25. Chapter 25 - The Witches Are Done

Chapter 25 - The Witches Are Done

Evelyn

T he phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the silence of my office. I glanced at the caller ID. Alexei. I picked up, already knowing the conversation wouldn't be easy. I had a gut feeling, and my instincts were never wrong.

"What's going on, Alexei?" I asked, my tone tight with concern.

"Evelyn, we need to talk," he said, his voice grave.

"Alright, shoot," I replied, bracing myself for whatever news he had to deliver.

"Karla just informed me and the council that they're pulling out of the treaty. They want to stand alone," he said, his words heavy with disappointment.

My heart sank. Karla's decision was a bold move that would surely have consequences. "I see," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I tried to convince her otherwise, but she's made up her mind," Alexei continued, frustration evident in his tone.

I remained silent for a moment, processing the information. "Thank you for letting me know, Alexei," I finally said, my voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside me.

"Evelyn, please speak to her. We need unity now more than ever," he pleaded.

I closed my eyes, a surge of conflicting emotions washing over me. "I will head to the coven now and try to do that. I can't promise she will listen to me, though," I said firmly.

There was a brief pause before he responded. "I understand, Evelyn. Just be careful," he said softly before ending the call.

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. This decision would undoubtedly have repercussions, but I couldn't abandon Karla, not now.

I stood up, determination coursing through my veins. Whoever came for us now would have to face the full force of our wrath.

I slammed the phone down, the weight of Karla's decision heavy on my shoulders. Alexei's voice still echoed in my mind, pleading for unity, but Karla had made up her mind. Loyalty to family trumped all else.

I gathered my things, my mind racing with the implications of Karla's choice. If the witches pulled out of the treaty, it wouldn't be long before the fragile balance between humans and supernaturals crumbled. Chaos would reign, and Harmony Grove would descend into lawlessness.

I hurried out of the sheriff's office, the streets of Harmony Grove bustling with activity. But beneath the surface, I could sense the tension, the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

My destination was clear: the coven. I needed to convince Karla to reconsider, to give the treaty another chance. If we stood united, we could still maintain order and protect both humans and supernaturals alike.

I arrived at the coven, the familiar sight of the old Victorian house offering comfort amidst the chaos. I stepped inside, the air thick with the scent of herbs and magic.

Karla was waiting for me, her expression unreadable. "Evelyn," she greeted me, her tone guarded.

"Karla," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

We stood facing each other, the weight of our conversation hanging heavy in the air.

"I hope you understand why I had to do this," Karla said, her voice soft but firm.

"I do," I said, though the truth was far more complicated.

Karla sighed, running a hand through her hair. "We can't risk the lives of our people for a treaty that no longer serves us," she explained.

"But if we pull out now, it will only lead to more bloodshed," I argued, desperation creeping into my voice.

Karla shook her head, her eyes unwavering. "I won't let fear dictate our actions, Evelyn. We'll find the killer ourselves, protect our own," she vowed.

I wanted to argue further, to convince her of the importance of unity. But deep down, I knew that Karla was right. I couldn't ask her to jeopardize the safety of our people for a dream of peace.

"I understand," I said finally, the weight of defeat settling over me.

Karla reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You can always return home, Evelyn. The coven will always be here for you," she said softly.

I nodded, gratitude swelling within me. "Thank you, Karla," I said, my voice choked with emotion.

With a heavy heart, I bid Karla goodbye and returned to the Sheriff's Department. The streets seemed quieter now, the weight of our decision hanging heavy in the air.

As I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of failure that gnawed at me. I had failed to provide the peace that I promised every supernatural in Harmony Grove.

But as I reached my office, determination stirred within me. I may have lost this battle, but the war was far from over. I would do whatever it took to keep Harmony Grove safe, even if it meant standing alone against the darkness that threatened to consume us all.

I trudged home later, the weight of defeat heavy on my shoulders. Alexei was waiting for me. Concern was etched on his face as I entered.

"How did it go?" he asked gently, stepping forward to envelop me in a comforting hug.

I sighed, leaning into his embrace. "I couldn't convince her, Alexei," I admitted, the disappointment evident in my voice.

He squeezed me tighter, offering silent support as I let myself wallow in my defeat for a moment.

"Come on," he said eventually, pulling away to look at me with a determined glint in his eyes. "Let me cook you something. It might cheer you up."

I managed a weak smile, grateful for his unwavering optimism. "Alright," I agreed, allowing him to lead me into the kitchen.

As Alexei bustled around the kitchen, preparing our meal, I couldn't help but marvel at the easy familiarity of our shared space. Despite the chaos that surrounded us, here, in our home, everything felt right.

We sat down to dinner, the aroma of Alexei's cooking filling the air. As we ate, we talked about anything and everything, our conversation meandering from mundane topics to more serious matters.

I found myself losing track of time, the simple pleasure of Alexei's company washing away the bitterness of my earlier defeat.

"You know," Alexei said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between us, "no matter what happens, we'll get through this together. We always do."

His words were like a balm to my weary soul, reminding me that no matter how bleak things seemed, we still had each other.

I reached across the table, squeezing his hand in silent gratitude. "Thank you, Alexei," I said softly, my heart swelling with love for the man sitting across from me.

He smiled, his eyes warm with affection. "Always, Evelyn. Always."

