Evelyn Blackwood Novels & Stories

My heart started beating faster when I opened it. SUBJECT: ELENA Blackwood. STATUS: DECEASED My breath hitched. Elena Blackwood. Damien’s wife. There were rumors about how she cheated and then he killed her. But he was never proven guilty so no one could tell. I tried to force myself to let the file be where I had just seen it. But curiosity really did kill the cat. I was just about to open it when I heard his voice from behind me. “Interesting choice of reading material.” I froze, my heart dropping.

A girl screamed: “Ma’am, look… that man!” Everyone turned. On the last row sat Inspector Rana. His eyes were completely black. A faint smile rested on his face—like the silence of the dead. “Who is he?” someone asked. At that moment, Rana’s shadow rose from the chair, but the body remained seated. The shadow moved forward toward the stage without stopping. Dr. Anusha’s legs were rooted to the ground. The shadow reached the stage… And the register appeared on her desk. The same black leather register—covered in ash-like dust.

“You think this is over? You’ve only broken the lock. The thing beneath the Black Moon stirs, child. And it remembers your name.” Kaelira’s blood ran cold. “No,” she whispered. “The Echo was the last of it. I destroyed it.” “You destroyed its shell,” Varyn said. “But its heart — the true Black Moon — was never in this world to begin with. It’s waiting. And it’s calling you home.” Zevran stepped forward. “Then we’ll burn your god a second time.” Varyn’s expression softened, almost pitying. “You can’t fight the storm, boy. You can only drown in it.”

Chapter 9 Evelyn’s POV "You know this mark," Killian repeated, his voice dropping into a low, terrifying purr that vibrated right through the soles of my shoes. He stepped even closer, completely invading my space until I could smell the ozone and blood clinging to his skin. "Who do you belong to, Evelyn?" "Nobody," I choked out, desperately trying to keep my expression blank. My heart was thumping so hard against my ribs I was certain they could hear it. "I don't belong to anyone. I—I just recognized the symbol from the news. Local pack rivalries. That’s all."

“You’re just the woman my brother can’t stop looking at. Who he invited to the family gala. Who he danced with in front of everyone. Who’s currently in his penthouse on a Sunday morning. Totally not dating.” “It’s complicated.” “It always is.” Julian plates the pancakes. “But complicated doesn’t mean not real.” The elevator dings. We all freeze. “That’s Mom,” Julian says cheerfully. “Game time.” Lucian’s hand finds mine. Squeezes. “Ready?” he asks. “No.” “Good. Neither am I.” The elevator doors open. Evelyn Blackwood steps out. Tall. Elegant. Ice blonde hair in a perfect chignon. Wearing a suit that costs more than my car.

Marcus announced. The gates of a massive, black-steel compound opened slowly. As we drove inside, I realized that the "Dumped" wife was gone. The "Mistress" was gone. I was Evelyn Blackwood, and the war for my life had only just begun.

An elderly woman stood in the doorway. She held a walking stick and wore a dark blue coat. Elena recognized her from the photographs. “Dr. Shaw?” The woman nodded. “It's time you learned what happened that night.” Dr. Shaw sat in the sitting room while Elena and Adrian stood opposite her. Evelyn remained near the door. “You've been hiding for fifteen years,” Adrian said. “Why come back now?” “Because the man responsible is dying.” Elena's heart began pounding. “Who?” “Richard Blackwood.”

Properly look. My hands start shaking. Then I find the photographs. Me outside Hawthorne. Me walking across the courtyard. Me leaving photography. One from my first week at Blackthorne. I turn it over. A date. And beneath it, written in black ink: No known knowledge. Photography could become a concern. Keep her away from west access. I’ll handle her. — R.B. Everything inside me stops. R.B. Roman Blackwood. I read it again. I’ll handle her.

Aiden nodded. “She was one of the original architects of Echelon.” The woman laughed softly. “Architect is such an ugly word.” “What should we call you?” Rei asked. The woman's eyes moved toward her. “Evelyn Black.” The name meant nothing to Rei. But Mara reacted. Her face went completely white. Rei noticed. “Mom?” Mara looked at her daughter. “She's the one.” Evelyn smiled. “The one your mother has spent twenty years running from.”

I replied, keeping my expression neutral. ​Derrick let out a harsh, bitter chuckle and stood up, towering over the workbench. "Connections. Right. You buy up this whole commercial block overnight. You hire a high-end contractor to turn a basic storage warehouse into a concrete bunker with steel plates and private security. And you happen to have emergency medical kits sitting under your car seat." ​He took three slow steps toward me, stopping just short of the doorway. ​"What are you playing at, Evelyn?" he asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Are you getting involved with something dirty? Is Julian mixed up in this? Because if you brought cartel trouble or corporate goons to m