Embrace, Entice, Emblaze (141 page)

probably come with me and we would find another plane. But I

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really didn’t want to cause a scene, draw attention to myself only to be dragged back on board. Josephine would just love that. But I couldn’t, simply
couldn’t
, be here. With her.

Just as I was about to make a move, Lincoln’s silhouette dark-

ened the entrance, and the second I saw him, I started to shake all over. He took one look down the plane, then back to me. Griffin appeared at his side and looked at me, seeing I was a cowardly

mess, before putting a hand on Lincoln’s shoulder.

“I’ll sit at the back. You take a seat down here,” Griffin said in a soft tone that conveyed more than his words. Protectiveness.

Lincoln didn’t hesitate and sat down beside me, almost pulling me onto his lap. I heard Griffin stop and speak, quietly but loudly enough for those around us to hear: “No one comes down this end of the jet.” First Nathan, “Not a problem, boss,” then Becca, “Our pleasure.” The strongest fighters in earshot supporting his order, making sure I knew I was safe.

Lincoln held me tight and brushed my hair back, combing it

through his fingers and behind my ear until eventually the shaking stopped and I eased back into my seat.

————

I stirred at the sound of conversation drifting from the back of the plane.

“I see you’re awake again,” Josephine said.

“Yes. I’m feeling better all the time. Sleep seems to help rejuvenate me,” came a somehow familiar voice, even though I’d never

heard it before.

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Jessica shirvington

“Do you have any memory of what happened?” Josephine asked.

The speaker hesitated, but then responded clearly. “No. Other

than that it seems some time has passed.”

“Indeed. It is more than seventeen years since you were last

thought to be with us, Evelyn. You’ve been greatly missed by many.” I looked over to see Lincoln watching me carefully. I turned

toward the window but kept concentrating on the conversation

Josephine was making no attempt to keep private.

“Do you know why you’re here?” she continued.

Evelyn paused again before she answered, making me distrust her.

Not
that
I
don’t already.

“I can tell you this much— if I’m here, you can be sure Lilith

is back.”

“Hmm,” Josephine said. “That’s quite correct.”

“Well!” Evelyn snapped. “How the hell did you let that happen?” I could hear the contempt dripping from Josephine’s voice as she answered. “Her first son, Phoenix, discovered a lost Exile Scripture from the time of Moses. He found a way to open the gates to Hell and resurrect her.”

“Wait!” Evelyn said. I could tell she was now standing. I was sure all eyes were on her. Except for mine, and Lincoln’s, whose gaze I could feel was still fixated on me. “Phoenix? No, that’s not possible.

We watched him for decades. He wasn’t ever inclined toward Lilith’s ways; he was more human than exile. Powerful and malicious at times, yes. Greedy and possessive too, but generally sane. Something must have made him change, brought out his darkness. What happened?” 416

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I couldn’t take it anymore. Lincoln put a hand on mine, but I

pushed it away and stood up. All eyes quickly moved in my direction and there was a collective holding of breath. Evelyn’s electric-blue eyes took me in, sensing a challenge.

“
I
happened. Phoenix is the way he is because of me,” I said, putting my hands on my hips, refusing to show how weak I was feeling.

My mother’s glare intensified and she took a step toward me,

throwing a hand up in the air as she did. “Well, congratulations!

You just brought Hell to earth.”

I stared right back. “Oh, believe me, I know.”

She flinched and resumed walking. When she reached the

halfway mark, Nathan and Becca stood up on opposite sides of the aisle, their threat clear. Evelyn stopped.

“Let me pass.”

Griffin stood too and looked at me, waiting. I gave a small nod.

“Let her by,” Griffin said.

Nathan and Becca took their seats again but stayed perched

and ready.

Evelyn absorbed all of this, taking a few more steps. I stiffened at her nearness and Lincoln was up in a shot and standing behind me.

“That’s close enough,” he said.

Evelyn looked him up and down, assessing this new threat. She

stopped as requested.

“Your markings?” she questioned, motioning to me to reveal them.

I held out my arms, inner wrists exposed. She saw the scar that had never fully healed after Jordan.

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She gasped. “What’s your name?” Her voice quivered.

I didn’t answer.

“Violet?” she whispered.

But I wasn’t going to let that fool me. I stood tall. I’d had practice at this, at blocking everything out. I knew the rules, despite my earlier desire to escape.

I
don’t run. I don’t quit. I don’t believe in fairy- tale endings.

And it helped knowing I had a kick- ass warrior at my back. “It’s the name my mother gave me— before she handed me over to an

angel, sealed my fate, and abandoned me and my dad, leaving us

with no answers.”

Evelyn just kept staring, so intently that I struggled to hold eye contact. She glanced at Lincoln again, then back to me.

“Phoenix fell in love with you,” she said finally.

I froze at her words but recovered quickly, turning my back on

her. “I don’t owe you any answers.”

I dropped back down into my seat, knowing I had no energy

left and not wanting to pass out in front of her. I heard her walking away. Lincoln stayed where he was for a while and then sat down beside me again.

He didn’t say anything. He didn’t touch me. He knew I couldn’t

have handled it right then. I turned toward the window and

pretended to sleep while trying to ignore the hundreds of thoughts bombarding my mind, fighting for attention.

