Eternal Starling (Emblem of Eternity Trilogy) (24 page)

When we got back to camp it was late afternoon and we all helped my mom make dinner. I was glad the day was almost over and I’d be leaving in the morning with my little entourage. Trying to appease two guys was exhausting.

We joked with my parents as we ate, then I decided to go to sleep early since I knew it would be a long drive home. Alex and Emil agreed and went to their tents. I settled into the motor home and fell asleep, dreaming of a war that had been going on forever. All the people in the war were fighting over something. As I got closer, the object in the middle that everyone wanted wasn’t a thing at all—it was me.

Chapter 16

I woke up to my mom’s voice calling me for breakfast. I was glad I’d been able to see my parents on the trip. I wished I could have spent more time with them alone. After my shower, I packed all my things and carried them to my car, turning down offers from both Alex and Emil to take my bags for me. Both guys followed me to the car anyway.

“Are you ready to go?” Emil asked.

I opened the trunk and put my bags inside. “Yeah, I need to say good-bye to my mom and dad.”

“Okay, I’ll follow you home in my car,” Emil said.

I nodded, rearranging the bags so everything fit. “That sounds good,” I said.

Emil’s eyes found Alex. “When are you leaving?” Emil asked.

Alex nodded in my direction, answering, “When Evie does. I’m riding with her.”

I wasn’t excited about the prospect of twelve hours in my car with Alex. I really wanted to be alone but knew that even if I thought I was alone, I wouldn’t be—Alex would just be watching me with his ring.

Emil laughed until he realized Alex wasn’t kidding. The smile on his face washed away; in its place was a calm, determined expression. “That’s not happening.”

Alex smiled in challenge. “Try to stop me.”

The tension between Alex and Emil escalated until my mom and dad came around the corner. The guys told my parents thank you and left me alone to say good-bye; though, I couldn’t help but notice Emil’s frustrated expression as Alex got in my Mustang. I hugged both my parents and my mom made me promise to call as soon as I got home. My dad told me to be careful and said he had checked my car earlier in the morning so I should get home without a problem. I waved, watching my mom and dad disappear in my rearview mirror as we drove off.

We turned onto the main road when Alex decided it was time to chat. “That was an interesting trip,” he said.

“I would call it awkward.”

Alex laughed. “Your dad seemed to like me a
lot
,” he mused, “your mom too.”

I rolled my window down and rested my arm on the door. “Don’t flatter yourself. My mom likes everyone. My dad liked that you could keep up with him on the four-wheeler.”

Alex was quiet for a minute. I noticed a smile playing on his lips. “Regardless, I don’t think they liked Emil
nearly
as much as me.”

I looked over at him, trying to figure out what game he was playing. “They didn’t get to spend as much time with Emil. You had a whole day of them to yourself before Emil showed up,” I said. “Why does it matter who they liked more anyway?”

Alex ignored my question and studied me, his expression a mixture of annoyance and concern. “Why are you being so defensive of Emil all of a sudden?”

I could get whiplash from Alex’s mood swings. “Telling you my parents don’t have a preference for either guy who decided to crash our camping trip is not being defensive.”

Alex shifted in his seat watching the fields, houses, and random potatoes on the side of the road as we drove by. He stewed for a while. When he finally spoke, his tone was frustrated. “You’re making it difficult for me to keep my promise.”

“What promise?”

“I told you that you would never have to worry about your safety with Emil as long as I was here.”

“Do you plan on leaving?” I asked, confused.

“Not exactly,” Alex hedged. “But you being alone with him in that dune buggy for half the day while I had to follow behind you wasn’t helpful. It’s not like I could use any of my powers to keep you safe. We were in public and your dad was fifteen feet in front of you. I didn’t know what the two of you were talking about, or what was going on. If he had tried something, if he had wanted to hurt you, Evie, I might have been too late.”

I ran a hand through my hair. “I wasn’t worried about him doing anything to hurt me. I talked with him on the way back to camp. I really don’t think he has any malevolent intentions toward me.”

Alex thinned his eyes and frowned. “He’s a master manipulator, all Daevos are. Of course he would make you feel like that.”

I was quiet for a few seconds. “Maybe you don’t know him like you thought you did. Maybe he’s different,” I defended.

The hard set of Alex’s jaw made it obvious he was rankled by my comment. “I’ve seen what he’s capable of. If you only knew . . . trust me, he’s as bad as the rest of them.”

We’d barely been on the road thirty minutes; I wasn’t going to start an argument with him this early into the trip, so I decided to stay quiet. I could feel the air in the car become thicker, almost rancid, but Alex didn’t push the conversation. I turned on the radio and we rode in silence until we had to stop for gas.

Emil pulled up at the pump next to mine and came over while my tank was filling. He moved in next to me, leaning against my car. “Hey there, sexy girl.”

I could feel myself blushing and turned away.

“How’s the Mustang handling?”

I wasn’t sure if the blood had drained from my cheeks, but I looked at Emil anyway. “No problems so far. We’re just listening to some music.”

“Well, let me know if you need anything.” He leaned in close, brushing my hair with his cheek. “Why don’t I give Night the keys to my BMW so I can ride with you for a while?”

I wrinkled my brow, wondering if he was crazy. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Alex would crash your car out of spite.”

Emil grinned slyly. “It would be worth it.”

I laughed softly. “He won’t let us ride together,” I said. “His inability to leave me alone is becoming irritating.”

“You’re not kidding,” Emil agreed.

I put the gas cap back on. “I’ll see you on the road,” I said to Emil as I got in the car. Alex had moved to the driver’s seat and cracked the window open; I knew he’d been listening to my conversation with Emil. As he turned the key and started the engine I said, “I thought you didn’t like my car, so why are you driving it?”

