White fabric is draped from the tops of palm trees. It billows with the breeze, framing the circle of cushions and candles. Tiki torches flicker at the perimeter. Bowls of water, salt, and what I assume are herbs sit in the center. The air is thick with incense.
It’s earthy and eerie.
The men are already here.
River stands tall and still, arms crossed, his gaze locked on Emily like she’s the only thing anchoring him to the planet. God, he’s gorgeous. He’s who I was after, of course, but he wasn’t interested. If only…
Sure, I wanted him for clues about my brother, but I ended up falling kind of hard. I mean, who wouldn’t? A dark-haired, dark-eyed rancher from Montana?
Alex is leaning against a pillar, his expression unreadable, but his fingers twitch when Ariel enters his line of sight. Is he okay with all of this? He’s the groom. He shouldn’t be up for an orgy—especially one where his bride-to-be is present.
Jake’s smile is crooked but warm when he sees me.
Yeah, not getting naked in front of him. He’s blood.
And Sebastian?—
God, he looks like sin. Shirt half unbuttoned, his hair down and flowing over his broad shoulders.
But Brett? Absent.
Of course.
I didn’t mention it, but I saw him float off with Jazz.
Sienna stiffens beside me. She doesn’t say anything, but emotion flashes across her face. She squares her shoulders and steps into the courtyard like she owns it. Good for her.
But that’s when I feel it.
A disjointed sensation in my gut. A ripple down my spine. Something isn’t right.
Not with the circle. Not with this ritual.
Not with the way Evangeline has been glancing over her shoulder all day like she’s being watched. Who can blame her after what we found in her suite?
My father.
I know it. I feel it in my bones. That bastard. That monster. He’s here. He knows about Evangeline’s baby. He knows it’s his. He’s watching her.
“Who lit all these candles?” Emily asks.
Evangeline steps forward in a white lace gown that billows like fog around her ankles. Heather is behind her, barefoot and carrying what looks like a bowl of water with flower petals floating on top.
“The candles are for balancing,” Evangeline says. “For cleansing. For transition.”
Sienna laughs under her breath. “I could use a little transition.”
Ariel grips Emily’s arm. “I don’t know about this.”
“You don’t have to do anything,” Emily says. “You’re the bride. You can sit out the witchy stuff. In fact, we all can. I’m thinking I will. This is…bloody odd.”
Jake steps closer and pulls me to the side. “You okay?”
“No,” I whisper. “But I will be.”
Because I’m going to find out who’s stalking Evangeline. I’m going to figure out what my father wants.
And I swear to God, if he touches that baby—his baby—I’ll end him.