It wasn’t long before I felt him move away, and the first twinge of my soul stirring within, warning me.

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“Let me by.”

“I’m sorry, Evelyn. I’m sure there is a lot that needs to be

discussed, but right now, she’s exhausted. You have no idea what she’s been through.” Lincoln’s voice caught, but he covered it, clearing his throat. “She needs to rest…and so do you, I imagine.”

“You’re her partner?” she asked confrontationally.

“I am.”

“You’re from a Power?” It was an odd question.

“How did you know?” Lincoln asked.

“At least some things were done right,” she mumbled. “I suppose if I were to make a point of passing you now, you’d be willing to use force?”

“A fair assumption,” he said, and I could tell he wasn’t joking.

My soul stirred again.

“Would you die for her?”

I almost stopped breathing. I could feel his eyes on me.

“I do. Every day.”

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chapter
thirty- eight

“What is done out of love always takes place beyond good

and evil.”

FrIeDrICH NIeTZsCHe

We landed in a thunderstorm and the turbulence was too much. I

felt sick by the time the plane drew to a standstill— though more so at the thought of what would happen now we were home.

As we began to taxi toward our terminal, Griffi n and Josephine moved to the front of the plane. Dealing with everything else, I’d almost forgotten she was there, probably enjoying the show.

Th e pair stopped in front of Lincoln and me.

“Violet, Josephine will be returning to the Academy immedi-

ately. We have no idea where Lilith is headed, but we can assume she will be in control now, so it is unlikely she and Phoenix will return here. Josephine will mount an investigation and put out feelers to all Grigori worldwide until we get a hit on them. In the meantime, the Assembly will be…reviewing your unique situation.”

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I nodded. No doubt that wouldn’t mean anything good, but

there was little else to say for now.

Griffin cleared his throat. “Also, Josephine will be taking your moth— ” My look cut him off. “Sorry— Evelyn, back to the

Academy with her. Given the circumstances of her return, she will need to be fully debriefed and monitored.”

I looked up, seeing in Griffin’s eyes what his words only

touched upon.

They were going to imprison her, just like Josephine had threatened to do to me. I glanced over my shoulder at Evelyn. She was standing at the back, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, as if unconcerned. But she wasn’t.

Could I stand by and let them take her? Why should I bother

trying to stop them? She would never help me. She’d probably

handcuff me for them if the roles were reversed. And I already had enough troubles with the Academy.

I looked at Lincoln. He was glancing around too. I knew what

he was thinking.

Even
if
we
wanted
to
do
something, we have no chance.

We could fight, but that would be bad, bad, bad. Plus, even

though I’d be happy to punch Josephine, I didn’t want to fight the Academy Grigori; I liked most of them.

I turned back to see Josephine looking smug.

“Violet? Are you okay?” Lincoln said loudly.

I looked up at him in horror. He knew better than to draw

attention to me when I was like this. He put a hand over my face.

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“You look like you’re going to be sick. Spence! Take her to

the bathroom!”

Spence moved quickly, helping me up.

What
is
Lincoln
doing?

I wasn’t going to be sick. He knew why I was panicking.

As Spence pulled me down the aisle, I caught Lincoln giving

him a small nod.

What
the…?

Spence opened the door to the bathroom and, to my horror,

stepped in with me, a finger to his lips.

I mouthed, “What’s going on?”

He shrugged. He didn’t know either. All we knew was that

Lincoln had sent us down here on purpose. Why?

Because
Spence
must
be
able
to
do
something
no
one
else
can.

I dropped my face in my hands and then looked up at our

reflections in the mirror. I wished Spence could glamour me into looking better.

Glamour! That’s it.

I put my mouth to his ear. “Lincoln’s giving us the chance to

get her out of here. I can’t just let the Academy imprison her. If I clear the way, can you hold a glamour that no one out there

will see through? Can you help me get her off ?” And all the

while, my soul churned, loving and screaming for that man more

and more.

Spence grinned. “Don’t need to ask, Eden. I’ve already told you I’ve got your back.”

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I squeezed his shoulder gratefully. “And I’ve got yours.

Whenever. Whatever.”

————

I stumbled out of the bathroom. “Linc,” I breathed.

He bounded up the aisle to my side. “Hey! You okay?”

I glanced at Evelyn and let her see my eyes dart toward Spence.

It was the best I could do. She didn’t react at all.

I
hope
this
works.

“Yeah. Just dizzy. Can you help me off ?” I asked.

Lincoln wrapped his arm around my waist. “Everyone, clear

the aisle.”

And it was as easy as that. Everyone moved back, watching me,

the poor invalid who needed to be helped off the plane by her soul mate. I was grinding my teeth the entire time.

Lincoln knew, of course. My asking for help was a surefire way

to tip him off. Griffin too, who actually looked like he was enjoying the moment as we passed him and Josephine.

“We’ll be seeing you soon, Violet,” Josephine promised as

we passed.

“I’m sure,” I said, wishing I didn’t have to look so pathetic in front of her.

“Hey, Kaitlin!” Griffin called out, standing on one of the seats.