The Curse of Blood (Love Lines Book 4) Read online

  Then she told Evan about her memory, but to our mutual disappointment, he didn’t remember anything about that day.

  “Have you ever seen a book that might be the one that the woman gave to you?” Eileen asked.

  “No, but it’s hard to say for sure. My parents had hundreds of books in their library.”

  “The library that is in your house in Paris?”

  “Yes.” Evan looked at Eileen again and shook his head, as if he already knew that she was up to something neither of us would approve of.

  “You aren’t going to Paris, are you?” I asked my girlfriend.

  “Not exactly.” She smiled mysteriously.

  “Don’t tell me you want to use another illusion to get there,” Evan said. “I’m kind of tired of traveling to places that I don’t know how to get back from.”

  “Last time it worked, so why don’t we try it again?”

  “Last time we almost got trapped in the freaking illusion, remember?”

  Eileen rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a pessimist, Evan. Our tricks always work.”

  “Not always,” I said, remembering all those times that we got into trouble because of Eileen’s self-assurance.

  “Then how should we find the book?”

  “What if it’s not there?” Evan asked. “If my parents didn’t want me to use it, I’m sure they did their best to hide it properly. They could have destroyed it.”

  “I don’t think they would do that,” Eileen said. “The look in their eyes that I saw in the memory told me they knew sooner or later you would need it.”

  “Then why would they be hiding the damn book from me?”

  “Maybe they hoped that your gift would never be revealed?” I said.

  “Which again, means that finding Elizabeth would be helpful,” Eileen said.

  “No!” Evan looked at her angrily. “We won’t be looking for her. Neither you nor I, Eileen. Am I making myself clear?” He was still too shocked about his mother being alive.

  “Evan, listen-”

  “I said, no!”

  “Why? Don’t you want to know why she has been hiding for six years?”

  “I don’t want to see her, and I don’t want to hear anything else about her. Okay?”

  Eileen sighed. “As you wish.”

  “Promise me you won’t try to find her,” Evan said. “Because if you get into trouble again, I will let your good-looking ass be kicked this time. Then maybe you will finally realize that risking your life is not worth turning into the walking dead.”

  “Okay, I promise, I won’t try to find her,” Eileen said, smiling uneasily. “Happy now?”

  “Not really,” Evan snapped. “I know that your promises are usually bullshit.”

  “Then why did you ask me to promise you if you only thought it was bullshit?”

  “Because I was trying to appeal to your conscience.”

  Eileen laughed. “You know my conscience and I have never been besties.”

  “Figures. But I still hope you won’t do anything stupid. At least not without asking me to join the fun.”

  “Deal,” Eileen said, winking at him.

  “Wow, wait a second,” I said, rising to my feet. “No more deathful fun here!” I looked at the two of them. “Or I will never talk to either of you again.”

  “Fine. We will take you with us this time,” Evan said.

  “You two are going to be the death of me.”

  “Don’t be such a pessimist, Christian.” Evan smiled, repeating Eileen’s words. “We are in this together, remember?”

  “That’s what I thought before you two ran away to Paris and I couldn’t do a damn thing to get you back.”

  Eileen came and took my hand in hers. “It won’t happen again, Sweetheart. I swear. For real this time.”

  I took a deep breath, pulling her into my embrace. “Don’t make me regret falling for you, lady.”

  “Have you ever regretted it?” She moved a little to see my face.

  “Many times,” I said, looking down into her eyes.

  Evan smirked. “He’s lying.”

  “I know.” Eileen chuckled. “But it’s still funny to watch his reaction to my words.”

  “You never get tired of trying my patience, do you?”

  She and Evan laughed.

  “Courage, man.” Evan patted my shoulder. “You are blessed to have the most impossible girlfriend and best friend ever.”

  “I already figured that much.”

  The door behind Evan opened and Amanda entered the room.

  “Hey, Sunshine,” my friend said, smiling at her. “Haven’t seen since last night. Where have you been?”

  She ignored his question, and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

  “To what do I owe the honor of her ignorance?” Evan asked, staring at the closed door.

  “Did you do anything to upset her?” I asked, trying to understand what was wrong with Amanda.

  “Not that I remember,” Evan said, confused.

  I looked at Eileen. “You know what’s going on, don’t you?”

  She smiled uneasily. “There’s a time for everything. Including the answer to your question, Christian.”

  Chapter 7

  Amanda

  My knees trembled. I sank to the bathroom floor, hiding my face in my hands.

  “It can’t be real,” I whispered, feeling the wild beating of my heart. Since the moment Evan woke up, I have been having that weird feeling pulling me to him. First, I thought I was simply imagining things. After all, Evan and I had always enjoyed bantering and annoying each other. Then I felt that something was wrong with the whole situation that was happening around me. I used every opportunity to see him, to talk to him, to smile at him… Whenever he was around, I wanted nothing but to be closer to him. And whenever I heard Lucas’ voice on the other end of the line, I realized that my heart didn’t melt from it anymore; I no longer held the same feelings for him that I originally had before.

