Page 18

EVE

I tried to block out Ragnar’s voice as we left the cabin, but his words clung to me like soot.

She’s a liar.

The accusation echoed in my head. I swallowed the lump in my throat, biting back tears. What had I done to make him hate me so much? Was saving my life really such a burden?

Orion’s hand rested gently on my back as he guided me toward the truck. I felt like I was moving through molasses—every step slow, every thought heavier than lead.

We climbed in without a word. Rain pattered against the windshield as Orion started the engine, headlights slicing through the dark. The smell of leather and something faintly woodsy filled the cab.

Despite the storm of questions swirling in my head, I stayed silent.

The hum of the engine and the steady beat of rain were the only sounds.

I stared out the window, watching trees blur past. Everything felt unreal.

Without the pain, it was easy to doubt it had happened at all—except for the fear. That stayed like an unwelcome guest.

I’d never felt so powerless.

My hands curled into fists. Demons weren’t just stories. They were real. And I was just… me. A diner girl who couldn’t keep a houseplant alive. How was I supposed to survive this?

But it wasn’t just the daema, or the fire, or even the violence.

It was the feeling that it had all been targeted.

That it was all happening to me. And now the house—gone.

My last tether to anything resembling normalcy.

It wasn’t a home anymore, not really, but it had still meant something.

Now, it was like the universe was stripping away everything I had left.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting tears. The world felt smaller now. Darker. Like anything—and anyone—could vanish without warning.

“I know this must be a lot to wrap your head around,” Orion said gently.

I blinked and turned to him. The dashboard glow highlighted shadows under his eyes, the tight line of his jaw, the way his hands gripped the wheel just a little too hard. It made my chest ache.

“Were you telling the truth?” I asked quietly. “About the demons. The magic. You’re not… playing tricks on me?”

He let out a rough laugh. “If the others heard you say that… No, Eve. I wasn’t lying. It’s all true.”

“Why should I believe you?” The words tumbled out. “After everything you said—you made me feel like I was losing my mind. I went to a fucking psychic, Orion! I was terrified. Alone. Do you even know what that felt like?”

The words scratched my throat raw. It wasn’t just the monsters that haunted me—it was how close I’d come to vanishing, and no one would’ve even known. If Ragnar hadn’t found me… Would Orion have even noticed I was gone? Would anyone have cared to look for me?

He gripped the wheel tightly.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life apologizing to you for that,” he said, voice low and full of shame. “You’re giving me more grace than I deserve. But I thought I was keeping you safe.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he pressed on.

“Xander was right. This life—most people can’t handle it. I thought if I pushed you away, you could move on. Be normal.”

Move on? Be normal ?

I wanted to scream. Like I could go back to flipping burgers and chopping onions after what I’d seen. Like I wouldn’t always be watching the shadows.

But the anger fizzled out before I could speak, leaving only a dull ache.

“You said you healed me,” I said after a pause. “With magic? How does that work? Are you not—” I faltered. “Human?”

“The other world, the one the daema came from, is called Titan,” Orion said. “People there are born with magic in their systems. Some turned into monsters,” he smirked, “but most are perfectly civilized, I promise.”

“So if you have magic,” I said slowly, “you’re from Titan?”

Orion cocked an eyebrow, flashing a devious grin. “Knew you were hiding a big brain under all that hair.”

Despite myself, I laughed. It burst out of me like a dam breaking—and once it started, I couldn’t stop. All the tension, the fear, the anger… it poured out in waves, leaving me gasping.

It was insane, but at least it was something.

By the time we pulled into my driveway, I felt drained, a strange mix of baffled and calm.

I undid my seat belt, turning towards Orion, ready to ask all the questions swarming in my head—but he was already watching me. His gaze was steady. Not teasing or smug—just… soft. His lips curved slightly, like he didn’t even realize he was smiling.

“What?”

“Your laugh…” His tone was almost reverent. “I’ve never heard it before.”

The words caught me off guard, sending a flush to my cheeks. I should’ve felt self-conscious, but something about the way he said it made my chest twist.

“Can I see it?” I asked quickly. “Your magic.” I needed proof. Something real. Something wonderful to erase the horror I’d seen.

Orion’s grin stretched wide, eyes alight. “Just remember,” he said, mischief in his voice, “you asked for it.”

“What—” But he was gone.

His seat was empty. Only the faint imprint remained.

“What the…” My heart jumped—then the door behind me opened.

I yelped as I fell backward, but strong arms caught me, pulling me upright before I hit the gravel.

Orion’s laughter rang out, warm and full of joy, as he steadied me. Rain poured around us, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“How the fuck did you do that?” I gasped.

“I told you. Magic,” he said, still grinning. “We learned to tap into the earth’s natural energy—teleport almost instantly. Huge drain, though. Not something to mess with,” he leaned in, eyes gleaming, “unless a stubborn woman with beautiful eyes begs me to show off.”

My face flushed. His hands were still on my hips, steadying me, though it was his closeness that had me unsteady.

My back pressed against the car, his tall frame blocking the wind, the rain, the world.

I could feel the heat radiating from him, even through his jacket and my ruined sweater.

The space between us crackled, charged, threatening to overwhelm me.

My breath caught when he reached up, brushing a wet strand of hair from my face.

His fingers left a trail of warmth, like sparks dancing over my skin.

I shouldn’t be standing here, looking at him like this. I shouldn’t be feeling whatever this was. Attraction? Shock? Leftover adrenaline? I didn’t know. I just knew I couldn’t trust it.

Couldn’t trust myself.

Before I could overthink—or do something really stupid—Orion stepped back. His hands dropped from my hips, leaving behind a hollow absence I hated immediately.

“Come on,” he said, guiding me toward the front door. “I’ll go get your car and bring it back for you later, but we need to get you out of this rain.”

Somehow, he already had my house key, though I had no idea where he’d gotten it. He unlocked the door with practiced ease, guiding me over the threshold like he’d done it a hundred times before.

“You’re safe now, Eve,” he said, his voice low, softer than I’d ever heard it. “I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you again. I promise. This time… I’m not going anywhere.”

I wanted to believe him. But trust didn’t come easy—not anymore. It felt like stepping onto a frozen lake, not knowing if the ice would hold or crack beneath me.

Still… the way he said it made me want to try.

Orion stepped back, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. “You know,” he said, voice lighter, “this is a first for me. I’ve never told a human about my magic. This is going to be so much fun.”

I rolled my eyes to hide my smile. “Good night, Orion.”

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow, bright and early, and you can ask all the intrusive questions you like. I promise I’ll keep the innuendos to a minimum.” He turned toward the truck, pausing to glance over his shoulder.

Our eyes met for a breath, then he climbed in and disappeared into the rain.

I closed the door, locking it with a quiet click. For a moment, I considered dragging a chair in front of the knob, but what was the point? If something really wanted to get in, a piece of wood wouldn’t stop it.

Then I remembered the photo.

I pulled it from my pocket, smoothing the creases. My mom smiled up at me—warm, mysterious, distant. But this time, no tears welled up. No anger simmered. Just… quiet.

Orion said he wasn’t going anywhere. But could I believe him? Could I trust him?

I let out a slow breath, tracing the photo’s edge with my thumb. I didn’t know the answer, but maybe it was worth finding out.