The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek) (2 page)

BLOOD DRIPPED FROM
his fingers.

Her blood.

At least Evie thought it was her blood. She couldn’t be sure, because this was a dream.

Evie clutched her wounded ribs and tried to scramble away. Her mind raced with spells and incantations that could save her life.

She couldn’t speak. It was as if her mouth had been sewn closed.

Parker was in bed with her. She screamed inside her head, praying he would wake her up. Evie knew her attempts to communicate were useless. It had never worked before. And so, her body remained paralyzed as she endured the agony of a premonition.

Evie gasped for breath as she crawled backward.

The man that stood before her was tall and beautiful. An eagle tattoo stretched up his neck to his chin.

Her dream man.

Literally.

She’d had this same dream every night since her father died. This was the first time the green-eyed stranger with the red hair had appeared in this dream.

She just couldn’t tell if he was there to help or harm her.

Her eyes pleaded when her voice would not come when called.

He just stood there, and stared at her. She wished she could make out the features of his face.

She tensed when he knelt down before her, smoke filling the dark basement around them.

You’re not supposed to feel pain in a dream but Evie could feel everything. To her it was more than a dream. Having the ability to tell the future through dreams was her curse. Not only did her premonitions scare the crap out of her, but when within them she could feel physical pain, and that stab wound stung like hell.

This was hell that she was living in. Forced to recount the horrible death her father had suffered, Evie now knew what it was like to be stabbed to death.

Daddy
, she thought. The sadness overcame her, crippling her.

What she couldn’t understand was why her father wasn’t strong enough to defend himself. He was a wizard, a powerful one.

Hugh Prince shouldn’t have been able to defeat him. The stranger in her dream knew the answer.

Who are you?

Evie mouthed the question when her voice still wouldn’t come.

Instead of words, music notes floated from his mouth and into the air, and he transformed into a creature she’d never seen in real life before, a creature from myths and legends.

A Gryphon.

Evie breathed a sigh of relief when she woke up to the real world. Her dream world was too frightening to remain in any longer. Nonetheless, she needed to wake up and get ready for class.

Evie peeked an eye open and suppressed a grin when she saw Parker looking back at her from his side of the bed.

All was right with the world when he smiled at her like that. Blood, tears, and agony melted into the back of her mind when she was near him.

Evie covered her mouth and giggled. Who would have ever guessed that Evie Scarlett had one of the most desired men in town in her bed, madly in love with her?

Perhaps her luck was changing.

She could see it in his eyes. Parker Drake loved her…and she didn’t even have to use any magic.

He kissed her on the forehead. “I caught you,” he said, sitting up. He reached for his shirt on the floor and pulled it over his tousled blond hair.

Oh why’d you have to do that?
Evie hated to watch him cover his abs. Like a Greek god he towered over her. There was so much to love about his body, but his ripped abdomen was one of her favorite parts.

She sat up on her elbow. “Caught me doing what?” She reached over to her antique nightstand and put her black-rimmed glasses on.

He smirked. “Watching me sleep.”

Laughing, Evie rested her head back on her pillow. “You’re crazy.”

He stood and pulled his pants on. “Am I? You’re the one watching me sleep like a loon.”

Evie rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You’re not that hot.” She lied. He reminded her of Thor. He
was
that hot.

“Liar,” he said and walked over to her floor-to-ceiling window to gaze out into the early morning sky.

“Perhaps,” Evie said with a smirk.

Parker came back. He climbed into the bed and held himself over her body in a push up position. His eyes glanced down at her exposed breasts and back to her face.

Evie kept to herself just how much she adored his blue eyes, hooded with thick dark lashes. His lips were perfectly smooth and full for kissing. As if he could read her mind Parker leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She was glad that she was able to push the fact that they had been best friends since childhood away long enough to see Parker as a man—a smoking hot man that she couldn’t seem to get enough of.

He was her first and only lover, and she prayed that they would remain together forever.

Just the thought of losing him frightened her.

The town called the Scarlett family cursed. Evie didn’t disagree. She and her older brother, Wesley were the last of the Scarlett legacy, and they were both cursed in ways the townspeople couldn’t imagine.

One more year and Evie could have the inheritance she needed to escape.

She just hoped and prayed she could stay alive that long.

While Parker’s tongue caressed hers Evie ran her hands through his dark blond hair.

