Chapter 0390

Athena

“That sounds like pure fantasy to me.” I shake my head, struggling to process Theodore’s words.

“There was a time none of us believed in Lycans either.” He gestures toward the window where Lycans are training. Zachary ordered them to intensify their drills—all to protect me. “We’ve learned a great deal since then.”

“He’s right,” Alexander says. “Remember what happened when that first Lycan emerged from the forest, right over there? You hid. We tore it apart because we had no idea what it was.”

'He’s right,' Nyx murmurs.

'How would you know? You weren’t even here!'

'I have access to all your memories,' she huffs.

“So you’re saying he’s a Witch… but he’s not working with one?” I ask. Madame Zora is the only Witch I’ve ever met, and she’s gone now. Nothing like this.

Alexander nods. “Witches vary. They aren’t uniform like Lycans or Wolves—or so I’ve heard. Different strengths. Different abilities. And they’re damn near impossible to find. Some, like Madame Zora, work for Wolves—for a price. Others act like they’re above everyone. No idea why, given how few remain.”

“Seraphina said they don’t work with Lycans, but Evelyn is one.” I’m trying hard to connect the dots, but it feels like a giant piece is still missing. Something none of us can see.

“Did Luc piss off any Witches? Is that why Levi is doing this?” I ask.

“I already asked,” Alexander tells me. “He said he doesn’t deal with Witches. They never interested him… until now.”

“Because of Hannah?”

He nods.

“He’s with her at the hospital right now,” Theodore adds. “She’s slowly becoming more lucid. When she’s ready, we might get more answers.”

I nod, rocking gently. Evrin clings to me like he has all morning. Almost as if he senses something’s wrong. Alexander offers to take him, but Evrin just holds me tighter.

“So he’s a Witch who faked being a Lycan… and he’s strong enough to form a link with me?”

“I know it sounds far-fetched,” Theodore agrees. “But it fits.”

'No,' Nyx mutters. 'No, it fucking doesn’t.'

“What’s our next move?” I ask, keeping my—and Nyx’s—thoughts private.

“We need Evelyn to break,” Alexander says, leaning over the cot to check on a sleeping Logan.

“She didn’t even realize I could scent her,” I reply. “She kept going, spinning her story about what Levi did to her, even as her scent gave her away. I expected her to shift, but she just played the victim—like we were wrong for tying her up.”

“Seraphina will try to get information out of her,” Alexander tells me.

'Why?' Nyx mutters in my head.

“Why would she do that?” I ask.

“I asked her. She feels just as betrayed learning the truth about Evelyn. I don’t think she’s doing it to help us—more to satisfy her own anger at being deceived. She knows she could die either way, and she still agreed.” Alexander’s crimson eyes linger on me.

“I thought you might’ve killed her.”

“I considered it. But with everything happening, I figured we could use her. To do that, we’ll need to feed her. Bring her out once a day so she can report whatever Evelyn is plotting.”

“If we bring her out, we have to bring Evelyn out too. Otherwise, she’ll suspect something,” Theodore adds. “It seems like Levi has some attachment to Evelyn, right?”

“Maybe,” I sigh. “Or it could be the other way around. Luc thinks there’s a good chance Evelyn is running the show.”

I notice how Alexander is looking at me. He’s been wary of Theodore since the car accident, but now, I hope he feels better knowing Theodore shared this intel. He could’ve kept it to himself—just like he could’ve hidden the fact he was born a Hunter. But he didn’t.