The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(40)

Adelaide nodded; her red lips a stark contrast to her white skin.

He dropped his spoon into the bowl, and pushed it away, spilling soup onto the gold-encrusted place setting.

“You leave if you want,” he said, biting back his urge to shout. “I’m not going anywhere without my sister. It’s out of the question.”

Olivia nodded. “I’m not leaving her here either.”

Adelaide sat back in her chair, her eyes seemingly fixed on something in the distance. Her voice took an off tone as if she was no longer speaking to them.

“That’s not the entire plan, loves,” she said softly. She pushed her chair out from under the table and stood.

“You think I’d leave my only daughter behind?”

Wes noted the malice in his mother’s voice. He’d never heard her sound so sinister. Watching her lips curl into a snarl sent shivers up his arms and neck.

Even Olivia kept silent, her scowl fading to a look of bewilderment.

Adelaide took off her shawl, letting it fall onto the chair behind her. Then, she stepped out of her shoes.

Wes wanted to ask her what she was doing, but he knew better to speak at that moment.

Adelaide looked up at the ceiling letting her head fall back.

Had his mother lost it?

When she looked back at them, her eyes had gone from blue to completely black.

Wes’ eyes widened at his mother’s hair floating around her head by some unseen force.

What wizardry was this?

She snarled then, looking from Olivia to Wes.

“I’m done with Scarlett Hall and all of its secrets and lies. We deserve a fresh start, but not before freeing Evie, and sending that red-headed bastard to hell.”

Wes opened his mouth to ask how, but shut it when he saw something unexpected… something truly bewildering.

He watched as his mother threw up her arms.

And shifted.





ADELAIDE WAS RIGHT. It was time to free Evie from Avalon, even if that meant revealing their deepest, darkest secret.

Even if that meant betraying a pact set centuries before the Scarletts ever existed.

The grandfather clock in the corner of the parlor ticked as Wes stood there, waiting. He paced the room, his hands laced together behind his back. He couldn’t sit, or do anything until the doorbell rang.

When it did, he crossed the room and answered the door before Holly could reach it.

“I got it,” he said to their house manager, glancing at the top of the stairs where Olivia waited in the shadows.

Wes gave her a nod, and she returned to their bedroom to rest. His heart broke every time he imagined Avalon harming his beloved wife.

Now, their greatest enemy had his sister. He didn’t want to think about what she was going through at that very moment.

When Wes opened the door, Parker Drake stood on the front porch.

They were the same height. Parker looked him dead on.

“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on? Why is my fiancé living with Hugh Prince’s arrogant * for a son?”

Wes looked into Parker’s eyes, seeing the hurt and concern for Evie. He stepped aside, letting Parker in. He’d seen that young man follow his sister and play with her for years. It wasn’t a surprise that they would fall for each other. Even though he hadn’t spoken to Parker one-on-one too many times, he trusted him.

Besides, they were desperate.

“Come in,” Wes said. “I’ll tell you everything.”





EVIE’S WHITE GOWN seemed to glow in the sunlight. A smile was plastered to her face, and yet her soul was screaming, begging to be heard. Every step took all of her strength. Beneath her bouquet of purple flowers her hands shook.

Everyone stared at her. Could they see the pain in her eyes or how broken her heart was? She doubted it. All they saw was a beautiful girl about to marry a handsome man with a lot of money, property, and a charming smile. They knew nothing about the truth.

At the altar was not Parker… not the love of her life.

Avalon stood there, that charming smile on his lips, and evil in his eyes.

This is a dream.

Evie woke up in tears. She couldn’t let that dream turn into a reality.

“Parker,” she called into the darkness, her eyes adjusting the pitch black the instant her eyes opened.

“I’m sorry.”

Depression had set in so quickly. A week had gone by, and all she wanted to do was sleep. All it did was make her live out her worst fears.

She sat up in her bed and looked at her clock on the wall on the far end by the antique writing desk.

Time to get ready for the party

It was time to end this.





EVIE WAS SURPRISED when Avalon allowed her to visit Quinn. While what looked like hundreds of people worked to ready the mansion for the Halloween party, Avalon watched her leave in her own car, a trusting smile on his face.

Apparently, he approved of her best friend.

Quinn wasn’t a threat.

Lucky me, Evie thought bitterly as she tried on her costume for the party.

White feathers covered her dresses glittering lace and satin. It was fitting. It reminded her of her shifter form, but no one else would ever know.

Perfect.

“You look amazing.”

“Thank you,” Evie said.