17. Evelyn
17
Evelyn
L ater in the morning, I paced across the strategy room, the weight of my vision pressing heavily on my shoulders. The guys discussed how Ryker and his men had intercepted enemy shifters setting up a warehouse we’d been monitoring last night.
“Okay, I need everyone’s attention for a minute,” I said, meeting each of their eyes—Chad’s earnest gaze, Lucien’s furrowed brow, Ryker’s intense focus, Rafe’s calm steadiness, and Alister’s solid reliability. And then there was Zade, sprawled out in a chair, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
“I had a vivid vision last night. Based on it, I believe our enemy has taken over the Luminary mansion as their headquarters.”
Chad’s eyebrows shot up. “Not subtle. That’s a bold move.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I guess they’re done hiding. Now that magic is back, they probably think they’re unstoppable.”
Lucien nodded, his expression grim. “We checked the mansion while you were away. It was empty—or enchantments that could conceal anyone’s presence. But it sounds like that’s changed.”
“They mentioned the Academy,” I continued, trying to steady my voice despite the urgency clawing at me. “We need to warn the dean and strengthen the defenses—shields, protective spells, anything that can safeguard the students.”
“I’ll notify the Academy Board Members and the dean,” Lucien declared.
“There are a few subterranean passages I can share with the Academy’s representatives,” Alister said.
Lucien’s eyebrow arched. “Secret passages at the Academy?”
Alister’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Of course. I commissioned the construction myself. Did you think I wouldn’t include a few escape routes? I was a vampire lord, after all. Paranoia comes with the job.”
Ryker leaned forward, his jaw tight. “I’ll assign some men to patrol the grounds and watch for anything suspicious.”
Chad nodded. “Smart. We can’t be too careful.”
“So, we’re all in agreement—we need to take action, right?” I asked, glancing around the table.
Lucien arched a brow. “Did you really think we wouldn’t trust your seer powers?”
I shrugged, but doubt still lingered. I knew Eris and her followers weren’t after the Academy—they were after me. So why was I hesitating to tell them everything?
Lucien’s voice dispelled my conflicted thoughts. “Have you seen their intentions with the Academy in your vision? What do they plan to do so that we can prepare properly.”
All eyes were on me, waiting for answers I wasn’t sure I wanted to give. The guys had been through enough over the past year. They didn’t need more to worry about this too, but I had to be honest. If I held back, it could cost lives.
I took a deep breath. “In my vision, Eris planned on crushing me publicly. They want to make a spectacle, to show their power. It’s not the Academy they’re targeting—it’s me. Eris wants to display their power by killing Hecate’s champion. They think taking me out will scare everyone into submission.”
“You’re Eris’s biggest threat. It’s natural that she comes for you,” Zade chipped in. “I just didn’t know you were also a seer.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about Eve, and you don’t need to know,” Chad replied, his possessiveness coming out to play.
Zade waved him in dismissal. “Stop being childish, hellhound. I’ve already said Eve isn’t my type.”
Lucien cleared his throat, drawing their attention. “Focus. Eris is targeting Evelyn. We need a plan.”
“We won’t let Eris hurt Evelyn,” Alister assured.
“Of course not,” Rafe agreed.
“We’ll tear her apart if she dares to show up,” Ryker declared.
Chad opened his mouth, but I raised my hand before he could profess more threats. “Eris is still using Lia’s body. No one is going to dismember her.”
“Slow her down, then?” Chad asked, raising an eyebrow.
I bit my lower lip, thinking. “I was considering a plan to draw Eris’s attention away from the Academy, to make her focus on me alone.”
“You mean us,” Rafe interjected.
“Us,” I whispered, guilt creeping in. I knew I couldn’t face a goddess alone—not yet. But that didn’t stop the fear from twisting inside me, the urge to protect my mates even when I knew they were risking themselves for me.
I glanced at all of them, feeling conflicted.
“We’re here to help you. You need to trust our abilities,” Rafe reminded me.
“Exactly,” Alister agreed.
Zade leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “So, we’re using Evelyn as bait? Finally, a plan I can get behind.”
Chad rolled his eyes. “Of course, you’d approve of that.”
Lucien didn’t even look up from his drink. “Naturally.”
“I need to grow stronger and tap into more of my lineage’s powers,” I mumbled, thinking out loud.
“I can help you with that,” Rafe offered.
I smiled at him. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. I need to unlock the powers I’ve been avoiding.”
“Whatever you need, Eve,” Rafe assured me.
I nodded, resolving myself. “I need to embrace everything—every ounce of magic. If I’m going to face Eris, I have to master it all.”
“I’ll help too,” Zade mumbled.
I suppressed a groan. Of all the things he could offer to help with, it had to be this .
A chill ran through me as memories flickered back—the monster I’d almost become when my magic was first unbounded. But if I had to be a monster to destroy one…then so be it.
Zade squinted at me, clearly sensing my reluctance. “My brother might be in danger if he does this alone. Who knows what powers you’ll unleash? Do you think I wouldn’t help if it means keeping Rafe—and the rest of you—from dying?”
