7. Evelyn
7
Evelyn
S aturday morning, Rafe called us to the courtyard.
The May sun was warm on my skin, but it couldn’t thaw the anxious knot in my chest. Time was slipping away. I had to find a way into the Shadow Realm, and I had to do it by Monday. There’s no way I would be leaving Alister there another week.
“Evelyn, I have complete faith that you’ll one day be able to get past the Guardian and access the Shadow Realm,” Rafe said, his voice steady but tinged with anticipation. “But since time is of the essence, I reached out to my brother for help.” He hesitated, his gaze flickering to mine. “I didn’t want to say anything earlier in case he couldn’t come through. He’s difficult to get a hold of, and I didn’t want to get your hopes up unnecessarily. But I managed to make contact with him today.”
A ripple of power filled the air, and moments later, a figure descended from the sky, landing effortlessly.
We all stared in awe.
If Rafe was impressive, his brother was something else entirely. Taller than Rafe, taller than Ryker, but leaner, with cropped dark hair and striking turquoise eyes that mirrored Rafe’s. But his angel’s presence was colder and sharper where Rafe exuded warmth.
A faint glow surrounded him, and though I tried not to stare, it was hard to look away.
Chad let out a low whistle. “Are you guys seeing this?”
I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away.
“I might be questioning my sexuality right now,” Chad muttered, half-joking.
Rafe and his brother exchanged a few quiet words before approaching us.
The angel’s gaze settled on me, sharp and assessing. “Is this her?”
“Yes,” Rafe said, beaming. “This is my mate, Evelyn.”
The angel ignored me and looked at the others. “I see why you called me. You’ll need all the help you can get.”
Rafe grinned. “Everyone, this is my brother, Zade.”
“Zadkiel,” his brother corrected. “Only my friends call me Zade.”
Without waiting for a response, Zadkiel turned and walked away.
“Isn’t he great?” Rafe kept beaming at us.
I gave him two thumbs up before he turned and joined his brother.
Chad leaned in close. “Is it just me, or is Rafe’s brother a complete ass?”
“Definitely an ass,” I agreed.
But if he could help me get Alister back, I didn’t care if he was the biggest jerk in the universe.
Zadkiel turned back to me, his expression unreadable. “I decided to help you. I can walk between realms, and your connection to Alister will guide us to him. But…”
My heart raced, hope flickering to life.
“But?” I asked.
“The Gods won’t like it and will intervene. Be prepared to face them. And…”
“And?” I asked.
“We’ll most likely fail.”
I nodded, but failing was not an option.
“The Shadow Realm is an in-between place where souls wait to move on,” Zadkiel explained. “Some are harmless. Others are lost—and the lost ones are dangerous. They’ll sense our heartbeat. Your life. And they’ll want it.”
“What about the guardian?” I asked.
Zadkiel shrugged. “I’ll deal with him.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why didn’t you help before? During the year I was trapped there?”
His jaw tightened. “I was forbidden.”
“Why now? What’s changed?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation,” he declared. “I’m offering my help now. Take it or leave it.”
“I’m not leaving Alister there any longer,” I said firmly.
“Good.”
He offered me his hand. Without hesitation, I reached for Zadkiel’s hand. His power thrummed beneath my fingertips.
I glanced back at the others—my guys. “I’ll be back soon.”
Lucien stepped forward, his eyes locked on Zadkiel. “I don’t care if you’re Rafe’s brother or the most powerful angel alive. If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
I blinked at Lucien’s protectiveness, but before I could react, the world shifted. In an instant, the sun and the guys vanished.
* * *
We landed in the Shadow Realm. The air was thick and oppressive.
I hated this place.
The shadows pressed in as we moved through the Shadow Realm. The air was almost tangible, a deep unease settling into my bones. Flickers of movement danced at the edges of my vision, erratic and unsettling.
Zadkiel’s grip tightened around my hand. “Stay focused.”
My pulse quickened.
“Focus on Alister. Call him to you.”
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the encroaching darkness. I pictured Alister—his smile, his blue eyes. I reached out with my mind, searching desperately for any trace of him.
I heard the sound of Zadkiel’s blade slicing through the air, followed by the unearthly screech of something dissolving. I opened my eyes, too unnerved by the sounds.
A shadow lunged at us, its form twisting as it reached out with claw-like tendrils. Zadkiel moved instantly, his angelic blade slashing through it, but more shadows surged forward, their hunger palpable.
Zadkiel stepped in front of me, his blade a blur of light as he cut them down.
“Evelyn!” he shouted over the chaos. “Don’t stop—focus on Alister!”
I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking out the sounds of the fight. I poured everything into finding him—his touch, voice, and how he made me feel safe.
The shadows pressed closer, suffocating, but I clung to the connection. I prayed the guardian hadn’t sensed our intrusion yet.
