Page 50 of Reign By Wrath

Chapter Five

Istumbled over thepath, rocks kicking back up and striking my ankles.

My phone claimed I was coming up on the second cabin. I thought my anger would be gone by the five-mile walk over uneven terrain and grasping branches. It fucking wasn’t.

My dad was right. I would not see another person I love die. I’d do whatever I had to do to protect him, including break his heart.

I choked on a sob—the vision of Alistair’s face when I told him I didn’t love him, replaying over and over again in my mind.

It wasn’t his fault. I didn’t blame him for a thing even though it would be easy to. Even though there was a kernel of truth in every horrid accusation I threw at him. I know he didn’t pick power over his family. What he chose was a life of danger and isolation in the name of protecting his family. Of course he had no reason to think any of what happened to Winter and me would go down.

Who predicts a nine-year-old girl with pigtails and a Barbie Dreamhouse would turn into a raging psychopath that would carry out a grudge he buried ten years ago?

The only person at fault then was Everton for shitting on every chance to do the right thing and then continually going after my father until he had no choice but to do the unthinkable. And the person at fault now was Everleigh.

She used brutal, terrible means to force Winter to do what she wanted. She brought Wolf O’Rourke into this. They both made it clear they’d go as far as it takes to get what they wanted.

“So I will too.”

A log mansion broke through the trees, its glittering perimeter lights piercing the forest’s smothering gloom. The place was truly gorgeous—a wooden mansion fitting for the wealthy community of Regalia.

A river stone path led up to a wraparound porch, complete with warm patio furniture and purple hanging plants. The blue-painted roof set it apart as unique as well as expensive. But none of that interested me. The one thing I cared about was that it was one story.

I crept through the trees, keeping an eye out for... anything.

Cameras, dogs, trip wires, loose dirt over land mines. I didn’t put anything past Everleigh.

Someone’s there.

Lights flicked on and off from window to window, indicating someone was moving through the mansion. The curtains were drawn on all the windows I could see, stopping me from knowing who.

I had to chance it and get closer. There were three more cabins to check, and it took me hours to get this far. If my trek was finally over, I needed to know.

It has to be Everleigh.I slowly crossed the lawn, cringing under the bright spotlight of the perimeter lights.Who else would be awake at two in the morning? Everyone knows witches don’t sleep.

Twenty feet.

Ten feet.

Five.

Closer I got to the front steps and no alarms went off. No curtains flung open. No doors banged against the opposite wall.

Maybe I was wrong to think Everleigh outfitted the place like a bunker. It’s been years and not even her friends know where the cabin is. Why wouldn’t she think she was safe here? She’d let down her guard. Relax. And it’d be the worst mistake she ever made.

My left foot hit the bottom step, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I was right. No insane defenses. All I had to do then was prove this was the right place.

The trail of inside lights led to a big room that I assumed was the living room. I followed them, glancing at the curtains lighting up with multicolor. Everleigh was watching television.

I clenched my jaw—rough pants leaking through my teeth. How nice of the rotted bitch to sit in front of the big screen with popcorn and hot cocoa, having herself a good ole time. Meanwhile, I was forced to say the cruelest things to my father—all to protect him from her.

Again, she’s fucked with my family and did damage that may never repair, but why should that bother her? Why should that get in the way of movie night? My plan was just beginning and it already went off track. So far, everything was turning up Everleigh.

I went to the windowsill and strained to see through the slight space between curtains.Is that...?

The glow from the television fell over half a foot. It was hard to be certain, but it looked like that foot was encased in a fuzzy white slipper.

A woman. Living in a one-story log mansion. By the river. Where Everleigh and her father used to fish.

---