Page 55 of The Evernight Court

“I’ll stop you.” But I wasn’t very hopeful. Not because of Romin, but because what were the odds that I could even figure out what the hell she was cooking? My instincts said it wasbad.The fact that Mama Si had felt the need to warn me about it said it was worse.

Genevieve laughed and laughed and laughed. It was genuine, too, straight from the heart. I looked at her, reallylooked at her and wondered how a face like that could hide who she really was so well.

“Sweetheart, you don’t even have any power to speak of. You have no magic because you refuse to accept the Evernights—all of whom are crazy for a chance to bed you.” She leaned closer on the couch and I almost jumped back. “Don’t you realize how lucky you are?” she whispered. “Don’t you realize how much power you can gather if you acceptallof them, just for a single time?”

Chills washed down my back and I sat up straighter. “No, thank you. I’d rather be completely powerless than let any of them touch me.”

“But Grey is gone!” Genevieve said, and she was smilingas she said it, and I had no clue why I was having such a hard time admitting that shejust didn’t give a shit!“He’s not coming back ever again, darling. And you have options—four of them. You could become stronger than any other bride in history if you take advantage of the opportunity given to you.” Again, she leaned closer, her eyes glistening. “With four of them, you could easily become pregnant—oh, you can’t imagine the power that comes with bearing an Evernight! You could have them falling to their knees for you, if you’re smart.”

“I don’t need them to on their knees for me. I don’t need anyone,” I said, even if just to spite her.

“But you do need power,” she told me. “If you had power, you wouldn’t spend your days locked up in that tower, would you? Youneedpower, darling.”

And unfortunately for me, she was right.

“Then I’ll get power,” I insisted. I was already learning how to fight. I’d get so good at it none of the others could beat me, I swore it.

“But how? A bride can only harness her magic by being with a vampire her blood is compatible with. The more you feed them with your essence, the more magic you gain.”

“I’ll find other ways.” And I would die clinging to that promise.

Genevieve sighed, shaking her head as she leaned back on her couch. “I could give you a good boost, you know. I could open your eyes wide to what magic can truly be. What power truly feels like.”

Goddamn my curiosity for rearing its ugly head instantly. “How?” Because ifshecould do it, so could I, right? I was a bride, too. Technically speaking.

“With mine, of course. I carried an Evernight in this body. I have a lot of magic—don’t you remember? I could give you a boost to awaken your own all the way,” she told me, and I did remember her telling me that the last time, too. Only back then, she said my body wouldn’t be able to handle it. “But I’ll require payment, too. Just a little of your blood should do it.”

That certainly surprised me.

“Blood?” Was she serious? She wanted my blood, too?

“Oh, don’t look so disgusted. You don’t want to fuck the Evernights—fine. But you still need to pay for magic, and I’m willing to help you out. Be smart about it, Fall. You don’t really have any other options.” Even her voice was completely transformed as she said this.

She was right. I’ll be damned, but she was right. I didn’t have any other options. Even that book that Quinn bought for me advised on focusing on the things that enhanced my magic and gave it a boost, because the more I had, the easier it would be to use it. I’d only read a couple pages the night before, and it had mentioned this three times.

Fortunately for me, Grey had warned me about Genevieve. Mama Si had warned me about her, too, and even if I didn’t trust the original seductress, Genevieve had just proved to me that she was indeed up to something bad.

So, I stood up. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but whatever it is, leave me out of it.”

Slowly, she stood up, too. “But you refuse to be my friend, Fall. That means you’re choosing to be my enemy.”

“You don’t have any friends, Genevieve. I doubt you even know what that’s like,” I said, but if my words hurt her, she didn’t show it. “I don’t want to be your anything at all, but if you or Valentine try to come for me again with your little tricks and manipulations, I will do everything in my power to stop you.”

“Do I really need to remind you again that you havenoneagainst me?” She laughed as I shook my head and backed away toward the stairs with a million thoughts crossing my mind.

“Your blood, darling. Give me a little bit of it, and you won’t ever have to fear being weak again. You won’t have to spend your days locked in that tower, I promise you.”

“I’ll take my chances,” I said and began to descend the stairs, but her laughter remained in my ears.

And even before I made it all the way down the spiral stairway, she called from her room,“They’ll be coming for you. It’s only a matter of time. They’re coooomiiiing…”

I practically ran out the door and to the other side of the castle without turning to even look behind me until I was in the third tower, and I allowed myself to sit on the stairs and breathe.

Thirteen

I wroteeverything down in one of the empty notebooks in Grey’s office. I felt at ease sitting in his chair and writing with his pencil, going over his drawings every now and again. I wrote it all down—Quinn and the lake and Sedelis and Genevieve.

In the end, it was clear to me what I needed to do, even if I hated it with all my being. I had to tell Romin.

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