  It didn’t take long to figure out that Evan was the reason for everything that I felt now. I could read his mind easily. He didn’t try to block me anymore. Rather on the contrary — he showed me so many intimate things that I would be embarrassed to even think about. Though somehow, I was sure he didn’t know I could read them.

  His dreams were impossible to ignore. They made me hot in all the right places, and I even considered the idea of running to Evan’s room and waking him, because at the times like that, the intensity of the desire coming from him through our bond was mind-blowing. And now, every time I saw him, the memories of those dreams made my knees tremble, because deep down inside him, Evan knew that his fantasies were about me, and no one else.

  “Amanda, are you okay in there?” Eileen asked from behind the closed door.

  “Yeah, be right back!” I rose to my feet and walked to the mirror.

  My eyes were filled with fear. I didn’t know how to act in Evan’s presence anymore, and even more than that, I was afraid about the moment he would realize that I knew everything he was thinking and dreaming about.

  I splashed some cool water on my face and neck, hoping it would help me relax a little; I didn’t want Eileen to ask me any more questions. I knew she was worried about me, but I also knew how much she cared about Evan, so being bound to both of them, I needed to keep my thoughts and fears for myself. At least for now.

  “Feel better?” She asked, smiling at me.

  “Yeah.” Thank God, Evan and Christian had left and I could stop acting like a freak.

  “Evan’s getting suspicious,” she said to me with narrowed eyes.

  “So what? I don’t want to talk to him now.” I sat on my bed, wrapping my hands around myself. “You didn’t tell Christian anything, did you?”

  “Your secrets are safe with me.” Eileen smiled again and opened her wardrobe. “Tara called. She wants us to come to her room. Are you coming with me?”

  I didn’t feel like seeing Tara, knowi
ng about her feelings for Evan. No one knew how she felt about him now, not even Evan. So I was a little embarrassed for my thoughts about him. After all, I also had a boyfriend that I didn’t know how to talk to. Obviously, I couldn’t pretend I still loved him, when all my thoughts were wrapped around someone else.

  “Sure,” I said finally, getting to my feet. I couldn’t hide in my room and avoid everyone for the rest of my life. The only good news was that Lucas was coming back no earlier than in two weeks. That was more than enough time to figure out what to do. At least, I hoped so.

  The moment Eileen and I entered Tara’s room, we both froze speechless. Wearing a floor-length, snow-white dress, Tara was standing near the mirror, smiling.

  “So, what do you think?” She asked, turning around.

  “It looks so much like a-”

  “Wedding dress?” Tara laughed. “Yes! I’m getting married!”

  Eileen and I shared a glance.

  “Last night, when I was in Gloster, Martin proposed.” She held out her hand to show us a beautiful diamond ring, shining on her left hand. “Aren’t you happy for me, ladies?”

  “Of course, we are!” Eileen said, hugging her. “Congratulations.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I was happy for Tara, I only didn’t know if she was as happy as she was trying to seem.

  “If this is what you want, we can’t help but wish you a long and happy life with Martin,” I said, coming to give her a hug.

  Tara nodded and turned back to the mirror. “Do you like the dress?”

  “It’s beautiful,” I said, barely able to form an intelligible sentence.

  A lump formed in my throat and I felt sick. I didn’t know what worried me most: the fact that Tara was obviously making the wrong choice, or the fact that I had feelings for someone she loved so much.

  “I forgot, I promised my father I’d help him with some papers,” I said, turning to the door.

  “Are you okay, Sweetie?” Tara called after me.

  Could she foresee the changes in my attitude towards Evan? She was so damn good at making predictions. Shoot…

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” I turned around and forced a smile.

  “I hope you two will agree to be my bridesmaids, girls.” Tara looked at Eileen and me, and I felt the waves of guilt eating me alive. Somehow, I knew she wouldn’t be happy with Martin. Why would she be marrying someone she didn’t even love?

  “I know what you think, Amanda,” she said, taking a step toward me. “You can read Evan’s mind, you know how much the two of us shared. But it doesn’t matter now. He’s not my fate.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”

  Eileen touched her hand, saying, “You never told us about the vision you saw about the guy who was supposed to become your fate. What was so special about him?”

  Tara hesitated for a moment. “The eyes. I know that Evan’s are not the eyes of the man that is predestined for me.”

  “So that’s why you broke up with him?” I asked. “Because of the eye-color? What if your vision was a mistake?”

  “My visions are always true,” Tara replied. “We all know that.”

  Yes, we did, but I still couldn’t believe her words.

  “Do you love Martin?” I asked.

  “I do. Maybe not as much as I wished I would love the someone I was going to marry, but I do love him.”

  “So everything is okay about his eyes? I mean they match the color from your vision?” Eileen asked.

  “I’m not-”

  “You are getting married?”

  The three of us turned to the sound of Evan’s voice. He was standing at the threshold of Tara’s room, staring blankly at her wedding dress. And again, I could hear every thought crossing his mind.

  First, he was shocked. Then when he thought he would feel the pain of looking at her, he felt something else. No, he wasn’t lost or broken. He was relieved. He was actually happy to see her in that dress, knowing that she had found her happiness.

  “Hi, Evan,” Tara said. “Yes. Martin and I are getting married.” I could see that she was a little nervous, but most of all, I was surprised by my reaction to Evan’s thoughts. I was selfishly happy to know that he didn’t care about her as much as he used to.

