27. Evelyn
27
Evelyn
A s I gazed into the bathroom mirror, the gentle morning light revealed the dark circles under my eyes and my pale complexion. The battle with Eris and her undead army had left me more than tired; I was utterly drained.
I guess that’s what happens when you get electrocuted a few hundred times.
The morning cold shower had once again helped cool me down from the overload of lightning I’d channeled. But after finishing it, I felt like a walking corpse, minus the rotting flesh and vacant stare, like one of the undead we’d battled against.
The previous night, Rafe had healed my torn wings. The pain had been unbearable, but his angelic touch was gentle and soothing. He’d promised that the wings would be okay since they stemmed from my lineage powers. Yet I didn’t have the heart to try and conjure them. The fear that they were gone for good was too much to face now.
A knock sounded at the door. “Little witch? You okay in there?” Chad’s voice was muffled through the door, tinged with worry.
“I’m fine,” I called back, splashing more cold water on my face. But I wasn’t fine. Not really. Images of the carnage I’d caused kept flashing through my mind. An entire army, wiped out by my hand. Granted, they’d already been dead, but the Elders and a few shifters hadn’t made it. And that was on me.
I never wanted this kind of power. All I wanted was to get strong enough to face the people who betrayed me.
Battling a goddess?
That was something else entirely. And yet—if I’d pursued her yesterday, I might have been able to finish this. Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I would’ve been too drained to do anything else if she had retaliated. As soon as she left, I promptly collapsed—and I couldn’t risk losing Lia, not when there was still a chance of saving her.
I sighed, opened the door, and found Chad leaning against the frame. Despite everything, his usual enthusiasm was somehow intact, though it faded as he took one look at my face and pulled me into a hug.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Like I just went ten rounds with a goddess and her zombie horde. So, peachy.”
Chad patted my head and leaned back to stare at me with a smile. “That was some light show you put on yesterday. I was proud of you. Now, come on, I smell bacon, and I’m starving. Let’s get some food in you.”
My stomach growled in response, and I managed a small smile. “Lead the way.”
The others were already gathered around the large kitchen island, piling their plates with bacon, scrambled eggs, and some golden toast. The comforting aroma of breakfast mixed with the rich scent of coffee made my stomach let out another impatient grumble.
Alister glanced up, his eyes softening as they met mine. “Morning, love. Help yourself before these heathens devour it all.”
“You cooked all this?”
Rafe slid a steaming mug of coffee across the counter to me, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I helped.”
I accepted the mug, inhaling the steam. “Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate you guys?”
“Once or twice,” Lucien drawled, leaning back with a smirk. “But feel free to keep reminding us.”
“How’s your shoulder, Lucien?” I asked, concern threading my voice as I remembered the injury he’d sustained yesterday.
“As good as new,” he replied smoothly. “Rafe healed everything in a matter of seconds. In fact, I feel better than I have in years.”
I smiled, warmth swelling in my chest, and hugged all of them before digging into my food, savoring each bite.
As soon as breakfast was over, Alister’s expression grew serious. “We have to talk about yesterday.”
I sighed. “Can it wait? I’m not really in the mood for a postmortem lecture.”
“It can’t,” Lucien said. “We’re needed back at the Academy.”
After ignoring their pleas yesterday, I expected Alister or Lucien to lecture me about how reckless I’d been. But apparently, there was something more pressing to deal with.
I arched an eyebrow at Lucien. “Oh! Why? They said the Academy would be out today for cleanup.”
“They have visitors,” Alister informed.
“Visitors? Who?”
“Supernaturals,” Alister explained. “Word of your confrontation with Eris has spread. They’re gathering at the Academy, asking to join us.”
My stomach tightened. “Join us?”
“You inspire them, Evelyn,” Rafe elaborated. “What you did yesterday—it gave them hope.”
I pressed my fingers to my temples, overwhelmed. “I didn’t do it to inspire anyone. I just…” My voice faltered. “I don’t want anyone else to die. ”
“And neither do they,” Alister said. “But Eris is threatening everything we believe in, including free will. These people want to stand up for that. They want to fight beside you.”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, unbidden. “With me? You all saw what I did out there. I…” I swallowed hard, my voice trembling. “I killed the Elders. I killed shifters. Maybe they were on Eris’s side, but they still had lives and families. I can’t ask anyone else to risk dying because of me.”
Chad reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “You’re not asking them. They’re choosing this. Just like we chose to stand by you.”
“Exactly,” Rafe added, his voice grounding me as his steady presence always did. “People need hope. And, yesterday, you gave them that.”
“You don’t have to carry this alone,” Lucien said. “They’re here because they believe in what we’re all fighting for.”
I exhaled shakily, their words sinking in. They were right. But the thought of leading people into danger still made my stomach twist.
I took a deep breath before nodding. “Alright. Let’s go to the Academy and hear what they have to say.”
* * *
Once we reached the Academy’s grounds, the sight that greeted me made my jaw drop. Hundreds of supernaturals crowded the expansive lawn. Some were parents pulling their children out of school, others were helping with the cleanup, though most had already been done. But the majority of them seemed just to be…waiting.
As if summoned, all eyes turned to me.
“Holy shit,” I muttered.
Rafe squeezed my shoulder. “You’ve got this.”
I took a steadying breath and stepped forward. The crowd parted, creating a path for me. As I walked, I caught snippets of conversations.
