Chapter Fifteen
Evie awoke refreshed and relaxed. Being Saturday, she had the day to herself. She needed to drag her butt out of bed and make her way to the library, where she wanted to use the time to study her demonology textbook more closely. With the need to catch up with the rest of the class pressing on her, she had a more personal reason driving her determination to learn. She needed answers to a problem, one that had vexed her for the last year.
In theory, she knew the possibility existed for a human, born with a minor gift of magic, to be able to see another’s aura. These special humans possessed a tiny amount of magic in their blood that enabled them to observe what others were blind to. These humans often worked with the Surmata as liaisons and acted as additional eyes and ears when the Surmata forces were elsewhere, dealing with a demon nest. They were human scouts.
A scout’s gift would strengthen as they aged, becoming stronger as the years passed. Evie, born with no magic, no gift to discern a marked human from a non-marked, was not a scout.
At least, not until a year ago.
On a routine supply run with Dominick, their vehicle came under demon attack. Her memories of that day were gone, but she was told Dominick saved them, fighting off the demon by himself while Evie lay unconscious after being thrown from the vehicle.
Luckily, Evie sustained little to no physical injury. Since the attack, though, her eyes started playing tricks on her. At first, with her eyes slightly unfocused, she noticed a soft light illuminated those around her. It shone from within, each light different, varying in color and intensity, some muted, some an angry slash of color. While many had solid colors, a few had more of a rainbow effect. When angered, a person’s light turned reddish. When happy, the color became bright yellow.
As Evie encountered more and more people, she realized what she saw was a person’s aura. At first, they came in small flashes. But as the months passed, her sight became stronger.
She began to notice small black spots on a few, a darkness that made her uneasy. Enough for her to question it. She made up a story about injuring her eye and begged her father to take her in for an eye exam. He relented to her demand after a few days. But, answers to her questions were not found. She passed the test with perfect vision. The optometrist couldn’t explain away the dark spots Evie described.
Soon after, Evie made her scheduled trip into the town of Holden. She hesitated at first, not wanting to witness any more abnormal visions. When she entered the town, she realized she worried needlessly. Not a single person she encountered had the ominous mark. That’s when she realized it was only the handful of members within the borders of the camp who were afflicted.
When the Surmata took down her father’s camp, none of the people Evie saw the dark flaw on made it to the Suoja Guild, even though they were within the age range. Not a single one. One-by-one, the Surmata led them away until they disappeared within other vehicles. Vehicles that looked more like a prison transport.
When Evie stepped off Bertha, she thought her days of seeing tarnished auras were over, at least for the duration of her stay at the university. How wrong she was. She witnessed a few since entering campus, and the mystery deepened for her. She needed to figure out if what she saw was truly a marked individual. Because, if what she suspected was true, the safety net the Surmata lived with would be ripped away.
Finally dragging herself out of bed so she could get to the library and not just think about it, she showered and changed for the day. The weather promised warm temperatures outside, so she dressed comfortably in a tank top and yoga pants. With a pair of purple Converse on her feet, she grabbed her book bag and headed out.
Not many students strolled the third floor hall. With it quiet enough to hear a pin drop, Evie found it unnatural. Most university dorm halls bustled with activity. She wondered if the Surmata cast a spell to dampen noise.
As she cleared the landing, a commotion came from the second floor, multiple voices raised in anger. Curious, she stopped in her descent and leaned against the handrail, trying to figure out what had riled up the group of people who clumped together at the head of the stairs. Passing by, trying not to be obvious, Evie listened in on those around her.
“It came out of fucking nowhere and attacked me!” Dominick’s voice rang out clear.
Evie hid her body behind the others to avoid drawing attention to herself.
“I didn’t see what happened. I just heard him scream.” A girl stated, her high-pitched voice making Evie wince.
“I didn’t scream, you moron! I yelled cause it startled me.” Dominick indignantly defended himself.
“Dude, you screamed like a little girl. I thought you were gonna piss in your pants.” A guy moved in front of Dom. Slightly bigger, he blocked Evie’s view.
“Fuck you, I did not.” Evie could picture Dominick’s face, his expression priceless.
A girl a few years older than Evie spoke up. “Well, what attacked you?”
