Chapter 6
Neil slipped through the back door of the condos and made his way up the stairs. He walked past Genevieve’s place and opened Evangeline’s door.
His heart nearly dropped into his stomach. His sweet Genevieve was frail, her skin translucent, and she was terribly ill. The scent of death lingered.
“My sweet angel, please don’t fight me on this,” he pleaded as he locked the door and walked to her.
She blinked and tears rolled down her cheek. “Promise I won’t. I’m ready to be with you, always.”
“You’re sure?” he asked, his heart ready to implode if she said no.
“You’ll take care of me?” Genevieve whispered, her voice breaking.
“I will, my love. First, let me change you.”
“Will it hurt?” she whimpered.
“Briefly, but you’ll start to heal.” He prayed she’d heal. There was always the possibility she wouldn’t. If he lost her, he wouldn’t survive. But she certainly wouldn’t if they didn’t try. Her death lingered in the air.
Neil stripped out of his clothes and knelt before her. “Ready to see my other form?”
She rolled to her side, a smile on her lips as she shifted her fingers through his hair. “Very. Show me.”
He shifted to the lynx, and she rubbed between his ears. “So soft.”
Placing his front paws beside her, he rose up and sank his teeth into her throat, hoping the nearness to her heart would speed the process along.
Cats always shifted at their first change. He should have thought about her clothing, but he’d help her tear them away. Surely Evangeline wouldn’t mind if she took something of hers. She wanted Genevieve far from here anyway.
Later, once Genevieve was healthy, they could help Evangeline figure out what Olivier Laurent was up to. The man was evil through and through. He’d caused more suffering to his own family than anyone ought to. None of it necessary.
Genevieve’s startled cry eased him. She rolled to her stomach, rising up on all fours as the shift started. Her color came flooding back before fur flowed down her body. She pulled the nightgown from her body, only leaving the simple underwear she wore. He caught the edge with his teeth and pulled them down as she took her cat form.
Her gorgeous green eyes faded to pale gold as they locked on his. Then she hopped off the couch and brushed against him, purring.
He shifted back and rushed to his clothes. “Don’t worry. I have food for you in the car. And I’ll grab you some clothes before we leave. You won’t be able to change back for a while.” Not her first shift.
Her head cocked as she looked around, then stretched.
Neil grabbed a dress he hoped would work for now. She was terribly underweight, but later he could worry about finding something else. Nothing but time would erase the marks of illness.
* * * *
The farther they drove, the more her hair stood on end. There was something wrong with this place, and they weren’t there yet.
Evangeline stared out the window, avoiding a conversation with her father. If Neil didn’t need an opportunity to take Genevieve away, she would have told Dad to fuck off.
Her only interest in the ruins was to stop anyone from suffering the same fate as Genevieve.
A stone structure rose out of the end of a crevice in the mountain. The black SUV came to a stop. Her father climbed out.
She stepped out and looked down the slope. A white face made from marble. At the bottom sat an open mouth that served as an entrance to a cave. The nose was long and slender, and the eyes seemed to stare at her.
“After you,” Father said.
“Oh, hell no!” Evangeline backed away from him and the cave. “Why would you bring Genevieve here?”
“This was her idea. She sought power, but she wasn’t strong enough to reach it, which is why you’re here.”
Evangeline spun on him, her eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Father scrubbed a hand over his face. “The relic at the bottom is supposed to alter reality for the one who claims it. You’ll be able to wish Genevieve’s illness away.”
“What made her sick?” Evangeline demanded. Once, Genevieve had been as healthy as her. That all changed shortly after Mother’s death. Genevieve would go with her father to explore, and every time she came back a little sicker. Had she been in that cave each time?
Maybe she should have come back after Jasper’s death, but she had no idea what was causing her sister’s illness. And after Evangeline became a werewolf, her sister stopped talking to her as much, until recent years when her father sequestered her away for her health.
Hopefully, Neil could convince her being a cat wasn’t so bad.
Evangeline’s eyes narrowed. “And after I heal my sister? You expect me to give it to you?”
“I expect you to give it to your sister to ensure her health. First, you have to pass the trials to claim the relic.”
“I already told you no. There’s no way in hell I’m entering that cave or whatever it is.”
“You will, or I’ll kill you myself. You’re worthless if you can’t do this for Genevieve. She was meant to be the powerful one. She understands my goals. You, you were never good enough.”
Evangeline turned and walked into the woods.
Fuck him to hell and back. No way in hell am I entering that mouth.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“Don’t worry, I’ll find my own way home.” She bolted, running for the trees, preparing to shift.
A gun went off, something sharp hit her back, and everything faded as she careened forward.
* * * *
Damn her for forcing my hand.
Olivier slid the tranquilizer gun into the holster and walked to Evangeline. He glared at Duncan, his driver, among other things. “Get over here and help me with her.”
Sighing, the man pushed away from the Range Rover and hauled Evangeline over his shoulder.
There was a chance this wouldn’t work at all, but Evangeline did have Merovingian blood and was physically stronger than her sister, thanks to the werewolf virus pumping through her blood.
Only a female could take the Blade of Change from the altar without dying. First, they had to pass a test. Then, that female could bestow the relic to whomever they deemed worthy.
He knew what needed to be done to save Genevieve. First, he needed the dagger so he could undo her ailments. And Evangeline could become Zariha’s new favorite meal, leaving Genevieve healthy once more.
Evangeline was the stubborn daughter who could never do anything right. She always defied him.
Duncan carried her to the bottom of the narrow stairs leading to the mouth of an ancient witch and tossed her into the dark.
As soon as her body hit the floor of the cave, the mouth closed and Duncan hurried back to him.
“Are we waiting for her?” he asked.
“I need to be here when she comes out. Bring the trailer back. I’ll stick around.” He wove a spell to alert him the moment the mouth opened again.
Either when Evangeline died or left the cave.
She had two choices. Take the blade, or die. There was no other option. Then the real challenge would begin. Convincing Evangeline to hand the dagger over, or to give the blade to Genevieve, who would certainly give it to him.