“I don’t,” he answered, pulling into the intersection, “but it’s safer with me driving it than you.”

I glared. “Next time, ask before you commandeer my vehicle.”

We rode in silence for a few minutes until Alex sneered, “You and Emil seem to be getting along well.”

A crease formed between my brows as I tried to figure out what I’d done to piss him off this time. “What are you upset about?” I asked. “You’re the one who wanted me to be in a relationship with Emil.”

“I wanted you to
act
like you’re in love with him, not actually be in love with him,” Alex said.

I sighed. I didn’t want to have this conversation, but Alex seemed determined. “I’m not going to lie to him. He told me a lot of stuff about the history of the Daevos yesterday. He said he’s not like the other Daevos members anymore. He said he’s changed—and I believe him.”

My assessment of Emil got Alex’s rapt attention and fury flashed across his face. “Evie, you don’t know . . .” he stopped mid-sentence, seething. “Whatever happens, you
cannot
fall for his lies. If you . . .” he hesitated like he shouldn’t say anything, “decide to be with him based on lies he tells you, there’s not much I can do. I need you to step back and really look at this situation before you believe anything Emil says.” Alex’s fingers were held so tight around the steering wheel that I could see the veins pulsing in his hands and arms. I couldn’t understand why he was reacting this way when it was clear to me that Emil wouldn’t hurt me. Maybe I hadn’t communicated that well enough to Alex.

“Alex, I just don’t see Emil ever doing anything as awful as you’re suggesting. I’ll be objective, but he won’t hurt me, I—”

Alex put a hand up and cut me off. “You have
no
idea what you’re dealing with.”

I opened my mouth to protest. Alex stopped me. “Evie,” he said my name louder this time. “If you knew about his past, you would be a lot more careful.”

I frowned at him. “Then enlighten me, because I don’t see it. Emil said he’s different. He hasn’t given me a reason to doubt him.”

Alex didn’t hide his anger. “There are still some things you don’t know.”

I raised an eyebrow thinking that seemed unlikely. “Considering everything I’ve learned over the last few days, I think I could probably be an Amaranthine and Daevos scholar.”

“I didn’t want to overwhelm you, but apparently I need to go into more detail.” He paused like he was collecting his thoughts. I was getting impatient.

“Well,” I said, gesturing with my hand for him to go on. “Don’t let me stop you.”

He took a deep breath. “The Daevos Resistance works by breaking members into smaller groups called Clans. The Clans operate in locations around the world and Daevos members can move among the different groups.” He stopped talking and looked at me. “Every Daevos clan wants a Tracker. Emil’s Clan is no different, but there’s another reason they want you.” He sighed. “You were almost one of them.”

I gasped in disbelief. “What? Why would I ever join the Daevos?”

“Two hundred and fifty years ago, you were eighteen in London. It was your debut season and you were quite popular at the parties that were held. You had many friends—some of whom were members of Emil’s Daevos Clan. The more time you spent with them, the more you became involved in their lives, but you had no idea what they were doing or who they really were. Your Tracker abilities hadn’t been activated. You didn’t know you were a Tracker—neither did they.

“You were spending a lot of time with Emil’s Clan. They were courting you, tempting you, hoping you’d take the Daevos vows. Eventually, you learned about the Amaranthine and Daevos. You were horrified at the evil things your friends were doing. You knew they wanted you to join them, but that wasn’t your path. Instead, you turned to the Amaranthine, hoping they would be able to protect you. You left the Clan late one night, running to the shelter of a safe house where I was assigned as your Protector.”

I leaned back in my seat, thinking about Emil’s clan and wondering about the history of my past lives. “Once I was at the safe house, what happened?” I asked.

“The Amaranthine Society moved you to another location. They told you someone would be watching to ensure your safety. You went on with your life. Emil’s Clan probably would have left you alone if they hadn’t already put so much time and effort into recruiting you. His Clan searched frantically for you, even attempting to attack the safe house, but you had already been moved and they couldn’t find any information about you. After many years, you died and your soul moved on to its next life. When Emil’s Clan realized you were gone, they vowed that they would find you one day.”

Alex’s face was grave as he stared out the window. He turned his attention back to me. “The problem, Evie, is that Emil’s Clan still wants you.”

I was motionless, my mind trying to take it all in. A week ago, I didn’t even believe in reincarnation. Now I was being told that not only does it exist, but I have an insane Clan hunting me, not just across the miles, but across centuries, hell-bent on finding me and making me part of their evil group, or taking my soul.

“So, you’re saying Emil helped recruit me?”

“Not only that, he was also the reason you stayed as long as you did.”

“What do you mean?”

Alex’s arms tensed. “You were enamored with him and he didn’t dissuade your interest. He pretended to care about you and even made you believe he was your soul mate.”

I laughed; the irony of the situation was lost on Alex. “So Emil told me he was my soul mate—like you told me that you were mine?”

Alex blinked in surprise. “No. I told you the truth. Emil manipulated you into believing he had feelings for you.”

I wasn’t sure what to believe. “Maybe he did have feelings for me? Obviously my soulmark recognizes him, so maybe his recognizes me,” I rationalized. “If I’m a Tracker, shouldn’t I be able to tell who my soul mate is?”

Alex shifted in his seat, his left leg resting against the door. “Your Tracker abilities have to be activated for you to use them. They weren’t activated two hundred and fifty years ago, and they aren’t activated now. You’ll only know who your real soul mate is once you meet another Tracker who can awaken your abilities with their own power.”

“Why can’t I remember any of the things you’re telling me about?” I asked. “What happens to the memories of past lives?”