The guy moved over slightly, allowing Evie a clear view. Dominick grimaced but tried his best to look nonchalant. “Don’t know, but it came at me with its teeth bared. I barely escaped. It was huge. At least four feet tall. Black, with red eyes. I swear I saw claws longer than my hands on it.” He held his hands up for emphasis. “I’m lucky to be alive!”
“Why did it attack you?” the same high-pitched girl from before demanded.
“No fucking clue. I was just throwing rocks out the window, trying to hit a bird. Then this thing came out of nowhere.”
Evie backed away from the group and hurried down the stairs. As she rounded the bottom stair, a soft purring echoed in the corridor. Glancing up, Evie caught a flash of black fur sitting atop one of the rafters. Eyes the color of the ocean stared down at her. The kitten purred louder in satisfaction as it licked the blood from its paws.
Grinning widely with the knowledge of what wild, nightmarish creature attacked Dominick, she walked onward, her steps a little lighter.
~
When she arrived, the library bustled with activity, most of the chairs and tables already filled up with students. Books and papers sprawled out everywhere; the wood of the tables covered from one end to the other. Expressions on the students’ faces ranged from frustration and despondence to determination and resolve.
Bypassing everyone, Evie made her way to Inian’s office. She knocked. Receiving no answer, she swiped her keycard, disengaging the lock. Not stopping in the outer office, she crossed the room and entered the area where Inian stored his private collection.
She set her book bag on the bench and surveyed the room. The table in the center, which should have been empty, was not. A book sat neatly in the middle of the table, the exact middle, as if placed with precision and purpose. Curious, since all books were required to be re-shelved before leaving the room, Evie pulled the book closer to her. It read, Demonology - A History of Marks.
Spooked, and not believing in coincidences, Evie shuddered as goose bumps rose on her skin. She was alone in the tomblike room, but someone must have known in advance what she would come searching for. Maybe, Inian had another vision.
Tapping her chin with her forefinger, Evie tried not to be intimidated by the sheer number of books shelved within the room. In order to locate the items she required, she needed to figure out the filing system. The shelves held no labels, nor was there any indexed listing in the room. No alpha or numeric labels on the books, either.
“Where should I start?” Evie muttered out loud, glancing at the bookcase closest to her.
A loud bang broke the room’s quiet, and Evie jumped as a soft chuckle breathed across her ear. Pivoting in a three hundred and sixty degree turn, she encountered no one. Unnerved, she investigated the aisles, determined to discover where the loud noise originated. As she walked down the third row, she found a book laying on the floor. With a sigh of relief that she located the source, Evie picked up the thick volume with the intention of re-shelving it. As she slid it into place, she read the title, and her hand stilled.
It had to be a coincidence.
Her hands shook as she noticed the titles of the surrounding books. All books in this section dealt with demonology in some form, from early history to current findings, misconceptions to proven facts. This section contained everything Evie hoped to find.
She slid the fallen book back out, selected two additional titles from the shelves, and made her way back to the table.
~
Hours later, Evie stood and tried to work the kinks out of her neck. Stretching high, she reviewed the facts she devoured in the short time. In each of the three books, she read about the process for a human marking and even found references to other supernatural species susceptible to a demon’s mark. Witches and Fae being the most likely. But, nowhere did it offer any evidence of a Surmata being marked. In fact, it was the opposite. Each book specifically stated the Surmata race was immune.
What Evie experienced and what the book stated as fact didn’t line up. The books had to be wrong. Otherwise, Evie’s entire theory was blown out of the water.
Disgruntled at her lack of progress, she decided to head to the dining hall. Her stomach rumbled at the thought; she missed both breakfast and lunch. Maybe, she would stop at the coffee shop instead. Treat herself to a chocolate croissant and a mocha.
Outside the library, she cut across the courtyard, making a beeline for the small shop. Still early afternoon, she hoped the shop wouldn’t be too crowded.
Her luck held. Only two people sat in the café, both already served. Evie placed her order. Once ready, she bypassed the crowded courtyard and made her way to the other side of the building, closer to the forest. She wanted to take full advantage of the row of maple trees she saw on her run. She picked a tree away from others, wanting the solitude it offered. Leaning back, she observed the few people around her as she ate her improvised lunch.
The warm weather and her full belly made her drowsy. She set her coffee to the side and closed her eyes to doze for a few minutes to refresh. Then she’d head back to the library and start her real homework. With the semester only a few weeks in, if she worked diligently enough, she would be able to catch up quickly.
