Loud banging on the door made them both jump. Adelaide stood. She looked toward Wes’ window at the night outside. The banging resumed.
She pulled her shawl closer to her skin.
“Who could it be?” Wes wished he could get up and check it out for her. He feared what waited for them outside.
“I’ll check it out.”
“Be careful,” Wes said.
Adelaide glanced at him. “I can take care of myself, Wesley. You should know that.”
ADELAIDE LEFT WES’ side to answer the door. Weary from over a week of restless nights, each step seemed to take more energy out of her. She needed this war to end, or it she’d soon be another casualty of it.
As she arrived, Sandy was just closing it behind whoever had paid them a visit.
“Who was it?”
Sandy shook her head. “He didn’t give a name. He just said he had a message from Mr. Avalon Prince.”
Adelaide peered at the cream envelope in Sandy’s hand.
“He said it’s imperative that you read this and share it with Wesley.”
With a nod, Adelaide walked down the stairs and took the envelope.
She sniffed the envelope, smelling the faint scent of blood. Her sense of smell developed more like a lion than a human.
Adelaide knew who’s blood she smelled.
Clutching the envelope to her bosom, her face paled.
Olivia’s blood.
SHE KNEW SHE wouldn’t be able to do this without losing her composure. She stood in the living room of Parker’s condo, her engagement ring in her hand.
In between sniffles she tried to speak.
“I can’t,” she said.
Wes needed her.
Visions of Wes shielding her from their father’s illegal actions; the dead bodies, prostitutes, gambling rings, and whatever else he did in secret resurfaced from her repressed memories. Those deeds had come back to haunt them in the form of a wizard with a grudge.
Wes was her blood, and she couldn’t turn her back on him.
Parker stared at the ring in her hand, his eyes confused.
His face turned ashen. “What’s going on?”
Evie shook her head. She had to do this quickly.
“I can’t accept this, Parker. I was wrong to lead you on, but it’s really not going to work.”
Parker ran his hand through his hair.
Pain shot into her gut when she saw his hands shaking.
I can’t do this. It’s too hard.
“What? Where is this coming from?”
She shook her head and sat the ring on his counter when he wouldn’t accept it.
She couldn’t be engaged for this plan. Her family depended on her.
Parker didn’t back down. Instead, he caught her in his arms when she turned to walk out, wrapping them around her thin body.
“Come now. Explain yourself. Did your mother make you do this?”
Yes. She did, she thought. But it was more than that. He deserved better than she could give him. He deserved a normal girl without baggage.
The tenderness of his voice broke her heart even more. She buried her face in his chest. How did she let herself do this? Her heart would never forgive. She doubted that she would ever forgive herself.
He held her tight as if savoring her scent and presence. “I love you, Evie. Don’t leave me.”
She drew in a breath. She pulled back and grabbed his face in her hands. She had one chance to do this and she needed to do it quickly before she lost the strength and resolve.
The look in his eyes, full of sorrow and love, made her pause.
She sniffled and closed her eyes. She couldn’t look at him like that. It killed her. She’d never felt physical pain from a broken heart. She didn’t think it was possible.
She took in a deep breath, opened her eyes, and faced him full on.
She lowered her voice. “I can’t love you, Parker. Not right now.”
Parker reached for her hand on his face and pulled it away. He stepped backward.
“Just forget me,” she said and ran out the door, too afraid to look back.
She cried the entire way to Albrecht Mansion. The hours to save her brother’s life were ticking away, and all she wanted was to hold Parker, kiss his soft lips, and love him forever.
EVIE LOWERED HER eyes the moment Avalon Prince walked down the main black stairway of Albrecht Mansion.
Her bags were packed and stacked at the door as she waited to find out exactly what Avalon had in store for her.
He was one of the most attractive men she’d ever seen, but she hated him. Wearing a black suit and expensive black shoes, he was the man that could ruin her chance at happiness.
Why was he so dressed up?
She wore a green cardigan over a pink sweater and skinny jeans tucked into slate gray boots that came to her knees.
Should I have worn a cocktail dress for my new servitude?
Evie wanted nothing more than to rip his head from his shoulders, for hurting her brother and possibly killing her sister-in-law.
His bright green eyes brightened when he saw her face.
“Evie,” he called. His voice echoed off the walls.
She looked up, her hands shaking. She gripped her purse strap to steady them. “Mr. Prince. I’ve come to end your attack on my family.”
Amusement came to his face as he reached the bottom of the staircase. The butler didn’t betray any emotion on his face as he stood at her side, just inside the foyer.
“Lovely.” His reached an arm out for her.
Evie stared at his arm, wishing she had an ax to chop it right off.
His charming grin at the reluctant expression on her face only angered her more.
“Come now. Let’s have a little chat. Walk with me to the sun room.”
“Fine,” she said. She stepped to him and laced her arm through his. He stood a foot taller than her, and beneath his suit she could feel his hard muscles.
“But I want to know what your expectations are for me.”
