Chapter 14
A screech echoed, and the monster rose up before Evangeline, his height stretching to nine feet tall. “I am Zariha, and the dagger will be mine.”
He swiped his clawed hands out, reaching for Evangeline.
Bran dropped his pack and shot forward, shifting to his half-beast form as he went. He tackled the creature to the ground and raked his claws through his chest.
Zariha poofed into a cloud of shadow and flowed over Bran with a screech. Bran cried out in pain.
Evangeline rushed forward, throwing one hand with a force of will that pushed the creature away from Bran. Her magic flowed through her without potions, without spells, her will manifesting as she pulled the blade from where it hid near her thigh. Launching herself through the air, she knocked the creature down as he reformed. Thrusting the blade into his chest, she pinned down his arms with her knees and twisted the dagger.
Shadows leached out, soaking through the ground and away from her as his body melted away. Evangeline screamed in anger, then spun back to find Bran clutching at his chest with clawed hands, his eyes dull.
She dropped beside him and drew a staggered breath. “What’s wrong?”
“Hurts to breathe. Drained.” Bran rolled to the side, heaving.
A laugh echoed through the mountain.
Fire crackled to life in Preston’s palm. “Do what you can for him. We’ll watch for it.”
She shook her head. “Been so long since I had magic. I don’t have a clue what to do.”
Tremaine snorted. “Seems you’ve ascended past most witches’ abilities. Try imagining Bran’s ailments are gone. Probably all you need to do.”
She looked down and gulped.
Blood, he threw up blood.
Shadows moved through his skin.
Placing her hands on his massive chest, she pushed her will through him, shoving out any trace of Zariha. Her magic tore through her, into him, and she let out a scream like a war cry.
There was a gasp, then silence, followed by wolves howling in triumph.
Bran rolled to his stomach, pushing himself to his knees, shifting back to human. He spun to look Evangeline in the eye. “You okay?”
“If you are,” she whispered. Tears rolled down her cheeks as relief swept through her.
He caught her face, and kissed her deep. She forgot everything but Bran.
Jay groaned. “That’s enough, you too. We have a pissed off supernatural creature stalking us.”
Preston snorted. “Oh, he’s gone for now. But how do we get to your sister and her man?”
Evangeline stood up and bit her lip as she gazed at Bran. God, she knew he’d be sculpted, but damn. He was chiseled like no one had a right to be. As his breath sped up, she saw his dick kick in response. He was beyond impressive, and all she could think of was if he’d feel as good as he did in her dream.
“Evangeline!” Genevieve ran toward her, followed by Neil.
Startled out of lust, Evangeline turned to her sister.
“Was that the monster of the mountain?” Neil asked with wide eyes.
“Yeah, it was,” Evangeline answered, assuming they had seen the thing.
Jay muttered, “Don’t forget your clothes in the backpack.”
“Right,” Bran whispered.
Evangeline focused on Genevieve because she couldn’t see the cabin from where they stood. A thick mist hung over the land. She didn’t recognize the magic involved.
Evangeline met Neil’s gaze and asked, “Can we step through? He’s not dead.”
“Not the mages,” he answered.
Her eyes narrowed. “Fine, I’m leaving then.” She turned to Robert. “Ready if you are. I’m over this mountain.”
Robert’s brow arched.
“You’d just leave?” Genevieve squealed. “You won’t even stay to talk?”
She shot Neil a dark look. “He doesn’t trust my friends, so no. Nope. You’re safe. No longer dying, and really, that was all I was concerned with,” she stated.
“Dad will kill me. Especially if you don’t go back. You have the relic.” Panic colored her eyes.
“Oh, he’ll never touch the dagger. I’m not handing anything to him. He would only use it to get ahead. Whatever you decide, there’s a place for you in Silvertail Ridge.”
Bran turned Evangeline. “Maybe you should talk to her.”
“Not without all of you. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I can’t trust either of them.”
“You can trust me,” Genevieve whined. “I trust you.”
A sigh escaped Neil, and he held his hands up to the border. “Come through. All of you.”
Evangeline took Bran’s hand and stepped across, Preston beside her. Once they all crossed, Neil took his hands away, and the wards snapped back into place.
She’d hoped Neil would be past the witches prejudice against mages, but clearly he wasn’t.
Evangeline started introductions. “This is Tremaine Gallagher. He’s the one who got information about the supposed relic. This is Robert McCallister, the Magister of the Silver Council enforcers. His lieutenant, Preston Emrys. My mate Bran Roantree. And a—friend, Jay Walker.” The last statement tasted bad on her tongue, but she’d come to realize the truth.
Genevieve’s head cocked, but she kept her mouth shut. Questions would come later…hopefully when they were alone. Away from Neil.
Neil watched her, his eyes narrowed. “I smell your magic.”
She lifted a shoulder. “Sure it’s not everyone else? Between the mages, a Sylvan Fae, and a shaman, you could be scenting anything.”
“No, it’s witch magic,” Neil stated. “That I’m sure of. And you have the dagger. You could have given yourself your magic back.”
Maybe, but she still didn’t have a damned clue what to do with it. She still felt her beast. So yeah, reality warped for her.
