Fated In Secrets (Nocturne Vampire Clan #2)

Chapter 58

58

EVANGELINE

T hree days later, and everything was quiet.

Too quiet , if I lived in one of those gothic detective books where bodies fell out of windows and pipe smoking inspectors wearing funny hats crept around spouting pithy, pointless observations .

But this wasn’t a detective book, more like a horror novel that was far too long and should have wrapped up a hundred pages ago, but I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, and knew it would, at the worst possible time.

The gardens of House Drakeheart were quiet as I wove between the riotous beds of red and orange and yellow, the ritual’s success—or lack thereof—weighing heavily on my mind. Riordan was alive and asleep, his magic dormant.

Sylvester assured us he hovered in some sort of restorative stasis, his body healing, perhaps something to do with my blood, that comment accompanied by a sharp, judgy look that made me want to kick him in the shins.

Blake, me, Nash and Angel took shifts watching over him, waiting for the moment he awoke, but I had questions. Questions that had been brewing ever since the last time we’d visited.

I found Fiona bent over a bed of those glowing plants, feeding a steady stream of what looked like fire into them. When she straightened, sparks swirled around her like a constellation of untethered stars.

Fiona was dressed in glowing orange today, hair tumbled down her back in a cascade of red, her gown whipping around her like a living flame, those too-sharp eyes narrowing as I approached.

“To what do I owe this visit?” I hesitated, unsure of how to begin. What was I supposed to tell her? Hi, my name is Evie and I’m a witch, but I have no solid proof because my father killed my mother and he’s a raging asshole so I can’t exactly ask him?

“I wanted to thank you for saving Riordan.”

She gave me a slight smile. “I didn’t save him, more like evicted an unwelcome hitchhiker.”

“Well, thank you for what you did. If we’d waited any longer, I doubt we would have gotten him back. You’ve given him a second chance, and for that, I owe you everything. He can change the world for us.”

And there it was again. Us.

Somewhere along the line, I’d just…quit being human.

“Don’t let him squander the opportunity.” She warned sharply. “Now why don’t you tell me why you’re really here, because I know you didn’t have that poor soldier fly you all the way out here to look at my flowerbeds and make polite conversation.”

My face heated, and I glanced to Benny, waiting by the side of the castle, trying to keep his distance, while also keeping his eyes on me.

“I... I might have magic,” I blurted out, feeling foolish the moment the words left my mouth. “Magic like yours. Since you seem to have a handle on your powers, I was hoping you might be able to help me.”

Fiona wiped her hands on her dress, then moved on to the next bed, held out her hands while flames poured out of her palms and over the flowers. They exploded into bloom, petals curling, colors intensifying, while I watched, fascinated. “Think?”

I shifted uncomfortably. There was the truth, and there was the promise of secrecy I’d sworn, and there was the half-truth I was willing to tell an almost-complete stranger.

“I mean, I don’t know anything for sure. My mother was supposedly a witch. And I’ve always felt... different. And someone mentioned—someone knowledgeable—that my magic might have been bound when I was a child.”

Her expression softened a fraction. “Sit,” she ordered, pointing to the stone bench across the gravel walkway.

I did, my heart pounding as she pulled a crystal pendant strung on a long chain from inside her dress. The facets sparkled, catching the sunlight in flashes of blue and red and pink.

“This will show me if there’s magic in you,” Fiona explained. “But if your power has been bound, I cannot break the binding spell. That kind of magic is... specific to each coven. One word out of place, one misstep and removing the spell would kill you.”

The pendant swung and swung while I watched, my skin prickling with fear and premonition.

“Are you sure you want to know?” Fiona asked softly. “Sometimes secrets are meant to keep you safe, especially when they are made out of love.” A tear pricked at my eye, but she only shook her head. “Power comes from many places, Evangeline. There are other ways to find your strength. But if you’re sure?”

I nodded, clenching my hands in my lap.

She raised the crystal above my head, her other hand hovering over her heart as she murmured a string of words I couldn’t decipher. The air around me charged with electricity, a faint warmth spreading through my body like honey.

Then the crystal flared, soft golden light spilling from its center.

Fiona drew back, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Well, that’s unexpected,” she said quietly. “Magic. A fair amount, though I cannot tell what type.”

My heart leaped. “Are you serious?”

“Put your arms out.”

She dropped the crystal back down into her bodice, her gaze turning to heated amber. Fiona passed her hands over me, my bare skin prickling everywhere her magic touched me. A faint pattern emerged on my arms, pale, raised symbols I’d never seen before, hundreds of them, as if someone had written a story on my skin. I lifted my shirt and they glowed across my stomach, my breasts.

“Oh yes, your magic was bound by a powerful witch. Whoever did this was skilled. But unless you find a witch from the same coven to undo the binding, Evangeline, your magic will always remain out of your reach.”

A powerful witch. From the same coven. There was no such thing.

I swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking in. “Are you sure there’s not like a…blanket spell for this?”

I’d made a promise once, but…maybe mom wouldn’t care if I broke my word. I’d promised to protect Angel, too, and if I had my own magic, then…wouldn’t mom have wanted me to be able to keep my sister safe?

