Falling For Them: A New Adult Reverse Harem Collection

by C. L. Stone

  “I wish. He says I’m not ready.” Evie shrugged dejectedly. She knew she would get her chance, but she was impatient. She wanted to see more of the world. She was tired of her limited view.

  “I’m sure he will change his mind, child. He will let you spread your wings soon enough. If not, you will be turning eighteen in a year. You will be able to journey out on your own then.”

  4

  Max’s Arrival

  The next four days dragged by slowly, Evie thought the weekend would never arrive. The same monotonous, daily schedule existed for all the residents of the camp, including weekends. Normally, the days blended seamlessly that no one day stood out. Until this weekend, this Saturday brought something different because Max was scheduled to return.

  The bruising on her face diminished, leaving only a shadow. Evie concealed it with a touch of makeup. The bruises on her body remained, but the pain was minimized. She only felt a twinge now and again if she turned wrong.

  When she rose from her bed this morning, she could hardly contain her excitement. She missed Max desperately anytime he was gone, but this time, he’d been away for almost two weeks. He’d never been gone for such a long period before.

  Evie was fifteen when Maximilian first appeared at camp. Physically, he was a man in his early twenties, but he wasn’t serious like the other soldiers. His youthful exuberance made everyone around him laugh. He was also a heart stopper. His blond hair and sky-blue eyes had all the single women panting at his feet when he’d joined up. He came strolling into camp, a confident swagger in his step, and bowled over every single lady with just a wink. He was a natural flirt and even married woman were not unaffected by him. The air of mystery that surrounded him seemed to draw women like bees to honey.

  At first, Evie ignored him and his repeated attempts to befriend her. She’d thought he was like the rest of her father's soldiers, trying to be nice just because of who she was. But over time, he proved her wrong. To this day, he remained a steadfast friend and Evie’s only confidant.

  Even though the camps children were taught together in a homeschooled format, Evie was naturally gifted academically and excelled at a faster pace than her peers. Evie was separated into a room by herself to maximize her quality of study. This made it tough on her to form any lasting friendships.

  A few weeks after Max’s arrival, Evie graduated from high school. She was offered a full scholarship to two different universities and was elated at the prospect of leaving camp life behind. The first offer was the one Evie was looking forward to the most. It was an offer to attend the Suoja Guild, an elite college, one of the best in the world. But it was also run by the Surmata, the supernatural species who protected humans against demonic forces. The Surmata were the very enemies her father fought against.

  Her father refused, wouldn’t even discuss sending her there. Her role required her to stay at the camp.

  Max intervened that day. He argued that it would be a coup for the resistance to have someone on the inside. A spy for the cause. But, her father was adamant. He refused to even consider it. Knowing it was a lost cause, Max switched tactics. He convinced her father to allow her to accept the second scholarship from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Max arranged for Evie to be taught remotely, logging into a virtual classroom. Her father accepted this compromise with little argument. Evie was happy to receive a higher education, but her dreams of leaving the camp didn’t come to fruition.

  Never one to be deterred, no matter the obstacle, Evie worked hard. So hard in fact, that she received her bachelor’s degree in molecular science and engineering just last month. The school enrolled her in their master's program. She should finish that within a year if her father didn’t pull her away too often to assist with a new campaign. He normally kept her busy several days a week, leaving little time for her to complete her assignments. He felt it was her responsibility to find the time for her coursework which resulted in Evie pulling late nights in order to stay on schedule.

  Max arrived back at the camp later that afternoon. Evie expected him first thing in the morning and began to worry he wasn’t coming. She knew he wasn’t on a mission for her father. He left to take care of some personal business. He didn’t share his reasons for leaving with Evie, but she knew about his past and could hazard a guess about what drew him away.

  Max was solemn as he approached her, the sparkle in his normally mischievous eyes missing, replaced with a lost look. Evie didn't pry. He would tell her when he was ready. Instead, she grabbed his hand and dragged him through the outskirts of camp and into the heavily wooded forest. They started on the main trail everyone utilized, but once Evie made sure no one was around, they veered off, following a small dear trail no one else used.

  Evie found the trail when they had first moved to Holden when she was twelve. While out exploring, she noticed a small doe in the woods. Curious and enthralled at its beauty, she followed it. That’s when she found the path. The trail ended about a mile in at a small spring. This secret location became her personal retreat over the years, one that she now shared with Max.

  Grudgingly, Max allowed her to pull him forward, not offering any arguments. It was only mid-afternoon; the sun was shining and the temperature was moderate for late September. Leaves crinkled under their feet, and the smell of wet moss hung heavy in the air. It rained the night before, leaving a slightly musty smell in the forest around them. Luckily most of the ground was dried out, leaving only a few muddy spots which they avoided easily.

  Arriving at the spring, Evie released Max's hand and plopped down with an exaggerated huff. She arranged herself at the water’s edge, crisscrossing her legs under her. Her fingers flicked out, playing with the chilled water, while she waited for him to take a seat beside her. She stayed quiet, waiting him out, knowing he would give in to her unspoken demand. Sure enough, a heavy sigh left his lips as he squatted down until his butt hit the grass. He sat with his knees up, ankles crossed, his arms encircling his legs.

  "Talk to me, Max,” was the only thing she said. The temperature of the water made her shiver, even though her hand was the only part of her touching it. She withdrew her fingers and started to fiddle with a stalk of grass.

  "I went back."

  "Why?"

  Max looked over at her, anger sparking in the depths of his eyes. "I had to see her."