~
Slowly, Evie became aware of a sound. A noise repeated over and over, rising in volume, until it pulled her from sleep. The sound became insistent, prompting Evie to open her eyes and sit up.
Sunlight streamed all around her, but the tree she sat under shaded her from the harsh rays. Yawning, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and listened intently.
A small, plaintive sound came from the forested area to her right. The soft noise propelled Evie to her feet, and she rushed for the source. When she entered the tree line, she didn’t spot anything at first. She crouched, balancing on the balls of her feet, for a better vantage point.
“Here kitty, kitty.” She waited but didn’t receive a response. She tried again, calling out a little louder.
From an old pile of rotted wood fifteen feet away, a small, mournful meow echoed from her left. Evie walked to where the noise originated from, keeping her movements slow in order to not scare the cat away.
The woodpile, quite short, allowed her to easily peek over. A small, fluffy white kitten with huge blue eyes stared back at her, one of his paws stuck between two pieces of wood, holding him hostage. From the size of the little guy, she guessed the kitten was newly weaned from his mother and must have gotten trapped while out scourging for food.
An adorable little thing, his plaintive eyes begged her to help him. Still crouched over the woodpile, Evie gently petted him behind the ear before trying to extract his stuck paw. With one of her hands placed on his little belly, she used her other to move the small log, freeing his paw. Ensuring he wasn’t hurt, she lifted him to cuddle him close against her chest, petting and cooing to him at the same time. A soft purr rewarded her for her efforts.
“Where’s your mama, little guy?” She fussed over him as she scrutinized the area and found no evidence of any other cats around. She couldn’t leave the cute, little guy here. He could get into all kinds of trouble.
With no other choice, she nodded decisively to herself; he was coming with her. Maybe, she could convince Max and Caleb to take him in and give him a home. Turning back around, she walked back toward where she entered the forest. As her foot passed the tree line into the courtyard, another noise came from behind her. Afraid it might be the mama cat, she spun and stayed quiet, hoping to pinpoint her location when she made another sound. After a few minutes, a clanking noise echoed from somewhere to her left. The kitten in her hands meowed, and she soothed him as she walked to the new area of forest.
The noise grew louder as she neared a pile of twisted wood. The log on the bottom was hollowed out and jutted out over a shallow ravine. Evie couldn’t pinpoint what made the sound. It was like nothing she’d ever heard before, a cross between a squeak and a whistling sound. Whatever made the racket, Evie didn’t believe it was the mama cat.
Still curious, she moved closer. The kitten in her arms hissed, its fur standing on end, and a shiver of dread ran down Evie’s spine. Deciding not to take the chance, she stepped backwards, only to feel a firm pressure against her back. Unexpectedly, she was shoved forward. She fell, clutching the kitten tightly in her hands to protect him with full knowledge there was no way to break her fall without posing a danger to him. She twisted to the side as her body slammed into the pile of wood, then toppled down into the ravine, taking the full impact on her side. Pain exploded, and her breath left in a rush of exhaled air.
Evie lay still, anticipating another attack, but the forest was once again quiet. With slow and measured movements, she sat up gingerly; her butt firmly planted on the grass to test each limb. Bruised, but nothing broken. The kitten, still clutched against her chest, made a plaintiff mewl. She released him, placing him on her lap where he curled up, his fur still on end.
Footsteps reverberated in the forest from farther off. Someone, whistling a cheery tune while they walked, neared Evie’s location. Alert for more trouble, she waited as the footsteps grew closer. Cresting a small hill, her savior appeared as if summoned.
“Cyne!” she called out, not wanting to be alone in the strange forest any longer.
Cyne froze, head swinging as he searched around until he spotted her, sitting in the middle of the ravine.
“What the fridge!” He rushed over, slid down the shallow hill and knelt beside her. Appearing fresh from a shower, water still beaded down his neck from his wet locks. He wore a pair of faded black jeans, worn at the knees, and nothing else. Her heart stalled in her chest at being presented with the half-naked male. Even in a situation like this, she could appreciate the striking view he made.
“What are you doing out here? And why are you sitting in the middle of the forest?” Cyne bellowed, jarring her nerves even more. He leaned on one knee to take a closer look at her, and his features softened. “Are you hurt, Evie? What happened?”
