Page 71 of Fated In Forever
I told them about the obsidian boulders, and the lost souls, the ruined, broken castle that became a majestic homage to every horror movie, like ever. And finally, I told them about The Book.
“The Wishrender is a myth,” Riordan said, with a sharp intake of breath as he ran his finger gingerly over the cover. “A fairytale my mother used to tell me when I was young. Amagical book that grants wishes, but only to the pure of heart.”
“You were told…fairytales about this book?” I lifted my eyebrow. “And what do you mean, pure of heart?”
“The story goes, the Wishrender will grant one wish, but only to someone deemed worthy, virtuous in both heart and deed. The lock would remain sealed to unworthy hands, no matter their strength or magical ability.”
“I always thought the story was meant to keep me in line, like the vampire version of Santa Claus.” Blake murmured, keeping his face buried in my neck. “My mother warned me if I wasn’t good, if I ever found the book, I wouldn’t be able to open it.”
My heart began racing. “You heard this story, too?”
Blake shrugged. “Every kid in every clan knows the Legend of the Wishrender. I mean, it’s like one of our most popular bedtime stories. But in the stories, there was a magic key, cleverly called…The Key.”
“Like this one?” I pulled the chain over my head, and showed them the little gold key, nervous, now that I knew how important they were. “Malachi used this to send me back. He used his one wish to open a second portal, because I was changing. The Underworld was changing me.”
“Fine. So Draven isn’t the asshole we always made him out to be.” Blake grumbled. “Though I can’t believe those words just came out of my mouth.”
“He’s not.” I murmured, picturing him amongst the shadows, all those lost souls gathering around him. “But he stayed behind, because…like that place changed me, it changed him, too.”
“More than he already was?” Riordan asked softly. “I mean…he was already pretty…” he gestured to his face.
“He has horns now. And a tail.” I couldn’t stop the blush from creeping up my neck and decided that information was on a definitelydid not need to knowbasis.
“Anyways…making the wish—sending me back—broke the bond between us. That was the price. And he gave me The Bo…the Wishrender so we can use it to destroy Ravok. I’ll get my wish, and we’ll just have to…time things right, I guess.”
All of a sudden, I was so damn tired, as if this realm had twice the gravity and was sucking the life right out of me.
“When is the last time you ate?” Blake asked softly. “Food, I mean? You’re too pale, Evie, and as for all of these other changes…let’s have Fiona take a look at you. See if she can reverse some of the effects.” I didn’t bother telling him I highly doubted Fiona could reverse the effects of a supernatural shadow realm on my very mortal body, but she was welcome to try.
“Fiona is still here?” I perked up. “What about Eldric?”
“Neither of them would leave. Fiona’s been working with Nikolai to stabilize the ley line, and Eldric’s been…”
“A complete pain in my ass. Seriously, we need to send him back to Crimson House.” Blake grumbled. “But I need to warn you, Evie, there’s someone else here who is…”
The temperature in the room dropped by about twenty degrees, and then…
“Evangeline Marie Silverwood. Where the fuck have you been?”
I pinched my eyes closed. Then decided that wouldn’t save me and opened them, staring at a glowing Angel, in a fuchsia pink jumpsuit that perfectly showed off her baby bump—and holy shit, when did she pop out like that—glaring at me with blue eyes as sharp as lasers.
She looked…good. Happy. Healthy.Pissed.
“God, Angel. Your stomach ishuge. You’re going to be a mom,” I sniffled, climbing off Blake’s lap and reaching for that baby bump. “I thought I’d never get a chance to…”
Mom’s leather coat hit me full in the face, the zipper scratching my cheek.
Because my dear, sweet sister just winged it at me as hard as she could, with all the power of an angry vampire.
“Imagine my surprise when I arrived a few days ago to find out my sister—who is going to be an aunt, and promised—fucking promised me—she would help with this baby, dove through a freaking portal to the Underworld with no way back.”
I balled up the leather coat, holding mom’s jacket against my chest like a shield against the full weight of my sister’s wrath. Okay, this wasn’t going to be a happy reunion.
“If you just…”
Her stare was cold enough to freeze the words on my tongue. “I told them there is no way she would ever leave me hanging, yet here you are, looking like you were dragged out of the pits of hell itself and…” Her glare narrowed, took on the intensity of a freaking nuclear blast.
“What happened to your hair, Evangeline? And what is going on with your skin?”
