Page 7 of The Ever Legacy
Fate made a mistake for him.
She was cursed and now he was feeling something he shouldn’t. Ella wouldn’t deny the chemistry between them, to herself. It all had to stop. His true mate was still out there, and that person didn’t deserve having a curse effect fate for them too. It was bad enough it created her life of solitude. Always pushing people away or keeping them at a distance.
She could still make friends and connections for her future with The Council. That was all she could ever offer to anyone.
No strings.
No commitment.
Her parents and specialist told her growing up, she wouldn’t have a mate. Ella knew it was because of the curse. The same reason nobody had children in her family anymore. The Ever bloodline was cursed. It had to end with her. Gods forbid, if for some reason it felt like fate towards someone, she knew it was a lie. It had been engraved into her consciousness from an early age.
“Everything okay?” Leslie mouthed as she approached the group.
Ella nodded and put on a fake smile. The same smile she had been using for years, the one nobody would know wasn’t real.
Leslie’s brows pushed together. “You know.” She paused and faked a yawn. “I’m getting kind of tired.”
“Me too.” Robert interrupted.
“I’ll walk back with you guys.” Ella was thankful for the chance to escape without anyone knowing the wiser. Leaving with her new friends would also mean she wouldn’t find herself alone with Tyler again.
The three of them said their goodbyes before leaving the clearing. No doubt the rest of the class would continue to party late and into the morning since classes didn’t begin until the day after tomorrow.
Ella quickened her pace to get in front of the other two and turned to go up a winding path they wouldn’t know about.
“Um, where are you going?” Robert questioned.
“A secret entrance in the back.” Ella looked over her shoulder with a smile.
“I knew there had to be some in the castle. Are there lots?” Robert clapped.
“That’s a secret for another day,” she teased as she continued leading the way.
When they reached the back corner, she placed her palms on a rounded archway that had been paved and closed off long before she was even born. She felt her magic push its way down her arms and into her hands, letting the rock feed off of it. Seconds after, magic was pulled from the ground and up her feet, coursing through her body.
“It reads your magic. A long time ago it was used as a way to escape or hide, only for those gifted.” Ella closed her eyes a moment longer before taking a step back. Her arms dropped to her sides and an archway appeared.
Once the three of them stepped through, the hidden corridor before them was lit and their entrance was once again blocked off.
“That’s cool.” Leslie grinned.
“How does it know when to close?” Robert looked back.
“Magic of course. Something to do with knowing how many are waiting to step through.” Ella had never thought about the magic behind the castle before. It was enchanted while it was being built generations ago.
Ella continued to lead them down the hallway. At their first split, she stopped. “This,” she pointed up to the right, “is a spiral staircase that will take you to the hallway that leads to the main library and one of the watchtowers at the back of the castle.”
They continued walking straight ahead. She would pause for moments to point out a few other paths. This wasn’t even the main hidden passage, but from it, one could also get to the central courtyard, a few of the meeting rooms that were going to be classrooms, as well as the smaller ballroom.
“This is amazing.” Robert shook their head in disbelief. “Please tell me there are several more of these secret passageways.”
Ella laughed. “I’ll show you another tomorrow.”
“Okay, best friends. It’s official.” Leslie laughed. “The three of us were meant to be close.”
“So we’re going to share secrets?” Ella swallowed.
“I’ll start.” Leslie spoke and the three of them stopped beneath one of the lights. “My parents want me to join The Council but I’m going to join The Guard. There are hardly any women apart of that organization. I know it’s hard to join, but being a shifter helps. Plus, my older brother is already a member, and he knows my plan.”