  He looked at me, frowning. “What makes you so nervous, Darling?”

  “I’m glad to know that at least someone can be happy considering all the madness happening around us.”

  “Damn true,” Evan said, smiling at Tara. “Congratulations!” He came over to hug her, and for a moment, I thought Tara would start crying. She so didn’t look like a woman standing at the threshold of a happy marriage.

  “Thanks,” she said, stepping back. “I’m glad you’ve accepted my choice so easily.”

  “It’s your life, Tara. I can’t make decisions for you. I only hope that you will never regret your decision.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Good. Now, when is the Big Day?”

  “In two weeks. And you, Evan, are invited too.”

  “It would be my honor to watch you going down the aisle. Will you invite your father as well?”

  Tara shook her head. “I don’t think he will have time to come. Patrick agreed to give me away.” Tara’s father was a human, and we all knew that their relations left much to be desired.

  “Well, then I’m sure you don’t have anything else to worry about. We will take care of the rest. Right, girls?” Evan looked at Eileen and me.

  “Of course,” Eileen said. “It will be a great wedding. Do you know where you would like it to take place?”

  “I thought about that small church in the suburbs of Gloster. I always liked going there when I was a kid.”

  “Martin doesn’t know about Dever, does he?” Evan asked.

  “He doesn’t. And I don’t think I will ever tell him. It’s better if he keeps thinking that I’m just a teacher at one of Gloster’s schools.”

  I doubted her plan would work, but just like everyone else present in the room, I preferred to keep my thoughts to myself. My cell phone buzzed in my pocket.

  “It’s Lucas,” I said, going out into the hall. “Hey, how are you?”

  “Hey, Baby. I’m great; miss you like hell.”

  My heart shrank at his words. “Same here,” I said, thanking God for the thousands of kilometers separating Lucas and me now. Lying looking into his eyes would be so much worse than this.

  “So how are things going in Dever? How are Evan and Eileen?”

  “Good. Everyone’s trying to get back to studying and routine, hoping there won’t be any more problems.”

  “Something tells me that you already have some problems that you don’t know how to deal with.”

  I sighed. Lucas knew me too well to miss the worry in my voice. “It’s just… Evan.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  “His thoughts, you know? The usual thing actually.” I thought that telling a partial truth would make me feel at least a little less guilty.

  “Oh, I see. Can’t you block him? I thought you’d learned how to do that.”

  “Yeah, well… It’s really hard to block him now, when so many emotions and thoughts are crossing his mind.”

  “Don’t worry, Sweetheart. I’m sure it’s gonna be okay soon.”

  Hardly believable…

  “I hope so,” I said aloud. Then I heard the footsteps behind me and added, “I gotta go now. I will call you later, okay?”

  “Okay. Love you,” Lucas said, sounding a little disappointed. We used to spend hours talking about every small thing that happened during the day, especially when Evan and Eileen were unconscious. But now, I couldn’t wait for the moment to finish the conversation, even though I didn’t have anywhere in particular to go.

  “Love you too,” I said before hanging up.

  Evan whispered into my ear, “I don’t believe you.”

  “Jeez, you scared me!”
I turned around, feeling my heart beating wildly in my chest. “What don’t you believe me about?”

  “You are not hiding your aura, and the only color that is missing there is the color of love.”

  He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall; his piercing eyes watching me intently. “Wanna talk about it?” He asked.

  “Not really.” I lowered my eyes and masked my aura, just in case he would see something that he shouldn’t.

  “Fine. Then why don’t you show me some of those famous magical tricks that you’ve learned in my absence?” He smiled ironically, apparently thinking that I lied about my magic.

  “You still think I won’t be able to kick your ass, do you?”

  This time I met his stare without hesitation. One thing that I always loved about our relationship was the way we challenged each other, whether the relationship between us was romantic or not. Evan knew I would never be able to ignore the smirk in his eyes. Beautiful bastard…

  “I didn’t say that, you did.”

  Now it was my turn to smirk. “You sure you are ready to stand against me?”

  “Trust me, Darling, even if I’m not, I’m dying to see what you are capable of now.”

  “Okay. Follow me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  We went to one of the classes where the students practiced magic. I locked the door and we sank into the inky darkness.

  “You could have said that you simply wanted to be in a locked room with me,” Evan said in a barely audible voice, standing right behind me. I could feel his breath on my neck, I was sure he would be able to find me, even with the lights off.

  “Not exactly, but close enough,” I said, making a thin ray of light draw a picture of a rose on one of the walls. Then I turned around and smiled at Evan’s surprised expression.

  “It’s made of fire, isn’t it?” He asked, still staring at the flower.

  “I’m a Fairey student, remember?” I turned my hand palm up and made the rose turn into a small star, growing and illuminating the entice space around us.

  “Not bad.” Evan nodded approvingly. “But it’s just a small trick. Any first grade student can do that.”

  “Really? Then how about this?” I raised my hands and wrapped the very shining star around Evan. Only now, it didn’t look like a star anymore, but a fiery circle, firmly locked around him.