Only After Dark The Boxed Set Books 1 - 4: Shifters Forever Worlds (35 page)

M
ason sat
in the back next to Evie. Alexa drove, Reese rode shotgun.

Of course, saying he sat next to Evie was a stretch. Evie seemed to be pushed up as far away from him as she could be, practically hugging the door. At least during the first portion of the drive back to Arceneaux Point. Then Alexa and Reese began to update Evie—and Mason, by default, since he was there—and Evie relaxed a bit, leaning forward and sometimes closer to the center, poking her head between the seats to talk to Alexa.

He couldn’t help but look at her, taking in the tight T-shirt she’d changed into, the way it hugged her curves, pulled tightly against breasts that strained the material thin, making her lacy black bra all too evident, also not for a second did it hide her nipples—which for fuck’s sake, were hard nubs tempting Mason the whole damned drive.

She was in a skirt, her curves accentuated, especially those hips and thighs that flared outward from her waist.

Mason fought the raging boner and his lion’s reaction at the same time, fearful that at any point of time he’d lose that battle.

The only saving grace was that Alexa and Reese were there to keep Mason from ravaging her. Her hair was a mess that brought to mind the mornings they’d stayed in bed late, engaging in sexual acrobatics that left her with a bedhead, flushed cheeks, and sparking eyes.

Mason gritted his teeth against the pain it caused in him to think of what they used to have. And what they didn’t have now.

God, I miss her.

At one point, her thigh rubbed against his knee, and a surge of electricity coursed through Mason. God, he’d forgotten what her touch did to him.

Alexa briefed them on how Lézare had left the ball to find Natalya, and ended up with her.

“They brought home a distant relative—by marriage.”

“Really? Who? How is it we didn’t know?”

“She’s old. And she’s got an—she’s an elemental. Her name is Claudette. She was mated to one of the Arceneaux. Knew Étienne and Celine when she was younger.”

“You’ll like her.” Alexa assured her then went on to explain how she and Reese had found their attraction…

“…insatiable,” Reese said with a smile for the curvy redhead in the front seat.

Alexa returned the smile. “And then Rory and Valencia…” She looked at Mason and Evie in the rearview mirror. “Those two…”

“What’s Valencia going to do? It sounds like she can’t be at home. Can she go back to Georgia? Is she going to be staying with Rory?”

Mason wondered the same. Rory would have his hands full with a hybrid as alpha and as powerful as Valencia seemed to have become.

“What about Leandra and Theo? All this time, I thought he had a crush on you,” Evie asked Alexa.

“Not exactly. Leandra had to charm him, or cast a spell on him, or use some kind of sorcery.”

“That had to be difficult for her. I’m not sure I could have done that with a man I love. I’m not the sharing type.”

Evie gave Mason a glance when she said that.

He wondered if there was something he was supposed to take from that.

Yeah, we have a lot to clear up as soon as we have a moment alone.

Reese’s hand traveled along the back of the seat until it met Alexa’s shoulder. Reese made tiny patterns.

It reminded Mason of when he used to do something like that with Evie.

Seemed they all had someone now. Her siblings. Leandra and Theo.

Everyone but Mason and Evie. It was all about everyone else.

Everyone but him. And the woman he loved. And his lion’s mate.

Everyone but them.

They all had their happily ever after.

All but us.

His resolve set in. He’d figure this out. Immediately. Or he’d fail and get the hell away from anything that reminded him of Evangeline Arceneaux.

A
lexa drove past
the Arceneaux Point driveway and toward a semi pebble-paved dirt road. She pulled up next to Theo’s vehicle. They’d barely opened the car doors when Theo came out of the woods and made his way toward them, taking quick steps with a long-legged stride.

“Lézare’s running a bit late. We’ll wait for him to get started. Follow me to the cabin.”

“I’d like a moment,” Mason said.

They all turned to look at him, but he kept his gaze fixed on Evie.

“With you.” Mason made sure she understood she was the one he wanted to talk to.