I swallowed hard. “If you put it like that…” I whispered, guilt creeping in. He was right. If I lost control, Rafe could get hurt. I should have realized it sooner. Zade was more experienced than any of us; whether I liked it or not, he was Rafe’s brother. That made him family.
I glanced at Rafe, whose cheeks were flushed.
“Zade was always a bit overprotective of me,” he admitted.
“You’re my younger brother,” Zade grumbled. “It’s my duty to keep you safe.”
“Did you hear that, Ryker?” Chad batted his eyelashes at his brother.
Ryker grumbled something unintelligible.
Zade stood and smoothed down his shirt. “We should start now,” he said, nodding toward the doorway.
I frowned at him. “Now?”
He arched an eyebrow. “When then? After Eris shows up to slay us?”
“Yeah, okay. It felt easier when it was just talk. Actually doing it…” I trailed off, my voice faltering.
The thought of unleashing all lineage magic terrified me.
What if I couldn’t control it?
What if I hurt someone I cared about?
What if I turned into a large cockroach?
I shivered at the thought.
I looked at Rafe, hoping for an escape. At least for that day.
“Let’s practice in the courtyard,” Rafe suggested. “Being outside, grounded in the elements, will help.”
“Alright. Let’s go,” I agreed, mustering all my courage.
“Should I come too?” Chad asked eagerly, leaning forward. “If you need help shifting into that monster, what better support than an actual shifter?”
Before I could respond, Zade cut in, “No.”
That was all he said before he turned and strode toward the courtyard.
Chad’s face fell slightly, and I quickly added, “Thanks, Chad, but I think it’s best to keep this between the angels and me for now.”
“Alright,” he mumbled, clearly disappointed. “But if you need anything—just yell. I’ll be there faster than you can say ‘hellhound.’”
“I know you will,” I said, gripping his arm.
* * *
My pulse picked up with each step towards the courtyard.
Rafe must have sensed my unease because he reached over and took my hand. “You’ve got this, Evelyn. We’re right here with you.”
Once we reached the courtyard, Rafe and Zade positioned themselves on either side of me. I sank onto the ground, feeling the cool earth beneath me—a steady presence grounding me and helping calm the rising storm in my chest.
“Alright,” Rafe said, crouching beside me. “Like before, close your eyes, focus on breathing, and visualize your branches.”
I nodded, closing my eyes and letting my breath slow down, trying to center myself. My core magic pulsed gently, a steady rhythm I knew well. But I ignored it—that was tied to my life force. Instead, I focused on the other branches of power linked to my lineage. Fire, wings—I knew those well. But there were others, like my mother’s affinity for plants, and something that felt electric. And something else…something wilder…the monster.
“That’s it,” Rafe encouraged. “Now, reach out to one of them. Don’t try to control it yet—just let it flow through you.”
I took a deep breath and mentally reached out. I could select the one that felt earthy and grounded, pulsing gently like my mother’s affinity for plants. But really, what would I do? Grow a nice fern for Eris and hope she’d surrender?
Not exactly goddess-battle material.
So I focused on the power that felt electric, crackling with potential.
When I made contact, a jolt shot through me as if I’d tapped into a live wire. It was overwhelming—like trying to hold a lighting in my hands.
“Steady,” Zade’s voice reached my ears. “Don’t let it control you. You control it.”
I gritted my teeth, struggling to grasp the surging magic. It was raw, wild, eager to break free and consume everything in its path. But I couldn’t let that happen. I had to control it.
“Your lineage may have given you this power, but only you can shape what it becomes,” Rafe murmured. “Claim it and master it, Evelyn—don’t let it master you.”
His words resonated within me, steadying me. Slowly, painfully, I began to merge with the power, allowing it to become an extension of myself rather than something foreign and uncontrollable.
It was no longer just a part of me.
It was me.
Then lightning hit me, and everything went dark.
I came to with a groan, my head pounding and every muscle aching. The smell of singed grass filled my nostrils.
My body felt like I’d been hit by a truck.
Twice.
“Evelyn? Can you hear me?” Rafe’s worried voice cut through the fog in my brain.
I blinked, my vision slowly coming into focus. Rafe and Zade were crouched over me, their faces etched with concern.
Well, Rafe looked concerned. Zade just looked mildly annoyed.
“What happened?” I croaked, trying to sit up. A wave of dizziness hit me, and I slumped back down.
“You channeled lightning,” Zade informed me. “And then promptly passed out.”
I looked around, finally noticing the scorched circle of grass surrounding us. Small wisps of smoke curled up from the blackened earth.“Did I…did I do that?”
Rafe nodded with a wide smile. “You did. It was quite impressive. Before you blacked out, that is.”
I groaned, annoyance flooding through me. “Great. I finally unlock a cool power, and I can’t even handle it.”
“You did handle it,” Zade countered, his tone begrudgingly approving. “Most people would have been fried to a crisp. You absorbed it.”
