“Why are you telling me this? It only makes it harder.”
“Because he’s in love with you. I think he never expected it, and he probably hates you a little for it. But I think you’re in love with him, too.”
She’d told me this before, right after I left Samael the last time, when I found out how he’d lied to me. How he’d known about the prophecy. I hadn’t wanted to listen then, and I didn’t want to listen now.
I punched my pillow again and Evie laughed softly.
“How areyoudoing?” I murmured and she shifted.
Thankfully, she allowed the change of subject. “This is going to sound weird.”
“Go.”
“When I’m not thinking about everyone who died, and how scared Brooke must have been, and how I should’ve been there–”
“Evie.”
“When I’m not thinking that stuff, I feel like something weird has happened. It feels almost like a huge weight has lifted off my shoulders. I feel… free.”
From the heaviness of the guilt in her voice, she didn’t exactly want to feel free.
I couldn’t blame her.
I fell asleep next to my sister and dreamed of silver eyes and obsidian wings.
11
Danica
The next morning, we had our windows wound down as I drove toward wolf territory. This time, I’d made certain to let Nathaniel know we were coming, and the sentries let us pass without any issue.
“It’s so quiet out here,” Evie murmured.
“I know. I’d go crazy in two days.”
“I kind of like it. Not for forever, but sometimes it’s nice to get away from the city.”
“Hmmm.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Liam,” she said suddenly, and I glanced at her. Her gaze was on the forest and I shrugged.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you. It’s just that it’s so new, you know? I had the biggest crush on him when we were younger, and then he suddenly left. Seeing him again, it was like opening an old wound and healing it at the same time. We’re taking things slow. He’s giving me space right now because I need it, even though it’s hard for him with those wolf instincts.”
“I’m glad.” I hadn’t brought it up. Hadn’t wanted to let her know I was hurt that she hadn’t told me.
“The night the coven… I drove out here to hang with Liam. He lives at Nathaniel’s with some of the other pack, but they have another small house which they can use occasionally when they want privacy. We watched movies and ate popcorn, and then he kissed me. I drove home, parked the car, and smelled the smoke.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shook her head as if attempting to push away the memories. “I just wanted you to know that I wasn’t keeping anything from you. We’d hung out a few times, but that was the first night we kissed.”
“I’m glad you have that with him. Really.”
If my instincts insisted Liam wasn’t the one for Evie, then I’d ignore them. He was a cute guy who obviously respected my sister.
Even if I wondered where the hell he’d been the night of the fire, and why he hadn’t been around supporting Evie.