His gentle tone, the tempered timbre, brought tears to her eyes. Her nerves decided to make themselves known as she started to shake. “There was a kitten. Then someone…something pushed me.”
Cyne straightened to consider the area around them. His pupils expanded, bleeding outward until little of the white remained. Quiet, he searched in every direction before his gaze turned back to her. His eyes returned to their normal, sparkling jade.
“I don’t see anything, Little Bit.” He leaned over her to loop one arm around her back, the other under her legs. “I’m going to pick you up and take you back to the house. Let me know if I hurt you.”
“I’m not hurt, just sore from landing on my side.” The warmth of his arms seeped through her clothes as she protested. “I can walk.”
Ignoring her, he lifted her. Quickly, she grasped the kitten once more to her chest. She would not leave him behind. Turning her gaze up, she defiantly regarded Cyne, daring him to question her actions.
He laughed and shook his head. “I don’t have a teleportation rune on me, so we’ll have to walk.”
“I really can walk on my own.” Despite the offer, Evie relaxed in his arms.
Cyne tightened his arms and turned to head back the way he’d come from. “What were you doing in the forest, Little Bit?” Cyne inquired, his voice filled with mild curiosity.
“I was relaxing in the courtyard when I heard this little guy crying for help. His paw was wedged in a wood pile.” Evie snuggled in, enjoying the feel of muscular arms around her. She felt safe in his embrace, like nothing could harm her.
Cyne stared down at the bundle held in her hands. The kitten yawned widely, not paying the man who held them any attention. “He’s pretty cute. What are you going to do with him?”
“Well, I can’t keep him since I live in the dorms.” Evie nibbled her lip, uncertain. “I was hoping, well, maybe, you know, you guys could look after him.”
Cyne stopped dead in his tracks, mouth gaped open in surprise. Shaking his head, he resumed his fast pace. “We’ll be at the house in a minute. We can negotiate the terms of your proposal when we get there.”
Evie wondered what he meant by ‘negotiate’, but remained quiet.
True to his word, within a couple of minutes, Evie found herself in the living room of the Kaveri household. When Cyne set her back on her feet, it jarred the kitten awake. Wide-eyed, the little guy surveyed the room and then leapt from her grip, taking off out the living room door.
“I’ll go get him.” Evie moved toward the door, but Cyne’s hand on her shoulder stopped her.
“He’ll be fine. I’m sure he’s just exploring.” Watching her carefully to make sure she stayed put, he settled himself on the couch.
Evie gazed around the living room to keep her eyes off his still naked torso. Her eyes came to rest on a chair positioned on the other side of the coffee table. Relieved she would be able to put some distance between them, she settled in. She didn’t trust herself around Cyne. From the first moment she met him, she itched to touch him, explore his body with her hands. Hopefully, the chair would be far enough away from him to lessen the urge.
Evie leaned back. Getting comfortable, she slipped her shoes off to tuck her stocking-covered feet underneath her. “Is anyone else home?”
“Why? Don’t like hanging out alone with me?” Cyne challenged, his eyes alight with humor.
Evie pretended to mull her answer over. When Cyne’s eyebrow rose, she admitted, “Of course, I like hanging out with you.”
“Good, because the others are all out. Doing adultish, boring things.” His expression turned serious, a hint of heat in his eyes. “If only you were eighteen.”
Evie cocked her head to the side. “Why eighteen?”
Leaning forward, he whispered conspiratorially, “If you were eighteen, we could pass the time doing adultish, non-boring things.” His brows waggled up and down several times in emphasis.
Her body burned as images formed, playing on repeat. Surely, he hadn’t meant it like that? Needing to do something before she spontaneously combusted, she stood from the chair. Unable to resist, she hedged, “Um, what did you have in mind?”
A roguish grin lit his face microseconds before it disappeared. “Ask me again after your birthday.”
“It’s only a couple weeks away.” Evie licked her lips, her eyes drifting back to his chest. “We could celebrate early.”
Cyne mock glared at her. “Are you trying to tempt me?”
Heart pounding, Evie met his jade-green eyes. “Yes.”
Compelled by an unknown force, she walked around the small coffee table to come to a standstill in front of him. She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame, unable to resist his pull. He watched her advance through hooded lids, his eyes darkening as his pupils expanded. Emboldened, she moved to stand between his knees. She swallowed hard, unsure what to do next.