“I…absorbed it?” I looked down at my hands, half-expecting to see sparks dancing across my skin. Everything looked normal, but I could still feel the low-level buzz beneath the surface, waiting to be tapped.
Rafe nodded. “You did well for your first attempt.”
Zade snorted. “If by ‘well’ you mean ‘nearly electrocuted us all,’ then sure.”
I shot him a glare, but no real heat was behind it. As much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. I needed to get better control if I was going to stand a chance against Eris.
“Okay, let’s try again,” I said. “If this new power can help us take down Eris, I will master it, no matter what!”
Rafe helped me to my feet. “Remember to center yourself first. Feel the earth beneath you.”
I nodded before I closed my eyes and visualized roots anchoring me to the ground. The electric energy buzzing through me calmed, becoming more manageable.
“Now, call the lightning slowly,” Zade instructed. “Let it build, but don’t force it.”
Opening my eyes, I raised my hand to the sky as storm clouds gathered, crackling with electricity. Lightning struck me again. This time, I stayed conscious. The spark danced across my fingers, and though I flinched involuntarily, it didn’t hurt. It felt…natural.
“Good,” Rafe encouraged. “You’re doing it.”
The electrical current arced between my fingers, wild and eager to be unleashed.
“Now, aim at the target,” Zade directed, gesturing at a tree. “Release it slowly.”
I took a deep breath and focused. The lightning shot forward in a jagged line, striking a large marble statue on the other side of the courtyard with a deafening crack. Sparks flew, and the marble split, glowing hot before cooling.
“Oops!”
“Again,” Zade ordered.
We repeated the process, but each attempt was draining.
“Your stance is off,” Zade critiqued. “You’re not bracing properly.”
I tried not to roll my eyes.
What stance works when you’re throwing lightning? And aren’t angels supposed to be all serene and celestial? Zade was the opposite of Rafe.
I adjusted my feet, mimicking Zade’s demonstration. My legs felt like jelly, but I tried to endure despite my energy draining fast.
Rafe’s voice broke the tension. “What if she had a conduit?”
I frowned. “Like my sword?”
“Exactly,” he said. “It responds to your fire. Maybe it can do the same with lightning, make it easier to control.”
That made sense. The sword was an extension of me, imbued with Calla’s magic. If lightning was part of me now, the sword should be able to contain it.
I unsheathed my blade and raised it to the sky. A bolt of lightning struck, absorbing into the sword. Power pulsed through me as I swung the blade, aiming at a target. A lightning bolt shot out, striking with a thunderous crack.
“Much better,” Zade said. “But you still need to control it without the sword.”
I sheathed the sword, feeling the energy dissipate. Exhaustion swept over me, but I grinned. “Come on, Zade. You have to admit that was freaking cool.”
Zade’s lips twitched in the tiniest of smiles. “Fine. It was adequate.”
“We’ll try again tomorrow after school,” Rafe suggested.
I nodded, too tired to argue.
“Hey guys, how’s the light show going?” Chad’s cheerful voice rang out as he jogged up, his smile as bright as ever.
I turned, managing a tired grin. “Just wrapping up. I’m beat.”
“Aww, already?” Chad’s puppy-dog eyes made me chuckle.
When Rafe and Zade said their goodnights, Chad wasted no time, pulling me into a hug.
ZAP!
“Ouch!” Chad yelped, jumping back. “What was that?”
“Sorry!” I winced. “Residual charge, I guess. Are you okay?”
Chad’s grin only widened. “Are you kidding? That was awesome! Do it again!”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re insane.” But I couldn’t help it—I let a small spark jump between us as we touched.
Chad’s eyes lit up. “Oh man, that tingles in all the right places.”
“You’re always tingling, Chad.” I snorted. “I’m exhausted, but somehow I’ve still got all this electric energy buzzing through me. It’s weird.”
His grin turned wicked. “Oh, I know exactly how we can burn off some of that excess energy.”
Before I could blink, his clothes were in a pile on the ground, and he stood before me, gloriously naked and practically vibrating with eagerness.
“How did you get undressed so fast?”
“It’s a shifter thing.” He shrugged.
I snorted, “Eager, are we?”
“Always for you, little witch.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “How about this—you run through the woods, and if I catch you, I get to fuck you against a tree.”
I groaned at the mere thought of running. My muscles were already protesting from hours of training.
“Chad, I love you, but if you make me run, I will hex your ass. Can we just skip the running part?”
Chad’s laugh echoed through the courtyard as he scooped me up in his arms. “Evelyn Everhart, you’re my kind of female. How about this—you let me carry you, fuck you thoroughly, and afterward, I’ll run you a bath, rub your feet, and make sure you don’t move a single sore muscle unless it’s for something very fun.”
Now he was talking. “I do like the sound of that.”
I whooped as he carried me to a tree, the cool air brushing my face and the electric thrill pulsing through my veins.
Time to embrace the electricity—figuratively and literally.