65. Chapter Sixty-Five

Chapter Sixty-Five

Evelyn

A utumn’s sticky humidity still fought against the crisp, evening air of Nūa, the city of witches. Winter hadn’t made its way east yet, its toe still at the coast’s doorstep. The sun beat down in a cloudless sky and gulls glided on the briny wind.

Evelyn and Kade passed under the east entrance’s arch, straight into the bustle of the largest city square. After dropping Bleu off at a stable to rest, Evelyn and Kade kept their hoods up and Maxie hidden as they made for their next destination. Neither had a desire to attract attention in a city where their union had always gained such fascination.

The flower boxes, bakeries, and restaurants washed a wave of nostalgia through her. There, the coffee shop she’d met her sister at every morning—the chive and cheddar biscuits were sinful. There, as they rounded the corner adjacent to where her apartment sat, the brick townhomes and copper lampposts lined the arts district. Evelyn veered them farther north, passing a wine bar situated in a garden courtyard and decorated with string lights—she’d frequented the spot with Tovi too many times to count. With each beat of her boots against the sidewalk, her courage built to an unbending tempo.

As she guided Kade, the roads and streets came back to her like she’d never left. Yet, it didn’t have a sense of home. It had nothing to do with the time away or her magic locked inside the bloodstone, her essence of a witch absent. Evelyn’s home walked beside her, and she grabbed his hand, holding it as they turned down the last street.

Kade paused, peering down at her. “Everything will be alright.”

“I know,” she said, believing it.

Rather than seeking forgiveness from her sisters, she looked forward to seeing them. Simply seeing them, being with them again. She expected Blair’s laugh, and Mirella's older-sister tone. It added a pep to her strides and a faster pace as she and Kade continued down the block of townhomes, hand in hand. Of course, she’d apologize for lying, leaving, and running for so long, but Evelyn’s chest pulsed with the grace she’d granted herself.

The metal number plates went up… 35, 36, 37… until they stood outside Blair’s home. Evelyn swallowed, releasing her breath.

“Do you want me to stay here?” Kade asked.

“No,” Evelyn said. “I’d like you to be with me.”

Kade kissed her temple. “Always.”

Evelyn’s walk turned hesitant, her limbs brimming with anticipation. She was mindful of her boots against the steps and hovered her hand over the door. Her sister’s front window was cracked open, and the sound and smell of fatty bacon sizzling on the kitchen stove wafted through. A hum trickled outside, and Evelyn fought the tickle of tears at the corner of her eyes.

She knocked.

The humming stopped on the other side and steps approached the door. Evelyn’s heart hammered in her chest. All words and thoughts emptied from her mind. What would she say? What would she do? The door swung open and—

Blair froze. Her dark eyes drank Evelyn in, and she couldn’t take it any longer.

Evelyn launched at her sister and dragged her into the fiercest hug. Words weren’t right. Touch was. Feeling her sister in her arms. Holding her close for the first time in so long, the thud of her middle sister’s heart beating against hers.

And thank the goddesses, her sister held her back. Tightly. Fiercely. A sob broke from one of them, and the tears welling in Evelyn’s eyes spilled. A tingling surged through her chest and warmth radiated through her body. Her tears didn’t stop as she pulled away.

Blair blinked, looking over her shoulder. “You found one another.”

“Yes, we did.” Evelyn didn’t let go of her sister who ushered them both into her townhome.

Uncooked bacon waited on a plate, and eggs had been whipped in a bowl beside the stove. A bottle of sparkling wine sat on the table—for the Carson sisters, that only meant one thing.

“Breakfast for dinner?” Evelyn asked. “Is it someone’s birthday?”

She hadn’t checked dates. She knew the seasons, but not the months or days. A lot of it had gotten lost since leaving Callum.

“Yours.”

Evelyn stilled as Blair wiped away tears. “Mine?”

Kade chuckled beside her, kissing her cheek. “You didn’t tell me it was your birthday, love.”

“I didn’t know,” Evelyn whispered.

Blair gripped the back of a chair. “Hold on a second, the two of you are together together?”

“We’re mated,” Kade said, setting his shoulders back.

“ Kade. ”

Though fateds and mates were similar in regard to feelings and bindings, werewolves were rather prideful and forthcoming, and more detail oriented compared to witches. They were not shy about staking their claim.

She turned to her sister. “I’m sorry. Also, I’m sorry for running and leaving you without an explanation.”

Blair fought more tears and ran a hand through her messy hair. “All that matters is you’re home now and—wait, I can’t feel your magic.” She studied Evelyn head to foot, skeptical eyes landing on the bloodstone. “What happened? ”

“I think we should all sit,” Kade said.

Evelyn told her sister everything, starting the night she left after her dress fitting up until she placed the magic in the bloodstone at Sven’s estate. An account of the years away tumbled from her, but not in a rush, not a desperation for her sister to see what she’d been through. She simply told her, like two sisters who’d not seen one another, catching up. The months and years didn’t hold the wretched weight they once did, and in fact, certain moments and instances made Evelyn smile, excited to tell her sister. Blair listened, intently, and only said one thing after.

“I’m sorry, too.”

Evelyn leaned back in her chair. “You’re sorry? For what?”

“You didn’t think you could come to me about your lost flame.”

Evelyn smiled, softly, grabbing her sister’s hand. “I didn’t think I could go to anyone, Blair.”

She shook her head, brows pinched. “But I’m your older sister. The fact you didn’t trust me enough means I did something wrong along the way, and I’m sorry for that.”

“We’d just lost Mom and Dad.” Pain lanced through Evelyn at the memory.

“True,” Blair said. “Let’s promise ourselves to be honest with one another from here on out. No matter what.”

“No matter what,” Evelyn said.

Kade sent her a smile, and she couldn’t help but smile back. A sense of rightness settled over her, like a new dawn was rising.

The front door opened.

“You will not believe the day I had!” Mirella called. “Seven patients. I barely had time to grab the cinnamon rolls—”

Evelyn’s oldest sister stopped dead in her tracks and dropped the parchment bag she’d been clutching. Her blue-eyed gaze, similar to Evelyn’s, scurried over all three of them.

“Evelyn.” Her sister hurried over and grasped her face in her hands. “You came back.”

Tears welled again in Evelyn’s eyes, like they’d never really stopped. “Yes.”

“I’m so sorry,” Mirella whispered. Tears streamed down her face. Their mother’s eyes stared back at Evelyn. “I was terrible, awful. If you ran because of me, it’s completely and utterly justifiable.”

“Mirella, it’s alright,” Evelyn said, grasping her sister’s hands that still held her face and giving them a reassuring squeeze. “I never ran from you but know I’m never running again.”

Her eldest sister chuckled. “You better not, I swear to the Goddess, Evelyn.”

A laugh burst out of her—there was that stern tone she’d missed.

Her sister blinked, gaze landing on Kade for the first time. Her attention jumped between the two of them.

“Wait.” She backed away from Evelyn. “Did anyone see you in the city?”

Kade leaned across the table. “No, we were sure to not attract attention to ourselves.”

Mirella rushed from her position on the floor and closed the curtains of Blair’s home.

“What are you doing?” Evelyn asked.

Mirella ignored her, rummaging through her satchel. She grabbed Evelyn’s hand while pulling a daily pamphlet from the bag. “It’s slander and lies. I didn’t believe a word it when I saw it, but you have to read this.”

She handed Evelyn the paper, and her heart dropped like a stone to her gut.

Evelyn peered up at Kade and said, "Everyone knows."