Blood Rose Kings

Evelyn Chapter - 6

"Evelyn, I have to say, I'm surprised you're here," Asher said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Why's that?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Well, after what happened with Ryker and Kael, I thought you'd be avoiding us," he said, his voice low and smooth.

I shrugged. "I'm not afraid of you. Besides, I need to study."

Asher chuckled. "You're a brave one, I'll give you that. But seriously, Evelyn, we need to talk about your protection."

I raised an eyebrow. "I thought we already discussed that. You and the others don't want to be my guardians."

Asher leaned forward, his eyes intense. "That was Ryker and Kael's decision, not mine. I think we can protect you better than anyone else."

I laughed. "You think I'm just going to forget what happened? How you all treated me like a pawn in your game?"

Asher's expression turned serious. "I know we didn't handle it well, but we can do better. We can protect you, Evelyn. And we can help you control your... abilities."

I shook my head. "No, Asher. I don't want your protection. I don't want anything to do with you or the others."

Asher's eyes narrowed. "You're making a mistake, Evelyn. We're the only ones who can keep you safe."

I stood up, my heart racing. "I'd rather take my chances than trust you again."

Asher's face fell, but he nodded. "Fine. But know this, Evelyn - we'll be watching you. And when you need us, don't hesitate to call."

I smiled, a bitter smile. "I won't."

As I turned to leave, Asher's voice stopped me.

"Evelyn."

I turned back, my heart still racing.

"Why won't you give us a chance?" Asher asked, his eyes searching.

I shook my head. "You had your chance. And you blew it."

Asher's expression turned thoughtful. "I understand why you're angry. But I'm asking you to consider the bigger picture. We can help you."

"I don't need your help," I said, trying to sound firm.

Asher stood up, his movements fluid. "You do need our help, Evelyn. Whether you like it or not, you're caught up in our world now."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he stepped closer.

"Let us protect you," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.

I closed my eyes, trying to resist the temptation. But it was hard to ignore the spark that seemed to ignite whenever Asher was near.

"No," I said, my voice barely audible.

Asher's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of understanding.

"Fine," he said, stepping back. "But remember, Evelyn - we're not the only ones who want you."

I frowned, unsure what he meant.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Asher's smile was enigmatic. "You'll find out soon enough."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me feeling confused and uneasy.

What did Asher mean? Who else wanted me?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I couldn't let Asher's words get to me.

But as I walked out of the library, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

I walked into the cozy café, scanning the room for my friends. Ryth, Elanor, and Jake were already there, laughing and chatting over steaming cups of coffee.

"Hey, guys!" I exclaimed, sliding into the empty chair.

Ryth grinned. "Hey, Ev! We've missed you."

Elanor nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's been ages since we've all hung out."

Jake chuckled. "We've been keeping busy, but it's not the same without you."

We spent the next hour catching up on each other's lives, sharing stories about school and family.

As we talked, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my friends. They had no idea about the supernatural world I was caught up in, and I intended to keep it that way.

After we finished catching up, Ryth leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"So, Evelyn, what's the latest on your college crush?" she asked.

Elanor's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh, yeah! Tell us more."

Jake chuckled. "Is it that guy from your psychology class?"

I blushed, trying to play it cool. "What guy?"

Ryth laughed. "Don't play dumb, Evelyn. We know all about your crush on Alex."

I sighed, smiling. "Okay, fine. Yeah, I still think he's cute."

Elanor leaned in. "Have you talked to him yet?"

I shook my head. "No, not really. Just in class."

Jake grinned. "You should ask him out."

Ryth nodded in agreement. "Yeah, go for it."

I laughed. "You guys are impossible."

Elanor smiled. "We're just trying to help. You deserve someone normal, someone who's not... you know."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Someone who's not what?"

Elanor hesitated, glancing at Ryth and Jake. "Someone who's not... intense."

I knew exactly who she was talking about - Riven. But I didn't want to go there.

"Let's focus on Alex instead," I said, smiling.

My friends laughed, and we spent the rest of the afternoon gossiping about college crushes and sharing stories.

For a few hours, I forgot about the supernatural drama waiting for me outside. But as the sun began to set, I knew I couldn't avoid it forever.

Ryth grinned mischievously. "Oh, Evelyn's got a crush! Evelyn's got a crush!"

Elanor and Jake joined in, teasing me playfully.

I blushed, laughing. "Shut up, guys!"

Jake pretended to swoon. "Oh, Alex, Alex, he's so dreamy!"

I hit Jake playfully on the arm. "Shut up, Jake!"

Just then, I noticed them - Ryker, Kael, Asher, and Cormac - standing across the room, their eyes fixed on me with narrowed gazes.

I pretended not to notice, focusing on my friends instead.

But I could sense their eyes on me, boring into my skin.

As Jake and I continued to playfully bicker, our arms touching, I saw the vampires' eyes cloud over.

Asher's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with something like anger.

Ryker's gaze turned icy, his eyes never leaving mine.

Kael's face darkened, his eyes narrowing further.

Cormac's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes never leaving Jake and me.

I ignored them, refusing to give them the satisfaction of knowing they were getting to me.

Instead, I focused on my friends, laughing and joking with them like nothing was wrong.

But I knew the vampires were still watching, their eyes burning with intensity.

And I knew I had to be careful.

As the night wore on, we decided to take advantage of the restaurant's rooftop VIP lounge, which offered a stunning view of the city skyline. The rain created a cozy ambiance, and we danced the night away, enjoying our VIP pass courtesy of our wealthy families.

But none of us were fond of our families' extravagance or expectations. We preferred to forge our own paths, free from the weight of our family names.

As I danced with Jake, laughing and spinning to the music, I caught the vampires' eyes on us. They didn't look pleased.

Asher's gaze was fixed on Jake, his eyes flashing with a hint of possessiveness.

Ryker's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he watched me dance.

Kael's face darkened, his eyes burning with intensity.

Cormac's eyes never left mine, his expression thoughtful.

But they kept quiet, observing from afar.

My friends, however, were hyping me up, cheering me on as I danced with Jake.

"Evelyn, you go girl!" Ryth shouted, laughing.

"Show him your moves!" Elanor added, giggling.

I grinned mischievously, knowing the vampires were watching. I purposely asked Jake to another playful dance, just to see how they'd react.

As we danced, I felt their eyes on me, burning with a mix of emotions. But I refused to back down, enjoying the freedom of the moment, surrounded by my friends and the music.

The night felt perfect.