11. Evelyn
11
Evelyn
A fter wishing my friends a nice break, I made my way back to the mansion, Lucien trailing not too far behind me.
As soon as we crossed the iron fence marking Alister’s property, Lucien stepped up beside me.
I shrugged off my jacket, not wanting to damage it—it was far too beautiful for that. Once Lucien removed the cuffs, I could breathe again. My magic surged through me like a river breaking free from a dam. My wings erupted from the backless dark dress. Since unlocking my lineage powers, the cold didn’t bother me as much. I was also starting to enjoy having a pair of wings.
“Thank you,” I murmured to Lucien, as my wings flapped as if stretching. “And I’m sorry you have to go to the Yuletide Party at my coven because of me. Don’t you want to spend the holidays with your family?”
Lucien gave a small shrug. “I had planned to stay at the academy, anyway. Adrien will return for a day or two, but sometimes I stay behind. Plus, I have the extra credit classes to teach.”
“Yeah, thanks for that, by the way. Exactly what I need right now. More classes.” I nudged him playfully.
Taking a deep breath, I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes.
What a day.
My hands covered my face as I took a deep, calming breath. Carefully, Lucien’s arms wrapped around me in a surprising gesture of comfort. For a few moments, I relaxed in his arms as his chin rested on my head, and his chest pressed gently against my wings.
The sound of chattering shattered the moment. Lucien released me and stepped away.
Glancing back, I saw Chad and Ryker heading towards us.
“You should have stayed away,” I said as they arrived beside us.
Chad shook his head, his light brown hair catching the light. “That was never an option. We’ll always look out for you.”
Before I could protest further, Ryker stepped forward and scooped me into his arms as if I weighed nothing, careful not to touch my wings.
“I can walk,” I insisted with a huff, but who was I kidding—being in Ryker’s large arms was nice.
He just grunted something unintelligible and started toward the mansion. His grip was firm, but not uncomfortable. His nose tickled my neck as he inhaled deeply, his body shuddering.
As we reached the front steps, Rafe and Alister stood waiting at the door. As soon as we were all inside, Ryker set me down on the plush sofa and then turned to the others.
“We have a problem,” he said in his low, grave voice.
Ryker spoke so infrequently that everyone froze and gaped at him.
“That woman, Morgana. I’ve seen her before…with my father,” he explained.
“Your father as in the leader of the Shifter gang?” I asked.
He nodded. “I’ve seen her only once. But it was definitely her.”
We were all stunned into silence for a moment, processing what Ryker had just revealed.
Morgana had ties to the notorious Shifter gang.
My mind reeled at the implications.
“When did you see her with your father?” I asked.
Ryker’s dark eyes met mine. There was something undeniably captivating about him—a dark, lethal kind of beauty. He was the top shifter for a reason, a predator whose intensity always made me feel like his very own prey, but one he would cherish and protect…and most likely ravage.
Ravage away, big guy…Wait, what?
“Right before the beginning of term at the end of summer break.”
“This is indeed bigger than we first anticipated,” Alister said gravely. “If Morgana is working with the Shifters, there’s no telling what they’re up to.”
“What would Morgana want with the Shifters?” I asked. “She always thought them inferior.” I looked at Chad and Ryker, quickly adding, “No offense, I completely disagree with her, obviously.”
“None taken,” Chad said with a small smile, while Ryker just gave a curt nod.
“What does your father normally deal with?” Lucien asked Ryker.
Ryker stared at Lucien. “Nothing good.”
“So what’s our next move?” Chad asked.
“I can try to get some information from my father during the break,” Ryker offered. “He’s been insisting I take up more responsibilities.”
“Good idea,” Alister said, then turned to Lucien. “You and I can do some digging of our own. See if we can find any dealings of Morgana that look suspicious.”
“I need to learn how to control my newfound powers,” I said. “There is no way I am ever wearing those cuffs again, especially at the Yuletide Party. There will be elders there, and they’ll want to investigate why they can’t feel my magic. Plus, they’ll notice the cuffs.”
“Yes,” Lucien said, “we’ll continue with the training. The good news is that we have a few more days until then.”
“I’ll continue to work with you, Evelyn,” Rafe said.
