Chapter 660

Evaline:

Kieran’s and Oscar’s hands were on me before I even realized they had moved.

Their grips were firm but careful, each of them holding onto my arm as if trying to ground me without actually pulling me away from Kyros. My palm still rested against his chest, right over those dark, spreading veins. My power still hummed beneath my skin… ready, waiting, desperate to act.

“Evaline,” Kieran said, his voice low but urgent. “Maybe we should wait p>

I turned my head toward him and the worry in his eyes hit me instantly. He wasn’t just concerned about Kyros. He was worried about me.

“Let Elder Morwen take a look first,” he added, his grip tightening just slightly around my arm. “We don’t know what this could do to you p>

Oscar didn’t say anything, but I could feel it through the bond – the same fear, the same hesitation, the same desperate need to pull me away from something that could possibly harm me.

And I understood it.

I truly did.

They had seen what that darkness could do. They had seen what it had done to others. And now, they were watching me willingly walk straight into it.

I slowly turned my head from Kieran to Oscar, meeting his eyes next.

“I can’t,” I said softly. My voice trembled, but the resolve behind it didn’t.

“I can’t just sit here and wait while he My words faltered, my throat tightening painfully.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to continue.

“Until Elder Morwen arrives… I’m going to try p>

Both of them stiffened slightly.

“Eva-” Oscar started.

“I’m not strong enough to lose another loved one p>

The words slipped out before either of them could stop me – raw, broken, and barely held together.

My vision blurred again, but I didn’t look away this time. I held their gazes, letting them see exactly what I was feeling.

“I’m not,” I repeated, my voice quieter now, but heavier. “So I’m going to try… even if it doesn’t work… even if I fail p>

My fingers pressed slightly harder against Kyros’ chest.

“I have to try p>

Silence followed – heavy, thick, and filled with everything I didn’t say out loud.

I felt it then.

River.

He hadn’t spoken, but his presence shifted slightly behind us. I didn’t need to look to know he wasn’t okay with this either. None of them were.

But they all heard me. And they all felt it – my desperation and fear, and my refusal to stand by and do nothing.

A moment later, Oscar exhaled softly.

Then, without a word, he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

It lingered there for a second – warm, reassuring, and filled with silent support.

When he pulled back, his hands slipped away from my arms.

Kieran hesitated longer. His grip stayed for just a second more before he finally let go too, his jaw tightening as he stepped back.

None of them agreed with me. But none of them stopped me either. That alone meant everything.

I turned my attention slightly and looked at Rowan.

“Step back,” I said quietly. “I don’t know what’s going to happen p>

Rowan frowned immediately. “Eva p>

“Please,” I added, softer this time.

He held my gaze for a moment before finally nodding, standing up and taking a few steps back though his eyes never left Kyros.

I took a slow breath, ready to start. But hen something struck me. A thought… or a possibility… one that made my stomach drop.

“What if I started, my voice uncertain now.

All of them looked at me.

I hesitated before finishing, “What if the darkness… tries to latch onto someone else p>

The words felt heavy as they left my mouth.

“What if forcing it out of Kyros just makes it jump to the nearest person p>

The room fell silent again. This time, not a single one of them had an answer.

I looked between them, searching their faces.

Oscar.

Kieran.

River.

None of them spoke.

And that was enough to terrify me.

Kieran reacted first.

He immediately pulled out his phone, dialing without wasting another second.

“Elder Morwen,” he said the moment the call connected. “We need your help p>

I stayed still, my hand still resting over Kyros’ chest, my power barely contained as I listened Kieran quickly informing the elder witch about Kyros’ situation.

“Eva is trying to remove the energy from Kyros,” Kieran continued. “But we need to know… if it’s forced out… is there a chance it could attach to someone else p>

There was a pause.

Then Elder Morwen’s voice came through the phone, calm but serious. “There might actually be such a possibility p>

My heart dropped.

“And that is exactly why she should not attempt this without proper containment,” she added firmly. “Tell her to wait. We are on our way p>

I closed my eyes briefly.

Wait.

Just a little longer.

Kyros shifted slightly beneath my hold. “I… I don’t understand,” he said quietly.

I opened my eyes and looked at him.

His gaze flickered between all of us, his confusion and unease growing stronger with every passing second.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice sounding strained now. “What are you all talking about p>

His hand hovered near his chest, near those veins, but he didn’t touch them as if some instinct inside him was already warning him not to.

“Eva… what’s happening to me p>

My throat tightened again.

I wanted to answer him, wanted to explain everything, but the words felt too heavy.

Too real.

So instead, I just shook my head slightly. “Just… trust me for a little while,” I said softly.

That was all I could give him.

And despite the confusion and unease… he nodded.

The next half an hour felt like an eternity. No one spoke much and the tension in the room remained thick, suffocating.

Kyros sat still, though I could see the unease growing in his posture, in the way his eyes occasionally drifted to his chest.

Rowan stood nearby, silent but alert.

Kieran paced once before forcing himself to stay still.

Oscar stayed close to me, close enough that I could feel his presence anchoring me even without touch.

And River… he stood at a distance, watching everything with an unreadable expression.

And then finally… they arrived.