Page 51 of Cursed Lifeline (Eternal Love)

Fifty

Evangeline

song: I’m yours | Isabel LaRosa

Petite étoile.

Wringing out the soaked cloth in my hand, I look over my shoulder and lock eyes with Alfred. His words twirl temptingly through my thoughts as he eyes me with hostility from his seat across the room.

Little star.

How can he say such things when I have had a part of the ultimate demise in this whole game since the very beginning?

Shaking my head, I turn and make my way back to him. Our eyes hold steady on one another the entire time I approach.

Hurt. Disbelief. Sorrow shows bitterly through his somber expression. Stepping between his legs, he braces for the sting as I tenderly touch the fabric to his wound and blot away more blood. Licking my lips, my eyes drift to his. Our breathing increases, synchronizes, as I clean and inspect the bite Viktor left behind a few weeks ago. Because of the poison, and the loss of blood, Alfred has not been able to return to normal activities. Viktor’s bite did not infect venom, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t watch him closely for signs he may be going through a change.

Right now, the only change I’m worried about is his change of heart.

After a moment, Alfred looks away and snaps, “You don’t need to keep coming around and playing nurse.”

Another strained moment passes between us.

Hurt swells in my chest as I finally whisper, “I don’t mind.”

Straightening his spine, Alfred lifts his chin and insists, “I do.”

Reaching to my right, I grab the clean gauze on the table and apply it to his clean skin. “What happened to infinite lifetimes of waiting and…”

“That was before you told Viktor to bite me, Evangeline.”

I bristle slightly at the authority in his voice. Silenced, I nibble on the inside of my cheek to keep a rebuttal at bay and hurry to finish my task so that I can put some distance between us.

After a moment, Alfred whispers sadly, “Don’t do that.”

Afraid to look into his eyes, even though I can feel the heat of his stare on my face, I worry my bottom lip between my teeth and ask, “Do what?”

Placing his hand atop mine, he laces his fingers through my own, tenderly cups my chin, and forces me to meet his eyes.

A desperate longing stares back at me. Brushing his thumb across my lip, he whispers, “Worry for a second my feelings for you have changed.”

Confused, I start to take a step back when his hands fall to my waist and he holds me in place.His touch is possessive, dominant, lethal. My heart flutters as I struggle to breathe.

“But you said…”

“I don’t take fondly to being bitten by vampires,” he growls. “Especially ones who have sworn a blood oath to the woman I love.”

Startled, a light gasp falls from my lips.

Staring down into Alfred’s hungry eyes, for a moment I debate giving into a feeling that’s been growing for him ever since he stole me away to look at the stars. He instantly takes notice of my secret attraction, and hope swells in his eyes as his grip tightens.

The air between us becomes thick and burns with the need to be closer. After a riveting moment has passed, I decide the best thing to do is to put some space between us before we do something foolish. Stepping backward, Alfred instantly clings to me and refuses to let me go.

“If there is never any hope for me, tell me,” he demands, searching my eyes for the same emotion I let slip through in a moment of weakness a few brief moments ago.

“Alfred we can’t…”

“Maybe not now,” he argues, pulling me flush against his chest. Emotion swims in the depth of his hopeful gaze, his voice fills with the same as he optimistically grins, “But my future was shown to me the first time I looked in your eyes, Petite étoile .”

Speechless, I stare down at him and attempt to hide the fact that, against my will - I feel the same.

My hands shake as he pulls me closer.“But Viktor…” I warn in a whisper.

“A blood oath can’t stop destiny.”

“Destiny?” I smile, sinking into his arms, and letting myself enjoy the comfort he always effortlessly brings me. If only for a moment before I pull away and keep him at arm's length like I need to.

Yearning hangs in his eyes as he whispers, “C'est écrit dans les étoiles.”

It is written in the stars.

Blushing, I ask, “Did you write it there yourself?”

Alfred pulls me closer, smiles, and whispers, “Not yet, though that is a very appealing idea.”

“I’m surprised,” I grin, falling more and more for him when I promised myself I wouldn’t. “Powers like yours should not go to waste.”

“My powers will never be used to control you, Evangeline,” Alfred promises, and I stop breathing. “If you ever give yourself to me, I want to know it was because you love me just as much as I love you.”

Boot steps sound down the hallway and quickly approach the room.

“And if I never love you,” I lie, knowing half of my heart is already his.

Confessing more truth than anyone I’ve ever known, Alfred sternly stares into my eyes and says, “Then I’ll die a happy man regardless, because I was lucky enough in life to find and love you, even if you never feel the same way in return.”

I’m still staring into Alfred’s eyes in disbelief when Felix and Viktor stride through the door a moment later. Viktor releases a deep, protective, brotherly growl when he notices Alfred’s hands on me, but I can’t force myself to look or back away from the man who has shown me more tender love than I ever thought possible. More than that, he’s shown me more love than I ever thought I deserved.

Rounding the back of Alfred’s chair, the duo comes into view, and though I would normally expect Alfred to back down, a part of me is not surprised when his grip on my waist tightens.

Viktor eyes me curiously, imploring with a deep friendly stare if I am okay. Or if I am getting in too deep and need him to butt in. Shaking my head, I look back into Alfred’s eyes and smile. Viktor stands down for the moment but keeps his eyes on Alfred in case he feels I need him to protect me. Not from Alfred. But from myself.

