Allegiance (Causal Enchantment #3)(11)

I stood frozen, staring at the back of the door, wondering what he was doing on the other side. Maybe he was already stretched out in my bed, cradling his head under linked hands, waiting for me. My palms began to sweat, my mouth went dry, and the walls shifted slightly. I didn’t know what I was doing. Was I ready for this?

I let out a deep sigh of exasperation. Get it together, Evie! I couldn’t forget about that night back on Ratheus. I hadn’t planned for any of that, and I survived. Better, he didn’t run the other way. This was Caden, after all! I’d risk my life for him, time and time again. Just get dressed and get out there.

Wringing my hands, I reached for the large plastic bag that I assumed contained pajamas. You’ve gotta be kidding me … Arrogant French Poodles on oversized, baby blue flannel pajamas stared back at me. Laughing at me, I was sure. I groaned. Leave it to Sofie, who had more style than a swanky designer, to choose pajamas that would make me look like an oversized five-year-old. Caden would take one look at these and howl. I let out another groan as I yanked them on. That was probably the point … to minimize Caden’s attraction so I got my rest. Why didn’t she just give me a potato sack …?

I reached for the door handle. Holding in a deep breath, I took one last long scan of myself in the mirror. Definitely better. Cleaner, fresher, less feral … Here we go …

I slowly turned the doorknob.

Caden must have dimmed the lights because it was much darker now. I squinted as I searched for him, expecting to find him stretched out on the bed. He wasn’t there. The only body there was a three-hundred-pound black beast stretched out on the rug, tending to a paw.

Caden was gone.

A pang of disappointment pulled at my heart. I surveyed the rest of the room, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me, that maybe he was hiding somewhere. But he wasn’t. The nervous excitement of only a second ago deflated, replaced with hollow disappointment.

Wow. What does a werebeast need to do to get some love around here? Max grumbled.

“Sorry,” I grumbled, trying to wipe the mopey look off my face. “Where’d Caden go?”

Dunno. He ran out of here a while ago and sent me in. Said he had to do something.

I frowned. What could he possibly have to do? Oh, maybe feed. I didn’t see him with a blood bag once on the plane. Then a new thought slammed into me. A terrifying one. What if all this had nothing to do with my lack of hygiene and attractiveness? Maybe I was too attractive! Or, at least, my blood … What if … what if Caden couldn’t control himself around me after all? A lump of worry instantly formed in my throat. If Sofie found out, she’d exile me again. Or worse, Caden could bite me … I swallowed my panic. “Did he say when he’d be back?”

Nope, Max answered, disinterested in Caden’s whereabouts.

Well, at least Caden was enough in control to walk away if needed, I told myself. That made me feel marginally better. I dragged myself over to the bed. Crawling in, I snuggled under the covers, weariness tugging at my eyelids. “What’s going on out there, Max?” I asked into the darkness.

Oh, nothing much. A bound-up vampire, the odd bickering between Frick and Frack. Strip searches of the wait staff … You know, the usual for this crowd. Max hopped onto my bed and stretched out with a loud groan. Oh, yeah … That’s right … Finally. No more dirt or reed mats.

I snorted. “You’re such a prima donna, Max. Don’t get too comfortable. When Caden comes back, you’d better flee. Don’t need you breathing down my neck …” I curled up, wondering how long that would be.

2. Suspicions—Sofie

“I haven’t exactly told her yet,” I admitted with reluctance, pushing a lock of fiery red hair off my brow. “I don’t want to scare her until I’m sure. I’m adequately scared for the both of us.”

“What exactly have you told her?” Mage prompted, her brow furrowed.

With a sigh, I explained. “I told her about her muddled emotions. How we can’t read her anymore. That’s it. That’s all I can tell her for certain right now.” I gazed out the panoramic window overlooking the courtyard.

“Did the Fates not give any inkling to the consequences of the Tribe’s magic?”

“No, I created the Tribe before Evangeline existed.” I let out a derisive snort. “Of course, I’m sure they’re well aware. They haven’t bothered to enlighten me.”

Mage paused again, as if deciding if she should ask her next question. “And what do you suspect is happening, exactly?”

I opened my mouth to speak but the words died on my tongue before I could speak them, too horrible to fathom. With a deep swallow and a slow inhale and exhale, I tried again, my brow creasing deeply. “Maybe it’s some mutated form of the Tribe. I don’t know … I’ve never tried turning one of them. I couldn’t, for obvious reasons. But I’d imagine they can’t be turned. Evangeline’s emotions are similar to theirs—incomprehensible and scattered. But she hasn’t taken on any of their other … qualities.” That last word came out with biting disgust. Inside, I was screaming. No, please, no! Please don’t become one of those disgusting creatures, mutated or otherwise! I felt like my child had been given a death sentence. Another one, beyond the one I’d already given her.

“Let’s hope it wears off,” Mage said softly, reaching forward to give my hand a friendly squeeze. “And what about Julian? We can’t read him anymore, either.”