I smiled at him before turning to the potion master. “Lucien, you are aware that I’m not the only one who needs to practice, right?”
“What do you mean?”
Smirking as I looked at the others, I said, “Miss Clarissa seems rather fond of Lucien.”
Alister’s eyes narrowed. “Interested how?”
Lucien cleared his throat. “It seems Evelyn’s matriarch wants to recruit me to join their ranks.”
“And Miss Clarissa seems to want to recruit him to her bed,” I teased.
He glared at me. “I have no intention…”
I raised my hand. “I know. I wouldn’t ask that of you, especially not with her.”
“Why not?” Alister asked.
I glanced at him with a frown. “Do you care to volunteer?”
“It’s not me she’s after. Besides I’m married.”
I rolled my eyes.
Alister’s expression hardened. “And I’d most likely snap her neck in two seconds flat after what she did to you.”
I blinked a few times at his bluntness, but it quickly faded. Miss Clarissa deserved nothing less.
“Lucien needs to learn how to shield his mind from her powers. I had months to learn it, so I’m going to teach him.” I glanced around thoughtfully. “Maybe you should all learn it too since she might try to manipulate your thoughts if she knows you’re protecting me.”
Chad rubbed the back of his head. “I won’t be here for a few days. I need to check on my brothers and my dad. But you can teach me when I get back.”
I nodded at him. “Of course, I’m not expecting you to stay just because I’m here. You have family to visit.”
“But I feel bad about leaving you alone,” he protested.
“She’s not alone,” Alister interjected. “I’m here. Rafe and Lucien will also be visiting often.”
“Are you going to keep living here?” Chad asked. “Or will you go back to the dorms?”
“I can’t go back until I have my new powers under control,” I said.
“And it’s not safe,” Alister added. Folding his arms, he continued, “Besides, I had planned to offer you the coolest job once you got back.”
Chad perked up. “What do you mean?”
“Evelyn needs someone to look after her when she’s at the academy. So, you’d be her bodyguard after the winter break.”
Chad grinned and gave me a wink. “You got it, boss. I’ll be the best bodyguard our girl could ask for.”
“But Chad,” Alister added with a dark glint in his eyes, the monster in him peeking out, “be sure to keep your clothes on at all times, or you might find that appendage of yours no longer attached to your body.”
Chad swallowed hard, then looked at me. “I think he likes me.”
I rolled my eyes and huffed a laugh.
Alister stepped forward, his gaze locking onto mine. “I hired a cook,” he announced. “You must be starving. Come, let’s eat.”
I blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift from appendage removal to lunch plans. Before I could respond, Chad and Ryker approached.
“Time for us to head out, little witch,” Chad said, as I stood from the sofa and he lifted me off the ground in a long hug. “Take care of yourself, alright? I’ll be back soon.”
Ryker nodded curtly, his dark eyes boring into mine as if he were committing my face to memory. “Stay safe,” he muttered before turning and following Chad out the door.
With them gone, Alister motioned for Rafe, Lucien, and me to follow him to the dining room. I trailed behind them, my mind still buzzing with the recent revelations and plans. The aroma of food wafted through the hallway, making my stomach growl in response.
The dining room was grand, with plates of steaming food already laid out, and the cook—a petite human woman with graying hair—gave us a polite nod before retreating to the kitchen.
Lucien took his seat first. “Impressive.”
Rafe sat next to him, his wings folded neatly behind him as he reached for a slice of bread. “It smells wonderful.”
Alister took his place at the head of the table and gestured for me to sit beside him. “Eat,” he prompted me with a proud smile. “You need your strength.”
I nodded as I noticed the lack of a plate in front of him. There was only a large opaque goblet of his own with what I’d assume to be his meal.
I lowered myself into the chair, my eyes scanning the various dishes—roasted vegetables, grilled meats, fresh bread—each more tempting than the last. Despite my turmoil, I couldn’t deny how hungry I was.
As we began to eat in silence, the tension in my shoulders slowly eased. The food was delicious—almost as amazing as Lucien’s, though I must admit I was a bit biased. He had kept us fed, cooking in Alister’s grand kitchen and ordering enormous amounts of pizza for everyone. For some reason, this place was starting to feel like home, especially when we gathered at the table to share a meal.