Allegiance (Causal Enchantment #3)(100)

I squeezed her hand. “You won’t. We won’t let it happen.” I had no right to promise that and yet I did so without pause, without a shred of guilt. It was what she needed to hear. It was what I needed to say. “Everyone will help get Julian out alive. Even Max … right, Max?” I looked over at the sulking werebeast, lying in a corner, his chin resting on his paws, surrounded by his three brothers.

Max is not speaking to the traitor master right now. Please leave a message and perhaps he will one day forgive her for her profound treachery. Beep!

“Oh, Max,” I sighed, shaking my head at his spurts of eccentricity. But I let it go, moving my attention back to Amelie.

“Evangeline … do you think—” she began, turning to face me. Her words faltered. She shook her head and blinked several times, then frowned deeply, gazing at something intently.

Sirens went off in my head. “What’s wrong?”

Her plump lips struggled to get her words out. “Evie … your eyes. They’re …”

My blood turned to ice. I abandoned her hand and bolted for the bathroom, fumbling for the light switch, my fingers trembling. I finally managed to flick it on, illuminating my reflection in the mirror.

And my yellow eyes.

***

Four hours had passed since Julian had gone inside. Still, no sign of him. No sign of anyone, for that matter.

“How long before we go in?” Amelie demanded. I didn’t answer. I didn’t shrug. I simply stared out the window in a daze, waiting. Waiting for Julian to emerge. Waiting for the final stage of my curse. It was almost here. I had the hideous yellow eyes of the Tribe. There was only one thing left. One thing that would show up at any given time. And then I was as good as dead.

“Hours. A day, tops,” Lilly responded, perched on the back of a wing chair like a cat ready to pounce. She turned to regard me. “You should eat and get some rest. You look like hell.”

I responded with a snort. That’s because I have sickly, jaundiced eyes, Lilly. And I’m giving serious consideration to what it will feel like when I step off the roof of your building after I kill Caden. You’d look like hell too …

“Well, go sleep at least,” Caden answered softly, reaching for my arm. I recoiled like a snake, earning a pained look. I didn’t care. It was better than a dead look. “I’m not tired.” That was a lie. I was exhausted. Mentally, emotionally, physically … exhausted.

Caden sighed. “Maybe if you slept, you’d see Veronique and learn something about Julian.”

Wait a minute … That thought hadn’t crossed my mind. I had dozed off several times on the plane coming here but I never connected with her. Maybe if I could fall asleep, I could make sure Julian was safe. Maybe this sleep thing was a good idea. Without an answer, I turned and dragged myself toward the stairs.

Wraith was up and shadowing immediately. For once, it didn’t bother me. He was the only one I couldn’t kill once I succumbed to this magic. Heck, we’d be best buddies soon enough. Caden appeared ahead of me without prompting to lead me upstairs, down a long hall, and into a simplistic bedroom with white walls, white curtains, and a simple teak bed. It reminded me of a page from an Ikea catalogue. For what reason Lilly needed a bed, I had no idea. To keep up appearances, perhaps. Whatever. It didn’t matter.

Wraith took to inspecting the closet and walls for secret entrances. After my bathroom disappearing act, he was hypervigilant in ensuring I had no escape routes. It made for a few awkward moments in the plane’s cramped bathroom, but I didn’t bother fighting him anymore. The escape had been worth it a million times over.

Finally satisfied that there was no way for me to sneak off and no way for anyone to sneak in, Wraith stationed himself in a chair near the window.

I crawled under the welcoming white duvet and let my head drop to the pillow, ready to be left alone. Like an animal about to die. That wasn’t going to happen, though. The bed sank as Caden reclined beside me. I immediately scooted away until I was hugging the edge of the bed, near falling off.

I heard his heavy sigh. “Please don’t be like this.”

“Like what? About to kill you, Caden?” I spat back.

“You’re not …”

“Look at my eyes!” I yelled, enunciating each word. Sitting up, I glared at him, my eyes intentionally overextended. “It’s only a matter of time! Everything that’s supposed to happen is happening. Now, I’m … this!” My hands flew out in front of my face. “There’s no way around this, Caden! I’m going to be one of them!”

“You’re still able to touch me, Eve,” he whispered.

“Not for long! Did you know—twice now I’ve done something strange to Amelie to hurt her. Soon, it’ll be permanent!”

Caden pulled himself up to meet my face, his lips and nose only inches away. “Sofie will figure it out,” he growled. “Don’t give up on her.”

I flopped back down on the bed, throwing my arm over my forehead. “I can’t help it.”

“You have to help it. This isn’t you. You don’t give up, Evangeline. Ever! You’re the most resilient person I’ve ever known! To a fault sometimes.”

I sighed. “Maybe I was. I’m not anymore. I can’t do this anymore …”