I took his hand. ‘It’s okay. I’m struggling to know what my boundaries are as a daughter who’s also Grigori.’
He gave me one of his proud-to-be-Dad smiles. Whatever I’d done over the past few weeks to convince myself I didn’t need him disintegrated and I smiled back, a huge weight lifting from my heart.
One down.
I turned my attention to Evelyn. ‘We don’t have long and we may not be alone.’
Evelyn nodded, something like pride glinting in her eyes.
Oh no, I can’t cope if she starts tearing up as well.
Blessedly, she reined it in and nodded in agreement.
‘Give me your hands,’ I said.
She raised an eyebrow, curious.
I stared back at her. ‘Just do it, and hurry up. This isn’t going to be pleasant.’
Evelyn placed her hands in mine.
My power moved slowly compared to how it did with Lincoln. It would work my will but it felt less natural to merge with anyone other than my partner. I pushed it out, ignoring Dad’s gasp when my markings started to swirl. At least his human eyes didn’t have to witness my power, which had begun misting the room with billions of tiny amethyst crystals and flowing into Evelyn.
All I saw or felt was the slight tightening of Evelyn’s grip on my hands. She was tough. I’d give her that.
Spence had screamed to high heaven when I healed him. Admittedly, his injuries were far worse than hers but still … it had to be seriously uncomfortable.
When my power seemed to be satisfied, it settled back into me and I released Evelyn’s hands.
She took a moment, shaking them out as if trying to regain control of her body.
‘Thanks,’ she rasped. ‘You were right. That wasn’t pleasant.’ She coughed. ‘But I feel … Thank you.’
I shrugged. ‘You’re going to need your strength.’
Dad’s mouth was hanging open. ‘You, you … I mean, Violet, you healed her.’
He’d been told, but seeing was believing. As if reminding himself what he was really dealing with he whispered one more word. ‘Angel.’
I decided to let him have his moment and focused on Evelyn.
She nodded, clearly thinking the same thing. ‘Tell me.’
With relief, I filled her in on the latest events, not much of which was different from what Griffin had already told her. Nonetheless, Evelyn listened intently to every word, particularly my quick recap about seeing Phoenix in the tunnels beneath the city. Dad, to his credit, managed to shut his gaping mouth and remain silent the whole time.
‘Lilith has taken up from where she left off,’ Evelyn said when I had finished. ‘Phoenix told you they were staying in the highlands?’
I nodded again.
‘She’ll be in one of the bigger estates along the Hudson and not too far outside of Manhattan – within an hour’s drive, I’d say.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Because I know her better than anyone, and Lilith has a weakness for the water. She likes to be close to it, in case she needs to make a quick escape. Jonathan and I followed her all around the world, but eventually she came to America and took a shine to that area.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘Old money and lots of it. She took pleasure in annihilating families and destroying their lineage by first dirtying their reputations. She would pick the best of the estates along the Hudson, putting entire towns under strong illusions to ensure that family disappearances were never investigated. She drove many of them to their own gruesome suicides. It was horrible. But Lilith took so much pleasure in their destruction that instead of fleeing she stole their fortunes and their houses, keeping them as trophies. Even now there would be many that are well hidden that she would still believe to be her rightful spoils.’
‘Griffin says the Academy is preparing to launch an attack when they find a location. This information will help them narrow it down,’ I said.
‘She’ll be ready for them and expecting it.’ Evelyn sighed. ‘The toll will be high, but I don’t know that it can be avoided.’
I caught her gaze drop to my markings. ‘What is it?’ I asked. Her eyes often went to my wrists when I thought she was about to say something.
She reached out and touched them. ‘Just a theory. Not one to speak aloud.’
Because we were being watched.
‘Violet, if anything happens I need you to promise me one thing,’ she said, staring at me like she wanted to say a thousand things. ‘Do what Griffin says.’
‘Why?’
She smiled softly and changed the subject. ‘You’re angel maker is one of the most powerful angels to have ever been created,’ she said, carefully avoiding naming his rank. ‘Angels are creatures of pride, even the best of them. He knew when he created you that this day might come. He would not have left you without a fail-safe. Remember that.’