3. Evelyn
3
Evelyn
R afe grabbed my sword and then swept me into his arms, his wings unfurling majestically. With a powerful thrust, we were airborne; the wind whipping my hair as we soared above the field.
I pressed my face into his chest, inhaling his familiar, sweet scent. His heart beat steadily beneath my ear, a constant rhythm against the storm inside me. I closed my eyes, focusing on the feeling of being held and being safe.
But as the mansion came into view, my grief for Alister threatened to drown me, though I couldn’t ignore the pain etched into Rafe’s face, the hollowness in his eyes. They had lost me for an entire year, not knowing when I would return.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For never giving up on me.”
Rafe’s arm tightened around me, his voice soft but raw. “We couldn’t give up on you. If we did, we’d lose ourselves too.” His wings dipped slightly as his voice broke, and I pulled back just enough to see the unshed tears in his eyes.
He looked…older. Tired in a way I’d never seen before. They all must’ve carried so much pain while I was gone.
“You’re back now, and that’s all that matters.”
As we descended onto the mansion grounds and made our way inside, I realized I was still covered in blood.
“I’m going to take a quick shower,” I said, pointing at all the blood. “But can you guys join me in bed after? I just…I need you close. I’m just…so exhausted.”
The guys nodded in silent agreement as Rafe handed me my sword. I slowly made my way up to Alister’s bedroom, where every corner held a memory of him. They were good memories, but being reminded of them now cut deeper than I expected.
In the solitude of Alister’s bathroom, I let the hot water wash over me, scalding my skin as if I could burn away the pain of losing my vampire mate. A year had been lost, and there was so much I needed to do, but my grief was overwhelming, and right now, all I wanted was to bundle myself between the guys and let everything else fall away.
Dressed in Alister’s old pajamas—his scent still lingering in the fabric—I entered his bedroom.
The guys were there—Chad sprawled on one side of the bed, Ryker on the other. Rafe and Lucien occupied chairs nearby.
Crawling between Chad and Ryker, I curled up on Alister’s bedside. His scent was stronger here—warm amber—and it unraveled me completely.
Tears welled up, spilling fast and hot down my cheeks. Hands reached for me—gentle touches wiping the tears away.
“I’m so sorry for everything—for being gone. For Alister…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Don’t apologize, little witch,” Chad said, his voice unusually soft. For once, there was no teasing edge to his tone. The boy, who always had a grin for me, looked tired and had something else in his eyes—a shadow I hadn’t seen before.
Ryker’s voice was strained. “You have no idea how hard it was. Not having you here…” He exhaled sharply.
“You don’t know how many nights we spent trying to find a way to bring you back,” Rafe added quietly from the chair, his hands clenched tightly.
“Or how many times Rafe threatened his brother,” Chad whispered. “Who knew softy here could be so terrifying!” Chad added, a faint smile tugging at his lips. But it didn’t reach his eyes, and I saw how hard he was trying to keep the mood light—for me, for all of us.
Lucien sat stiffly in the chair, his shoulders hunched. “We failed you, Evelyn.”
How could they blame themselves for any of this?
I sat up and slid toward them, reaching out. “I’m the one that failed, not you. I’m supposed to be Hecate’s champion, and I couldn’t save my mate.” My voice cracked.
Their touches didn’t stop, and their soothing words swirled around me. My chest ached with a fierce, unshakable love for them. They were my home, my strength—and somehow, even in my brokenness, they made me feel whole.
Exhaustion tugged at me—a deep weariness that reached into my bones—and I surrendered to it. The last thing I remember was being held in strong arms, the warmth lulling me into a fitful sleep.
When I woke, the room was dimly lit by the soft glow of early morning light. Lucien was beside me, his arm draped protectively around my waist. For a moment, I let myself lean into him, forgetting where I was—forgetting the hole created in my soul.
But then reality crashed back in, and I pulled away. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, embarrassment heating my cheeks. He’s just a friend, nothing more.
Lucien cut me off with a gentle squeeze. “No, don’t go, Eve,” he whispered. “I need you here.”
