Chapter 8
Savon opened the door. “Come in. We need to talk.”
Bran didn’t like the look on his sister’s face, but he stepped inside.
Jay followed.
Her brow arched as she nodded.
“What is it?” Bran asked.
Savon directed her attention to Bran. “Something interesting. Evangeline is descendent from one of the more secretive royal bloodlines in Europe. There are all sorts of crazy rumors surrounding her family.”
“What are you talking about?”
She laughed bitterly. “Ever hear of the Merovingians?”
“The Merovingian from the Matrix?” he asked, baffled.
Jay snorted. “No, before France was France, there were these people rumored to be descended from everything from gods to angels, demons, the devil, and even Jesus and Mary Magdalene from the Bible.”
Bran’s brow pinched. “What?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Savon interrupted. “There are a thousand artifacts that were important to their people. Crazy shit that wouldn’t make sense to most. Some of the Merovingians came to America with their descendants.”
“Okay,” answered Bran. “What about it?”
“Her family lives near Lake Placid. There are strange ruins hidden on Whiteface Mountain that only those magically inclined can find. Some say only witches, but Tremaine has seen one.”
“Where did Tremaine learn about the rest?”
Savon’s face scrunched. “Apparently her father, Olivier Laurent, has ties to HARP. The same group who wants to bring about the Burning Dawn. Tremaine contacted Ms. Murdock.”
“Tell me Evangeline doesn’t have ties to them.”
“Through her father, yes. Though, if Tremaine believed she was a problem, he would have said so. He believes she’s a pawn in her father’s plan, and she didn’t truly know who she was working for, or was coerced.”
“Shit. Well, Evangeline is stuck in some cave, so I’m heading out there. With Jay.” He rolled his eyes.
Jay held up his hands. “Hey, asshole, I can help, and I want to.”
“Yeah, and I’m not arguing, even if I don’t get it.”
Savon frowned. “Want me out there?”
“Nate would kill me if I dragged you out to some weird-ass cave before I know more.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You do realize Nate considers Evangeline a friend too. He’d be more than happy to help.”
“Yeah, but we can’t all go for x-amount of time. It’s bad enough I’m going, and I’m the new second of the pack. However, someone needs to go, and I want Evangeline to be my mate. That’s only going to happen if she’s safe, and right now she’s not.”
Savon’s fists landed on her hips. “Fine, but keep me posted. You know we’ll be there.”
“Be there for what?” Nate asked as he came through the door.
Savon turned to her mate with an arched brow. “Evangeline’s asshole of a father dropped her in some weird-ass cave up on Whiteface Mountain, expecting her to get some artifact.”
Nate didn’t hesitate. “We should go.”
Bran rolled his eyes. “How about you come if we need you to. For now, the pack needs you. It’s only been three days, and I don’t want to leave the pack without its Alpha and second for who knows how long. Besides, Jay is coming.”
Nate paused, then tilted his head. “Okay, but Savon is right. Call, and we’ll come. The pack will be fine a few days.”
Bran rubbed at his face. “If I wind up in over my head, I will. Until then, wait here. Please.”
“Yeah, okay, but don’t forget about us. And worst case, call Tremaine.”
Bran nodded. “If it comes to that, I’ll call him first.”
* * * *
Genevieve lay in the back seat, curled up in Neil’s car. Her magic fled the second her body began to shift into a werelynx. She felt both free and as if she were missing something. Though, in a way she had gained so much more.
Neil glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Never seen a more beautiful lynx,” he murmured.
She could say the same for his beast, though she couldn’t remember seeing another before him, not in the flesh at least.
He turned off the road, and the ride became bumpy.
Whining, Genevieve tried to get comfortable as the magic of wards fell over her, then encompassed her.
Hopping up, she climbed into the front seat and sought her human form. Slowly, the change overtook her.
Neil reached over and captured a paw as it reformed into her hand.
