42. Everly
Everly
Chapter forty-two
Zaria’s brown eyes take me in, and she bursts out laughing before covering her mouth, her eyes widening in shock. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to laugh, but . . . ” she trails off, and I wave her off, my arms like limp noodles.
“It’s fine. I know exactly how I’m feeling, so I’m sure I look much worse.”
“Nix told me to get a bath ready for you, and I’ve added the tonics to help with restoring energy and muscle recovery.”
Kian’s attention bounces around the group. “I think you're in excellent hands. I’m going to clean up myself.”
“She will manage without you for a while,” Tristan retorts sarcastically.
Ignoring them, I shuffle toward the bathroom.
“Do you need help?” Zaria calls out, but I wave her off.
“I’ll be outside,” I hear Tristan say.
“I’m going to shower,” Kian adds.
“Well, I’m going to be eating.” Nix flies for the cart of food. “I love Rayna’s baking.”
“It’s not for you. It’s Everly’s!” Zaria snaps.
I reach the bathroom and gently close the door, shutting out the noise of the outside world. A heavy sigh escapes my lips, my body feels drained and weary. Not to mention, the constant presence of the others has left me utterly exhausted. My social battery is running on empty, desperately in need of recharging. The only company I crave is Maxon’s. He has only been gone a day, but I already ache for the way his eyes sparkle with mischief, and his smirk lights up my insides.
With a sigh, I push away from the door, stepping over to the bath. The delicate aroma of lavender and oranges permeates the bathroom, soothing my senses. Slowly, I peel off my clothes, my trembling muscles protesting with each movement.
I sink into the inviting warmth of the water, feeling its comforting embrace seep into my weary muscles. The sweet smells rising from the water combine in a fragrant symphony that dances around me. With a gentle sigh, I surrender to the tranquility, closing my eyes and reclining, allowing my head to find solace and respite. As I lay there, I run my hands over my arms, washing away any dust and dirt that clings to me. Sinking a little deeper into the water, I feel a sense of weightlessness as I let out a soft moan. If only Maxon were here to enjoy this moment with me.
I desperately want to know what’s happening. It’s why I kept myself busy training all day. I’d do my head in worrying otherwise.
Who is this elusive Shadoweaver that whispers fear into the hearts of all who hear his name?
As I lie here longer, my eyes drift shut, a wave of sleepiness making my limbs feel heavy. A cool breeze washes over me, and I notice a change in the air temperature. I furrow my brows and sink deeper into the water. Oddly, there is no window in the bathroom, ruling out the possibility of a breeze.
Abruptly, my eyes flicker open and my heart pounds fiercely in my chest. I find myself locking eyes with a pair of piercing violet-blue orbs. Startled, I let out a scream and instinctively throw my hands up, pushing myself out of the tub. The stranger takes a few steps back in surprise as a wall of water seems to materialize between us, creating a barrier.
The bathroom door bangs open, and Zaria's face goes slack in shock, and she shouts something, but I can’t hear over the pounding in my ears. Anger now replaces the shock and I snatch up a towel, wrapping it around myself as Tristan and Nix follow Zaria into the bathroom. They stare at the wall of water between us and the stranger.
“Who the hell are you?” I snap.
The figure on the other side tilts their head, their features distorted, and their gaze fixes oddly on me. I take a menacing step forward, my eyes narrowing. I’m not sure who was controlling the water, him or me, but I can feel the magic humming in the air.
Tristan steps up to my side but doesn’t touch me. “That, princess, is an intruder. The seelie prince, to be precise.”
Shock has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end, and a shiver runs down my spine. How the hell was he able to get in here?
“Prince Maxon will have your head for being in here with his mate!” Tristan yells over the noise of the water.
Reaching out with my mind, I am able to trace the intricate threads of magic, revealing that it’s my power that controls the water. Carefully, I reclaim the magic, observing how the water level steadily decreases before my eyes.
“The prince isn’t here, and I was hoping to be gone with the druid before he found out, but it seems I was ill-informed of her current state of progression and mating status.”
As the water disperses, the seelie prince comes into view, his appearance becoming clear. His long, silvery hair was intricately braided away from his face, and he wears a cold, calculated expression. Surprisingly, his presence exudes a more sinister aura than the Outcasts I encountered upon my arrival.
“How did you know Maxon wasn’t here?” I command, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Same way I knew what room you were in,” he smirks.
Irritation bubbles up inside of me, causing my face to grow flushed with anger, and a strong desire wells up within me to wipe that arrogant smirk from his face. Nix lands on my shoulder, and I can feel the weight of her hand gripping my wet hair.
“You should leave while you can,” she warns calmly.