“You could give us our magic back?” Genevieve asked, her eyes wide.
Evangeline shot her a glare. “Don’t know how. Not sure why mine came back. And I’m not going to just swing it around, hoping I figure it out.”
“You would rip away our bond already?” Neil asked, devastation in his eyes.
“No!” Genevieve turned to him, capturing his face, and planted a deep kiss on him. “I—I wasn’t thinking. I want our bond. It’s the only thing that feels right. Forgive me?” Tears leaked down her cheeks.
Neil wiped them away. “Forgiven. As long as you stay with me.”
“Never leaving. You saved me.”
He took a kiss from Genevieve.
Evangeline rolled her eyes. “We need answers about this creature, about the dagger, about the Fae in the cave.”
“Ancient witch,” Genevieve corrected, turning to face Evangeline.
Made sense if what Tremaine said was true. “Okay,” Evangeline answered. “But what do you know?”
Neil shook his head. “That creature is a demon.”
Bran snorted. “Doubtful. Very few people can actually see demons. I certainly can’t, but my sister can.”
“A sorceress?” Neil asked.
“Yeah, never mind that,” Bran answered. “We need to know what we’re up against.”
“It’s not dead,” Neil answered. “I’ll tell you what Olivier explained to me, though.”
“Well, spill!” Evangeline prompted.
Preston snorted.
Tremaine ran his hand through his hair, and Robert stayed silent.
Jay, on the other hand, was watching everything without a word.
Neil started, “Your father made a deal with Zariha. If he freed Merova from her self-imposed prison, he would grant Olivier something better, stronger than the Dagger of Change. He didn’t know what, but he was promised it would grant his every wish.”
“So, he doesn’t want the relic?”
“Oh, he wants both. But Zariha wants to kill Merova. With her death, he gains her power, takes possession of the dagger, and can finally rejoin his brethren.”
“Shit,” Tremaine muttered. “We need to talk to Ceridwen.”
“Worse than you thought?” Evangeline asked.
“Yeah. You want a trip back to Silvertail first?” Robert asked.
“What about them?” Evangeline nodded to her sister and mate.
“Trip?” Genevieve squeaked. “And how?”
“Translocation.” Robert offered a smile as he explained, “To avoid Olivier Laurent, I can take you directly to Oregon in an instant.”
“Is that truly where you want to go, Genie?” Neil asked.
“Yes. Far away from the coven and my father.”
“There are witches there,” Jay answered. “And at least two hundred werewolves.”
“Who will accept werelynx, without expecting you to follow the Alpha’s commands. As long as you don’t harm anyone in town without good cause,” Bran pointed out.
“That should be easy enough unless we’re attacked,” Neil offered.
“Shouldn’t be an issue,” Jay assured. “Though, I doubt the wards will keep shadow freak away for too long. I suggest we go.”
“Yeah, and one of us could take that jeep back to the rental to drop off,” Preston offered.
Jay shook his head. “Drop me at the Jeep, and I can take it back. Let Bran and Evangeline settle in Genevieve and Neil if they’re willing to go back.”
“And this is what you want?” Neil prompted Genevieve.
“Yes, please, with everything I am. Let’s try somewhere new.”
“Filling your every wish is my goal. I’m ready if you are.”
“Need to gather anything?” Robert asked.
Neil shook his head. “No. I can buy what we need and have my family send my belongings. I have a feeling Olivier will not want anything to do with Genevieve after failing the bastard and then going against his wishes.”
“He’ll want me dead,” Genevieve whispered. “I’m sure he’ll blame Evangeline.”
“We’ll deal with him when the time comes,” Evangeline assured. “However, he won’t get past me. Not this time. And with you out there, I won’t have to be dragged back into his bullshit. You will be well protected, I promise.”
“Even with the shadow boogeyman?” Neil asked.
“Yes, even with.” She looked around the property, finally seeing the cabin. “The wards in place are nothing compared to what a friend can do.” She referred to Savon, who could bend shields and wards in any way she desired.
Jay spoke up, “Drop me at the Jeep, please. I’ll get it back and fly back. No one here knows who I am, so I don’t imagine they’ll come after me.”
“Good idea,” Robert replied. “Then I’ll take the rest back to Silvertail Ridge. Though if you want a trip back, call me when you get to the rental place, or if something happens on the way.”
He saluted and took Robert’s hand, who took him away.
Robert reappeared, and Neil and Genevieve gasped in unison.
Neil blubbered, “I thought translocation was limited?”
“Not in my case,” Robert assured. “We’ll be there in no time. You just need to touch me.”
Neil frowned, but as Evangeline and Bran did it without question, he joined in, with the other two mages.
They appeared in Evangeline’s home, and Robert asked, “Is there anything wherever you stayed you need?”
Evangeline shook her head. “Nothing I need. I didn’t bring anything but my purse, but that’s lost in the cave I think. I can replace all that relatively quickly. I had nothing with me anyway.”
“Very well. Though if you contact my office, we may be able to expedite the replacement.” Robert smiled, then nodded to Tremaine. “We need answers. We can always bring them back after Neil and Genevieve are settled.”
“Sounds good.”