Chapter 28
Evanna flipped through the pages. Leah had written about ten of them. She went back to the first page, what could have happened that she needed to write that much? She’d been close for most of it, but there hadn’t been any overwhelming emotions, so it was harder for her to pick up on everything that happened. She rolled her eyes, there was no way she was writing a ten-page reply.
The first few pages detailed things that Leah had seen on the drive. She talked about the radio and some of the things said on the radio. Commercials, she didn’t know what those were but wanted to hear some now so she could be as entertained as Leah had been.
Leah talked about being in the store and how there were rows of snacks and food things, so many kinds of drinks she hadn’t known what to try and what not to try. Evanna made a note to ask where these items were that were bought, so she could try all of them. She bit off another bite of the jerky, made with turkey no less, who knew that was even possible. She definitely needed to see inside one of these stores of snacks.
Tossing the last of the jerky to Thera, she turned the page. The writing was neater now, meaning Leah wasn’t as excited when she was writing.
“Are you doing homework too?”
Evanna turned to see Daisie standing by the corner of the trailer. “No, I’m reading some notes from Leah.”
“Is Leah your sister? I don’t have a sister.”
Evanna closed the journal, using her hand to mark which page she’d been on. “She’s not my sister.” How did she begin to explain this to a child? When she didn’t understand herself. “Leah is—another part of me.”
“Like your cat? My mom says my cat is another part of me.”
“It’s kind of like that.”
“I wished there was another part of me. A part that likes math.”
Evanna laughed, “I don’t think any parts like math.”
“My dad does.” Daisie looked over her shoulder, “I better go. Say hi to Leah for me.”
“I will.” She watched her run across the yard. She was a happy child. There were a few creases in her forehead, telling Evanna that things hadn’t been good all the time, but she wasn’t haunted or fractured, so that said a lot about the adults that were here with her.
Thera got up and wandered after her.
“Don’t be a pest,” Evanna told her as she walked by. She checked how Minn was doing. Something she’d had to do constantly throughout every day and night. She was quiet just now, so it was a good time to finish the journal.”
Opening it, she studied the first line.
I’ve just found out something that explains everything.
Evanna smirked if only that were true.
Jesse just told me that I, we are his mate. It explains why he smells so good all the time. I believe it’s why we are so calm around him. I don’t know how that works though, I know what mates are, but most mates don’t have three parts to them.
I didn’t know what to say when he explained it. He told me it was you and Minn as well, so I suppose that’s a good thing. The last thing we need in our life is conflict with each other. He said I could ask questions or talk about it whenever I wanted to. I don’t think I want to right now.
What I want is to be able to control Minn. To be able to speak to someone without hiding inside. Do you think that will ever happen?
Evanna hugged the journal to her chest. She had no idea if it ever would. If it was somehow managed though, where did that leave her? They shared the same body, so it’s not like they could ever both be out at the same time.
“Am I interrupting?”
She looked up to see Shaelan standing there.
“No. I’m just thinking about things.” She held up the journal. “Leah left me some interesting notes.”
Shaelan gave her a friendly smile. “Is that how you two communicate?” She sat down on the other chair that sat outside the trailer.
“It makes it easier if we need to know about something or remember something.”
“It’s a good idea.”
Evanna was at ease around her, she gave off a sense of compassion. Which, she thought made sense because she was a healer. “It’s good for when we’ve done something that the other one should know about.”
“Did Leah tell you all about the trip?”
“The parts I missed, yeah. I was out a few times.” She shrugged, “I control Minn better than she does so if they go for a run most of the time it’s me when we shift back.”
“Why do you think Leah has trouble controlling Minn?”
Setting the journal down, Evanna studied it as she thought. “I’m not sure.”
“Minn came out after Leah escaped, right?”
Evanna nodded, “yeah, up until then it had just been Leah and I.”
“And you step in when Leah is emotional?”
“That sounds right.” She looked her straight in the eye, she liked her, so it was the respectful thing to do.
“I don’t mean to sound nosy; I’m just trying to understand more.” She leaned forward in the seat. “There’s a doctor that will be here tomorrow.”
“The one that knows what’s wrong with us?”
“Mmhmm, she has more experience with it than I do.”
“Do you think she can fix us?” She watched Shaelan look at her. It was a good thing that she was considering it and not just blurting out an answer.
“I don’t know if there’s ever a complete cure, Evanna. I want to be honest with you. The goal I believe for now is to help Minn and Leah. To make it more manageable.”
“What would more manageable be like?”
“Do you have specific concerns?”
Evanna stood up, not feeling still enough to sit. “Well, I don’t want any of us to be all drugged up, I saw that on a movie with Aunt Tillie and I don’t want to be like that.”
“I’m sure no one will drug you like that.”
“Okay,” she nodded, “good.”
“Is something bothering you, Evanna? You seem agitated.”
“Agitated?” Evanna smirked, “I don’t know if I’m that, but I was just thinking about things. Leah said Jesse told her that we’re his mate.” She snorted and then shook her head, “I don’t even know how that would work? How would that work?”
Shaelan smiled, one of those soft understanding ones. “I have learned one thing about mates.”
Evanna nodded her head slowly, giving her complete focus. “What is that?”
