5. Evelyn
5
Evelyn
T he murmur of voices from the grand living room drifted up the staircase as I descended.
I could hear Chad grumble something about vampires and dicks, clear as a bell, even from a distance.
It seemed my senses were sharpened beyond my regular witch capability.
The conversation halted the moment I stepped into Alister’s living room. The chandelier’s light felt like a spotlight trained on me and my unfurled wings. I tried to fold them back, but they had a mind of their own, fluttering nervously behind me.
Ryker’s jaw clenched and Chad…he just beamed.
“Whoa, these are wicked!” he exclaimed, his lighthearted voice cutting through my anxiety. “Little witch, you’ve got actual wings!”
He bounced off the plush sofa, where he’d been sprawled, and circled me like a curious puppy.
“Can you fly too, or are they just for show?”
His fingers brushed against the delicate membrane of my wings without warning, sending a jolt of sensations through my body. Heat surged through me, and a moan escaped my lips.
“Chad!” I gasped out, as he continued to brush my wings. “I—”
“This part is truly stunning,” he interrupted, oblivious to my rising arousal. “And this seems to connect…”
My knees buckled, and the world spun—a flare of pleasure bursting from where his touch sparked against my wings. I clenched my jaw, trying to stay upright, to stay in control.
“Chad!” I gasped out, half-warning, half-pleading. I didn’t need to look at him to know he was clueless, probably thinking he’d found the witchy equivalent of a dog’s sweet spot.
“Did I—oh crap, sorry! Did that hurt?” His hand retracted, but the damage was done. My body shuddered, and I climaxed.
Loudly.
Right there in front of everyone.
“Did you just fucking come? Little witch…fuck, you smell delicious,” he said as he nuzzled me from behind.
I could only groan, trying hard not to notice the smoldering looks of the others in the room.
I stared at the floor, wishing it could open up and swallow me whole, but it seemed that wasn’t one of my newfound abilities.
Goddess, could this get any more mortifying?
Rafe was the only one who looked as uncomfortable as I felt, staring at the ceiling. Poor guy, he’d probably have a sore neck tonight with all that ceiling gazing he’s been doing today.
Alister cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention, but his eyes were on Chad and they were not friendly. “Could you get your dirty paws off my wife?” he snapped.
I blinked, the afterglow of pleasure fading fast.
Alister’s deep blue eyes were turning red, simmering with fury. It was the first time I saw this side of him—the monster peeking beneath the refined aristocrat.
Chad stepped back, his brow furrowed in confusion—a lost puppy. “Your wife? But what about the Snowfall Ball, our kiss, and our harem?”
Our harem?
“Err,” I started eloquently, then cleared my throat. “It turns out my magic was bound, and that binding also tied me to him.” I pointed at Alister. “He struck a deal with my parents, so now he thinks I’m his property.”
I could feel Ryker looming near me, his presence a heavyweight.
“Alister took advantage of Evelyn’s distress last night and tricked her,” Rafe added, not helping the tension that had ratcheted up, now suffocating, as realization dawned on their faces.
“Tricked?” Ryker’s voice was a low growl, barely contained.
“Yep, hoodwinked, bamboozled, the full monty,” I said, my attempt at humor failing miserably.
And that’s when all hell broke loose.
Everyone was shouting, closing in around me, and I did what I did best—I ignited into flames.
“Fuck.” Alister recoiled, as he nursed a singed hand, which was rapidly healing.
“Oops, sorry.”
Not sorry!
But Chad and Ryker remained unscathed by the flames licking around me.
“Looks like our animals have something in common with you—they love fire,” Chad quipped.
Once my flames were out, Ryker removed his hoodie and wrapped the sleeves around my neck to cover my front. My ass, however, was still completely exposed, but I guess…priorities.
Then Chad decided to show rather than tell.
He stripped down to his boxers without a hint of shyness and shifted. His form blurred, and where the happy-go-lucky guy once stood, a massive dog appeared.
Not just any dog—a beast with fur as dark as midnight and eyes glowing red like embers.
I couldn’t help but squeal. “I knew it! You are such a puppy!”
“Evelyn, that’s no puppy,” Lucien interjected, his voice laced with warning. “That’s a hellhound. They’re vicious and extremely dangerous.”
I scoffed, dismissing the caution in his tone. “Please, he’s—”
But as Chad advanced, a predatory glint appeared in those red eyes. I hesitated. This wasn’t the Chad I knew. This creature moved with deadly grace, muscles rippling under the dark fur.
My heart skipped a beat, my confidence wavering.
Suddenly, he pounced, pinning me beneath him. He licked my face, making me laugh.
“Ah, that’s gross,” I giggled, but then his canines bared and extended toward my throat.
I froze.
“Chad, no!” Ryker’s shout echoed through the room.
In a second, Chad was airborne, crashing into the opposite wall with a resounding thud. He lay there for a moment before shifting back, looking sheepish as he rubbed the back of his head.
“Sorry, little witch,” Chad mumbled as he stood, brushing himself off. “It seems my beast wanted a bite.”
I scrambled to my feet with Ryker’s helping hand.
A bite? Like a snack?
He glanced at me apologetically. “It won’t happen again.”
“It’s okay, Chad…” I started to say, but then my eyes drifted downward.
Holy Goddess.
Chad was completely naked and hard.
I couldn’t stop staring.
“Like what you see, little witch?” he teased.
“Dick!” I squeaked, “I mean what?”
“For fuck’s sake,” Lucien cursed, drawing my attention back to the matter at hand. “We have more pressing issues than Chad’s control problems…and, apparently, his dick. Can you fucking put your pants back on?”
“Calm down, old man,” Chad said, grabbing his pants.
“I’m not even thirty. I’m far from old…and it’s Lucien,” the potion master corrected, his eye twitching with annoyance.
“Okay, Lucy,” Chad winked at him, then grinned at me mischievously.
After things calmed down, Chad got dressed, and I went upstairs to change into another pair of sweats and a cardigan.
I knew it was time to share my secrets.
I glanced around at my friends, taking a deep breath. We were all sitting on the lush sofas—Alister and Chad on either side of me, Rafe and Lucien facing us, while Ryker occupied the large armchair next to Chad.
Here goes nothing.