“The supernatural creation story,” Nedra clarified.
Jamie let out a chuckle. “Horny demons impregnated humans, and the result was the first of the Born vampires.”
“And in response,” Sophia tacked on, “the gods created shifters, combining human and beast to make an entity stronger than both in order to destroy the vampires those gods saw as an abomination.”
Nedra nodded, settling deeper into the recliner she’d chosen. “Yes. And the angels, wanting to leave their own mark, gifted upon a small number of humans, magical abilities, the first of the magic wielders – sorcerers, wizards, witches.”
Sophia settled on the couch next to Jamie and listened with rapt fascination. She’d only heard her own species’ part in this story, had had no idea that magic had come from an angelic source.
“That magic,” Nedra continued, “was passed down through generations, changing as bloodlines and powers comingled, or dwindling as wielders mated with non-magical humans who would dilute the gifts, but the power was freely given by those angels, meant to be held and utilized by humans.”
Nedra fell into silence for a moment, her gaze clouding as she lost herself in either thoughts or memories. As if more to herself, she said, “Evangeline Duvalier was powerful, her bloodline nearly pure, but her head was filled with the idea that if she could just harness more power, she’d be able to fight all the injustice she saw in the world.”
Nedra’s eyes cleared and she looked between Jamie and Sophia. “She hated that the Born were seen as more powerful, that they looked down upon the witches, and subjugated all supernaturals under their rule. Her drive for more power became an obsession.”
“She achieved her objective, didn’t she?” Jamie asked. “Somehow she found a way to increase her powers.”
Nedra nodded. “But at great cost. What power Evangeline now possesses was stolen, taken from a demonic source, and never intended for mortals. It infected her, corrupted her, twisted her mind until nothing of the girl she was, remained. What had started as a potentially just cause, has become nothing more than a power-hungry madness and greed. She will settle for nothing less than absolute control – of everyone.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Kane was going over talking points for tonight’s meeting with Edward on speakerphone when a call from Jamie came through. Telling Edward he’d call him back, he switched it over. “Jamie, girl. What’s up?”
“Hey, Kane. Listen, Sophia and I went to see Nedra –”
“You’re with Sophia?” he asked, brightening. “How is she?”
“She’s good, but listen –”
“So, ah, did she like, mention me or anything?”
“Oh, my God, Kane. What are we? Twelve? Yes, we talked about you but that’s not why I’m calling –”
“What did she say?” he cut in with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. What if Sophia had complained about him to Jamie? What if he hadn’t pleased her as much as he had thought? She had agreed to see him again tonight after his meeting – a fact he was eagerly anticipating – so he couldn’t have fucked things up too badly… Right?
Jamie let out a frustrated little screech before barking, “Kane! This is important.”
He agreed. Sophia’s opinion of him was exceedingly important but for some reason, Jamie was talking about that witch, Evangeline. Wait. What?
“Hold on. Back up. What about Evangeline? We were discussing Sophia.”
“Nooo,” Jamie said with a frustrated edge to her voice, drawing the word out. “Youwere talking about Sophia.Iwas trying to tell you what we learned from Nedra about Evangeline.”
Forcing himself to focus, he listened this time. The information wasn’t much different from what Jourdain had already shared except for one new addition: Evangeline was potentially holding the shifter female, Nicky, somewhere down by the river.
What would a power-hungry witch want with Nicky? She was a low-level pack member, so the only reason would be to draw the pack alpha, Archer, out into the open.
He said as much to Jamie, and he could hear a little humming noise as Jamie considered that for a moment before she offered, “Possible. Or Evangeline might be under the impression that you and Nicky are still an item and she’s trying to drawyouout.”
Saying he and Nicky had ever been an item was a stretch. Yes, he’d fooled around with her one time after making it clear he wasn’t interested in anything more than casual fun. The young wolf had outwardly agreed, but apparently, had taken his words as a challenge to try to change his mind.
Jamie’s kidnapping hadn’t helped matters. Since Nicky had been the only woman he’d been around that the rogues may have seen with him, he’d assumed when he received a message from them that they had his woman, that Nicky had been the one taken, so he had sent Morgan to check on her. Nicky had taken that as a sign that he’d regretted his decision and only upped her stalker game.
She’d begun calling him constantly, stopping by unannounced, even going so far as to convince the clerk, who worked in the store below the apartment he’d been staying in, to let her in so she could surprise Kane. Hehadbeen surprised, all right, but probably not in the way Nicky had hoped. He’d been pissed, and he’d let her know it, in no uncertain terms, as he marched her out of his place with the warning not to return. Ever.
But as to the matter at hand, “I don’t see why Evangeline would need to draw me out. If we’re right, and she’s the witch in that footage, she already had full access to me for several hours, even if I can’t remember anything about it. No, more likely, she’s after Archer, so tell your mate to watch his back.”
“I’ll let him know, but you be careful too. All of you are meeting tonight – you, Archer, Jourdain. If this is a power play, tonight would be an ideal target for her, maybe we should send more people to keep an eye on you guys.”