I settled back into his arms, letting the comfort of his presence anchor me, and I drifted into sleep once more.
I’m not sure how long I stayed in bed.
Days blended together.
The guys brought me food, and I only got up to use the bathroom. I couldn’t bring myself to do anything else. I felt guilty for not texting my friends, but I didn’t have the strength. The guys kept peeking in, their worried glances making me feel even worse.
The door creaked open, and Chad bounded in, his enthusiasm filling the room like a puppy on caffeine. “Evelyn! You won’t believe what I just saw. A squirrel…wearing a tiny cowboy hat!”
Despite myself, I smiled. “Chad, that’s ridiculous.”
He grinned, plopping onto the bed. “I swear! It was doing a little dance and everything. You gotta come see!”
I reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “I appreciate the effort, Chad. I really do.” My fingers lingered against his, finding comfort in his warmth. “But could we do a raincheck?”
The thought of getting out of bed made my stomach churn, but I didn’t want him to think it was because of him.
Chad’s smile faltered briefly, something softer flickering in his eyes. Until he rallied, his grin slipping back into place. “Okay, how about I bring the squirrel rodeo in here? Lemme try and catch the little guy.”
I let out a soft laugh as he stood. “Be careful. You might end up as the rodeo.”
He winked. “I like my odds.”
I watched him go, warmth lingering where his hand had been. Then, as the door clicked shut, I let the darkness behind my eyelids grow deeper, and I dreamed.
I dreamed of a world overrun by chaos. One where evil had won. Humans were being slaughtered, the supernatural was divided into warring factions, and those who opposed were drained of their power. I could hear the screams and see the destruction. I could feel the fear—and the pain. Everything was falling apart. I stumbled through the streets, my heart pounding. Blood ran in rivulets down the cracked pavement. I wanted to help, to fight, but my limbs felt like lead.
A familiar voice cried out. I whirled to see Adrien and Raven, bloodied and beaten, being dragged away in chains. Their eyes found mine, pleading.
“Evelyn! Help us!”
I tried to run to them, but my feet were rooted to the ground. As they disappeared into an alley, I heard a sickening crack behind me.
My heart stopped as I turned.
Rafe. My gentle, beautiful Rafe. His wings…Oh god, his wings! Nailed to a wall, dripping with blood. His body hung limp, lifeless.
“No!” I screamed.
My eyes flew open, chest heaving. The quiet of the room felt surreal after the nightmare’s chaos.
I didn’t know if it was a vision of what would come or if Hecate had sent it to show me the cost of giving up. Maybe it was just my mind trying to shake me awake, to remind me I couldn’t stay in bed forever.
I wasn’t that person.
As sleep escaped me, the memory of the dream clung to me. The fear from it lingered, but so did something else—an urgency, a pull.
Something had shifted inside me.
But first, there was something I couldn’t live without.
Alister.
We were getting him back.
I wasn’t going to accept a world without him in it. If Hecate had chosen me as her champion, she’d have to give me what I needed to win this—all of my guys.
I pushed off the covers and rose with purpose. Today was not a day for mourning; it was a day for action.
Rafe found me in the gym, his eyes softening. “I knew I’d find you here.”
We’d trained together in the gym before when I’d been learning to master my new powers. Now, it was time for me to unlock the power that could bring Alister back—the ability to access the Shadow Realm.
“Rafe, I’ll do whatever it takes to get Alister back. So teach me how to reach the Shadow Realm.”
We spent the day in grueling training, my mind stretching and straining to grasp the elusive branch of magic that could grant me access to the Shadow Realm. But it was like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands—always slipping just out of reach.
Frustration pressed at me as night fell, but Rafe’s gentle reassurances kept me grounded. “This won’t happen overnight. You’re making progress, even if you can’t see it yet.”
But we didn’t have the luxury of time. A year had already passed.
If the instability of magic had indeed staled Eris, now that it was back, she’d made up for lost time. I couldn’t afford to stay idle or wallow in self-pity.