Zadkiel’s grunts and the shrieks of the shadows blended into a nightmarish cacophony.
Then, suddenly, the fighting stopped. Voices cut through my concentration.
It took me a moment to realize Zadkiel was speaking to someone.
My eyes snapped open.
It was the guardian.
“Zadkiel,” the guardian rumbled, crossing his massive arms. “Bold of you to trespass here.”
He was huge. The shadows had peeled back, revealing his true form—an angel easily matching Zadkiel’s impressive height but broader. His body was a solid wall of muscle. Midnight-black wings arched from his shoulders, starkly contrasting his deep bronze skin.
The guardian’s unsettling gaze flicked to me with something like curiosity. “She’s a persistent one.”
I stood frozen, struggling to process what was happening. Zadkiel had lowered his blade, his stance deceptively relaxed. Yet, he still stepped forward, positioning himself between me and the guardian. “Azrael. It’s been a while.”
Wait. They knew each other?
“We served together,” Zadkiel said, a hint of regret coloring his words. “Before Azrael fell.”
The dark angel’s lip curled. “Fell or saw the truth? Matter of perspective, brother.”
“And now here you are doing penance,” Zadkiel reminded him.
Azrael nodded. “And you, still playing errand boy for the higher-ups.”
“And you’re still guarding this wasteland,” Zadkiel shot back. “How the mighty have fallen.”
My gaze darted between them. “Hate to break this riveting conversation, but we need to retrieve Alister.”
Azrael’s dark eyes shifted back to me. “Ah, your vampire mate,” he said flatly as if the words carried no weight.
I lifted my chin. “I’m not leaving without him.”
“So I gathered,” he replied, his wings rustling as he stepped aside. “Go on, then. They’re expecting you.”
“They?” I asked, but Azrael vanished into the shadows before I could get an answer.
“Focus,” Zadkiel said hurriedly, gripping my shoulder. “We don’t have time. Concentrate on Alister.”
I nodded, swallowing my unease. I closed my eyes and reached out with everything I had, focusing on him.
Then I felt it. A spark. A whisper of something uniquely Alister .
My eyes flew open, hope surging through me. “Zadkiel! I think I found him!”
“Good—hold on to that!” Zadkiel’s hand tightened on my arm, and the shadows blurred around us as we shifted.
When we landed, my heart leaped. There he was—Alister. He stood just ahead, still and silent, frozen as I had been. Relief surged through me, but it was short-lived.
Because beside him, they stood.
The Gods.
Three figures loomed, their presence radiating power and authority so intense it was suffocating.
Zadkiel swore under his breath.
Shit. This can’t be good.
There was Hecate and a couple. I had heard enough stories to recognize them instantly. Their auras intertwined perfectly, radiating an otherworldly balance that only heightened their imposing presence.
Hades, the God of the Underworld, his face stern and unyielding, stood beside his Queen, Persephone, whose beauty was as alluring as it was terrifying.
“You’ve already failed us once, Zadkiel,” Hecate said, her voice cold. “And now you defy us by bringing Evelyn here?”
Zadkiel stepped forward, his posture rigid. “Lia was my charge. My responsibility.”
My head snapped to Zadkiel. “Your charge?”
Hecate’s eyes narrowed, her tone sharpening. “Yes, and you failed. You were assigned to her for less than a week before you lost her—”
“To a Goddess,” Zadkiel interrupted, his teeth clenched. “This is the first time I’ve ever failed. I need to make it right.”
My mind spun as I tried to keep up. Was Zadkiel saying he had been Lia’s guardian angel?
Hades stood in the shadows, arms crossed over his chest, eyes studying me as though weighing my soul. “The vampire belongs to me. He’s cheated death long enough. His soul is mine to keep.”
I swallowed hard, my voice faltering. “Please, I—”
“And what of Eris?” Hecate cut me off, her tone sharp, her gaze fixed on Hades. “Her actions are already unraveling the balance of all realms. The chaos she’s creating will drown the Shadow Realm in souls—overwhelming our gates before they can be sorted to the Underworld or Heaven. Can your domain sustain that overflow?”
Hades’s eyes flickered with something—frustration, calculation, or perhaps both. “Eris…” he muttered, his tone low and edged with venom. “You let this happen.” Hades’s voice dripped with accusation as he looked at Hecate. “This mortal’s lineage has been meddled with for centuries. Your blessing started this mess.”
Hecate’s expression hardened, but her voice remained calm. “The blessing was meant as a kindness. I could not have foreseen how nature would counterbalance it. Nor could I have anticipated mortals like Morgana tampering with forces they do not understand—or Eris deciding it was time for everyone to remember her existence.”
“You chose me, Goddess. I didn’t ask for this. But I’ll fight. I’ll do whatever it takes to restore the balance,” I said to Hecate.
And I’ll clean up your mess.
Then I turned to Hades. “But I can’t do that without my mates. Without all of them. I need Alister.”
