28. Evalee

EVALEE

T raveling through a portal is awful. And I mean, awful. Not only do I get motion sickness, but my limbs feel like they’re going to be ripped from my body. And don’t even get me started on the hand sweat. But that’s mostly from the fact that I’m clutching Hunter’s hand for dear life.

Please let me get out of here. Please, please, please …

My feet touch solid surface, and the wind rushing and pulling at my body suddenly stops. I don’t release Hunter’s hand right away, though, gripping it as I crack open an eyelid. Then I sigh in relief as I take in the four walls and the furniture that make up the living room of the house I’m renting.

“I’m home. Thank God.”

Hunter brushes his finger along the back of my hand. “You’re all right, right? No motion sickness or anything like that?”

“Not anymore.” I drape my free hand across my stomach. “While we were in there, though, I thought I was going to yack all over you.”

He chuckles, shaking his head as he stares at me in … well, shock.

“What?” I ask, feeling self-conscious. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?” His lips twitch in amusement.

“Like I’ve surprised you. And that I’m amusing.”

“You’re always amusing,” he says, tugging on a strand of my hair. Then the humor in his eyes fizzles into seriousness. “It’s just nice to hear you sound like … well, you.”

“What else would I sound like? A crazy hybrid demon?” I ask, slightly offended.

He promptly shakes his head. “That’s not what I meant at all. I meant that you still sound like you even after I …” He pauses with confliction in his eyes.

“Admitted that you lied to me,” I finish for him.

Guilt flickers across his face, but he hastily erases it as Opal dives out of the portal and into the living room. She lands gracefully on her feet near the leather sofa, then dusts off her hands, folds up her wings, and shuts down the portal with a flick of her wrist.

“Mission accomplished.” She beams, but her smile falters as she glances at me. “Hey.” She offers me a tentative, unsure smile.

“Hey.” My tone conveys the buttload of hurt I’m feeling inside.

She must hear it, because she says, “Eva, I’m so sorry. There were so many times I wanted to tell you, but it went against protocol.”

“I understand.” Honestly, I don’t. Maybe I’m being crazy, but I’d like to think, if I were in their shoes, I’d have broken down a long time ago and confessed everything to them. Perhaps that’s because I care more about them.

“No, you don’t.” She reads straight through my lies. “But that’s okay. You have every right to be hurt. Just so you know, our friendship was never a lie. I’ve always thought of you as my real friend.”

“That’s what Hunter said, too.” My deflated tone causes them both to frown. “Sorry, but I can’t help it. You guys lied to me for years, and now I’m wondering if anything about our friendship is true. And it sort of makes sense. No one ever liked me, except you two, and I always wondered why that was.” I gesture at Hunter. “I mean, you were so popular, yet you acted like we were best friends.” His lips part, but I talk over him. “And Opal, you were so normal and sweet and powerful. It never made sense why you hung around me.”

“Eva …” Opal starts, tears pooling in her eyes.

“It’s fine,” I cut her off, backing away as I become emotionally overwhelmed. “I just need a minute, okay?”

Hunter winds around the sofa, following after me. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to wander off by yourself.”

Frustration crawls through me. “So, I’m never supposed to be alone now?”

Opal’s gaze flits to me then to Hunter. “Give her a minute, okay? The house has more charms and protection spells on it than the fey realm. Nothing’s getting in.”

“I’m not worried about something getting in.” Hunter stuffs his hands into his pockets, seeming fidgety. “I’m worried about her getting out.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I promise. “I just need a breather. And I want to see Ryleigh … Is she in the basement?”

Hunter nods uneasily. “She is.”

“Okay, I’ll just go down there then.” I move to leave.

“Eva, wait,” Hunter calls out.

I pause in the doorway, glancing over my shoulder at him. “Yeah?”

He walks toward me, taking slow, measured steps, as if approaching a skittish cat. “Did the demon say why he took you? Or anything to you at all?”

I hesitate, not because I don’t plan on telling him, but because I’m afraid of what he think of me—and maybe do to me—when he finds out what I am. “He may have said a few things.”

“About what?”

“About what I am.”

“Can I ask?” He inches closer to me with uncertainty. “Will you tell me what he said?”

I swallow the lump crammed in my throat. I don’t want to tell him. I don’t want to tell anyone. I want to keep the truth locked inside me where it can never escape. That way, I don’t have to see the disgust in their eyes when they realize just how foul of a creature I am. Fake friends or not, I don’t think I can handle that right now.

“I’ll tell you later, after I make sure Ryleigh is still lingering around,” I say. Then I hurry out of the room before either of them can try to wriggle the truth out of me.

By the time I make it to the basement door, I’m on the verge of tears. Nothing makes sense anymore. Not myself. Not my family. Not Opal. Not Hunter.

What was with all the kisses he gave me? He’s never kissed me like that before, except for right before I was kidnapped. But that was more because we shared magic. Perhaps that’s why he’s kissed me twice since he rescued me. Perhaps the connection spell is still in place.

I continue to obsess over it, more than I probably should, as I trot down the stairway. Then, all thoughts leave my mind when I see Ryleigh’s body lying on the metal table, lifeless, her eyes open, her skin deathly pale.

Worry blasts through me as I rush up to the table. “Ryleigh, can you hear me?” I touch her cheek to find her skin is blistering cold. “Ryleigh, wake up and talk to me.”

Silence is my only answer.

“Ryleigh, please, you can’t go yet,” I beg. “I know I was angry at you, but I’m not ready to lose you.” Tears fall from my eyes and cascade down my cheeks as she remains motionless. “Please,” I whisper. “Please wake up.”

Again, I get nothing but silence. And the longer it goes on, the more I realize I may have to accept the truth.

I’m too late.

Ryleigh has completely died forever.