Chapter 223: You Owe Me One

Chapter 223: You Owe Me One
Evelyn's POV

That evening, I went to Silver Pines alone.

Not for any particular reason. Just wanted some time to myself. I'd been around people constantly these past days, and this was the first evening without something that needed handling. Figured I'd go walk around.

Silver Pines had this specific kind of light at dusk that you didn't get anywhere else. The white bark caught the sunset—orange and gold bleeding through the shadows. The leaves barely made noise, just this quiet rustling like something whispering far away.

I walked for a bit, then found a rock and sat down. Watched the light shift lower through the branches.

Footsteps came from behind me.

I didn't turn around. Didn't need to. Three sets, different rhythms, same direction.

Orion got to me first. Dropped down on the ground next to me without a word. Lucian came around to my other side, leaned against a tree. Magnus stood across from me for a second, then sat too.

They had me surrounded. Nobody said anything.

I broke the silence. "How'd you guys find me?"

Lucian said, "Mark saw you heading out here. Gave us a heads up."

"So he's spying on me now?"

"Nah. Just saw you walking, that's all."

"Sounds like the same thing."

He shrugged. "Different motivation though."

I let it drop. Just looked at the light coming through the trees. They stayed quiet too.

The silence wasn't weird. Just... there. Like it didn't need filling.

After a while, Lucian reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

I turned. "What're you doing?"

"It was in your face."

"I got it."

"I'm helping."

Heat crept up my neck. I turned back, suddenly very focused on the trees.

Orion sighed.

Magnus said to Lucian, "You gonna let her talk or what?"

"I'm not stopping her. Just moved some hair."

"You're messing with her focus."

"She's the one distracted. I barely touched her."

"Can you guys not right now?" I said.

They all shut up at once.

I took a breath. Here goes.

"I want to stay."

Stopped.

"There's stuff here I want to protect."

Another pause. Met their eyes.

"You three. Everyone else. All of it."

Done talking.

My face was on fire. Stared at the ground because I couldn't look at them.

The woods went dead quiet for about two seconds.

Then Lucian said, "Huh."

I looked up. "That's all you got?"

"No, wait." He held up a hand. "Processing. Give me a sec."

Beat.

"Okay. Done processing." His whole face changed. "I'm really happy right now."

Then he just yanked me off the rock and pulled me into a hug.

"Hey—"

"Celebrating."

"Let go."

"Yeah, okay."

He released me and stepped back, grinning like an idiot.

Orion said, "Lucian."

"What? I'm happy."

"That's enough."

"How's that enough?"

"It just is."

"Fine, whatever. But I'm still really happy. Just saying."

"You said it."

"Good."

Magnus hadn't moved the whole time. Just watched.

Once Lucian and Orion went quiet, he stood. Walked over.

Stopped right in front of me, looked down.

I had to tilt my head back to see his face.

He reached out, pressed his palm lightly on top of my head for just a second. Let go. Stepped back.

"Good."

One word. That's it.

My face got hotter.

"You guys need to stop."

Lucian said, "Stop what?"

"This. Whatever this is."

"We're literally just standing here."

"You know what I mean."

"What do we mean then?"

"You know exactly what you're doing."

He thought about it. "Yeah, I do. But I wanna hear you say it."

Orion cut in. "Lucian. Drop it."

"Alright, alright. I won't push." Pause. "But I'm keeping score. You owe me one. We'll circle back."

My face burned worse. I looked away, found some stars showing up in the sky. Acted like the last five minutes didn't happen.

Silence settled in again.

Then Orion spoke. "Still thinking about leaving?"

"I just said I'm staying."

"I know. Just want to hear it again."

I looked at him.

"Not leaving. There's things here I need to protect. You're here. Not going anywhere."

The forest went quiet again. Held onto those words.

Nobody added anything.

The sun dropped completely. Light in the trees turned blue-gray. Wind picked up from the north, made the leaves louder.

We just stayed there. The four of us in Silver Pines.

Nobody suggested leaving. Nobody said anything else. We just sat.

Until the stars came out.

Orion finally said, "We should head back."

Magnus stood, took a step toward me, held out his hand.

I looked at it. Put mine in his. Got up.

Lucian moved to my other side, dropped his hand on my shoulder.

The four of us walked out of the trees like that.

Natural. Easy. Like we'd been walking this way for years.