Read Online Never (The Ever Series Book 2) by C. J. Valles - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: C. J. Valles
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enormous cream-colored sofas where I woke up only hours before stepping through the mirror.
Chasen has followed us inside, and Audra arrives from another part of the house I’ve yet to see. Moments later Alistair appears out of thin air. The only member of the group missing is Persephone.
“Persephone is watching your mother,” Ever says.
I nod. This makes me feel a little bit better, but I still feel a flare of anxiety about my friends. Ashley being used as a pawn was my fault, and with a sinking sensation I realize that I’m still putting everyone at risk. Audra hisses suddenly, and I spin around and see Alex at the opposite side of the room.
“Shall we test the extent of your immortality?” she asks, stepping forward menacingly.
Ever raises a hand.
“I’ve invited him here.”
I blink, remembering the millisecond Ever wasn’t in my presence before we left my house. It was exactly a millisecond—for me—but it must have been enough time for him to seek out Alex.
“Why?” Audra asks with distaste.
“Because I expect he has brought hell down upon us.”
I stare back and forth between them, trying to make sense of what Ever just said. These immortal creatures are fierce and beautiful, but Ever said they were not angels, so by hell , I understand him to mean something really, really bad , just not in any sort of biblical sense.
“As the end neared, you became greedy, didn’t you?” Ever continues, his attention directed at Alex. “At long last, you wanted something for yourself. … And now they’ve come to collect what you thought you were owed.”
I watch as Alex’s features transform from defiant to resigned in an instant.
“They’ve found her,” Alex says.
It isn’t a question. It’s a statement. And they’re talking about me. I want to scream and demand answers from the five of them, especially since I seem to be the main topic of conversation again. An eerie numbness starts to take over.
“Does anybody feel like erasing my memory and sticking me back at my house to get eaten by whatever’s coming?”
Chasen laughs, and I look behind me.
“No way,” he says cheerfully. “You’re too much fun.”
“Aww, you need a pet?” I ask, eyes narrowed.
He laughs even harder, and I finally crack a smile.
“I’m glad the two of you find this so amusing!” Audra says caustically.
“Amusing? You haven’t even told me what I’m supposed to be so afraid of! Anybody care to clue me in?”
Alistair, who’s been watching us calmly, gestures for me to sit on the sofa.
“Wren, first, it’s good to see you again. I only wish it were under better circumstances.”
He smiles, and I feel surprisingly calmed by his presence. I can’t figure out how he manages to seem so fatherly at such a young age. That’s when I remember that looks are deceiving.
“I told you when we met that we are not of this dimension,” Alistair says.
I nod even though I don’t think I was truly able to absorb that fact until I stepped through a mirror.
“However, that may have been an oversimplified accounting of our history,” he continues carefully. “You see, our dimension had become inhospitable when a small number of us discovered that we could transcend the barrier into your world. We escaped and took refuge in this dimension, and eventually we were able to foresee what would result in the most evolved species—humans. Taking form, we began to integrate ourselves into human society as necessary.”
He stops, but even if I can’t read his mind, I know this isn’t the end of the story.
“As your species increased in number, a few began to exhibit traits that we initially assumed were exclusive to our own kind. These individuals’ minds could see more, sense more. And they saw us in greater detail than those around them could.”
His brow furrows, and I take an uneven breath. I knew I was in too deep to go back moments after Ever told me he wasn’t human, but as another layer is peeled
Chasen has followed us inside, and Audra arrives from another part of the house I’ve yet to see. Moments later Alistair appears out of thin air. The only member of the group missing is Persephone.
“Persephone is watching your mother,” Ever says.
I nod. This makes me feel a little bit better, but I still feel a flare of anxiety about my friends. Ashley being used as a pawn was my fault, and with a sinking sensation I realize that I’m still putting everyone at risk. Audra hisses suddenly, and I spin around and see Alex at the opposite side of the room.
“Shall we test the extent of your immortality?” she asks, stepping forward menacingly.
Ever raises a hand.
“I’ve invited him here.”
I blink, remembering the millisecond Ever wasn’t in my presence before we left my house. It was exactly a millisecond—for me—but it must have been enough time for him to seek out Alex.
“Why?” Audra asks with distaste.
“Because I expect he has brought hell down upon us.”
I stare back and forth between them, trying to make sense of what Ever just said. These immortal creatures are fierce and beautiful, but Ever said they were not angels, so by hell , I understand him to mean something really, really bad , just not in any sort of biblical sense.
“As the end neared, you became greedy, didn’t you?” Ever continues, his attention directed at Alex. “At long last, you wanted something for yourself. … And now they’ve come to collect what you thought you were owed.”
I watch as Alex’s features transform from defiant to resigned in an instant.
“They’ve found her,” Alex says.
It isn’t a question. It’s a statement. And they’re talking about me. I want to scream and demand answers from the five of them, especially since I seem to be the main topic of conversation again. An eerie numbness starts to take over.
“Does anybody feel like erasing my memory and sticking me back at my house to get eaten by whatever’s coming?”
Chasen laughs, and I look behind me.
“No way,” he says cheerfully. “You’re too much fun.”
“Aww, you need a pet?” I ask, eyes narrowed.
He laughs even harder, and I finally crack a smile.
“I’m glad the two of you find this so amusing!” Audra says caustically.
“Amusing? You haven’t even told me what I’m supposed to be so afraid of! Anybody care to clue me in?”
Alistair, who’s been watching us calmly, gestures for me to sit on the sofa.
“Wren, first, it’s good to see you again. I only wish it were under better circumstances.”
He smiles, and I feel surprisingly calmed by his presence. I can’t figure out how he manages to seem so fatherly at such a young age. That’s when I remember that looks are deceiving.
“I told you when we met that we are not of this dimension,” Alistair says.
I nod even though I don’t think I was truly able to absorb that fact until I stepped through a mirror.
“However, that may have been an oversimplified accounting of our history,” he continues carefully. “You see, our dimension had become inhospitable when a small number of us discovered that we could transcend the barrier into your world. We escaped and took refuge in this dimension, and eventually we were able to foresee what would result in the most evolved species—humans. Taking form, we began to integrate ourselves into human society as necessary.”
He stops, but even if I can’t read his mind, I know this isn’t the end of the story.
“As your species increased in number, a few began to exhibit traits that we initially assumed were exclusive to our own kind. These individuals’ minds could see more, sense more. And they saw us in greater detail than those around them could.”
His brow furrows, and I take an uneven breath. I knew I was in too deep to go back moments after Ever told me he wasn’t human, but as another layer is peeled
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