It was time to ask the guys what they’d been up to and devise a plan.
* * *
That evening, Lucien, Chad, Ryker, Rafe, and I gathered around the dining table.
“So, tell me everything I’ve missed,” I requested. “What have you all been up to? What’s the latest on Eris, and do you have any plans to take her down?”
Lucien set his glass down carefully, his gaze softening as he looked at me. “Evelyn, are you sure you’re ready for this? There’s no rush—”
“I’ll be okay,” I interrupted, my voice steady. “I can’t just sit around anymore. I need to know what’s happening, and I need to take action. Please.”
The guys exchanged hesitant glances, their concern evident, but after a brief pause, Lucien began recounting the events. “The luminary coven was dismantled after Morgana’s defeat. Some members joined other covens, while some are on the run, including the elders who escaped with Lia. We don’t know where they’ve been hiding, but thanks to Ryker’s efforts, we’ve had reports of sightings.”
I looked at Ryker. “What does that mean?”
“I graduated last year. While you were gone, I’ve taken over my father’s enterprise. I’m trying to steer it differently, but many people have defected.”
Ryker had taken over his father’s criminal empire. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but I was mostly worried about him. I knew Ryker could take care of himself, but spies had to be lingering in the shadows.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly. “I mean, I know you can handle yourself, but still…”
Ryker’s lips twitched into a faint smirk, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m fine. It’s a mess, but I’m not giving up on it. “I’ve got people I trust, but we’ll need help if we want to stop more from aligning with my father.”
“He also lets the big guy loose,” Chad said, his tone teasing, but his hand squeezed mine tightly under the table. He hadn’t let go since I sat down, and I wondered if I’d ever get it back.
Ryker’s lips tugged. “I don’t hide my dragon form anymore, even if I couldn’t sustain long with magic being unstable.” He added quickly, “But I make sure to never shift in front of other females.”
I reached out with my free hand and squeezed his arm gently. “I’m happy others can see how magnificent you are.”
“Yeah, and you should see how some of the guys almost shit themselves when he shifts.” Chad chuckled.
Ryker’s eyes glinted with quiet satisfaction. “It helps keep people from defecting to my father’s side, knowing there’s a stronger shifter than him. And the others have been great.”
“The others?” I asked.
Chad’s teasing tone shifted to something more serious. “We’ve all been looking out for each other this past year. But you’re still our number one priority.”
I glanced around the table, my heart tightening as I took in the sincerity on their faces.
Rafe smiled. “We’ve missed you, Evelyn, but we don’t want to overwhelm you. If this is too much—”
“I’m okay,” I interrupted quickly, though the truth was more complicated. “Really. Just tell me everything.”
Rafe sighed. “Now that magic is back. Eris is bound to make an appearance soon. But in terms of a plan, I’m afraid we don’t have one—or much to go on.”
“We’ve been monitoring smaller villages, including the one that had been siphoned, making sure they’re not producing more of it,” Lucien added. “So far, we haven’t found anything.”
“Everyone’s been freaking out,” Chad said. “Shifters could barely shift, and with magic flickering in and out, people are scared.”
“The magical community is definitely on edge.” Rafe nodded. “They’re scrambling to figure out why magic’s been so unstable.”
“But you told the SLEA what happened on the battlefield, right?” I asked, glancing between them.
“We did,” Rafe replied. “The Supernatural Law Enforcement Agency is investigating what Morgana and the elders were up to, including the use of black magic. But they’re not buying the full story. Claiming a god was resurrected in the body of a young witch? Let’s just say it’s been met with skepticism. And the fact that your departure into the Shadow Realm might have affected the balance of magic? Even more so.”
“And with magic going haywire,” Lucien added, “crime’s on the rise, and they’re barely keeping up.”
“It’s also been chaos at the Academy,” Chad pitched in.
“How so?” I asked.
“Parents pulling their kids out, while others spread rumors and conspiracy theories. Everyone’s wary of each other.”