“I—”

“Stay.” Alexa pushed Evie back into the car. No big feat, as Evie still had one leg in the vehicle.

Alexa nodded to Mason over the car’s hood.

At least one of the Arceneaux sisters is on my side.

He slid his large frame into the back seat next to Evie.

“I know what you’re going to say.” Evie bit her lip.

“Why don’t you tell me then?” Because in reality he had no clue where to start.

“That I was wrong. That you weren’t in that picture.” She paused. Green eyes the color of a tropical lagoon studied him.

“See, I don’t even know what picture you’re talking about.”

“Well, seems Todd confessed to doctoring it, so I’m guessing it wasn’t even you.”

“What wasn’t even me?”

A red color kissed her cheeks then flamed darker as her embarrassment grew. Mason didn’t want to admit it but he’d never found her more incredible, sexier, than right this moment.

And he’d never loved her as much as he did right now.

“A girl…” She drew a breath in, let it out slowly. “She was going down on a guy.”

“Let me guess. I was that guy?”

Evie nodded. “But…” She swallowed hard.

Her delicate throat working, giving him all the wrong damned ideas.

How can I think of sex at a time like this? Man, I’m such a douchebag.

Except he wasn’t, not totally, because he realized his lion was contributing to the craving for Evie and her tigress.

“But…” he prompted.

“But I know now that it wasn’t you, that Todd set it up, did some photoshopping on the picture.” She glanced at her fingers, which were intertwining and moving constantly with nervousness.

“Evie.” Fingertip on her chin, he pushed gently until she was looking into his eyes. “You should have come to me.”

“I know.”

“I’d never cheat on you. Not in my mind, not with my body.”

Her eyes bored into his soul, seeking answers.

He knew she’d seen the worst sides of infidelity. It was incumbent that he showed her he’d never do that.

“I wish…”

“Tell me what you wish.” When he said that, he thought of his kit in his back pocket. He thought of lost chances, lost lives, lost friends.

He was unconditionally unwilling to lose her.

“I wish there was a rewind button I could press. Something that would take me back to that moment.”

A thought occurred to him.

Why the hell not?

Why couldn’t he suggest it? Why couldn’t they do it? It wasn’t anything more than a damned misunderstanding. It’s not like either of them wanted someone else.

“I have an idea.” He took her hand in his.

Again, the electricity, the chemistry between them was tangible.

She looked at him, eyes full of trust.

This was the old Evie.

His Evie.

“Who says we can’t press rewind?”

“You don’t hate me?”

As Mason saw it, there were two choices: he could spend a lifetime loving her from this moment on or he could hate her for the past.

And he’d be as lonely and as miserable as he’d been all this time.

This tigress, feisty, bratty, fiercely loyal and almost childlike in her innocence was the woman he wanted and the mate his lion needed.

“I couldn’t hate you anymore than I could hate the very air I need, Evie.”

Her face crumpled into an ugly cry mask for a brief second, right before it beamed with the largest grin.

“You say the most amazing things.” Her voice was heavy with emotion. “Is it really possible?”

“Unless for some crazy reason you want to keep on hating me…”

“God, no.” Her squeal was pure joy. She shot across the seat and fell into him, as if they’d never been apart.

They fit perfectly. Just like they used to.

Mason breathed her in. He took her essence in. The scent of her love. The scent of her desire.

“I’m making you mine first chance I get.”

He felt her heartrate quicken with excitement.

“I’d like that very much.”

They stayed there, holding each other. Their bodies joined as their tigress and lion joined, as their souls joined. They were there for what seemed like a long time, but all the same, seemed not long enough.

Tires crunched the pebbles on the dirt road. Mason glanced up. Lézare and Natalya were pulling up.

“Looks like it’s time for us to go,” he murmured in her hair.

“Can you stay at Arceneaux Point after Escape Weekend? For a short time?”

He knew she’d struggle if she had to leave her home for his in Florida.

“Sure. I can. For a short time.”

Forever.

E
vie and Mason
held hands on the walk through brush, cypress, and evergreen trees. They stayed on the path, following Lézare and Natalya.

