Page 139 of Fated In Forever
And set a trap of our own, for when he did come.
67
EVANGELINE
Be safe. Be smart.
Even after waiting days for this moment, Malachi’s mental warning hit me like a physical blow, dragging me straight from the peaceful depths of sleep into full blown panic.
I’d thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t, fear sliding through my veins in a slippery, oily slide, my stomach churning with dread. Why was I the only one up? Where was everyone? Had I been left behind, despite Blake and Riordan’s promises?
Fuming, I yanked a shirt over my head. I was trained, damn it, I’d been part of this from the beginning and I was damn well going to finish this, not hide away like some coward.
His urgent warning echoed in my mind as I dragged on pants and socks and boots with shaking hands, buckled up my thigh holster, laced my boots tight, then opened the drawer where I kept my most valuable weapons.
The Wishrender, the key, and the cold iron knife.
Ravok and Romulus…Thralls inside the wards…Dravin and Nash are engaging…I’m heading to…
My heart hammered against my ribs. Château des Ombres Éternelles was so far away, andthis was my worst fear. That when Ravok did attack, we’d be too far away to help.
Now there was no time for careful preparation, no time for anything but action.
I ran my hand down the worn leather of mom’s old coat, then shrugged it over my tshirt, feeling the house burst to life all around me. Shouting, hushed whispers, heavy footsteps pounding down the hallway outside. I stowed the cold iron knife securely in one pocket, The Wishrender in the other, strung the key around my neck, and took one last look around.
My door flew open, Blake’s head popped in.
“Almost ready?” His face was flushed with anticipation, shadow curling around him like living smoke, eyes skimming over me for a quick second before his mouth curled in approval. “Good. Meet me in the entryway. We’re leaving in three.” Then he was gone.
I burst through Angel's door without knocking, finding her already sitting up in bed, one hand pressed protectively to her stomach. And surprise…a naked-to-the-waist Eldric right beside her, his face tense, fire blooming at his fingertips.
Yeah, remind me to knock next time.
“What’s going on, Evie?” Angel asked, “Are we under attack?”
I shook my head. “Not here. Ravok is at the ruins with a horde of thralls. We’re leaving in a few minutes, but I need you and Bex to lock Crimson House down, stay alert. If anything—anything at all—seems wrong, you leave immediately.”
Angel's blue eyes narrowed, “What if I…”
Eldric was already shaking his head, but I answered for him.
“Oh no, don’t even say it,” I told her, “You're still recovering from being drugged and I’m not endangering you or the baby.” I crossed the room and grabbed her hands, squeezing tightly. “Promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you'll run, if anyone shows up here.”
“I promise,” she whispered, narrowing her blue eyes with a hard, determined look. “But you’d better promise me the same. If you end up in some other realm again, I am so going to kick your ass.”
“I’m coming with you,” Eldric said, his eyes firmly on my sister, “Give me a minute, and I’ll meet you. Downstairs?”
“Entryway. Make it fast.” I told him, wishing he’d stay here, too. I should remind him of how these things usually ended up for him, but I wasn’t that petty.
I found Bex in the hallway, already dressed, her usually cheerful demeanor replaced by the same grim determination as my sister. “Is that a kitchen knife in your hand?” I asked drily.
“The sharpest one I could find,” she said simply. “Uncle Nash told me what’s going on. Angel and I will hold down the fort. You guys go save the world.”
“Thank you,” I breathed, “stay out of trouble, will you? And keep my sister safe.”
I met Riordan and Blake downstairs, both of them grumbling beneath their breath for the entire ninety extra seconds we waited for Eldric. “Library boy is going to get himself killed,” my mate complained, loud enough for Eldric to hear as he rushed toward us.
“Stop calling him that,” I muttered, throwing Eldric a look of apology as he raced down the staircase. “I don’t hear you calling Angel ‘library girl’, so just quit.”