“That’s her—”
“—took down an entire horde—”
“—saved the Academy—”
My cheeks burned. I wasn’t used to this kind of attention. I’d been practically invisible a few months ago…or a year ago.
A tall, willowy woman with iridescent hair stepped forward, her hypnotic beauty impossible to ignore. She bowed, radiating the unnatural grace of a siren.
Why the hell is she bowing?
“Evelyn Everhart,” she said, her voice reverent. “We’ve come to offer our allegiance.”
“Uh, thanks. But…we don’t have an army or anything.”
A burly werewolf growled, “You’ve got us now.”
“Evelyn!” Raven’s voice called out as she hurried over, her father trailing behind her with a reluctant but resigned expression. She beamed at me. “So, I told Dad I was joining the fight, and, well…you know me—too stubborn to take no for an answer.”
Her father sighed, shaking his head with a faint smile. “She wouldn’t budge. Not even for her old man. So, here I am—joining in if only to keep her out of trouble.” His tone was light, but the protective glint in his eyes said otherwise. “It’s good to see you again, Evelyn.”
I returned his smile, though I could sense the tension behind his words. “Good to see you too, Mr. Foster.”
He raised a hand to stop me. “Henry. Just Henry. And for the record, I’d rather Raven not be here at all, but, well…” He glanced at his daughter, his expression softening despite himself. “There’s no stopping her once she’s made up her mind.”
Raven grinned, unapologetic, her excitement practically vibrating off her. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Ah. Well. We haven’t discussed that yet.” I glanced over at Alister, hoping he’d step in.
Alister, ever the diplomat, stepped onto the steps of the Academy and addressed the crowd. “Thank you all for coming. Your support means more than you know. We face a great challenge, but together, we can overcome it. We will vanquish Goddess Eris and restore balance—with Hecate’s chosen champion.” He extended a hand toward me, beckoning me to join him.
I was going to kill that man…or at least make him regret this.
Reluctantly, I stepped up beside him.
“Would you like to say something, Evelyn?”
Yep. Definitely killing him.
My heart pounded as I scanned the crowd. Dozens of eager faces stared back at me, their eyes filled with hope, expectation—and something I wasn’t sure I deserved.
“Uh,” I stammered. “Hi.”
Great start, Evelyn.
I cleared my throat, trying to steady the quiver in my voice.
“Thank you all for coming,” I began, forcing myself to meet their gazes. “But let me be clear—we’re equals here. No one’s above anyone else.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group.
“Zade, Rafe, and Alister have extensive experience in battles. They’ll be leading the planning.” Alister raised an eyebrow but kept quiet as I continued, the words coming easier now. “We’re here to stop Goddess Eris and to get Lia back.”
Some cheers erupted from the crowd, though I noticed a few uneasy glances. Not everyone believed Lia was innocent, considering her mother’s role in all this.
I looked over at Rafe and Zade, who stepped forward to help.
“We need to strategize and plan carefully,” Zade addressed the crowd.
“Let’s break into groups and inventory our strengths,” Rafe added. “This way, we can effectively come up with an attack plan. This time, we’re bringing the battle to the goddess.”
We moved to the gymnasium, and as the crowd started organizing into clusters, discussing tactics, and pooling resources, some of my anxiety began to ease. Alister took charge of coordinating combat strategies, while Rafe handled logistics.
By the time night fell, exhaustion had caught up with me. I collapsed into bed, hoping for a dreamless sleep.
No such luck.
In my dreams, I stood in a familiar field, the warm breeze tousling my hair. Lia was beside me, our toes digging into the sun-warmed dirt as we giggled over some long-forgotten joke.
“We could have this again, you know,” Lia’s silky voice whispered. “You and I, ruling side by side while the world bows at our feet. Think of the power, Evelyn.” Lia’s hand slipped into mine, ice-cold against my skin. “Join me, Eve,” she pleaded, her voice hollow, echoing like it was coming from somewhere deep underground. “We can be together forever, just like we always wanted.”
I wrenched my hand away, stumbling backward as the field dissolved into darkness. “Eris—”
I jolted awake with a gasp. My skin clammy, every muscle tensed as if bracing for an attack.
I thought about lying back down and trying to shake it off for a moment. But the fact that Eris could now reach me in my dream state unsettled me; I walked down the hallway to Rafe’s room. I was about to knock on the door when it opened, and there stood Rafe, already knowing I was coming to see him. His brow creased with concern. I noticed the easel in the corner, the image of me with my hand raised to the sky, lightning striking down.
“Evelyn? What’s wrong?”
“I couldn’t get back to sleep,” I admitted, stepping into the room. “Eris… she got in my head.”
Rafe’s expression softened. He walked to the bed and padded the space beside him in invitation. I climbed onto the bed, curling into his side as his arm wrapped around me.
“She’s trying to rattle you,” he murmured, his fingers threading gently through my hair. “It’s more difficult to shield your mind while you sleep. Don’t let her get to you, Evelyn. We’re going to beat her, and we’re going to get Lia back. I promise.”
I wanted so badly to believe him, to let his quiet strength push back the shadows. But deep down, a small voice whispered that I might not be strong enough—that this nightmare was only beginning.
As if sensing my unease, Rafe softly kissed my temple. “Sleep. I’ll keep the bad dreams away.”
Wrapped in his warmth, I closed my eyes, praying for a restful sleep.