Parker slid his fingers into her panties and she stopped him.

Smiling, she shook her head. “As much as I’d like to go again, I need to get to class.”

“I know. Me too. I have one at nine.” Parker kissed her again. “Tonight then?”

“Mother will be back by then.”

“Oh yes. I almost forgot. Your mother still treats you like a fifteen year old.”

“She just doesn’t want anything to happen to me.”

Evie almost felt like a prisoner at times. After her father died her mother increased her overprotective nature. She didn’t blame her. Their family had seen their share of violence over the years.

At least she had her brother, Wes. He always watched over and protected her and as head of the family now, he gave her more freedom than their mother would.

“I wish you didn’t have to follow her rules. You’re not a little girl anymore.”

“She’s still my mother. I think I’ll always keep her wishes in mind no matter how old I get,” Evie said.

“I think you should move out. Your father left Scarlett Hall to Wes. Where does that leave you?”

Evie shrugged. She would miss the home she had grown up in. There were so many memories in those walls, both good and bad.

“I have an inheritance. It’s okay. I don’t want to live here forever. You know that.”

Parker climbed off of her and started picking up his shoes from the floor. “Well tomorrow then. Just come to my place. You should just move in with me.”

Evie sat up and stretched. Her arms were still sore from the workout Parker put her through the day before. Being trained by a boxer was brutal, but he was determined to make her capable of protecting herself.

If he only knew
.

She winced at the pain in her biceps. “All the way in New Town?”

He raised a brow. “What’s wrong with New Town? It’s a lot more fun than out here in the country.”

Evie took off her panties and headed for her shower. “You grew up out here in the country.”

“Yeah, and now I live in the modern era.”

He was right. She did love his loft apartment. It made her almost feel as though they were in another city.

“Okay.” She turned on the water and grabbed her toothbrush while the shower heated up. “Let’s meet tomorrow at the bookstore when my shift is over. We can talk then.”

“Fine. Won’t you let me take you to dinner after? Show you off a little.”

“You want to show
me
off?” Evie stared at her reflection.

Gray eyes with flecks of hazel looked back at her from beneath her glasses. She shared much of her looks with her father.

Evie sighed at her reflection, missing her father at that moment. A lock of white hair stood out against her black hair. No matter what, she’d never been able to dye that lock to match the rest of her head. Instead it had stood out for as long as she could remember. There were pictures of her as a baby with that white lock.

The taunts of ignorant children had followed her from elementary school to college.

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re beautiful.”

Hearing those words washed away all of her bad memories about her self-image. Evie hid her grin and started brushing her teeth.

“You sure you aren’t embarrassed to be seen with me?”

“Now that’s possibly the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said to me. Of course not. I love you.”

Evie’s heart soared at hearing those words. She’d never get tired of hearing them come from his lips.

“I love you more,” she said in a soft voice.

“Not possible.”

She giggled, loving how open he was about his feelings. “Good reply.”

He made her feel safe even though he was merely human. Sometimes that’s all she needed, a human companion to make her feel normal when she was far from it.

Parker came into the bathroom and stood behind her. He grabbed her by her waist and pressed her naked bottom to the front of his pants. He groaned.

“Come on, Evie. One more time.”

Evie rinsed her mouth of toothpaste and grinned at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He kissed her throat and her eyes fluttered closed. Every touch sent hot tingles along her skin. She began to calculate how long it would take her to drive to Hastings-Albrecht University if she left just a little later.

She enjoyed the feel of his mouth on her neck. He sucked her earlobe, making her eyes flutter closed.

“Fine,” she breathed. “One more time.”

ADELAIDE HUMMED AN
old French song as she walked down the winding staircase to the landing. It was almost eight o’clock in the morning, and Evie’s mother already wore a long black dress, and had her hair styled in long glossy blonde waves that hung down to her tiny waist.

Evie glanced up at her and frowned. Was it normal to envy your mother? Why didn’t she get those beautiful Nordic looks?

Evie crossed her arms as she stood before the door. She’d almost made it out of the house without her mother catching her and Parker.

Parker’s eyes went from Evie to Adelaide, and back.

Busted,
his eyes said to her.

He cleared his throat.

“Good morning, Mrs. Scarlett,” he said.

Adelaide nodded at him, a tight smile on her lips as she looked him up and down.

“Good morning, Parker. You’re here early enough. Aren’t you?”