After the shift, she found her shaky voice. “Where are we going?” She sounded panicked to her own ears. She knew she’d need to find Evangeline before her father, especially after she got Genevieve out of the condo before dying. Though the last person she wanted to see was her father.
Father would do anything to get Evangeline into the cave. And she should have warned her, but she’d been in pain she hadn’t been thinking clearly.
Chances were, Evangeline was in the cave, against her will, and it would take her time to find her way out. Their father always treated Evangeline harsher, claiming she constantly rebelled, when in reality she rebelled for good reason.
She prayed her sister would be wise and find the other exit. There was one, but it meant forgoing the blade. And Genevieve never could follow the stairs all the way to the end. No, she always collapsed and fell back through the entrance as if distance didn’t matter to be expelled.
Neil’s answer pulled her out of her reverie. “Somewhere safe your father can’t find. But I’m hoping you want to help your sister if possible, so we aren’t far from the cave. Far enough your father won’t sense either of us, but close enough to be useful.”
Doubt crept up. There was another danger Neil didn’t know about. A dark beast that guarded the mountain. But if he took her behind wards, perhaps he couldn’t find her. And hopefully, the creature wouldn’t want anything to do with Evangeline.
“Truly?”
“She has been a friend for years. She’s one of the few people who understand what it’s like to lose their magic, though she lost it far earlier than either of us.”
She wiped a tear away. “Wish I were as strong as Evangeline. As it is, I’m not sure how I’ll survive without my magic.”
“Come away with me.” He held up a hand. “Not yet, let’s help Evangeline first, but then we can find our own place in the world.”
“What about her home in Silvertail Ridge?”
His brow drew down. “Perhaps, if the werewolves would accept us. However, there are no guarantees that her pack will allow two werecats in their midst.”
Smiling, she leaned closer to Neil. “She has friends there. Says witches and werewolves mate and are happy. And she has been close to the new Alpha for ages. She’s been telling me for years I would be welcome there.”
“Maybe, but she’s not mated to the Alpha. And, that was while you were a witch. They may not want another kind of shifter there. We won’t fall under the Alpha’s rule,” Neil pointed out.
A burst of jealousy hit. “You aren’t mated to her either.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness from her tone.
His brow arched. “My heart has always belonged to you, and you alone. Besides, a cat can only mate another cat. Which is why I’m glad she let me do the honors. I’m not sure I could live without you.”
“I would always love you, even if I were a wolf.”
“Sure, but a wolf could come in and steal you away from me.”
“Then I’m glad my sister had the foresight to let you do it.” She sat back and realized she was nude, in the car. “Oh my, where are my clothes?”
“Relax, I grabbed you something to wear. Inside, you can dress. I’ll carry you.” He stopped the car before a cabin that held power she didn’t recognize.
He climbed out of the SUV, walked around, and swept her into his arms.
Genevieve wrapped her arms around his neck and let him carry her inside. He dropped a bag and set her down. “Clothes are in the bag.” Then he stepped outside, giving her privacy.
She pulled on the first thing she found. A dress that was far too loose, because she was terribly thin from being sick so long.
Neil came back with a soft smile. “If you truly want me, I’ll have to make love to you.” Blushing, he glanced down.
He’d been too worried about her health to take their relationship there. Though she knew she’d die and had wanted to lose her virginity to the man who had shown her such tenderness and love.
“I’ve been telling you for years that I want nothing more than to be yours. You were the one who was afraid.”
He moved closer, wrapping his hand around her ribs, and drew her closer. “I was terrified I may hurt you. Still am. However, you will heal anything now. It may hurt at first, and I hate that, but I’ll be gentle.”
Desire coursed through her, not for the first time, but now it was so much more powerful she couldn’t resist the draw. She pressed tight, leaning up to capture Neil’s mouth. When she lowered back to her heels, she whispered, “Make me yours.”
Smiling, he swept her up and carried her to the bedroom.