Leave?
“Like hell!” I hiss.
No, we need to find out who is feeding him information. Maxon will want to know.
“Everly,” Nix whispers.
“No. You should stay and wait for Maxon to return.” I am fuming. “Better yet, let me make you comfortable.”
The storm inside me rages, each thunderous heartbeat echoing the intensity of my emotions. Zaria and Tristan are caught off guard as vines suddenly erupt from the open door behind us, knocking them off balance in their pursuit of the seelie prince. With an eye roll, he produces a sword, slicing at the vines, but the tingle of magic in my blood grows stronger and the vines grow again. His eyes dart to mine in shock, and I can see the disbelief reflected in his expression, if only for a second. Then he waves a hand in the air, and a shimmering ripple distorts the atmosphere. Tristan lets out a loud curse and races toward him, just as the prince steps through and disappears.
“Fuck!” Tristan bellows, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
Zaria stands off to the side, her usually radiant brown skin now appearing pale and her face filled with concern.
I storm into the bedroom and rip some clothes from the wardrobe and drop the towel, not bothering with underwear or modesty. I step into some tight black breeches and snatch a gorgeous blue long sleeve dress I had Zaria make for me. It has secret slits up the sides that go to my waist so I can fight easily. Zaria rushes over and laces up the back of the dress so it’s tight enough to hug my curves and keep my breasts from escaping the confines of the dress.
Irritation and annoyance swirls around me like a thunderstorm, creating an electric tension in the air. “How did he get into the castle?”
“Someone would have had to let him in, but it could only be someone of high stature,” Tristan replies stiffly.
Once Zaria is done, I slam the door on the wardrobe and storm over to where I keep the dagger Raiden gifted me and a few knives and quickly strap them on; the dagger at my back and two knives at my thigh.
“I want the traitor found,” I snarl, not recognizing my own voice.
I slip on my boots, the familiar weight grounding me as I stand tall, ready to confront Zaria and Tristan. Both are staring at me oddly.
“What?” I question.
Zaria is the first to respond, shaking her head. “Nothing.”
“Just what are you going to do? You look like you're dressing for a fight.”
“We have a traitor in the castle, one who let in the enemy. They need to be found.”
“Maxon has it under control. Nix has been spying on the nobles and Zaria has–”
I blink, scanning the area. “Where is Nix?” I interrupt.
Glancing around, Zaria and Tristan frown.
Zaria’s face pales. “I don’t know,” she replies uneasily.
“Why would she tell the seelie prince to leave before it was too late?”
Zaria looks off to the side. “If he was caught here in the castle. It would be a declaration of war.”
Understanding dawns, no one wants that war is the last thing anyone wants.
“I’m going looking for the traitor. Kian should be back by now . . . ”
“Yes, he should.” Tristan sighs. “I need to inform the queen immediately of what just happened.”
My fists clench tightly, the knuckles turning white as anger courses through my veins. The exhaustion that weighed me down earlier evaporates, replaced by a renewed energy that propels me forward. I want to take action. My muscles tense, coiling like a predator ready to strike, as steely determination settles deep within my bones. I will find this traitor and deliver them to Maxon. Opening the door to the hall, I feel Tristan's palm forcefully land on it, closing it with a heavy thud before I can step foot outside.
“What are you doing?”
“Stopping you.”
“No shit. Why?”
Tristan steps back and raises his palms when Nymeria and Anika approach, their heads lowered and fangs bared.
“Just let me inform the queen first, and when Kian gets here–”
“Argh!” I yell in annoyance, cutting him off.
“I understand your frustration.”
I let out a harsh laugh. “Oh, did you open your eyes during a relaxing bath to find a stranger hovering over you?”
Tristan rubs the back of his neck. “No, but–”
“But nothing! I’m going to find the answers we need, and I won’t be discrete.”
The way I’m acting should startle me. I don’t know where this person has come from. This is very unlike me. I typically shy away from conflict, but my personal space was invaded while I was in a vulnerable state, and a surge of instincts has overwhelmed me.
“Look, we need to be slow and strategic, like a mushroom.”
His words are enough to give me pause, and I glare at him in confusion. “What?”
‘Stóirín?’
‘Maxon?’
‘What’s wrong? I can feel your emotions from miles away.’
I give Tristan a hard stare and walk off toward the balcony. ‘We had an intruder in the castle.’
Maxon's fury ignites my own, but I can also sense a tinge of alarm race through him.
‘Who? Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine. I promise.’ I hesitate, not wanting to cause him any further distress.
I literally feel Maxon’s growl in my chest.
‘Tell me, Stóirín.’
‘The seelie prince found his way into my chambers.’
