The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(8)

“Are you okay? You’re acting weird.”

Evie put her notebook in her bag and hugged Parker, burying her face in his chest. She breathed in the scent of his fresh-smelling deodorant.

“I’m fine. My nightmares are back.”

He rubbed her back and rested his chin on the top of her head. “I’m sorry, baby. Tell me everything.”

She shook her head and pulled away. “They don’t really make any sense. I just keep dreaming about my really disturbing stuff.”

Parker held her hand. “You sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

She bit her lip. There was so much she wanted to reveal about being a wizard, but making humans aware of their presence was forbidden.

Sighing, Evie started down the steps and to the stone walkway. “I just wish the whole trial with Hugh Prince will just finish up already.”

Parker followed her. “I know. At least he’s locked up for the time being. He can’t hurt anyone else.”

The whole Scarlett versus Prince family feud had gone on long enough. Her family had seen its share of loss, but the Prince family had lost even more. Both of Hugh’s sons had died in a car crash just a few days after her father’s death.

Now one patriarch was dead and the other was in jail for his murder. As if her family hadn’t suffered enough rumors of being cursed, now there was a murder and a scandal.

She was glad the public didn’t know how deep their family secrets went.

They walked together, in silence, along one of the paths. At least Parker held her hand, providing a small measure of comfort.

Evie kept her eyes down to avoid making contact with any of the students staring at her. They made a path for her, some silent, some whispering, as she walked by. She should have been used to the whispers, but they still bothered her. She wanted to run and be free of their judging eyes.

“Don’t you have another class to go to?”

Evie wanted to be alone. She needed to sort out her thoughts in silence before something bad happened — something she couldn’t control.

Things never seemed to go well when Evie couldn’t control her emotions, so she tried to keep her breathing even. Everything that had confused her while growing up all made sense.

She was both a wizard and a shifter.

Insanity, she thought, shaking her head. And I can’t tell a soul.

“I do. But it can wait,” Parker said. “I want to make sure you’re okay first.”

The sting of tears burned her eyes. She couldn’t let him see them. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t hide anything from Parker.

He pulled her around and held her face in his hands. “Baby, talk to me.”

Evie shook her head. “You wouldn’t understand, Parker. Your family is perfect. Mine is splattered all over the newspaper.”

Parker wiped her tears away.

“I do understand,” he said. “No one should have to deal with losing someone they love the way you did. I hate to say it, but with all that’s going on, you need a break from your family.”

Nodding, Evie wrapped her arms around his waist. “You’re right.”

“I’m glad you agree. Why don’t you bring enough clothes with you to my place? Stay with me for a while.” He grinned, anticipating her next question. “You don’t have to make a decision about moving in just yet.”

Evie couldn’t help the smile that came to her lips.

“Really?”

He kissed her. “Of course. I’m going to do my best to help you take your mind off all the madness going on.”

A buzzing sound caught Evie’s attention.

“That sounds like just what I need,” she said to Parker as she fished her cell phone out of her bag’s front pocket.

She checked her text messages.

Her face paled at what she read and turned away from Parker so that he wouldn’t see the message.

“Good,” he said. “I better get to my next class. You be strong for me baby. One more night in Scarlett Hall and I’ll be there to help you take your mind off things. Try not to obsess over the trial, okay?”

Evie slid her phone back in her bag, her eyes staring off into nothing. She swallowed and nodded slowly.

“Yes,” she said. “Sure.”

Parker left and Evie sped away from the quad. She needed to be alone.

Forget the trial, he says.

Take your mind off things, he says.

Evie’s fingers tingled as she swiftly left campus.

The words in her text message from her brother, Wes said it all.

Hugh Prince is dead.

If she didn’t get away before the news was out to the public, she’d be bombarded with questions, odd looks, or worse.

Evie could barely breathe when she reached her car.

Hugh Prince is dead.

She couldn’t stop repeating those four words in her head.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Wes wasn’t kidding. They really did it.

The man that killed their father was dead.

Now we are even, she thought.

Right?





“ARE YOU SURE you’re okay?” Quinn watched Evie as she stepped out of her afternoon shift at Carter’s Books and Gifts.

Evie nodded, offering a half-hearted smile to her best friend. They met up every Friday after her shift for coffee.