by K.N. Lee
“Okay.” She turned on the water and grabbed her toothbrush while the shower heated up. “Let’s meet tomorrow at the bookstore when my shift is over. We can talk then.”
“Fine. Won’t you let me take you to dinner after? Show you off a little.”
“You want to show me off?” Evie stared at her reflection.
Gray eyes with flecks of hazel looked back at her from beneath her glasses. She shared much of her looks with her father.
Evie sighed at her reflection, missing her father at that moment. A lock of white hair stood out against her black hair. No matter what, she’d never been able to dye that lock to match the rest of her head. Instead it had stood out for as long as she could remember. There were pictures of her as a baby with that white lock.
The taunts of ignorant children had followed her from elementary school to college.
“Why wouldn’t I? You’re beautiful.”
Hearing those words washed away all of her bad memories about her self-image. Evie hid her grin and started brushing her teeth.
“You sure you aren’t embarrassed to be seen with me?”
“Now that’s possibly the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said to me. Of course not. I love you.”
Evie’s heart soared at hearing those words. She’d never get tired of hearing them come from his lips.
“I love you more,” she said in a soft voice.
“Not possible.”
She giggled, loving how open he was about his feelings. “Good reply.”
He made her feel safe even though he was merely human. Sometimes that’s all she needed, a human companion to make her feel normal when she was far from it.
Parker came into the bathroom and stood behind her. He grabbed her by her waist and pressed her naked bottom to the front of his pants. He groaned.
“Come on, Evie. One more time.”
Evie rinsed her mouth of toothpaste and grinned at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He kissed her throat and her eyes fluttered closed. Every touch sent hot tingles along her skin. She began to calculate how long it would take her to drive to Hastings-Albrecht University if she left just a little later.
She enjoyed the feel of his mouth on her neck. He sucked her earlobe, making her eyes flutter closed.
“Fine,” she breathed. “One more time.”
ADELAIDE HUMMED AN old French song as she walked down the winding staircase to the landing. It was almost eight o’clock in the morning, and Evie’s mother already wore a long black dress, and had her hair styled in long glossy blonde waves that hung down to her tiny waist.
Evie glanced up at her and frowned. Was it normal to envy your mother? Why didn’t she get those beautiful Nordic looks?
Evie crossed her arms as she stood before the door. She’d almost made it out of the house without her mother catching her and Parker.
Parker’s eyes went from Evie to Adelaide, and back.
Busted, his eyes said to her.
He cleared his throat.
“Good morning, Mrs. Scarlett,” he said.
Adelaide nodded at him, a tight smile on her lips as she looked him up and down.
“Good morning, Parker. You’re here early enough. Aren’t you?”
Evie cringed, but Parker gave her a charming smile. It was just like him to charm when they were caught breaking the rules.
“I hope that’s not a problem? Evie and I had some studying to do.”
Evie hid her grin.
Studying the art of anatomy.
“Well, you do know I am not fond of visitors without my permission.”
Evie sucked her teeth. "I am an adult, and I live here too. What is it that you need?"
The corners of Adelaide's mouth curled into a tight smile. "And hello to you too, sweet daughter of mine. Have a good day, Parker. I need to borrow Evie for a moment.”
Sighing, Evie turned to Parker. She shook her head as she looked at him. “Come get me from the library before lunch.” She stretched up to kiss him on the lips. “Be safe, baby.”
“You too,” he said and he waved at Adelaide before leaving. He walked around the corner of the house to the second garage to get into his car.
Evie stood in the doorway, watching him drive down the long driveway in his black Dodge Challenger.
“I haven't seen you in what feels like forever. Where have you been hiding?"
"You know where I’ve been."
Adelaide nodded. "You’re right. I do. You’ve been shacking up with that Drake boy at his house… and ours apparently."
"What do you need?"
"I sense some attitude. Are things going well with you and the Drake boy?"
Evie uncrossed her arms. "Stop that. You know Parker isn't a boy. And yes. He's fine."
Adelaide walked to stand before her. She opened her arms, expecting Evie to embrace her.
Evie caught the hint and hugged her briefly. She loved her mother but the woman could drive her crazy like no other. She’d always been overly protective and nosy, but stingy with any show of affection.
It drove her crazy. During family vacations she made Evie call her by her name and pretend that they were sisters.
"You two have been close since the day you met in kindergarten.” Adelaide looked off for a moment. “I should have put you in private school like Wesley.”
Evie pursed her lips, annoyed. “Woodland Pond Grammar School was just fine.”
“I suppose it was sufficient,” Adelaide said, pulling a strand of hair from Evie’s face. “He's a handsome boy. I’ll give him that. Do you think he is the one?”
There. She did it again. Evie almost shouted at her that Parker wasn't a boy once again.
Turning around, Evie shrugged, keeping her face unreadable. "I don't know."
Liar.
Parker had always been the one.
One day she would marry him, but there was no way she could tell her mother that. Not now.
"Tell me the truth, Evie.”
