Chapter 34
“You really want to leave town?” Evangeline demanded. “Now might be the worst possible time.”
“Why?” Nate asked, seriously annoyed his judgment was being questioned. “I’m not the Alpha yet. The town needs to believe nothing has changed. I’m not going far. My retreat. The one only you and Bran know about. We’ll be close enough we can get back in a hurry.”
Bran argued, “Might be good to train Savon out there as well. The wolves used to get antsy when my father worked with spirits.”
Nate nodded and turned to the young woman. “Nadya, how do you feel about beaches and forests? Think you’d be okay to show Savon what she needs to know out there?”
“I’d love to see the ocean up close.” She turned to her father. “Please.”
He smiled down at her. “Of course, princess. We can head out there whenever we have word she’s ready.”
Savon glanced at Ms. Murdock. “Will you have your phone, and actually answer it?”
“Yes. The problem wasn’t that I didn’t have it last time, it was that I was in Faery, where there is no signal. Looking for your mother.”
“All right. I’ll call once we’re ready. Now, I need to go put some stuff together so we can go.”
Evangeline grabbed Savon’s arm as she hopped up. “Can we talk? You and me?”
She dipped her head slowly. “Sure, one sec.” She turned back to Mircea. “Thank you, both of you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad my brother didn’t persuade you to his side.”
“Me too.”
He took Nadya’s hand and stepped outside.
“Be careful, Savon,” Ceridwen said.
“Promise.” She gave Old Lady Murdock a hug. “I’ll see you soon.”
“No doubt of that.” Ceridwen stepped out.
Nate took Savon’s hands. “What are you packing?”
“Sketchbook, pencils. Supplies. Not much. Relax.”
He chuckled. “Can’t blame me for being curious.”
Bran pulled Nate aside, and Savon started up the stairs.
Evangeline followed and closed the door in her art room. “I don’t think you leaving here is wise right now. Look what happened last time you ventured from the house.”
“I can’t stay. You don’t understand. I need to go. If I stay, I’m going to dwell and things will go nuts. This is the only way to ensure my sanity. Trust me.”
“I’m worried. You didn’t see Nate every time he stepped out of your head the last couple days. You had us all worried, but he could hardly stand to be away from you. And he blames himself for your coma.”
“Not his fault. And there wasn’t a better option. I wish there had been. I was going crazy when he wasn’t there with me. I couldn’t remember anything but how he makes me feel. Shit…that sounds desperate.” Savon turned and started to fill a bag with art supplies.
“I realize that. And somewhere in there, he does too. That doesn’t change what he’s feeling. He has every reason to be paranoid.”
“Damn it.” Savon spun to face Evangeline. “What do you want me to say? That I’ll stay locked up? I can’t. Shit, you don’t get it. Me staying here will not stop whatever is coming.”
“Yeah, but the wolves we don’t want coming to your door can’t get here, right?”
“I can do the same for this retreat.”
“You were attacked on your property.”
“That wasn’t my property, though I claimed the willow tree,” Savon argued. “I never warded Nate’s land.”
“If something happens to you—”
Savon lifted her hand and shook her head. “Don’t, just stop right there, please. I’m not in the mood to argue, and I need to get away from here. I have plenty of my own shit to sort out.”
Evangeline flexed her hands and paced away. She wasn’t taking Savon’s needs into consideration. “Can I ask why you need to go?”
“I feel boxed in right now, like the walls are closing in. And if I stay in this house, I’m going to lose my mind, and that means every entity anywhere near me will too. I’m not finding peace here, not right now.”
“Okay, be careful. I don’t like seeing Nate worried.”
“Neither do I, but I don’t know how to change that until this is all over.”
“Call if you need someone.” Evangeline stepped out and leaned against the wall. The moment she closed the door, the air seemed to lighten. Breathing was even easier downstairs.
Evangeline glanced up the stairs. Savon really did need to get away. “She always like this?” Evangeline asked.
“What do you mean?” Nate growled, stalking closer.
Evangeline huffed. “Need space from everything?”
Bran shook his head. “She didn’t use to, but with her powers unlocked, it is very likely that she needs more space than she used to. Though she always loved to walk, to explore, to get away.”
Nate rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “She’s still the same girl who stole my heart.”
“Would you calm yourself? Seriously, Nate. I’m trying to understand. I wasn’t here when she was. And so far, trouble seems to follow her.”
Bran shrugged. “Tremaine doesn’t seem worried. He’s been around her more than we have recently.”