“There’s a literal witch hunt happening,” Lucien explained. “Young witches and warlocks who were once members of the Luminary coven are being targeted, bullied, and blamed.”
I absorbed everything and how the world had changed while I was gone.
“You should consider going back to class,” Lucien said, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I rolled my eyes.
Of course, the teacher would think school is important, but everything else felt much more urgent right now. “School? Now?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yes, school. There are only a couple of months left. Besides, there’s no way we’re all leaving you here alone; most of us will be at the Academy, and now that magic is back, we’ll be able to reinforce our wards.”Almost as an afterthought, he added, “An education is important.”
I just stared at him.
A god took over my best friend’s body, threatening magical destruction, and he’s thinking about education.
“I spoke with the dean today about another matter and told him you’d be back on Monday.”
“Monday!” I echoed before frowning. “Wait, what day is it today?”
“It’s Friday night,” Rafe replied.
I crossed my arms. “Well, I’m not going back until I get Alister.”
Lucien met my gaze, his expression calm but resolute. “Well, you have until Monday.”
I wanted to jump over the table and strangle him—just a little.
“And we’ll do whatever we can to help,” he added.
“Fine. And let me be clear: I only agree because we’ll have Alister back by then. Just make sure I’m not stuck in any potion classes. Instead, get me into tactical defense, or I’m not going.”
Chad grinned, breaking the tension. “And we can resume training together again. Plus, you’ll get to meet my brother Thad! He started at the Academy this year.” He leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “He’s the best. Alister is going to love him.”
Lucien groaned. “He’s your exact twin, Chad. Like a mini version of you. It’s already a handful with one; imagine two.”
Chad gave a mock bow. “It’s a burden being this charming, but someone’s got to do it. And just wait until Brad starts next year!”
“Fuck, there’s a third one?” Lucien exclaimed.
Despite everything, a small smile tugged at my lips.
Lucien leaned back, his gaze settling on me. “By the way, we gathered all your stuff from your dorm room. It’s in your room now. You might want it back soon, though. Chad’s music is insufferably loud at night—he has absolutely no concept of headphones.”
Chad grinned, completely unbothered. “Hey, good music is meant to be shared!”
Lucien rolled his eyes. “I’ve been sleeping in your room because of it.” Then his voice softened. “But once we get Alister back, I’ll move out. You’ll need it again.”
I blinked, the words hitting me. Lucien had been staying in my room?
“Are you all staying here now?” I asked, suddenly realizing I’d been so wrapped up in my grief I hadn’t noticed.
Chad perked up. “Yep! We’re all squatting in the mansion. Do you think Alister will be mad? Once we get him back, that is.”
“No,” I said with a smile, remembering Alister’s happiness when he showed them their rooms. “He considered you all family. He would have wanted you guys to stay here.”
“You should see how expensive it is to keep up a place like this,” Chad grumbled.
“Says the only one who’s still in school and not actively paying the bills,” Lucien retorted, giving Chad an exasperated look.
“We figured it made more sense to base ourselves here,” Rafe explained. “There is more space, and it is easier to coordinate everything. The new teacher who replaced Miss Clarissa is now occupying the cottage.”
“Yeah, we all know what happened to her,” Chad said, making a snapping sound with his fingers and grinning widely.
“We all bonded over our shared grief,” Rafe sighed.
“And our desire to get revenge,” Lucien added.
“Although it’s been an adjustment. Someone already caused two fires in the kitchen.” Lucien smirked, glancing at Chad.
Chad gave a mock shrug. “It was the pancake’s fault. I was trying to make them like Evelyn likes—extra crispy.”
“I like them extra crispy?” I asked.
“Yeah, you always said my charred pancakes were the best,” Chad replied, his eyes wide.
“I think she was just trying to be nice, Chad.” Rafe chuckled.
“Nuh-uh?! Tell them, little witch,” Chad insisted.
I smiled.
Their lives had moved on while I was gone. It was strange to think about it, but I was happy they had each other. In the meantime, returning to the Academy might be a good idea.
After I get Alister back.