Evie laid her head back down, trying to keep the pride from her face. “You are so my sister.”
“Evie?” her father’s weak voice called out from his bedroom. “Is that you?”
She scrambled to her feet and rushed into her father’s room.
Griffin Sage lay pale in his bed, with a stillness that sent fear spiking underneath Evie’s skin. “Father?” She shook his shoulder, letting out a deep sigh when she saw his chest move.
The man, who looked far older than he had a day ago, smiled weakly. “Evangelina? You’re home safe.”
“Shhhh. You need to rest.”
Sighing and sinking farther into his pillows, her father reached out his hand for hers. He seemed so grateful to see her, so she squeezed his hand back and added, “I’m sorry, Papa. I would’ve tried to get home, whatever it took, if I knew you were feeling ill.”
“My sweet girl. It wasn’t your fault.” Her father tensed for just a moment, as though he wanted to say more, but then he relaxed again. “I think you’re right. I need to sleep. I’m glad you’re home, Evangelina.”
Evie lifted his head gently to give him his medicine, then laid him back onto the pillow, brushing sticky sweat from his forehead with a damp rag. She watched him fade into sleep, the steady rise and fall of his chest a small comfort to her guilty conscience.
Creeping to the door, Evie inched back to her own bedroom, lying flat on her bed.
The nearly set sun glimmered one last ray through the pane of her window, catching on something gold sitting on her desk. Rising against the ache of her muscles, she walked over to the table and picked up the envelope with foiled lettering on the outside that read:
Evangelina
I thought this would be of interest
X You know who I am.
Evie nearly dropped the note as her head whipped around the room, expecting whatever intruder had placed it there to be standing in a darkened corner or lurking under her bed.
“Lyssa!”
“What?” Her sister peeked her head in the room, looking irritated.
“Did you put this on my desk?” Evie held up the envelope, freezing when she saw that the lock to her window was unlatched and there was a slight gap between the frame and the glass.
“No. That wasn’t there when I checked your room this morning. What is it? Can I see?” Lyssa bounced through the doorway, and Evie felt a shaking of her nerves that wouldn’t calm.
“Not right now, Lyssa. This is for work; you can look later,” Evie said kindly. Her sister rolled her eyes and shut the door.
The envelope was torn before she heard the click. Her fingers ripped out the parchment, bold letters etched to the front.
To Evangelina Sage
Looking for a cure?
Briar’s Peak
Tonight
Dress for a formal celebration hosted by the core healer
This invitation permits one person and one person only
Evie placed the invitation down on her desk and ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the strands. Someone had broken into her room to give her something that would help her. Help her family? It must have been the spy—why else would they be so secretive? And for that matter…so creepy.
And the core healer? Was this a myth come to life? Or a trap?
With your luck, it’s probably both.
Her mind was racing, her stomach reeling and nauseous from the thought of a dangerous stranger in the same home as her family, standing so close to where she lay her head at night. Across the hall, her father groaned in pain.
Damn it.
Running to her bed, Evie bent and pulled a large box out from underneath it, throwing it on the bed and ripping off the lid. She gripped the fabric in angry fists, pulling it up and out with none of the satisfaction she’d had when she bought the dress.
Evie had seen it in the window at the seamstress a town over and had allowed herself this one indulgence. She’d been making more than enough to support her family at that point, so there was no reason not to allow herself some luxury. At the time, she had no idea where she’d wear it, but now was as good a time as any.
The fabric appeared white, but when the light hit it, it shone every color, like a walking rainbow. It shimmered, the bodice hugging, and the thin sleeves draped off her shoulders in an enticing fashion. She maneuvered around, somehow managing the clasps without falling over or breaking a wrist. After pinning her hair back with her mother’s butterfly pins, she stared at herself in the mirror.
She did one twirl and laughed before collecting herself into a serious expression. It wasn’t every day she wore such a pretty dress.