He placed his hand over hers, surprising her by its warmth. She’d half expected his hand to be frigid.
“Of course. It’s only natural that you’d want an explanation.”
Evie had expected a bit of resistance, not the calm kindness he displayed at that moment.
Hesitant, she nodded. “Good.”
They walked through the first floor toward the back of the mansion. Her insides were in a bunch, but the beauty of Albrecht Mansion still overwhelmed her.
For a home so large, it was bright and airy. The scent of fresh cut flowers and berries tantalized her senses the further they went into Avalon’s home.
The heels of her boots made soft tapping on the exquisitely painted wood floors as they crossed hundreds of square feet to get from one end of the mansion to the other.
They went through two dining rooms, an elaborate sitting area, a long hallway, and a ballroom before reaching the French doors that led to the sunroom at the back of the house.
“You came at the perfect time, Evie.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’m hosting this year’s Halloween party, and I want you by my side.”
“A party?”
“Yes. It’s a big tradition here. Isn’t it?”
Evie nodded.
“Well, the mayor wants it held here. It will be part tradition and also a way to welcome me back to town. Of course there will be all of the pomp and circumstance fit for a king.”
Avalon put his hand on the small of Evie’s back. “And his queen.”
Evie tensed at feeling his hand on her body as he led her into the room.
She stepped away from him, his hand slipped down her bottom. A glance caught him smirking before folding his hands before him.
Inside the sunroom were some of the most beautiful flowers Evie had ever seen in one place. Lush greenery and vibrant colors mixed to create a sight worthy of being immortalized in a painting. Caged bi
rds chirped and sang from their perches, making the room feel like a glamorous exhibit at a zoo.
“Fit for a king, huh? You really think highly of yourself,” Evie said.
“Why shouldn’t I? Do you not feel the same about yourself?”
Evie stopped and faced him. “No. I really don’t think I’m better than anyone else. But, I know that I’m not an evil person. You are. And I don’t really think you’re someone that should be celebrated and honored.”
Avalon didn’t drop his smile. He nodded, dropping his hands to his sides as he took a step toward her.
Evie didn’t back down. She tightened her jaw as she glared up at him, her chest pressed against his abdomen. She didn’t flinch; she wanted him to know exactly how she felt about the entire arrangement. She would not forget what he did to her brother.
The green in his eyes was especially ethereal in the bright sunlight. She didn’t like how enchanting they were, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to look away.
“Maybe I am evil.”
He lowered his voice as he spoke to her, the smell of mint escaping with each elegantly spoken word. The thickness of his accent was incredibly sexy, but she refused to let her expression betray her.
“Yes, I cursed your brother, but why? He killed my brothers and had his wife kill my father. I suppose that makes me evil to an extent, but I could have ended his life that night in the study.”
“Why didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “I’m not as impulsive as Wesley. I know how to show restraint…and how to make my revenge much more creative.”
Evie swallowed. She didn’t mention that she didn’t know that Wes killed his brothers. To her understanding, they died in a car accident.
She wasn’t surprised. In fact, this new knowledge broke her defiance down a bit.
Things really weren’t what they seemed.
She was judging him off of his retaliation for what her family had done. How could she justify their actions?
“I want you to understand something, Evie. I am not all about curses and using my power for evil. Quite the contrary. The mayor is honoring me because not only did I donate enough money to build a second elementary school, but I funded the cancer research center at the hospital.”
Evie’s face softened. “You did?”
“Yes,” he said. He looked past her, his smile fading. “You know my mother died of cancer. I don’t blame your father for her death like my father did. I know that her chances were faint…but I want to do what I can to help others survive her fate.”
Evie swallowed, her resolve faltering further. Her shoulders lost their hardness, her face relaxing from her frown.
So what? He has a soft side. Still, it’s no excuse for what he did to Wesley.
Evie wanted to hate him, but he was making it hard. She kept her face unreadable.
“I still don’t know what you want from me.”
They walked over to a small table next to the floor to ceiling windows.
“Sit.”
Evie sat in the brass chair that he held out for her. She folded her hands in her lap and watched as two servers walked over with trays of food and a bottle of red wine.
Her stomach grumbled as she looked at the tray of roasted potatoes, vegetables, and steak.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said, as the servers put white cloths over their laps.
“Answer my question.”
He raised a brow and smirked.
“Fine.” He sipped his wine.
She watched him, folding her legs.
“It’s simple, Evie. I don’t want to keep this feud going any more than you do.” He leaned across the table, reaching for her hand.
Evie didn’t know what to do. She felt awkward holding her hand to him, but she needed to know his motives. The last thing she wanted was to upset him.
“I like you,” he said, stroking her knuckles.
The sincerity in his eyes startled her. She hadn’t expected that. She found herself unable to look away from his beautiful green eyes. Seeing him up that close revealed hazel around the center. The longer she looked, the more she could actually see the magic inside of him.
She saw more in Avalon than she’d even seen in her father.
“What I want from you is simple.”
