by Rachel Jonas
She stood in silence at first, but then opened her mouth and addressed the people.
Her people.
“Good evening,” she began, her voice sounding small. “I know most of you don’t really know who I am, but my name’s Evie. My father’s name was Noah and he was ruler of the original lycan clan that haled from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. I haven’t lived here long, but … this place is home to me just as much as it is to the rest of you. For a long time, I wasn’t sure what brought me to Seaton Falls, but I eventually came to realize that … it was fate. Destiny.” She paused and glanced around the crowd, meeting the gazes that stared back at her. “So many worked in secret to keep my identity hidden—even from me for a while,” she joked, managing a smile despite her nerves.
“They worked to protect me and ensure the Sovereign didn’t know I existed, because … my family’s a threat to him. I am a threat to him, to all he’s built, to the fear he’s trained us all to have toward him. Fear … not respect.”
She paused to gather herself, discreetly reaching for my hand.
“I’m sure that, like me, you’re all tired of your lives being ruled by a tyrant. One who’s all too willing to bring down his iron fist on anyone who dares to think for themselves, anyone who dares to say enough is enough, anyone who dares to put themselves and their families first. But … isn’t that what being a clan is about? Sensing the needs of the ones you love and pulling together as a community?”
The collective expressions of the people were beginning to shift. They were no longer confused as to why they’d been asked to come tonight. Before them, they witnessed a scared girl emerging as a queen.
And so did I.
“Once we defeat Sebastian—and we will defeat him—we’ll step into a new day. Together,” she declared. “From there forward, we will all be free.”
A few cheers from the back spread forward until the entire crowd came alive.
“Yes, once we’ve dethroned the Sovereign and I’ve stepped into his place, there will still be order, but above all else there will be peace and fairness. I promise you that. Another vow I’m making to you here and now is that there will be no secrets wrapped in the guise of acting in your best interest. We will operate in the open with ample opportunity for each and every one of you to be heard.”
There were more shouts and applause. This time, it went on for a bit and Evangeline had to wait for them to quiet down again. She’d hit a nerve. It became abundantly clear that this was one of their most prominent issues—being shuffled around like pawns, having no say when big decisions were made that affected them all.
“It’s actually in the spirit of full disclosure that you were asked to come here today,” Evangeline continued. “We’ve come into information that could have already affected us all, or will in the very near future. There’s a chance the Sovereign has found a way to tap into the Elders’ thoughts, a way to steal all our secrets, our defense strategy.”
The sound of panicked whispers floated up from the crowd, but Evangeline didn’t let it shake her.
“We only found out earlier this morning and wanted you all to know as soon as possible. And it is because of the Elders unknowingly being compromised that we must ask that you all no longer go to them with questions or to share personal information. Because, essentially, when you do this, you may as well be whispering those things right into the Sovereign’s ear.”
I watched her, noting how the timid voice she began this speech with was now gone. She spoke with confidence and they responded to that. Although the news she delivered was scary in too many ways to count, the people were not afraid because she was not afraid.
“We have to rely on each other more than we ever have. My family is here to help in any way we can, so please bring your concerns to us instead of the Elders and High Council. At least until we win this fight. As your future queen,” she said with poise, “you have my word we’ll do everything we can to ensure this clan arises victorious.”
And just like that, by being exactly who she is, with no false airs or promises, she won the hearts of the people.
Declan, Ethan, and the others, moved into position, each stopping at one armory chest at a time. They opened them, inviting the clan to approach and take what they needed.
The sound of their applause and approval carried through the woods and there was no missing the look of pride on Elise’s face. She was the only one, other than me, who’d had hundreds of years to think of Evangeline, to wonder what potential she could have reached had she not lost her life. For that reason, seeing her coming into her own present day was a miracle. It was as though nothing had been stolen, only delayed.
“Was that too presidential?” Evangeline whispered into my ear with a laugh.
I placed a kiss on the side of her face before answering. “It was perfect.”
The hand she held was squeezed and I brought her close. It had been her call to go before the clan tonight and it was the right call.
Over the sound of ambient chatter, another sound caught my attention. It was the chirp of a walkie talkie. I turned, following the sound over my shoulder where Dallas had just lifted the device to listen.
“Dallas, got your ears on? Over,” a voice called out.
“I’m here. Over.”
“Yeah, uh … a couple of the guys noticed something strange over near the main road. It’s probably nothing, but they’re going to check it out. Until we have clearance, it might be best for everyone to clear the area. Over,” the guard suggested.
Right away, at the mention of there being a disturbance, my limbs and fists went rigid.
Dallas’ gaze locked with mine and I knew we were of the same mind. We weren’t willing to take any chances.
“Get Evie and Elise to the house safely,” he instructed, “The boys and I will help get everyone else along as quickly as we can, and then join the team to see if they can use our help.
I nodded and turned to Evangeline. My entire life was, literally, all wrapped in the flesh of one woman. A woman who was standing here in the open, vulnerable.
“We’ve gotta move,” I said, hearing the urgency in my own voice.