Fiona hesitated. “I know plenty of witches in numerous covens. But undoing a binding is... complicated. Dangerous. You don’t know what kind of magic lies beneath, or what such power might do to you once it’s unbound. Witches, like vampires, come into their powers at an early age. They are trained to control their magic, learn their limits.”

She held out her palm and a ball of fire appeared, which morphed into a tiny, baby dragon with big, golden eyes, his delicately scaled tail curled around his little feet.

“From the number of bindings on your skin…your magic is powerful. I might even say dangerous. Every coven possesses a certain…flavor of magic. Elementals are the most common. But some magic is darker.” Her eyes flicked to mine. “Like Ravok’s.”

“I don’t care,” I said, my gaze on the adorable little creature curled in Fiona’s hand. “I need to know who I am. What I can do. I know how to train my body and my mind. I can learn to train my magic.”

Fiona’s eyes softened slightly. “Be careful, Evangeline. Power can be a curse and a gift. Look at what happened to Riordan. Don’t let your desperation lead you down a dark path there is no turning back from.”

I nodded, but my mind was already racing ahead.

What if I had fire magic, like Fiona and Riordan?

Or shadows, like Blake?

What other kinds of magic were there? Tyrell’s crushing, choking power—then there was Ravok’s power, but I would settle for something like that, too. Anything was better than being weak and helpless.

“Thank you, Fiona. We’ll send word as soon as Riordan wakes up, and I can’t tell you how much your help means to me.” On impulse, I grasped her hand, her eyes flaring in surprise. “I have a feeling you don’t trust easily. Neither do I. But know this. If you ever need anything, no matter how dire or how mundane, please send a raven. Or text me, that’s probably easier. We’ll come.”

I left House Drakeheart, the weight of Fiona’s warning disappearing beneath the excitement of the possibilities that lay ahead. Magic. I had fucking magic . When poor Benny wrapped his arms around me with a resigned sigh, I barely even noticed the blur of cold darkness as we flew toward Darkmore Castle, my thoughts more chaotic than the future.

We were still in the air when something knocked us out of the sky.

Something—or someone—ripped me away from Benny and before I could even scream, I was yanked upward, my weightless body twisting in cold nothingness.

I landed hard, legs bent at awkward, painful angles, my right arm taking the brunt of the impact. When my head slammed into something, light burst behind my eyelids, teeth aching as they snapped together.

When the world steadied again, I was lying in a cluttered kitchen, lit by a hundred guttering candles. A foully metallic scent filled the air, and I lifted my aching head high enough to see Aria leaning against the edge of her workbench, a predatory smile painted on her lips.

“Evangeline,” she purred. “So glad you could join us.”

My blood ran cold as I realized we weren’t alone. Malachi lurked behind her, the matching smirk on his lips slightly more arrogant, braided blond hair spilling down over a deep purple coat as that knowing smile flayed me apart.

Benny was crumpled in the far corner by the fireplace, but with his eyes closed, I couldn’t tell if he was even alive.

“What the fuck are you two doing?” I demanded, my voice trembling.

Together? Why are you two together?

I got my answer when Aria held up the small glass vial, the crimson liquid inside gleaming ruby-red in the light. My blood.

“I thought it was time we got started, Silverwood,” she said, uncorking the vial. “We have much to do and not a lot of time to accomplish our goals.”

Panic surged through me as she tipped the contents onto her finger, that small drop gleaming like a jewel on the tip as she stared hard at it, greed glinting off her eyes. She pursed her lips and blew a shivering breath over the droplet. A sharp, twisting jolt crushed my chest, my entire body curling in as I clutched at my bursting heart.

“What are you doing?” I gasped, the words barely escaping my lips.

“Binding you,” Aria said simply, her smile widening. “It’s such a waste, really, letting someone as... valuable as you run free. But don’t worry, Evangeline. In time, we’ll make sure you reach your full potential.”

I tried to move, to crawl away, but my body refused to obey. Malachi stepped closer, his gaze fixed on me with unnerving intensity.

“You ruined my plans, Evangeline. If it wasn’t for you, Riordan would be dead and Blake would be strapped to one of Valaine’s tables, begging me to put him out of his misery. Instead, I’m forced to hide away and make a new plan.” His smile widened. “And you’ll be pleased to know, that much like before, that plan is you .”

Oh fuck no . The last time I ended up being the plan , the smarmy bastard handed me over to my father and uncle as a prisoner and I almost ended up dead. Again, I ordered my body to move , but the stubborn bitch betrayed me.

Aria’s laughter skated over me like knives as she tipped the vial again, another trembling droplet of my blood shining there. She offered it to Malachi and he wrapped his lips around her finger, her mouth slightly open as he swirled his tongue round and round.

Need slammed into me full force, my body quivered, every nerve ending raw and wanting. My hips thrust forward, mimicking the rhythm of Malachi’s tongue, his eyes burning with delight as I writhed at his feet.

“You are so very wicked, Mal.” She purred, sighing when he pulled away to crouch down over me like some starving predator, deciding where to sink his fangs in first.

“Now try and relax, Vicious,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth, fingers tracing teasingly over my bare stomach. “This will only hurt for a moment.”

The last thing I saw before pain swallowed me whole was Aria’s triumphant smile and the flicker of satisfaction in Malachi’s dark, savage gaze.