“That when it comes to one’s mate, it works out.” She smiled again, “I’ve spoken to a lot of elders in the past few months, and they have so many stories of mates finding one another and overcoming insurmountable obstacles to be together.” She clasped her hands in front of her, “I don’t think fate would give you a mate that wasn’t up to the challenges you face.”
Evanna looked over to see Jesse standing talking to a few men. “He’s pretty good, he can even talk to Leah without sending her into a panic,” she shrugged, “except that one time, but he’s been doing really good since then.” She motioned to her clothes, “he’s had Leah in stores, that’s a first.”
“I think he’ll figure it out, you’ll figure it out together.” Shaelan smiled again, “now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going for a run with my mate.”
“Thanks, Shaelan.” And she meant it, she decided as she walked away to go over to that tall dark-haired man, Calum. He was a serious man, and she got vibes of danger from him, but not at her, so that made a difference.
Thera came flying over to her and looked at the couple walking hand in hand toward the trees at the back. “Shaelan, Thera wants to come for a run.”
Calum and Shaelan stopped, “she’s welcome.” Calum called back.
“Be good,” Evanna warned the leopard. Thera looked at her for a moment more and then took off after them. She watched her for a moment and then turned back to look at Jesse. She knew that the light-haired one was Blair, but she didn’t know the other two. One had curly red hair and a smile on his face. She shrugged; happy people were nice to be around. Aunt Tillie for the most part was always a happy person. The other one was tall, not as muscular as the rest and he had something haunting his soul. A phrase Aunt Tillie used to use. He had short, brown hair that looked like it hadn’t been brushed, with what she could only describe as golden streaks in it. He was not smiling and even his posture said he was in no way relaxed. She understood that all too well. That was how she felt a lot of her life, tense, waiting for the next thing to go wrong. He crossed his arms over his chest and stood there listening to the other three. He wasn’t a leader, so far, he hadn’t said a word. She frowned, there was something that seemed familiar about him, which was impossible. Unless—
Evanna started toward them. She didn’t get three feet before Jesse turned and looked at her. Later, she’d wonder how he’d known when she was heading over there. He cocked his head to the side like he knew she was on a mission, and she was, she needed to know why that man seemed familiar.
When she was almost to them, the man turned and looked at her. She stopped and stood there. His eyes, the look he was giving her—she’d seen those eyes before, that expression.
“Leah?”
She shook her head. Jesse came over and stood close to her. “Evanna.”
The man nodded his head slowly, “Evanna.” The heavy expression on his face lightened, “I’m so glad you got home.”
“You’re Noah.”
He nodded, a hesitant look on his face.
“Jesse said you were rescued too.” She looked him up and down, he seemed whole—on the outside, “you weren’t there by choice?” She frowned, trying to piece together things that she remembered, things she didn’t want to remember. “It was you.” It had been Leah and all of it was a blur, but the pieces… “You’re the one that unlocked the door and let Leah go.”
Noah nodded, the pained expression still in his eyes. “I couldn’t get your mother and sister to go with you.” He took a step, then stopped, “not with your sister’s condition.”
Evanna looked from him to Jesse, then back to him. “Her condition?” There was something wrong with Leah’s sister? She tried to picture her, the memories had faded, she couldn’t picture her clearly. She stared at him, not really seeing him.
Jesse and the other man both turned to Noah.
Evanna’s heart started racing, she rubbed her hand across her forehead. A faded image of Ashtyn formed in her mind. They both had the same dark hair and eyes, Leah’s sister was taller, more exotic looking. She could see her smile, but the smile faded. Taking a step back, she tried to focus. She could feel Minn stir and shook her head, trying to will the cat to stay calm so she could see, really see.
“Evanna?” Jesse was right in front of her now. “It’s okay, you’re safe.”
She looked with a blurred vision at his pale eyes. “It’s not okay.” Her voice didn’t sound like her own. Her throat started to ache. “Minn.” She whispered, not sure if it was to the cat or to Jesse.
“Take deep breaths, try to slow your heartbeat.” He was leaning down in her face.
“Ashtyn,” she blinked, trying to focus. “There was—” The pains in her stomach started, it was always like this when she fought Minn. Shaking her head, she backed away from him, she didn’t want to hurt him by mistake. “I’m sorry.” She turned and ran for the trailer. She didn’t get far before the pains were so bad, that she couldn’t move any further. “Leah, help me.” She groaned, the slight movement to get her boots off was almost too much to bear.
“Here.” Jesse was behind her now, he dropped down and pulled her other boot off. “Just keep breathing, change, but control it.”
“Can’t.” she hissed out a breath and tried to pull the shirt over her head.
“Jesse?” She heard Blair but couldn’t see him.
“Watch the drive, so she doesn’t go that way,” Jesse said in a hurried voice.
She could feel hands on her waist now, the pressure of the material around her hips was eased as he undid her jeans and slid them down her legs. “Can’t…” she moaned, and it sounded more like a growl.
“I’ll be right behind you.”
She could hear him but was unable to concentrate to see him.
“Minn, stop hurting her and let her shift.” He growled out low.
Evanna could see again and realized as she moved fast it was through feline eyes. The trees flew by, she felt like a passenger, unable to reach Minn enough to take control of the cat’s form.