"Why do you care? Wes and Olivia will give you grandchildren soon."
"You’re my daughter. I love you. I want to make sure you don’t make a mistake."
"I'm an adult. Do I have to tell you everything going on in my life?"
Adelaide's smile faded. Her blue eyes held Evie's, making her suddenly wish she hadn’t just said that.
"Yes. You do," Adelaide said. "Shame on me for caring about your safety."
"What are you talking about?" Evie felt a warning in her gut. She'd never heard her mother talk like that.
My safety?
What did she know? Evie never told anyone about her nightmares. She almost shivered as they stood there in the darkness of the foyer.
Why did she always want it so dark in the house? And now she seemed to be waiting in the shadows to catch Evie disobeying her rules.
Moving in with Parker was sounding better each moment she stood there under her mother’s judging eyes.
“Well?”
Adelaide stepped past her, brushing Evie’s cheek with a warm thumb before stopping at the front door. She opened it and stepped outside into the cool morning.
"Come with me, Evie."
Evie was hesitant. She watched Adelaide's slim frame stand on the front porch that wrapped around both sides of Scarlett Hall. She looked like a model in a painting just then. The lush green landscape before her was beautiful, the pond standing between her and the forest that wrapped around the property. In the midst of the scenery, Adelaide she stood out in an odd way.
Evie followed behind her. Her entire body tensed when she stood beside Adelaide and glanced at her face. She quickly looked away the moment she saw tears trailing down her cheeks.
She wanted to ask her what was wrong, but she chose silence. Her mother had her way about things, and would tell her in her own time.
"Do you want to know a secret? One that I was too afraid to even tell your father?"
Evie glanced at her. Adelaide’s tears streamed now. Now she had to kn
ow.
Sighing, she wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist. Evie rested her head on her shoulder. They hadn’t embraced like that since her father’s funeral only a week ago.
“Yes. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Adelaide tilted Evie’s chin up so that she could peer into her eyes.
Evie swallowed. Her mother’s blue eyes looked especially bright and eerie in that moment.
"Then come with me and I will tell you everything."
THE TREES SEEMED to sway to Adelaide’s stride as they entered the forest that surrounded Scarlett Hall. Sometimes she reminded Evie of an ethereal creature from a fairy tale; tall, beautiful, and lithe.
The world couldn’t touch her.
When Adelaide took off her shoes, Evie peered at her, curiosity on her face.
“Take off your shoes.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Leave them by that tree, beside mine.”
Her mother sauntered through the grass barefoot, her hips swaying with each delicate footstep.
Evie stood there, staring with her mouth parted, the lines in her forehead creasing.
What is going on here?
Evie took her boots off, and now her feet squelched along wet leaves, mud, and tiny twigs.
Evie kept her hands in her cardigan’s pockets. The further they went into the forest, the more she knew she wouldn’t make it to her first class at all.
“Don’t you feel it, Evie?”
Evie looked at Adelaide’s back. She thought a moment, wondering if she felt anything different. Truth was, she did.
She sucked in a breath of the cool sweet air, trying to make sense of the sensations that washed over her as they went deeper and deeper into the forest. They went so deep that the canopy of leaves above started to block out most of the sun. It almost felt like the evening even though it was only eight o’clock in the morning.
“I guess so,” Evie said, frowning at whatever strange sensation she felt. A strong urge to stop overcame her. She wanted to rest her head on the tall green grass, close her eyes, and forget about the world.
She didn’t like it.
“Good. Come take my hand.”
Adelaide turned around and held out her hands for Evie. Evie pulled in a long breath, filling her lungs, and stepped closer so that she could hold Adelaide’s hands.
Her hands were cold, so cold that Evie pulled away in shock.
“What the hell, mom? Your hands feel like ice.”
Adelaide snatched her hands back to her. “Your hands aren’t any warmer, Evie. Stop being a baby and hold on for just a moment.”
Frowning, Evie did as she was told. Soon her face paled as their hands began to heat, making her entire body warm up.
“See?”
She looked up to see Adelaide smiling.
“Yeah,” she said. “You have too many tricks up your sleeve.”
“Perhaps,” Adelaide said. “But you do too.”
Evie tensed, looking around the clearing as if she’d see someone hiding in the bushes, watching them.
“Don’t you?”
“What are you talking about? You know I can read minds and identify those with magic.”
“That’s what I wanted to bring you out here for, sweetie. You might have more than that inside of you.”
Evie tried to take her hands free from her mother’s. Her glasses started to fog. Adelaide wouldn’t let her go.
“Stop trying to resist. You always shied away from your powers. I want you to embrace them.”
“I’m not trying to resist. I just want to clear my glasses.”
Adelaide sighed. She closed her eyes and blew on Evie’s lenses, freeing them of the fog with one breath.
“Better?”
Evie gave a single nod. “What did you bring me out here for? It’s creeping me out.”
“Like I said. I wanted to tell you a secret, one that I kept from you for far too long, but might soon come in handy.”
A whistling sound came from somewhere far off, like an owner calling for their dog. Evie’s face paled.