Hecate insisted, “You were chosen, Evelyn, because of your lineage. This blessing—this curse—can only be undone by you and Lia.”
“Perhaps we can be lenient, my love,” Persephone touched Hades’ arm gently. “This is not just about balance. If Eris continues to unleash Chaos, the devastation will ripple across every realm. It might even reach the Underworld. We won’t only be drowning in souls, but we might also have to deal with unwanted chaos.”
Hades exhaled sharply, his annoyance clear. “This…imbalance is Hecate’s concern. Why should I be dragged into it further?”
“Because you’ve worked very hard to establish order in your realm. Is one vampire worth keeping for the sake of principle when so much more is at stake? Besides…it’ll detract from our more intimate time together,” Persephone appealed with a seductive smile.
Hades grinned. “When you put it that way, my love, you have an excellent point.” His eyes flicked back to me, narrowing slightly as he considered. “She might fail.”
“I’ll do everything I can to win,” I assured him. But only if I can have Alister.”
Hades pondered for a moment, brow furrowing.
“Evelyn has proven her worth,” Hecate added.
Hades gave a small shrug, his lips curling in a faint smirk. “Fine. I’m not unreasonable. The chaos Eris is causing threatens the balance far more than Alister’s soul.” His eyes darkened, the smirk fading from his lips. “But a sacrifice must be made. If the vampire is to return, a price must be paid.”
I stepped forward, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might break free from my chest. “I’ll pay it. Whatever it takes. I’ll do it.”
“Evelyn, are you certain?” Hecate intervened. “The cost may be greater than you imagine.”
“I don’t care what it takes,” I declared. “I just want him back.”
Hades raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Are you sure about that, witch?”
I nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”
“Well, in that case, we have a deal.” He paused. “In exchange for your firstborn.”
I froze, my heart dropping. “What?”
Hades burst into laughter, turning to Persephone. “That never gets old.”
Persephone rolled her eyes, patting her husband playfully. “Stop teasing her, husband. She looks like she’s about to have a heart attack, and we need her if she’s going to vanquish Eris.”
“Fine,” Hades said, his words dripping with amusement. “I’ll settle for a favor.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What kind of favor?”
Hades shrugged, an oddly human gesture for a god. “Who knows? It could be anything. That’s the fun part.”
I bit my lip, weighing the options. Alister’s freedom for an unknown favor? It seemed too good to be true. And in my experience, if something seemed too good to be true, it usually was.
“Are we talking about firebombing a school of children or picking up your dry-cleaning?” I asked, my voice laced with skepticism.
“Take it or leave it. It’s my offer.”
“You’re saying you’d release Alister, and I’d owe you one undefined favor?”
“Precisely,” Hades said with a nod, his tone maddeningly casual. “Do we have a deal?”
I thought of Alister, trapped and alone. My fated mate, my husband. I couldn’t leave him there.
“Fine,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “We have a deal.”
A sharp pain shot through my arm. I hissed, seeing an intricate tattoo forming on my skin, sealing the deal.
Great. As if I needed another reminder of my questionable life choices.
“There,” Hades said, satisfaction evident in his voice. “Our contract is sealed. I’ll be in touch.”
Persephone turned her gaze to me, her expression softening. “It is done. You may have your mate back.”
Alister was released from his frozen state.
I rushed forward, but before I could reach him, Alister staggered, his face contorting in pain as he fell to the ground.
“Alister!” I screamed. I spun around to face the gods, panic rising. “What’s happening? You agreed!”
Hecate stepped forward, her expression unreadable. “A sacrifice had to be made.”
“I was the one who was supposed to suffer the consequence! What about our deal?” I shouted.
Hades only shrugged. “You wanted him back. Now you have him.”
Alister groaned, clutching his chest as if something vital had been torn from him. His breath came in ragged bursts, his body trembling.
I dropped to my knees beside him, cradling his face. “Alister…Alister, look at me. What’s happening?”
He opened his eyes—they looked…different. Softer.
I turned back to the gods. “What did you do?”
Hecate’s voice was final. “He walks among mortals now.”
Before I could say anything more, the world around us shifted. The darkness of the Shadow Realm dissolved into light, and suddenly, we were back in the courtyard. The sun warmed my skin, but the sense of dread hadn’t left me.
I looked down at Alister, his breathing still uneven.
He was human .
No longer a vampire. No longer immortal. I could feel the absence of power that had always hummed beneath his skin. The supernatural edge that had always surrounded him was gone.
He blinked at me, and then a huge smile appeared on his face. “Evelyn, my love. This is the best day I could have ever wished for!”
I swallowed hard, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “You’re human,” I choked out, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry…they took your immortality.”
Alister’s smile widened. “That means we can have babies now.”
Wait. What?
I turned my attention to Zadkiel. “Hades was joking about the firstborn deal, right?”