‘What?’ Maxon’s voice in my head is calm, but the emotions hammering my senses are anything but.
‘Everything is fine.’
‘Everything is not fine. I won’t be back until tomorrow.’
Nymeria and Anika come to sit next to me as I peer out over the gardens below.
‘I miss you,’ I whisper.
‘I miss you too, Storin.’
A flicker of movement catches my attention in the garden below. “What is that?”
Tristan and Zaria approach the balcony.
“Where?” Tristan asks.
I point to where I thought I saw the flash of movement, but nothing is there. With a sigh I push off the stone ledge and make my way back inside just as the doors to my chamber open and Kian appears.
He looks at each of us in turn, running a hand over his still-wet hair, looking almost sheepish.
“What’s with the expressions? And why are you dressed in that?” he asks, concern in his voice.
“There is a traitor in the castle,” Tristan answers for me.
Kian frowns. “We know that. Maxon has had Nix and Zaria spying since we returned from the Evergreens.”
“Well, spying isn’t working!” I snap, magic whipping from my body creating a wave of tension in the air.
“Prince Alivar was here,” Tristan explains.
“Here? As in, this room?”
I grunt, plonking myself down on the sofa. “Fucker saw me naked.”
Kian’s eyes widen and he snaps his head to Tristan. “What the fuck, man?”
“I didn’t know he could portal into the bathroom. Did you?”
“The bathroom!? Maxon is going to kill us.”
I scowl at Kian as he approaches. “Where were you?”
Kian stops in his tracks. “Me?”
“Yes. Your room is down the hall, and that was an awfully long shower. Not saying you can’t take your time, but you seemed nervous when you walked in,” I state.
“I uhh . . . was occupied.”
“Doing what?”
Kian looks to Tristan pleadingly, and I glance between the two of them. Tristan lets out an exasperated sigh. “He was relieving some tension with a lady.”
“Oh.” My eyebrows raise, then it really clicks. “Oh . . . ”
Well, now, I feel stupid.
“Madeline cornered me, and–”
My eyes snap up, anger burning in the pit of my stomach and something like betrayal stings my insides. “Madeline?”
“Yes.” Kian looks at Tristan and Zaria, puzzled.
I don’t know why, but a feeling of dread or worry gnaws at my insides. Actually, I know why. Madeline is a power hungry, manipulative bitch. I know it. They know it. She locked me up and tried to hurt me when I had done nothing to her. Though, even she couldn’t have known what locking me in a cupboard would do. She is cruel and cold. How could he want to sleep with her? Didn’t he himself say she is a snake?
“I see your face. It wasn’t like that. It was purely transactional.”
“Do you think she was keeping you distracted?” Zaria pipes up.
Is Madeline the traitor?
Kian opens his mouth and closes it, but Tristan gestures for him to continue.
“I don’t know. She has never shown an interest in me before, and she did seem pushy.”
My pulse quickens, and I leap to my feet. “She could be the traitor. We need to find her.”
Tristan appears in front of me. “Hold your horses. Let’s think about this. I need to speak with Nolan and the queen first before we approach Madeline.”
“Why?”
“Because if it is her, then we will need to go about this in the right way.”
Frustration wells up, and I can feel tears building in my eyes, making my nose burn. Nymeria and Anika circle around me and gently nudge me back toward the sofa. I drop down and rest my head in my hands.
“This sucks.”
“Here, this will help you relax,” Zaria offers, handing me a cup of herbal tea.
I bring it to my nose and sniff it.
“One of us will stay in here with you. Alivar has already portalled in once, nothing is stopping him from trying again.”
“Well, he saw I was mated, and he can’t claim me, so he should leave me alone, right?” I reply, taking a sip.
“Not necessarily. The mating bond can be broken, or there are ways around it. He could kill Maxon, though that would prove extremely difficult.”
“He wouldn’t though, right?” By the time the words are out, my heart is thundering in my chest.
“No, he wouldn’t do that,” Kian rushes to reassure me.
Tristan folds his arms. “The fact you are mated is only a hurdle, not a roadblock.”
“Well, that’s just great, isn’t it?” I reply, throwing my hands in the air.
“No, I don’t know if you were listening, but it is terrible.” Tristan eyes me as if I were a little crazy.
“I was being sarcastic, you douche.”
“Okay, I think Everly needs rest. Why don’t you two head out?” Zaria steps between us.
“That’s fine. I’m going to find Nolan and see if I can get in to see the queen.” Tristan squeezes my shoulder as he passes.
“Fine, but I’m sleeping in these clothes,” I reply.
“I will stay right here.” Kian plonks down on the sofa.
“Whatever,” I grumble.