Evie held her breath when he kissed the back of her hand.
“I just want you to give me a chance at winning your heart.”
Evie searched his eyes. If he hadn’t cursed her brother, kidnapped her sister-in-law, and came at a time when she was single…she might have fallen for his charm.
Not this time, though. She nodded her acquiescence, but inside her rage simmered. He may not be the villain she’d dreamt up in her head, but he still stood between her and true happiness with the man she loved.
“Okay,” she said, her voice soft, barely audible. The pain in Parker’s eyes came back to haunt her.
She had to shake it from her mind. The food in front of her was an easy distraction, considering her stomach ached with hunger.
Evie picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of roasted yellow squash on her plate. She took a bite and glanced to her left.
Her face paled as she saw Olivia walk by the white archway. She shot to her feet.
“Olivia!”
Avalon caught her hand, forcefully.
She shot him a glare. The look in his eyes made her second guess saying anything.
“Sit down.”
She sat down, her eyes going back to Olivia.
Olivia looked back at her, her hair was disheveled, her face covered in purple bruises.
Bile filled her throat at the sight of her beautiful sister-in-law.
She couldn’t bite her tongue. She spoke through clenched teeth. “What did you do to her?”
“The girl has seen her and confirmed that she is alive. Now, get her out of here and safely back to Scarlett Hall,” Avalon said to the two men that accompanied Olivia. “Make sure you deliver my final letter to the Scarlett’s.”
Olivia’s eyes met Evie’s. Evie gasped. Olivia was like a ghost of her former self. All of her luster seemed to be sucked away. What was left of her was a frail woman, with limp hair that clung to her scalp and face as if she’d been sweating. Her clothes had blood stains, and there were bruises on her wrists and ankles.
Fury filled Evie. At first her voice didn’t come. It cracked, making her swallow before trying to speak again.
“What did you do?” She shouted that time and slammed her fist on the table.
“Calm yourself,” Avalon said.
Evie leaned over to him, her eyes narrowed. “Answer me!”
Avalon didn’t look upset by her outburst. His eyes looked from her to Olivia and back before he shrugged. He sipped his wine, set it down, and cut into his steak.
Infuriated, Evie watched him, waiting for an answer.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Is what obvious? To think, I was starting to feel sorry for you.”
“I kept my word. That’s more than your brother ever did. I’m setting her free.”
“Good for you,” she snipped. “Aren’t you a saint?”
“No,” he said, his eyes darkening. “Good for you, Evelyse Scarlett.”
His smug grin sickened her.
“You’re a hero.”
THUNDER CRACKED AND echoed throughout the halls of Albrecht Mansion. Evie woke and sat up in her new wooden canopy bed. Another loud boom resounded across the sky and lightning followed, crashing into the forest outside her window.
She grabbed her pink kimono robe and crossed her room to look out the bay window.
It was the third day that rain fell in torrents like this. It was as if her moving into Albrecht Mansion angered the gods. Such a storm was sure to flood the town as if it didn’t let up soon.
She glanced at her clock as it ticked on her wall next to her wardrobe. It was three a.m. and she knew she would not be able to fall back asleep.
Mig
ht as well study, she thought.
She grabbed her satchel for school and slid her feet into her slippers to head for the study. Outside her room the halls were dark and silent. She held her breath as she looked from side to side, and listened for any sounds of life.
Nothing.
The silence was unnerving, but at least she was assured that she wouldn’t run into Avalon in the halls at that hour.
There was a time when she was a young girl that she was afraid to venture into those halls alone, but she and Parker would make it a game to sneak away from their class and explore the many rooms.
Albrecht Mansion was one of the first homes built when the town was founded. Tales of hauntings had always frightened her when Woodland Creek Elementary would take field trips there. As an adult, she still hoped those tales to be untrue rumors the village people liked to spread.
Evie used her phone’s flashlight to navigate the darkness and descended the staircase to the main floor. Crossing the foyer she opened the door that led to the study and walked down another staircase.
A dim light made her pause. “Who is there?” Only he would be up this late doing research.
“Come on in, Evie,” she heard Avalon reply.
She wished she’d stayed in the safety of her room.
But, was anywhere in that mansion safe?
She took a deep breath and walked to the landing. Once she turned the corner she saw Avalon sitting in one of the chairs with a book in hand. A fire crackled in the fireplace, making the room nice and toasty.
“Couldn’t sleep, my dear?” Avalon closed his book on his hand and turned his gaze to her.
She wished he wouldn’t call her that.
Evie closed her kimono over her lavender bra and boy-short set. If she’d have known that Avalon would be down here she would have at least put on some clothes and brushed her hair. But it was his house. She should have known better.
Perhaps it was time that she tried a new approach. Maybe Avalon would drop his guard if she feigned an attraction to him. Three days had passed since she moved in, and being petulant wasn’t helping her at all. Her ‘privileges’ were scarce, and all she wanted was to communicate with her family.
Evie stood before Avalon with tangled waves and her white lock fully exposed.