Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(59)

Nicole asked, “Is that what you need the potion for?”

“Yes. You have it, right?”

Nicole released her and leaned back, worry ringing her eyes. “Yes, but you need Storm at this event.”

“No, I don’t. I can actually get in for free as an Alterant.”

“But they’ll expect you to fight.”

Evalle pointed at the armband. “I’m hoping I can make a trade with this to just watch the battles if I keep my Alterant status secret. Once I get in, I’ll find a way to get to Tristan and convince him to drink the potion. It’s not a great plan, but it’s one I think will work.”

Nicole handed Evalle a silver flask small enough to hide in her fisted hand. It had a sun and bird engraved on the side. “Thank you, Nicole.”

Nicole closed her eyes and leaned back. Her lips barely moved with silent words.

In the past, Evalle had seen Nicole use her skill at foretelling, and she waited for her friend to share what she saw. Finally, Nicole opened her eyes. “I can’t see what happens inside this event, but I feel that you can’t go in there alone.”

Evalle stood up. “Thanks for the warning, but I can’t tell VIPER, and I’m not risking Storm’s life.”

“You should discuss it with him.”

“There is no discussing anything with him when it comes to me. He’s becoming as overprotective as Tzader and Quinn, maybe worse.”

A knowing smile lifted Nicole’s lips. “So it’s like that between the two of you?”

“Yes and no.” Evalle crossed her arms to keep from fidgeting. “He’s been so patient with me, I may have missed my window of opportunity with him, so to speak.”

Because she might not make it back alive.

“Did you tell him . . . about your past?”

Evalle had never told anyone about that night, not even Nicole, Tzader or Quinn, but trying to keep something like that from Nicole was futile. “No, but he’s empathic, so, like you, he has a pretty good idea that I’m screwed up when it comes to a relationship.”

“I haven’t spent much time with Storm, but that one time I was around him I sensed the heart of a good man.”

Shaking her head, Evalle swallowed her regret. “The sad thing is that I’m ready to try for more with him, but I may not get a chance. If I don’t make it back, I’m hoping he’ll come to you to find out where I am. If he does, don’t show him where I am. Don’t show anyone.”

“You can’t do this alone, Evalle.”

“I have to.” She pinched her eyes and struggled to get a grip on her control. Evalle had to prevent her emotions from rocketing out of control for just a little longer. She couldn’t wait to hand this bone over to someone at the beast fights.

But right now, the pain of lying to Storm, even by omission, and possibly never seeing him again, was stomping her heart.

She flexed her hand, took a breath and said, “If he does come looking for me after tomorrow, please give him a message. Tell him that he was the one, the only one I’ve ever wanted, and I’m sorry I missed my chance with him. But that he should not come after me.”

Nicole held a finger against her lips, looking as if she’d been asked to write Evalle’s eulogy.

Evalle really didn’t do touching, but Storm had influenced her too much with his touch. She couldn’t not bend down and hug Nicole to thank her. It was brief, but when she stood up, Evalle was glad for the contact. Nicole had become more than a friend over the time they’d known each other. She was a sister of the heart. Or what Evalle would envision a sister to be.

“Please come back to us,” Nicole said as if issuing an enchanted wish.

“Going to do my best.” Walking over to the foyer, Evalle lifted the tote of lug nuts from where she’d dropped the bag.

Nicole took the tote. “Are you going to say good-bye to Feenix?”

Throat thick, Evalle said, “No. I already told him this was a sleepover. If I talk to him now, he’ll know something’s wrong. I want him happy as long as possible. I’m sorry to impose on you, but if I don’t come back . . .”

“I will always care for Feenix,” Nicole said quickly, then added in a quiet tone, “But you have to take Storm in the games with you. I . . . I need to tell you what I saw.”

Leaving the door open, Evalle stepped back over to her friend’s chair and leaned down. “What?”

“If you don’t take Storm, you won’t leave those beast games alive.”

Giving Nicole’s hand a squeeze, Evalle nodded and walked out, closing the door softly. She hadn’t needed Nicole’s special ability to know she was going to die. She’d felt it in her heart all day.





TWENTY





Someone was following her.

Evalle had felt a presence all the way to this sleepy coastal town in southeast Georgia.

Lifting halfway up from a squat, she made a slow visual sweep of the dark woods behind her that hid her and her SUV. It was an hour after sunset, and nothing moved in the black void. Every breath of salt air invigorated her after six and a half hours of driving.

Bending her knees, she resumed her position behind a thick pine tree to watch yet another dock, the same position she’d held since arriving in St. Marys ninety minutes ago.