“Beth’s coming with us. Her parents aren’t here tonight,” Evangeline said in a rush, her eyes widening as she reached for her friend’s hand.
“Fine. We have to move quickly, though.”
Elise nodded in agreement, keeping close as we moved toward the house.
Behind us, Dallas could be heard giving orders. He was doing his best to encourage those who remained to grab whatever weapons they needed, and then to head home. He then advised those still displaced by the flood and dwelling in the surrounding woods to seek refuge within the gates of our property. With the announcement, a mass of bodies formed behind us.
Most were doing well to conceal the fear that suddenly struck, but others weren’t able to hide it. While, no, a threat hadn’t been confirmed, this town had seen enough tragedy to know it was best to run at the first sign of smoke instead of waiting for a fire.
“I should go help them,” Beth blurted, checking over her shoulder as chaos unfolded all around. “What if there really is something out there? The more manpower they have, the better, right?”
“The best thing any of us can do is follow the orders given by the guard,” I explained.
I didn’t want to feed the fight within her, but I could relate. It was unnatural for me to sit it out when comrades might need help, but it was even more unnatural to send Evangeline off alone. So, I forced myself to believe they had it under control, and kept walking.
But then we all stopped dead in our tracks, falling silent as we listened.
For a moment, I stood wondering if the sinister sound that emerged from the tree line was my imagination, but then a second unmistakable roar ripped through the air, confirming what I feared.
We weren’t alone out here … and whatever had once been content to watch and wait, was now rushing right toward us.
I
tightened my grip on Evangeline’s hand as her other quickly latched on to Beth’s arm. We ran—hard, fast, pressing harder as I think we all wished the house had been closer. While I had my doubts we’d be much safer inside the gate, I had to hope Hilda’s sigils would hold. Had to hope they were strong enough to keep the unwanted, uninvited guests out.
Because this hope was all I had.
Within seconds, the scene surrounding us was utter chaos. I couldn’t afford to look back.
“Elise, you’ll have to sprint ahead,” I called out. “Get the gate open. Otherwise, none of us will make it.”
She nodded, agreeing before her body partially ignited and she took off. We were still a good enough distance from the house for it to be nerve wracking. Only more so when a cry from somewhere off to the right stole our attention. Someone who’d been running with us seconds before was taken out. Another scream to the left ended abruptly with a loud crunch and the sound of blood spurting from a fatal wound.
One by one, lycans were picked off and our group was shrinking.
“Mutt!” Beth called out, alerting me mere milliseconds before the thing was on me.
I managed to release Evangeline’s hand just before being taken down to the ground. Deep gashes to my ribs from the things claws was the only damage I took before I ended the scuffle with a quick snap of its neck.
When I turned to search for Evangeline, I was grateful Beth had known to hold her back, only releasing her once I was on my feet and could take her hand.
We were on the move again. The encounter with the mutt had awakened the rage within me and both fists glowed red, heat spreading up my arms rapidly.
Arrows whizzed past our heads and the beat of heavy hooves came closer. Shadows weaved through the trees and my only thought was that I had to get her out of here, had to get her to safety if it was the last thing I did. The only plan I could come up with was to hide her.
All around us, the symphony of screams and death.
We were close, but they were closing in on us. A family of three had caught up and there was no missing the look of sheer terror on the father’s face as he all but dragged his wife and daughter toward the same mark we aimed for.
With the wind whipping against her face and through her hair, Evangeline turned, noticing them mere seconds after I had. She didn’t slow her pace, but she was clearly distracted. The dad’s gaze locked on her, too, and his dark skin creased where tension spread across his forehead. His wife’s pale cheeks were tinted red as she panted. Both clutched the hands of their little girl with tight, dark curls.
Looking at them, really looking at them, I understood why Evangeline had suddenly lost focus seeing this family.
They reminded her of her own.
She turned away, focusing straight ahead again, but I sensed that her energy had changed. Her thoughts were someplace else and I needed her to keep her head clear. We had to …
“Mommy!”
The shrill cry that burst into the air sent a chill down my spine. Beside us, the family of three had just become two as a dark horse galloped away. On it’s saddle, a lycan soldier with someone clutched beneath its arm.
And with the way the little girl screamed in horror, there was no guessing who that someone was.
“Mommy!” she cried out again.
Her father was clearly torn, his pace slowing as he struggled with two options—save my wife, or save my daughter.
My own heart ached with the difficult choice he faced.
“We have to do something,” Evangeline muttered. The words left her mouth on autopilot. In her mind, that was simply a fact—we had to do something.
Beth passed me a concerned glance, but said nothing. She, too, may have recognized the resemblance of the trio that had been running beside us. It was also possible she worried that it might prompt Evangeline to act rashly.
“There’s no time,” I urged, keeping her at my side as our feet pounded the soil.
If it’d just been me, I would have gone after the woman without a second thought, even if it cost me my own life. But I wasn’t as ready and willing to die for a stranger these days. Maybe because I finally had something to live for again.
“That little girl,” Evangeline reasoned, “she just watched her mother get snatched away, Liam! We can’t just let that happen.”