“Since when do you two brothers go anywhere together,” Alfred hisses as I reluctantly take a step back and he drops his hands.

“Since my brother brought up a good point the other night.”

Alfred chuckles lightly, “Point? You sure it wasn’t a stake he had aimed at your back?”

“In another life, perhaps,” Felix sighs. “Like he so kindly pointed out, misery loves company, but I think we’ve finally agreed to put away our dueling swords and work together if we’re ever going to defeat the enemy.”

“And what brought about this change of heart,” Alfred laughs sarcastically.

As the trio talk, I decide to busy myself with cleaning up medical supplies. Viktor reaches out for me as I pass, but I brush off his advances and eye Alfred over my shoulder, who takes notice and sits up a little straighter in his chair. Gaze sharpened on Viktor, he crosses his arms over his chest as a jealous rage simmers in his eyes.

“Well, for starters, if we all work together, we’ll inevitably be stronger and gain what we really want.”

Standing tall, Viktor straightens his spine and says, “Like my intention to swear an oath to Evangeline.”

“What if she doesn’t want your oath?” Alfred snaps.

Viktor steps toward Alfred angrily, who rises from his seat, ready toaccept the challenge, but Felix quickly forces himself between them.

Viktor doesn’t want to swear an oath to claim me. Not like Alfred thinks. He wants to swear an oath to protect me from anyone who could harm me, like Oberon. But just because he likes getting under the watcher’s skin, I know he’ll keep up the front to make sure Alfred’s intentions are valid, real, and unwavering. Kind of like a protective older brother.

“Regardless,” Felix warns the two brooding men, who take a small step back from one another but keep their fierce gazes locked in a threatening duel. “For Viktor to move on in life, at all, despite whoever it is with, he will need to cut ties with Ember. After which, Esme will be safe because he will no longer be under command to hunt her.”

“We will never be free unless we rid the world of the wicked witch,” Viktor grins sinisterly.

“What makes you think Ember doesn’t have someone else ready to take Viktor’s place?” I ask.

A few heavy sighs fill the room as all three men turn and look at me.

“Remember what happened with Celeste,” I add.

“Regardless, we’ve devised a plan to pull the devil from her hiding place and end this once and for all,” Felix insists.

“What kind of plan?” Alfred demands as I make my way back over to the group.

Opting to stand far away from Alfred and Viktor, I cross my arms over my chest and ask, “Should this plan have us worried?”

Felix eyes me cautiously, then turns a stern eye on Alfred and ignores my question. “I need you to let me train Esme.”

Alfred laughs, “Not going to happen. We saw how well that went over in her last life and…”

“I’m not asking, Alfred. I’m telling.”

Alfred’s jaw sets harshly.

“How is you training Esme part of any plan that will end the curse?”

“You’re going to have to trust me.”

“I’ve trusted you before, Felix. Two separate lifetimes, to be exact. Didn’t do me any good then, looks like it will do me even less good now, seeing as Viktor stands to gain all I’ve ever wanted if he’s allowed to break whatever oath he has with Ember.”

“What I do with my life is my say,” I interject. Alfred and Viktor’s eyes swing my way. Crossing his arms over his chest, Viktor tries to hide a smug smile. He thinks I’ve embraced a chance at love. But we are a long way off from that. Looking respectfully at Alfred, I add, “You’re in no position to train, Esme. The bite wasn’t infected with venom, but it still drained you more than I can tell you’re letting on. Especially due to the poison. Your strength isn’t back yet. And it is true Esme is not taking well to training with Silas and Caelum. So let them try to fix this. How bad could it be?”

Alfred laughs, “How bad could it be? I forgot you weren’t there in Esme’s first life . Let me remind you how bad it can be. Viktor failed to fight the oath he wants so badly to break and ended up sending Esme to her first grave.”

“That won’t happen this time,” Viktor insists.

“How can you be so sure?” Alfred asks, turning and eyeing the vampire angrily. Viktor’s eyes lock tight to mine. “I see,” the watcher growls with animosity.

Rising, Alfred begins to walk to the door. “Since Caelum and Silas have been training Esme in my absence. Take it up with them.”

“I have,” Felix says. “They’re agreeable to our plan. But they told me to come to you for final say.”

“Well then, I guess if they’re okay with putting Esme once again in harm's way, what can I say or do to stop you.”

As Alfred stalks angrily out of the room, my eyes land on the two brothers and I shake my head.

“He’s right,” I sigh. “Just breaking the blood oath won’t ensure Esme’s safety. Viktor may be the one she’s used as a weapon up until now, but I’ll say it again, that doesn’t mean she won’t stop at finding others to take his place.”

“Let me worry about my battles, and you worry about your own,” Felix glares at me as he walks out of the room and I am left alone with Viktor.

Stepping forward, Viktor eyes me curiously and says, “I’m glad to see you considering the watcher’s affections,” I roll my eyes at him and his playful look turns serious, "But I meant what I said to you, Evangeline. You helped me in that cave for decades. You put yourself in harm's way to save my life when Felix came to claim it. When we finally defeat Ember, I will swear an oath to you. If only to protect you from anyone who could ever turn out to be another Oberon.”

I smile at him, and nod my head.

Though, if that day does come, I’m not sure I can let Viktor do what he says because my heart warns me it has already sworn its oath to another.