9. Evelyn
9
Evelyn
I t had been four days since Theo had passed away. Fortunately, Alister had friends in high places, so I knew that his body had been discharged from the coroner and was now being prepared for the funeral. Yet, it seemed that the SLEA had no suspects, and there were no other witnesses who could shed more light on what had happened to him since he left the party and I found him.
I kept an eye on the academy group chats. There were all sorts of gossip and wild theories. Yet what transpired more was the grief over Theo’s sudden death and the fear that it could happen to someone else. So much so that the Academy had to release a statement and install a few more security cameras around the campus. They also had a group of professors reinforcing the warding. Some families even went as far as sending talismans to protect their kids from black magic.
Despite everything that was happening, I didn’t feel alone. For the first time since my rebirth, I felt safe and cared for. My bedroom, with its unicorn wallpaper, had become a sanctuary, and the five men, who had become my allies and friends, provided a sense of home.
Events had changed unexpectedly, with my enemies attacking ahead of schedule. Luckily, my newfound powers would be useful—once I learned how to control them, that is.
I didn’t have time to mourn or hide inside my bedroom. The world outside was waiting, and I had to face it.
Seeing my determination, Rafe, Alister, and Lucien took it upon themselves to help me.
Chad had also volunteered but was quickly banished due to his constant chatter which made Lucien’s eye twitch uncontrollably. Ryker, on the other hand, had to take care of some work for his father. He wasn’t versed in magic, so there wasn’t much he could do.
The first day of my training dragged on in a haze of frustration as I wrestled with my new abilities. Alister’s constant reminders, Rafe’s soothing tones, and Lucien’s stern instructions blended into a background hum that was slowly driving me insane.
I’d like to see them try to control something that felt completely alien but somehow attached to your body and did not cooperate—all the while trying not to embarrass myself because I felt like I might faint from the effort.
“Focus,” Alister’s deep voice sliced through my wandering thoughts like a knife.
I inhaled deeply, the weight of my wings pressing down on my back. They shimmered behind me, their gleam almost taunting.
“I’m trying,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Try harder,” Lucien muttered before stepping out to attend to his other duties.
His “encouragement” was as welcome as a fart in an elevator.
My hand twitched with the urge to flip him off, but I resisted, settling for a glare.
At least they were starting to get along…Too bad their newfound unity meant all their focus was on me.
Rafe moved closer. His voice was calming as always. “Evelyn, imagine a place where you feel at peace.”
Right. Focusing on peace while surrounded by intense, gorgeous males breathing down your neck? Yeah, that’s totally how meditation works.
I huffed, then took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind.
My thoughts wandered to the serene room upstairs with its unicorn wallpaper—a fragment of my lost childhood. The memory was so vivid I could almost smell the faint scent of lavender that always lingered there.
Slowly, the wings settled, their glow dimming.
Rafe nodded approvingly. “Good. Control comes with focus.”
I wanted to snap back, but I knew he was right. This was no time for arguments or resentment.
My phone buzzed with messages from Adrien and the twins. I sighed, typing out a quick excuse. With wings sprouting unpredictably, a hangout was out of the question.
Lucien also wanted to keep his younger brother out of this mess.
Hours passed in a blur of attempts and failures. My control over the wings improved slightly but remained tenuous at best. Then there were my flames, which seemed to ignite whenever I got a little too “emotional”.
Alister pointed that out at one point.
I kindly reminded him that telling a female, supernatural or otherwise, that she is being “emotional” is not a great survival strategy.
You’d think an ancient vampire would know better.
At the end of the second day, my body felt leaden, and my emotions were frayed and raw from the relentless strain. The room seemed to close in, the air felt thick with the mixed scents of sweat and frustration.
At the end of the third day, Rafe’s hand rested gently on my shoulder, a small comfort amidst the chaos.
“You did well today.”
I offered a tired smile in return. “Thanks.” But we both knew I didn’t.
Theo’s funeral was going to be held the next day at the academy’s campus. Everybody who was anybody was coming to attend. After all, Theo’s family was wealthy and held considerable influence in the supernatural community. On top of that, our Matriarch would be leading the ceremony—a privilege reserved for the most elite witch families.
The thought of facing Morgana made my stomach churn. The very air seemed to grow colder at the prospect.
How in hell was I going to face her?