when they mentioned that too,” Bran offered. “It doesn’t really matter. Apparently, Merova is locked between the realms without a way to escape. Until Evangeline finds a token.”
“Where’s the token?” Genevieve asked.
“France. Apparently.”
“Étrange Port?” she asked.
“Yeah, how did you know?” Evangeline asked.
“That’s where we were born. Dad took us from there, following the trail of our mother’s ancestors.”
“Are there genealogy books at home? Anything that might trace our family back further?”
She nodded. “Yeah, a few old tomes that go back quite far.”
“Where?” Evangeline asked.
“The attic back in Father’s house.”
And she had a plan. Maybe she could find some clue in those books. She hoped. Maybe it would show her exactly what she was looking for to be able to free Merova and get rid of Zariha.
Relaxing, she smiled. “Thank you. Now, let’s enjoy the food.”
“Mmm, good, I’m starving,” Genevieve said.