“You’re going to get me in trouble.” His arms reached out to grasp her around the waist, tugging her forward until he pulled her onto his lap. Evie straddled him, both of her legs tucked on either side of his hips, her butt resting on his knees. Moving his hands from her waist, he circled both of her thighs, pulling her slowly forward until she was snug against him.
“Oh.” Desire sparked, overriding her natural shyness.
Evie’s breath sped up as she rested her hands on his shoulders, staring deeply into his eyes. His pupils were blown wide, darkened until blackness overtook the whiteness. Cyne’s hands rubbed small circles along the top of her thighs, her cotton leggings an ineffective barrier against the burn of his touch. Her fingers gripped his shoulders, and this time, when the urge to touch him hit her full force, she didn’t fight it. Her hands slid down to run along the hard planes of his chest, exploring the strength under her fingers. Her eyes followed the path her hands took as she trailed them further downward, brushing his nipples lightly before going lower. He moaned low in his throat, breathing out her name in a rugged whisper.
Impatience spurred Evie on, the need to feel more of his bare skin against hers. Cyne growled as her hands trailed upwards, across his abdomen, tracing the etchings in his skin. The muscles of his lower belly contracted as she continued her exploration. His growls grew louder at each pass of her hands.
Thirsting to taste him, her greedy lips found his skin. Caressing and sucking, she claimed each inch she encountered as hers. Her lips closed around his left nipple, licking it lightly, nipping the hard bud gently with her teeth, relishing the silky taste of him. One of his hands gripped her neck, the other tangled with her hair, pulling her even closer, directing her movements.
She glanced up from under her lashes to take in his expression, needing to know he enjoyed what she was doing. His head was thrown back, and deep rumbles, almost like loud purrs, emitted from his chest. Evie nipped him again, and a moan escaped from him, loud and full of need. Encouraged, she bit down harder and resisted the urge to moan herself when his hips jerked against her. His hard length between her thighs caused a flash of heat to kindle low in her belly.
Impatient, her hands tugged his head forward, finding his lips with hers. His mouth eagerly opened, and her tongue darted forward, needing to taste him more than she needed air. Encountering the sweetest nectar, she delved into the inner recesses of his mouth, wanting all of him. His tongue met hers excitedly, and they battled for dominance over the kiss. She retreated, breathing heavily. His hands fisted her hair and dragged her head back, deepening their kiss. He flicked his tongue forward, savoring her before pulling back with a teasing nip at her lower lip as he retreated. He repeated the action, again and again, until Evie was breathless. Heaving, she gasped for air, trying to settle the whirlwind of emotion his touch sparked in her. Cyne didn’t allow her to go far before he dragged her back, reclaiming her, not allowing her lips to leave his.
He shifted their positions until she lay on the couch, Cyne over her, his body pressing her into the cushions. She reached out to touch his bare chest, but his hands captured hers, holding them over her head as his mouth descended again, kissing down her neck. When he reached the base of her throat, he hovered, making her muscles clench in anticipation, before he pulled the skin between his teeth, sucking and nipping at it repeatedly until she was out of breath.
Cyne moaned, his lips moving away from her skin. “We have to stop, beautiful. It’s not safe. I won’t chance hurting you.”
Heart pounding, Evie nodded, knowing he was right. They played with fire. Nothing could come from this but pain and heartbreak for Evie.
“I have an idea. Let’s cuddle on the couch and watch a movie.” Cyne suggested, still holding her close.
Unable to resist touching him longer, she nodded her agreement.
~
Cyne’s voice pulled at her, waking her from the light slumber she’d fallen into while wrapped within his warm embrace. Still exhausted from her earlier exploits, she struggled to open her eyes, acknowledging him. Chuckling, he picked her up off the couch to snuggle her close. “Time to take you home.”
With a shuffling movement, Cyne laid her down in her bed. Too tired to question how they arrived so quickly, Evie sighed as he placed a pillow under her head. He pulled her blanket over her, leaned forward, and gave her forehead a light kiss before nuzzling her hair. “I’ll see you tomorrow, half pint.”
More shuffling sounded, followed by a small jumbled curse as he rammed into the chair at her desk. Evie fought to stay awake, but as quiet descended, it became a lost battle as she slipped back into oblivion.