The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(6)

Evie tensed, looking around the clearing as if she’d see someone hiding in the bushes, watching them.

“Don’t you?”

“What are you talking about? You know I can read minds and identify those with magic.”

“That’s what I wanted to bring you out here for, sweetie. You might have more than that inside of you.”

Evie tried to take her hands free from her mother’s. Her glasses started to fog. Adelaide wouldn’t let her go.

“Stop trying to resist. You always shied away from your powers. I want you to embrace them.”

“I’m not trying to resist. I just want to clear my glasses.”

Adelaide sighed. She closed her eyes and blew on Evie’s lenses, freeing them of the fog with one breath.

“Better?”

Evie gave a single nod. “What did you bring me out here for? It’s creeping me out.”

“Like I said. I wanted to tell you a secret, one that I kept from you for far too long, but might soon come in handy.”

A whistling sound came from somewhere far off, like an owner calling for their dog. Evie’s face paled.

“I’m scared. Let’s go home.”

Adelaide held steady, but smoothed the tops of Evie’s hands with her fingers.

“It’s okay, sweetie. Mommy will always protect you.”

Evie stilled. She looked into her mother’s eyes and saw the truth in them. Adelaide might get on her nerves at time, but she loved her and would do anything to keep her safe.

“I know,” Evie said, ignoring the sounds she started to hear around them. She kept her eyes focused on her mother, which kept her calm. “I’m listening.”

“Good,” Adelaide said.

A brief moment of silence passed before Adelaide seemed to gain the courage needed to tell Evie why they were there.

“I am not a wizard. I never was.”

Evie shook her head. “What?”

She must have heard her wrong. She’d seen her mother do things that no one else could do unless they had magic.

Adelaide’s brows furrowed. “I only let your father believe that I was because I loved him… and because he hates shifters.”

Evie’s eyes widened. Memories of her mother’s powers flooded her mind. She always thought they were odd, but each wizard was unique in their own way. If she wasn’t a wizard, how could she move things with her mind?

“Don’t tell me you’re a shifter.”

“Yes. I am a shifter and have always been.”

“But,” Evie closed her eyes, thinking. “I’ve seen you move things with your mind before. You’ve used magic. What kind of shifter does that?”

Adelaide smiled. “All good questions,” she said. Then she looked down.

Evie’s eyes followed and she let out a loud yelp when she saw that the ground was far below them, and that they hovered in the air.

She opened her mouth in awe, seeing birds whiz by.

That explains the whistling sound. How did I miss floating in the air?

“I won’t let you fall,” Adelaide said and let Evie’s hands go.

Evie let out another yelp, expecting to fall to her death. Her heart pounded in her chest. Instead of falling, she hovered there in the air with her mother.

“What is happening?” Evie covered her mouth and looked around in awe.

Adelaide nodded, chuckling. “I was right. You may have your father’s looks, but you have an equal amount of my power inside of you.”

“Your power?”

“You’ve inherited both sides.”

Evie held her arms out as a breeze flew around her. Her hair whipped around her face.

“What do you mean?” Evie tried to keep her breathing calm. The air was so crisp and light. Soon she began enjoying being up there.

It felt like home.

Adelaide twirled in the air, the skirt of her black dress seemingly dancing in sync with her long blonde hair. She flashed a smile at Evie.

“I always knew you were more like me than you let on.”

“How?” Evie’s body floated along the breeze, and before she knew it she gave a hesitant twirl.

Glorious.

“Because you’re a Gryphon,” Adelaide replied. “Just like mommy.”

Evie’s face paled. She remembered her dream. Could that be why she saw the Gryphon last night?

Tilting her head, Evie peered at her mother through squinted eyes.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

Adelaide folded her arms across her chest. She looked down, shoulders slumping.

She looked vulnerable. Evie didn’t like it. She resisted repeating the question.

When her mother turned her back on her, Evie wrung her hands in worry.

“Evie,” she said. “Things are going to get worse here before they get better. I told you this because I want you to be able to defend yourself.”

“Against what? The Prince family is gone.”

“In case something happens to Wes or I.”

“What would happen to you?”

Adelaide turned back to her, her eyes hooded with guilt. “Your brother and I have done some things that could affect you.”

Evie frowned. “Like what?”

She wanted to go back to land. The conversation made her uncomfortable, and yet the sky seemed to hold her steady. It seemed as though a new secret came out each day.