Anomaly (Causal Enchantment #4)(10)

“Uh … I’m sorry?” I said a silent prayer of thanks.

Amelie’s pretty face pinched in thought for a long moment. I caught her swift movement a second before a snapping sound followed by sharp pain rocketed through me.

“Amelie!” Caden roared through my cry as Amelie dropped my arm. It hung limply next to my body, my forearm bone protruding through my skin.

“You broke my arm!” I shrieked in horror. “Are you insane?” No sooner had the last word crossed my lips than the bone began to fade. Before my eyes, it vanished and the wound sealed itself. Mouth agape, I flexed my hand to test my strength. Perfectly normal, once again.

“At least we know you can heal like the rest of us,” Amelie explained.

“And what if she couldn’t?” Caden snapped.

“Well, then, I guess she wouldn’t be jumping in front of any bullets now, would she!” Amelie retorted. “But you’re right. We should tell Sofie about this.”

“Tell Sofie about what?” a voice called out behind us, making me jump. Even with my new abilities, I guess the woman was still capable of sneaking up on me.

“Nothing,” flew out of my mouth. I gave Amelie and Caden a stern look. Whatever the reason for my lack of blood-crazed desire, I hadn’t crumpled in a fit of agony or died when I consumed it. We needed to focus on New York City and not my personal issues. For once.

Unfortunately, Sofie was always on DEFCON One alert status as it related to me. “Why aren’t you feeding, Evangeline?” It sounded like an accusation.

“I’m just taking a break.”

“Taking a break?” Her stunning, delicate features pinched up. “No fledgling takes a break once they’ve started. That’s simply …” Sofie’s eyes flashed wide. She muttered something in French that I couldn’t understand but, by her tone, I knew she was upset. Turning hard eyes at Caden, she exploded. “She didn’t hunt, did she? You lied to me!”

“I’m fine, Sofie!” I cried out but she wasn’t listening, her hands finding their way to Caden’s chest, shoving him against the wall.

“Don’t worry about me, Sofie. You should worry about—” My words cut off as thin purple ropes sprung from Sofie’s fingertips. I followed them with my eyes as they coiled around my body, the ends disappearing into me like cool little fingers slipping into my flesh. Not painful but certainly not pleasant. “What are you doing?”

A pause. And then the tentacles retracted. “You can see those?” she hissed, her eyes even wider than a moment ago.

“Yes. I can feel them too,” I clarified, repeating my question. “What were you doing?”

“You shouldn’t be able to see it.” The long tendrils appeared again. They reached out for me, more cautiously this time. Part of me wanted to run but I stayed, curious as to what she may discover.

I stayed still while she prodded around my body, her face a mask of consternation. After a few moments, they finally retreated.

“And?” Caden and Amelie asked in unison.

“And … nothing.” She frowned. “I found nothing unusual.”

“Does that mean she’s fine?” Caden pushed. “Are you worried?”

An odd, soft smile touched Sofie’s mouth. “I’m always worried about Evangeline.”

“You don’t need to worry about me anymore,” I said.

Her hypnotic green eyes twinkled. “And yet, I will never stop.” I smiled because I knew it was true. Most would call me insane for accepting Sofie’s offer of employment and climbing into a plane with her, only twenty-four hours after stumbling into her café. I had nothing to leave behind at that point. Except loneliness and sad memories.

Little did I know at the time that I was no stranger to her.

She had been watching over me since I was days old.

Since that time, after all the secrets and lies and motives were finally revealed, one painful layer at a time, Sofie had become like a mother to me. A super-powered, overprotective mother with more escape routes than one could fathom.

I was stuck in a moment of reflection when Mortimer appeared, trailed by Kiril.

“It’s done. We’re ready.” Not batting an eye, Mortimer strolled over to Veronique, his cold brown eyes instantly warming. He leaned down to whisper, “I’ll be back before you even know I’m gone.” His light touch on her shoulder earned him a growl and a sideways glare, and I caught a glimpse of those hideous eyes for the first time. I cringed. It was ironic that vampires were designed to be such irresistible creatures to their prey, and yet their weakness—their lack of control around human blood—revealed their true hideousness so noticeably.

Mortimer chuckled, his eyes still on Veronique. “You’re going to be awfully embarrassed when I tell you that you growled at me.” Murmuring in French, Mortimer leaned down to place a quick kiss on her head before stepping away, a nostalgic look on his face. He’d waited so long for a chance to see her again, with the hope that she would choose him over Viggo. And she had. Despite our tumultuous past, I was happy for him.

Finally, Mortimer’s attention shifted to me. “Why aren’t you feeding?”

That is the question of the day, isn’t it? Max said from behind me, having slinked in.