It was surreal to Evie; like time had stood still and she and Mason had never been apart.

She wasn’t going to question Mason’s decision to put it all aside, as it was her heart’s desire, but she did wonder if losing his friend had given Mason the outlook he had.

Five minutes into the walk, Alexa and Reese joined them.

“We were beginning to wonder if we should send the cavalry out for you,” Alexa said.

All six began the trek toward Leandra’s place.

Evie picked up the pace, getting closer to Lézare. “Why do you hate Leandra so much?” she asked him, figuring this was a better time than in front of Theo and Leandra.

Lézare drew to a halt in the middle of the path, then turned her way. “Leandra’s great-great-grandmother was the one who helped Étienne. Our families have a history. They’re sworn to hatred. Except she didn’t help him quite the way he wanted.”

Evie was confused. “But no one knows exactly why there is such animosity?”

“Do we really need logic when tradition and culture are in place?”

Natalya took his hand, intertwined her fingers with his.

“Don’t,
chère
.” It was as if Lézare knew what she going to say.

Natalya raised a brow, a tiny curve on her lip showed Evie exactly what this curvy blonde was to her brother.

Evie realized the calming influence the former spitfire had on her brother. She recognized the inner peace his tiger had—a peace he’d never indicated before.

Yes, Evie could definitely come to love this blonde, white tigress shifter her brother had taken for a mate.

Even the hard-to-win-over Alexa’s eyes twinkled as she watched Lézare react to Natalya. Alexa leaned her head against Reese’s shoulder.

“So basically, there’s no good reason?”

“The answers are in Étienne’s journals,” Lézare said.

“Don’t tell me you, of all people, haven’t read them.” Evie laughed. She knew how much Lézare loved their family’s history. He had to have, even though no one else probably had.

“I have not. I don’t have access to his journals.”

“So how do you know the answer is contained within?” Alexa asked.

“Grandfather told me.” Lézare frowned at the questioning.

Evie wanted to roll her eyes. “I think for Theo’s sake and the sake of your friendship with him, you should consider changing your stance on Leandra.”

“Agreed.” Alexa’s tone was firm. “She’s been a strong ally to all of us. She’s been invaluable to me and especially to Valencia.”

Lézare cocked his head, studying Evie and Alexa, as if appraising them. “When did my baby sisters grow up?” He smiled, then looked down at Natalya. “I may be stubborn…”

“Bullheaded,” Alexa whispered.

“Insufferable,” Evie added, also in a whisper.

Natalya giggled.

Lézare gave them a mock dirty look. “I know when I’m beat. You’re right. For Theo. For Valencia. For you, Alexa. I’ll let bygones be bygones with Leandra Mathieu.”

Alexa nodded. Evie didn’t say a word. She knew as alpha, concessions weren’t always easy for Lézare.

They began the walk toward Leandra’s again, and moments later were walking up a ramp.

Mist surrounded the ramp that connected the slight cabin’s wraparound porch—such as it was, because it wasn’t much of one, and it was in need of repair and paint.

The entrance of the ramp was half-buried in solid ground, extending over the swamp’s brownish water, eventually touching the porch.

Valencia perched against the hand railing on the porch. Half her body was against the wood, and the other half pressed against Rory, who’d almost seemed to have trapped her against the beam, as if he were worried she’d try to escape.

Theo leaned against the wall, while Leandra sat in the rocking chair in front of him, barefooted.

“Everything okay?” Theo asked Lézare.

“It’s decided. The guests are mostly gone. They understood there were matters to be taken care of. Ms. Claudette is settled in. She’s anxious to visit with Mae.”

“What did you tell her?” Natalya asked Lézare. “I knew Ms. Claudette when I volunteered…” She paused, held back a laugh. “It’s a long story. Let’s just say I’m close to her.”

Evie almost didn’t hide her double take. Natalya. Volunteer. Somehow the words didn’t seem to belong in the same sentence, but then again this seemed to be a very different Natalya from the one they’d first met months ago.