His wide grin stopped my heart for a mini second as he placed his hands on the table where I was seated, trapping me in between his hips. I shot up a brow in curiosity at his sudden action, my heart beating wildly in anticipation of what was to come yet trying to keep a level head.

Shit , I thought, it was already late.

"I think I'll appreciate it if you tell me what you're thinking," I glanced down between our bodies. "To know what's making you act so..." I trailed off as he smirked.

"So what?" he whispered in my ear, shivers trailing up my arm. I couldn't deny the sizzling tension in the air, the chemistry between us, clawing up my chest and neck, trying to choke me up yet making my brain all fuzzy. It was a pleasant feeling.

"I was thinking since the food did little to help your mood- I know the case has been a bit messy- I decided I had better options." There was no disguising the heat that flared in his eyes, and I felt the warmth settle in the depths of my stomach. Yet I tilted my head in a challenge, locking our eyes. The passion in them was so obvious I wanted to burn in it.

"And you were certain this new plan of yours was going to work?" I asked, and he grinned more. This time, my heart stopped for a full second.

"Only one way to find out," he said. Before I even processed his words, his lips were on mine. Hungry, soft, and everything heart-warming. My heart swelled in my chest as he leaned in further, lifting a hand to cradle the back of my neck, seeking permission, yet pouring so much love into it. Heat built in my stomach and pooled between my legs, especially as he started trailing kisses from my lips down my jaw and neck, nipping at the base of my collarbone.

I pulled back immediately, watching those dancing flames of heat in his eyes, and I was very sure it was the same in mine.

I yanked him closer by the collar and crashed my lips on his. This time, it was demanding, possessive, and rough, as if we were in a battle. I locked my hands around his neck, threading my fingers through his hair. Damn, this man drives me insane.

He lifted me up in one swift motion, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, the kiss intensifying as I started to unbutton his shirt. I needed him now; all the days of suppressing the need, attraction, want, chemistry- everything I felt for him rose to the surface, threatening to burst through.

The fire seemed to sizzle through every pore in me as his boner pressed against my core. More need built up, and I trailed my hands to the hem of his pants, his hand stopping me immediately as he leaned away.

"Easy, little tigress, I want you as much as you want me, but allow me to worship your body, Eve," the way my nickname rolled off his tongue made my breath catch. He returned to kissing me, this time unstrapping my weapon harness and letting it fall to the ground with a thud. I kicked off my boots as he carried me up the stairs and into our bedroom, not breaking the kiss. His tongue rolled over my mouth, lips nipping and sucking wherever they went.

He let me down gently on the bed, and I took a moment to observe and trail my hands over his sturdy abs.

God, he was perfect.

My legs were tangled underneath his as he tugged my blouse up and cupped my breast, his other hand going behind to unclasp my bra. The moment the soft flow of breeze hit my bare skin, a moan escaped my mouth as he leaned down and took one hard nipple into his mouth. Wetness pooled between my legs, my hands shooting up to cradle his head while his tongue worked perfectly on me.

His woody scent of musk and soap invaded my senses, and I let myself fall under the spell of whatever he was doing to me when his hand slipped under my pants into my wetness. My soft moan turned into gasps of pleasure as he started trailing kisses down my abdomen, leaving his imprints all over me, his fingers teasing, exploring, doing everything but touching me.

The fire threatened to engulf me, and I knew I couldn't wait any longer. I grabbed his hand and pulled it out, staring at him with that need, that passion he knew so well and understood.

In a matter of minutes, everything that had posed as a barrier between us was on the floor as I felt him. Skin to skin, heat to heat, heart to heart, our tongues rolled against each other, indulging ourselves in the love between us.

"You're beautiful, Eve," there he went again with the name. Something flared in his eyes as his tip nudged against me, and it took everything in me not to scream out in blinding pleasure when he went in slowly, waiting for me to adjust to his length. He leaned down when he was fully in, cradling my head in his hands, a trembling sigh escaping his lips. A sigh of satisfaction.

He set the pace, and a shudder raced down my body. He stroked in and out of me, the ridges of his member caressing every part of me and pleasure forming a tight curl in my stomach, threatening to burst open at any minute.

I trailed my hands down his back, feeling his muscles ripple with each thrust inside me, locking eyes with him to see the flare with each movement of my hip. The room became a noisy mess of moans and gasps as pleasure started to rise incredulously within me. His pace quickened too, his thrusts getting harder and deeper, driving into me with every need, every want, and every lust he had stared at me with before. And me? I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a cliff, wanting to fall yet clinging to the sweetness of what he was offering.

With one huge buck of his hips, he thrust into me, hitting the spot that sent me spiraling into the clouds. I couldn't withstand the flames and fire burning through me, and there was a crack before everything tumbled, dragging me with him down that cliff, knocking my breath off as my hips rose to meet his last hard thrust, hot pleasure gripping my body as he gripped my waist, riding down the torrents of our orgasm in waves.

My gasps turned to slow moans, and his groans reduced to a soft moan that left me wet all over again. Our chests were heaving as he looked at me with a heart-shattering smile.

My earth stuttered on its axis as I gazed into his eyes.

"That...was awesome," he said, but I wasn't listening, lost in my own thoughts.

I was in love with this man. Head-over-heels in love.