Evangeline dropped into a seat and crossed her legs. “It’s not so far Canagan and her hounds couldn’t show up.”
“And we’ll keep an eye out for them.”
Savon hurried down the stairs. “And I’ll ward the property when we get there.”
Evangeline stood. “Enjoy yourselves then.”
“We will.” Savon glanced over at Nate. “Need to grab anything?”
“A few things. You ready?”
“Yup, so you all get out.” She winked.
Evangeline touched her shoulder. “I meant no offense. Honest.”
“None taken. I’m glad you’re worried about him.” Savon turned, and Bran wrapped her in his arms.
“Hey, take it easy out there. Come back whole, cuz this asshole keeps hogging all your time.” He shot Nate a glare.
She ducked her gaze. “We’ll take a whole day together soon. All night too if you want. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
Evangeline chewed her lip, watching Bran. She’d spent so long ignoring what was growing, she hadn’t paid attention to the man. Every new facet pulled her closer. He wanted to wait until it was about them.
“Come on, Bran. Let’s let them have some time.”
“You got it. I need to get to work anyway.” He squeezed Savon. “Love ya, Sis.”
“Stop moping,” Nate said. “She talked to you every couple days all these years.”
“You saw her in dreams,” Bran pointed out, backing toward the door.
“Promise I’ll bring her back.”
“Better.” Bran ducked out the door, and Evangeline followed.
“I hope this is over soon.”
He looked over and grinned. “Me too. I’m looking forward to taking you out.”
“And if I don’t need all that?”
“But I may want all that.” He took her hand, looked into her eyes, and he pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Let me show you what you’re missing, my way.” He backed down the front steps.
She could only smile as she watched him go. He was so damned charming. More so than she ever expected.
* * * *
“What did she say while up there?” Nate asked.
“I’m not telling. Don’t worry. We came to an understanding. That’s all you need to know.”
“If she ever gives you shit, I’ll put a stop to it,” Nate promised.
“Don’t need to. We’re not going to have a problem.” She pulled him out the door and locked up.
“I’m driving, which means walking back to the house.” Nate pulled her toward his house.
“I don’t mind your home. If you want us to stay there, we can.”
He shook his head. “I’d rather be in your home, with you. Nothing but bad memories in mine.”
“Then move in. I mean, if that’s what you want.”
“Sav, it’s everything I want.” He hurried his pace.
She kept up with a grin. “So where are you taking me?”
“Remember that slice of beach we spent so many summer days at?”
She stopped, her eyes going wide. “Really?”
“Yeah. Evangeline helped me find the person who owned that land. I bought it from them. Built a beach house, hoping one day I’d get to bring you there.”
“You’re amazing, you know that?”
He shook his head. There were so many things he fucked up on, he had to get a couple right. “Come on. I won’t be long.” He opened the door and let her pass. He felt eyes on him, but didn’t mention it. He didn’t want to wreck the moment.
“Stay put. I’ll be back.”
* * * *
Savon walked through the living room. She found scratches in the wood and paint in hard to reach places. She ran her finger over the deep groove under the railing.
“We did that,” the familiar voice whispered. “When Killian slammed the door on you. You screamed, and he started to shift. We kept him in the house, and he destroyed the living room when he couldn’t chase you down.”
“What’s wrong?” Nate asked.
A nervous smile crept across her lips. “The day before I left, I came here. I wanted to know where you were, what happened. Killian wouldn’t even give me that. Slammed the door. Guess my anger set the spirits off.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, the whole house has similar marks. Mostly down here. The contractors fixed a lot of them, but not everything. Dad said he left them as a reminder to me that you were dangerous. I left some because I wanted to prove I wasn’t afraid.”
“He told you about it?”
“You gave him nightmares. I wanted to see for myself.”
Her head tipped. “Why didn’t you say so?”
“I always knew about your father. I suspected you had the same gifts. I don’t know. It’s part of you. It’s never bothered me.”
“Wasn’t ever like that before then.”
“Was too. You didn’t always notice it, but I remember a few times someone hurt your feelings, you’d lock it away, but bad things happened to jackass.”
Her brow pinched.
“Sav, come away with me. Let me wipe away the worry. I know you’re overthinking. Don’t.”
She nodded, emotion bubbling up. He knew. Nate accepted.
He closed the distance, stared into her eyes, and banded his free arm around her waist. “Stop thinking. Say yes.”
“Yes,” she breathed.
His lips covered hers and she opened. His tongue swept in, passion burning deep.
Nate leaned back. “We’ll have all day for this. First, I want to show you what I did.”