Evie cringed, but Parker gave her a charming smile. It was just like him to charm when they were caught breaking the rules.

“I hope that’s not a problem? Evie and I had some studying to do.”

Evie hid her grin.

Studying the art of anatomy.

“Well, you do know I am not fond of visitors without my permission.”

Evie sucked her teeth. "I am an adult, and I live here too. What is it that you need?"

The corners of Adelaide's mouth curled into a tight smile. "And hello to you too, sweet daughter of mine. Have a good day, Parker. I need to borrow Evie for a moment.”

Sighing, Evie turned to Parker. She shook her head as she looked at him. “Come get me from the library before lunch.” She stretched up to kiss him on the lips. “Be safe, baby.”

“You too,” he said and he waved at Adelaide before leaving. He walked around the corner of the house to the second garage to get into his car.

Evie stood in the doorway, watching him drive down the long driveway in his black Dodge Challenger.

“I haven't seen you in what feels like forever. Where have you been hiding?"

"You know where I’ve been."

Adelaide nodded. "You’re right. I do. You’ve been shacking up with that Drake boy at his house… and ours apparently."

"What do you need?"

"I sense some attitude. Are things going well with you and the Drake boy?"

Evie uncrossed her arms. "Stop that. You know Parker isn't a boy. And yes. He's fine."

Adelaide walked to stand before her. She opened her arms, expecting Evie to embrace her.

Evie caught the hint and hugged her briefly. She loved her mother but the woman could drive her crazy like no other. She’d always been overly protective and nosy, but stingy with any show of affection.

It drove her crazy. During family vacations she made Evie call her by her name and pretend that they were sisters.

"You two have been close since the day you met in kindergarten.” Adelaide looked off for a moment. “I should have put you in private school like Wesley.”

Evie pursed her lips, annoyed. “Woodland Pond Grammar School was just fine.”

“I suppose it was sufficient,” Adelaide said, pulling a strand of hair from Evie’s face. “He's a handsome boy. I’ll give him that. Do you think he is the one?”

There. She did it again. Evie almost shouted at her that Parker wasn't a boy once again.

Turning around, Evie shrugged, keeping her face unreadable. "I don't know."

Liar.

Parker had always been the one.

One day she would marry him, but there was no way she could tell her mother that. Not now.

"Tell me the truth, Evie.”

"Why do you care? Wes and Olivia will give you grandchildren soon."

"You’re my daughter. I love you. I want to make sure you don’t make a mistake."

"I'm an adult. Do I have to tell you everything going on in my life?"

Adelaide's smile faded. Her blue eyes held Evie's, making her suddenly wish she hadn’t just said that.

"Yes. You do," Adelaide said. "Shame on me for caring about your safety."

"What are you talking about?" Evie felt a warning in her gut. She'd never heard her mother talk like that.

My safety?

What did she know? Evie never told anyone about her nightmares. She almost shivered as they stood there in the darkness of the foyer.

Why did she always want it so dark in the house? And now she seemed to be waiting in the shadows to catch Evie disobeying her rules.

Moving in with Parker was sounding better each moment she stood there under her mother’s judging eyes.

“Well?”

Adelaide stepped past her, brushing Evie’s cheek with a warm thumb before stopping at the front door. She opened it and stepped outside into the cool morning.

"Come with me, Evie."

Evie was hesitant. She watched Adelaide's slim frame stand on the front porch that wrapped around both sides of Scarlett Hall. She looked like a model in a painting just then. The lush green landscape before her was beautiful, the pond standing between her and the forest that wrapped around the property. In the midst of the scenery, Adelaide she stood out in an odd way.

Evie followed behind her. Her entire body tensed when she stood beside Adelaide and glanced at her face. She quickly looked away the moment she saw tears trailing down her cheeks.

She wanted to ask her what was wrong, but she chose silence. Her mother had her way about things, and would tell her in her own time.

"Do you want to know a secret? One that I was too afraid to even tell your father?"

Evie glanced at her. Adelaide’s tears streamed now. Now she had to know.

Sighing, she wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist. Evie rested her head on her shoulder. They hadn’t embraced like that since her father’s funeral only a week ago.

“Yes. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Adelaide tilted Evie’s chin up so that she could peer into her eyes.

Evie swallowed. Her mother’s blue eyes looked especially bright and eerie in that moment.

"Then come with me and I will tell you everything."