There was so much conviction in her tone, it could be felt. Her heart was big, sometimes to a fault, but … this felt like more than that. This felt personal. Like, seeing the girl’s mother being taken away had hit a little too close to home.
Which was the only plausible reason I could conceive for what she did next.
The warmth of her hand in mine left so quickly I hardly had time to process it. However, my heart wasn’t so slow to react. It raced as I held my breath and watched her take off in the wrong direction.
Toward danger.
Chapter Fourteen
Liam
“Evangeline!”
She didn’t respond and there was no time to think. Instead, my body simply reacted, going up in flames as I leapt into the air, bursting into flight. I thought I might stand a better chance of getting a visual on where she’d taken off to.
I couldn’t lose her.
Not again.
Mutts were everywhere. Even more than I first realized. I called out to her again, but there was no diverting this mission of hers.
Not when I was certain she’d imposed her own experiences, her own emotions and loss on this little girl who was about to lose her mother.
An arrow whizzed past and I dodged it at the last moment, hearing another half a second later. Things were heating up and I tried not to think of what an ugly turn they’d taken. Tried not to think of how, in a matter of seconds, our night had gone from the extreme high of a successful rally, to … this.
Just beneath me, Beth moved at top speed, hurdling obstacles in the underbrush, pushing as hard as she could to catch up to Evangeline. If I hadn’t known the measure of her loyalty before, I would have now, seeing how she was nearly as desperate to end this chase as I was.
This had to end.
And fast.
I focused, keeping an eye on Evangeline through the trees, seeing only her silhouette as she gained on the intended target. A target I prayed she never reached. If she did, if the soldier wasn’t willing to relinquish the woman … it wouldn’t end well.
Bright light to the east made my eyes dart that way, spotting the distinct outline of wings engulfed in flames. My guess was that Dallas had noticed me and came to see what sort of trouble I’d gotten myself into. Another set of eyes was a good thing, someone to help me take on whatever and whoever I had to.
She was so incredibly stubborn. I understood she had the best intentions, but sometimes I hated the depth of her nobility, the fact that she seemed to lose all sense of self-preservation when it came to someone else being in need.
I turned toward her again, noting that, now, mere feet separated her from the two on horseback. If I landed just right, I could come down on top of the soldier and wrangle him to the ground.
If …
It felt like a missile torpedoed into me, blasting the broadside of my ribs, causing flames to explode outward from the blow. It only took a second to realize the dragon I’d seen barreling toward me wasn’t one I knew, wasn’t Dallas coming to help me stop Evangeline.
Hence this violent attempt to take me down.
Our bodies—mine and that of this traitorous dragon loyal to the Sovereign—rolled through the air, neither’s mass unyielding to the other’s as earth and sky tumbled around us. The moment I got my bearings, my fist connected with his face, and with the second it took him to recuperate, I was able to glance down, hoping I’d see Evangeline, but … only darkness.
With my attention averted to search, the rogue dragon landed a hit of his own, connecting with the side of my face. However, the groan he let out right after was a clear sign he’d underestimated me. I’d always been resilient, ma
ybe even more than the average shifter, but since being brought back, that strength had increased.
Without a second to spare, I gripped the fist he’d just broken against my jaw and crushed it in my palm. His voice rang out into the night, and with a swift headbutt between his eyes, I was able to knock him unconscious. His lifeless body plummeted, freefalling to the ground at high speed.
I scanned the underbrush in a panic, hoping to spot Evangeline or maybe Beth still chasing after her, but there was nothing. Only a feeling—our tether. It was still strong, so that brought me some sense of relief just knowing she was still alive, but I wasn’t satisfied not having eyes on her.
‘Evangeline, stop.’
I hoped to reason with her when I wandered inside her head, but she resisted.
‘I can’t just let them take her, turn her into a mutt, or … worse,’ she reasoned. ‘Did you see the look on that little girl’s face? She’s just a kid. She needs her mom, Liam.”
It became abundantly clear she wouldn’t budge. My only choice was to find her and help her take down the soldier.
I dropped lower, just above the branches, weaving among them when I decided to land. The light of my flames illuminated the area and I had a glimpse of her now. Just barely.
Beth caught up, matching my speed.
“I tried, but she’s too fast,” she yelled.
It was true. Adrenaline and pure determination, had made Evangeline impossible to catch. Or it may have been something else. Descendants were among the most powerful shifters on Earth. Until now, she’d fallen short of her nature, the scope of her abilities. Whatever was awakening within her had seemingly triggered her inner strength to emerge as well.
Hence the reason she was gaining on her target while Beth and I were losing ground on ours.
A loud thud rang out, and then the distressed cry of a horse echoing off the trees. Up ahead, bodies tumbled on the ground and I knew she succeeded. The seconds it took me to reach the brawl were pure hell, wondering if she’d fair well against one of Sebastian’s minions. We made it about halfway when I realized someone was missing—the woman. My fleeting guess was that she’d counted the distraction a blessing and sprinted toward her husband and child the moment the soldier was focused on someone other than herself.