Anomaly (Causal Enchantment #4)(52)

Evangeline could do something that even Mage could not? “What does this mean?” I thought I was finished burning my energy to figure out the Fates’ motives. But there we were again, the muscles in my body tensed with alarm. “It can’t be anything good. It never is.”

“No, it usually isn’t, is it.” She turned her attention back to the haze of destruction. “I have a theory, though I cannot substantiate it yet.” I waited silently. Finally, Mage elaborated. “I don’t believe that she can simply see magic. I think they’ve given her the ability to wield magic. Why, I cannot say. Perhaps it is a defense tactic.”

A defense? What on earth would Evangeline need to fight against, besides Viggo…

My stomach sank with realization.

Against me.

I was a “player” in their game and I had an opponent.

Was Evangeline my opponent? Would they do something so sick and twisted and … yes. Yes, they would.

I kept my eyes locked on the horizon for fear of letting Mage see my panic. No one knew about this “game” and my role in it. I’d kept that knowledge close to my chest, mostly because I didn’t see any use in sharing it, but also because I still didn’t know how it played into this situation. Was there an advantage to being who I was? A detriment? Would killing me benefit someone else somehow?

Would it benefit Evangeline?

In one sense, if the Fates had in fact set us against each other, they were idiots because I would gladly sacrifice myself for her safety and happiness—if I knew that would guarantee it.

So wrapped up in my thoughts, I almost missed Mage’s words. “Evangeline will likely realize that you are trying to transport her this time around.”

Would she recognize the bubble for what it was? Could I cast it quickly enough? Regardless, I’d figure it out because I had to. I had to keep them safe. I wouldn’t risk Viggo hurting her anymore. Especially not through me.

*

“Mortimer is long gone,” Lilly announced, perched on top of the old kiln, in the same place I’d found Caden and Evangeline yesterday.

“Not surprised.” I was surprised he hadn’t ripped my heart out of my chest as he passed by. I was also disappointed. Of the two ancient vampires and perpetual thorns in my side, Mortimer was always the more levelheaded. Plus, Mortimer understood Viggo better than anyone else.

He truly understood how the psychopath’s mind worked, far better than I did, obviously.

I did know that Veronique was relatively safe. Viggo wouldn’t kill her, not while he could derive such pleasure from keeping her hostage. No. He would hold on to her forever, just to torture Mortimer and me. I wouldn’t put it past him to attempt to sway her heart, to believe that he could. And the only reason he would believe that he could is because Viggo didn’t know how to truly love and therefore he didn’t understand the complexity of it, the finality of it.

“Perhaps having Mortimer after Viggo will put pressure on Viggo to hide his tracks. If that’s the case, he won’t be able to follow us so easily,” Mage said.

I nodded slowly. I wish I’d had the time and forethought to put a tracking ring on him before he left, as I’d done to Bishop and Fiona. Of course, I’d waited until Evangeline took off after Julian, not wanting her to see. I even went as far as to hide the glowing purple bracelet beneath their pant legs, hoping she couldn’t somehow still sense it. “And the others?”

“They are in the mines, preparing to leave for New York City.”

I shared a knowing glance with Mage.

The only place they were going was to the farthest corner of the world—an inhabited island off the coast of New Zealand—far enough that it would take time to make their way back here.

Mage’s hard gaze shifted over my shoulder. “As I suspected, this will not be as easy as we had hoped.” Her chin jutted out behind me, just as my ears caught their soft footfalls in the snow.

Turning with wariness, I found a wall of grim masks: Evangeline and Caden, hand in hand, Bishop holding on to Fiona. Julian, arms folded over his chest, stood on the opposite side of Evangeline, focused. Yes, there was only one rational explanation for his demeanor. Evangeline must’ve compelled him. How, though, I still could not comprehend. Calm determination swirled in the air around all of them. Another oddity.

All except for Max, who lingered behind, like a stray dog having lost its owner.

Even with a fleeting sweep of my eyes, I caught the mistrust in Evangeline’s gaze and it made me flinch. Disappointment, hurt, shock. It was all there, and I couldn’t deal with it right now.

I would have to transport them all at once and I would have to do it quickly. And then, when this was all done, I would beg for her forgiveness.

Reaching in to myself, I began pulling the threads together, weaving and winding them as they remained hidden within my body, my lips moving as quickly and intelligibly as possible as I cast the spell. Evangeline might see the bubble but, short of attacking me, she wouldn’t be able to stop it until it was too late.

“Are we ready to go?” Caden asked. In his pretty green eyes, the bitterness for me churned. I had once fought for his trust and respect and won it. I would never be in his good graces again.

“Yes, shortly,” Mage answered, just as I released the spell into the air, the pale pink bubble quickly swelling.