“I’m scared. Let’s go home.”
Adelaide held steady, but smoothed the tops of Evie’s hands with her fingers.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Mommy will always protect you.”
Evie stilled. She looked into her mother’s eyes and saw the truth in them. Adelaide might get on her nerves at time, but she loved her and would do anything to keep her safe.
“I know,” Evie said, ignoring the sounds she started to hear around them. She kept her eyes focused on her mother, which kept her calm. “I’m listening.”
“Good,” Adelaide said.
A brief moment of silence passed before Adelaide seemed to gain the courage needed to tell Evie why they were there.
“I am not a wizard. I never was.”
Evie shook her head. “What?”
She must have heard her wrong. She’d seen her mother do things that no one else could do unless they had magic.
Adelaide’s brows furrowed. “I only let your father believe that I was because I loved him…and because he hates shifters.”
Evie’s eyes widened. Memories of her mother’s powers flooded her mind. She always thought they were odd, but each wizard was unique in their own way. If she wasn’t a wizard, how could she move things with her mind?
“Don’t tell me you’re a shifter.”
“Yes. I am a shifter and have always been.”
“But,” Evie closed her eyes, thinking. “I’ve seen you move things with your mind before. You’ve used magic. What kind of shifter does that?”
Adelaide smiled. “All good questions,” she said. Then she looked down.
Evie’s eyes followed and she let out a loud yelp when she saw that the ground was far below them, and that they hovered in the air.
She opened her mouth in awe, seeing birds whiz by.
That explains the whistling sound. How did I miss floating in the air?
“I won’t let you fall,” Adelaide said and let Evie’s hands go.
Evie let out another yelp, expecting to fall to her death. Her heart pounded in her chest. Instead of falling, she hovered there in the air with her mother.
“What is happening?” Evie covered her mouth and looked around in awe.
Adelaide nodded, chuckling. “I was right. You may have your father’s looks, but you have an equal amount of my power inside of you.”
“Your power?”
“You’ve inherited both sides.”
Evie held her arms out as a breeze flew around her. Her hair whipped around her face.
“What do you mean?” Evie tried to keep her breathing calm. The air was so crisp and light. Soon she began enjoying being up there.
It felt like home.
Adelaide twirled in the air, the skirt of her black dress seemingly dancing in sync with her long blonde hair. She flashed a smile at Evie.
“I always knew you were more like me than you let on.”
“How?” Evie’s body floated along the breeze, and before she knew it she gave a hesitant twirl.
Glorious.
“Because you’re a Gryphon,” Adelaide replied. “Just like mommy.”
Evie’s face paled. She remembered her dream. Could that be why she saw the Gryphon last night?
Tilting her head, Evie peered at her mother through squinted eyes.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
Adelaide folded her arms across her chest. She looked down, shoulders slumping.
She looked vulnerable. Evie didn’t like it. She resisted repeating the question.
When her mother turned her back on her, Evie wrung her hands in worry.
“Evie,” she said. “Things are going to get worse here before they get better. I told you this because I want you to be able to defend yourself.”
“Against what? The Prince family is gone.”
“In case something happens to Wes or I.”
“What would ha
ppen to you?”
Adelaide turned back to her, her eyes hooded with guilt. “Your brother and I have done some things that could affect you.”
Evie frowned. “Like what?”
She wanted to go back to land. The conversation made her uncomfortable, and yet the sky seemed to hold her steady. It seemed as though a new secret came out each day.
“Let’s just say that we eliminated those that pose a threat to our family.”
Swallowing, Evie covered her mouth with a cold hand. Her words came out breathlessly. “What did you do?”
Adelaide shrugged. “We did what we did to protect you.”
Evie watched in awe as her mother flew down without another word.
Evie hovered in the air, welcoming the sun’s rays warming her neck. Still, chill in her blood remained.
What has my family done?
THE PICTURE WAS beautifully drawn. The Gryphon was a majestic creature, revered in mythology from cultures all over the world.
Learning that they were real thrilled Evie.
Now it made sense why this creature kept appearing in her dreams.
Her stomach was unsettled. What Adelaide had revealed to her wouldn’t leave the forefront of her mind. Even though her family was in the middle of so much drama, this new revelation took precedence. All she wanted to do was go outside and find a secluded area where she could fly free once again.
Never reveal your ability.
Never fly around humans.
Always stash clothes where you can find them.
Adelaide had told her as much as she could in the short amount of time they had. So much information about her shifter side, and nothing about what she and Wes had done to protect her.
I’ll find out…in my own way.
She was good at that.
Father hated shifters, and so it made sense why her mother lied.
But now Evie knew why she felt the way she did. That empty hole was now filled. She could fly, in her human form or as a Gryphon.
Adelaide had tried to get her to shift, but Evie wasn’t quite ready. She’d rather enjoy the benefits without having to be a creature of myths and legends.
Lazy was what Adelaide had called her when she refused to shift.
Practical was what Evie had called herself in defense.