“I told her we’d make sure she got to visit Mae. Somehow. Maybe a road trip is in order,
chère.
”

“I’m up for another one!” Natalya’s smile reached her twinkling eyes.

Lézare kissed her temple tenderly and again, Evie found herself thankful her brother finally had someone.

“We need to take care of business at hand—” Lézare looked at Valencia pointedly. His gaze took in Rory as well. “Namely, Valencia. Hybrids will be hunted.”

“I go where she goes.” Rory’s tone was lined with steel resolve.

“I figured no less.”

“Leandra has a suggestion.” Theo’s eyes remained on Lézare as if to gauge what sort of reaction he’d have and how he’d treat Leandra.

“Glad to hear it,” Lézare’s tone was earnest.

Evie was proud of her brother for his behavior.

“Valencia, you have to go away.”

“I know.” Valencia’s irises had a crimson ring around the perimeter. “I’ve gotten better at containing the bloodlust. But so help me God—” Valencia interrupted herself with a mirthless irony at the idea of mentioning God in the same sentence as a vampire’s bloodlust.

Evie smiled, but knew it was tinged with sadness. Her tigress warned her there was a difference with her sister. The four Arceneaux siblings’ dynamics had changed.

“Anyway… so help me, I can’t always stop the lust to kill.” Valencia wrapped her arms around herself, leaned back against Rory.

Rory encircled her in his embrace, her back against his chest, his cheek against her hair. “So she wants to harness the power she has.”

“Harness?” Reese cocked his head and gave his brother an inquisitive look.

“And I will be with her.” Rory tightened his grip on Valencia. “Always.”

“I need you, dear family—” Valencia looked at each of them in turn. “I need you to help me make sure the vampire that did this to me doesn’t die. If he dies, I’ll die.”

“That’s a myth, isn’t it?” Evie found that hard to swallow. “How can you be sure?”

Valencia pulled free of Rory’s grasp and raised her black T-shirt in front, almost to her bra. An angry red line crossed the length of her torso. “This appeared on its own. Suddenly, I was losing blood before I could heal it with my shifter healing. Rory had me go into a hibernating heal, but what if he hadn’t? What if I were in the middle of something and couldn’t do that?” She shook her head, her gaze locked with Leandra’s.

“You would die.” Leandra finished Valencia’s train of thought.

“I would.” Valencia turned back to Lézare. “So please keep that bastard alive. Don’t kill him if you can avoid it.”

“I’ll make sure of that, little sister.”

“I’m leaving the territory. I can’t tell you where I’m going, but Leandra is making arrangements. Rory and I will be traveling and off the grid. I’ll get a disposable phone and call you. I’m sure sooner or later it will get out that Scanlon was killed by a hybrid. They’ll be after me.”

“I’ll make the arrangements,” Leandra said. “I know a place she can go where she will be safe and helped with managing her needs.”

Evie was filled with a sense of bittersweet sentiments. On one hand, she had Mason, and every one of her siblings were happily mated, and at the same time, she’d lose Valencia.

“Hey.” Valencia took Evie’s hand. “Stop that. It will blow over.”

“How can it?”

“At least now I have a chance at a life,” Valencia declared. “I spent too much time avoiding people and moonlight. Now I have something. And Rory. Mostly Rory. Be happy for me.”

Evie smiled, but tears of sadness filled her eyes at the same time. Her tigress howled.

Mason wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his body. His lion comforted her tigress.

“We should get back to Arceneaux Point,” Lézare announced. “We need to make arrangements.” He turned to Leandra. “Would you be our guest and stay at Arceneaux Point?”

Leandra’s eyes gleamed silver. “Could I stay in one of the cabins?”

“Certainly.” Lézare smiled, though apprehension lurked in his eyes.

Evie knew he still hated staying in the cabins.

“I’d like to stay in the same one I stayed in before,” Evie said.

“You mean the time that Mason came down for Escape Weekend?”

Evie nodded, the heat of a blush crept its way upward. She turned to Mason. “Did you mean it? Will you stay a while?”

“As long as you want me.”

Forever.