  "Did you? See her, I mean?" Evie held her breath, hoping for the best. She knew what seeing Cammie did to him. This was not the first time they'd had this conversation over the last few months. In fact, this was the third time.

  "I did. Nothing’s changed." Bitterness ensconced his every word. Max allowed the true color of his eyes to bleed through. Gone was his human appearance. Eyes the color of crimson met Evie's plain green ones. Max’s Surmata heritage was bleeding through. It could be worse; his demon skin could have broken free.

  Max wasn't human. He was half Surmata, half- demon. He was also Evie's one and only friend. One night, several months ago, Evie had trouble sleeping. She slipped on a light weight jacket, grabbed a flashlight she kept stashed in the bedside nightstand, and hiked into the woods, making her way to this very spot. When she arrived, she noticed Max standing there. Curious as to what brought him out there, she hid behind a tree, watching to make sure it was safe before she alerted him of her presence.

  That night, Evie watched, wanting to be sure no one else was there. They tried to keep their close friendship a secret from her father and the other camp members. Evie's father would not like it if he realized just how much time she spent with Max. He would assume the worst, and Max would be the one to pay the price. When she thought it was clear, she stepped out from behind the tree trunk, intent on calling out Max's name. She didn't want to startle him since he was probably armed.

  Before she could open her mouth, an inhuman noise erupted from him, and he dropped onto his knees. A loud anguished roar filled the night air, rolling over the tree tops. Thick, dark shadows rose and encased Max; Evie
could only make out his outline. Hunched over with his head bent down, his form began to grow larger. When the shadows cleared, Max was no longer standing there. In his place stood an inhuman monster with black, scaled skin, bulging muscles, and red eyes.

  Evie stepped back in retreat directly onto a stick, breaking it in half and making a small sound that reverberated loudly in the small alcove. The beast jerked, and his face swung around, facing her. Bright crimson eyes glared at her. She stood there staring in shock, not moving. The demon’s face was similar to the one she had come to love like a brother over the last year and a half. His forehead was elongated, and small horns protruded from his skull. His cheekbones were more pronounced, and there was a large ridge running down his forehead to the end of his nose. But everything else was familiar to her.

  “Max," her breath whispered out, the words hovering on the air.

  As quickly as the beast appeared, he disappeared, and Max was once again standing before her. His eyes wary, he waited patiently for Evie to calm down before he began his story. That was the night she learned the truth about him. He was a spy for the Surmata, watching her father and his camp. His mission was to ensure the safety of the humans housed within the camp boarders. He asked her that night if she would keep his secret. Evie hadn't hesitated. She was never a believer in her father cause.

  That night and many more nights like it, she and Max sat together. He told her all about his life growing up. How he met his bond mate, Caleb, and how together they found their soul mate. How she rejected them both. That rejection was what drove Max to accept the mission that brought him into Evie’s life. He needed time away from her. Caleb stayed back to watch over her. They were both stationed at the Suoja Guild located in North Carolina, the North American location of one of the three Surmata universities around the world. It was the one place Evie always hoped to attend but was denied the opportunity.

  "What happened this time?" Evie lifted up her hand to grasp his shoulder, giving it a small squeeze in a show of comfort.

  Max snorted, and his voice rose a few octaves. "She was hitting on my older brother. Putting her hands all over him."

  "Oh, Max. I'm so sorry." Evie knee crawled into position behind him. Resting the front of her body against his back, she brought her arms around to encircle him. She hugged him closely to her, wanting nothing more than to help him shoulder the pain. When her arms touched him, it set off a chain reaction. He was sobbing in her arms, the pain becoming too much for him. He’d dealt with this pain for over three years now.

  Evie sat at the water’s edge and held Max until he quieted. The bond formed between a Surmata and his soul mate was something that couldn’t be denied. The press of it against the heart was a comforting warmth that the body longed for. When that bond was denied, instead of offering comfort, that bond became a noose around the heart, choking it until you thought it would burst from your chest.

  “Have your healers figured out why she can’t feel the bond with you and Caleb?”

  “No. They can’t find a cause. It’s never happened before. They’re going on the theory that it’s because I’m half demon. My physiology somehow messed with the bond. They researched other half breeds, and there has never been another reported case. So they are stumped.”

  Evie sat back on her heals, worry lines scrunching her forehead. “What are they going to do now?”

  “Pffft! They did it already. They convinced Caleb and me to tell her the truth. That we were triad bond mates.”

  “So, what happened? Did she listen?”

  “Fuck no. She freaked out. Accused all of us of lying to her. She was pissed off and out of control, but then it got worse. She went out of her fucking head and started screaming and clawing at her face. We tried to stop her, but she just went insane. They finally had to sedate her to protect her. She was going to end up killing herself in her rage.”

  “Shit, Max. That’s awful. What did she do when she woke up? Was she okay?”

  Quiet and unmoving, Max stared gloomily out over the water before admitting, “Fuck, Evie. She didn’t remember a thing. I took her memories away before she woke up. The healers told me that they weren’t sure she would recover if I didn’t.”

  Being part demon, Max had the power to take memories from any sentient species. Not all demon’s possessed the same power. The power was usually unique to the bloodline. It’s a power he hated to use and used it only when there was no other choice.

  Evie knew the decision to use it on his own soul mate weighed heavily on his shoulders.

  “What happens next?”

  Max shrugged. “No clue. The healers will keep working on it, I guess.”

  “Don’t give up hope, Max. They will get to the bottom of this I’m sure. You’ve waited for her for over one hundred years, what’s a few more?”

  Max shoulder-checked her gently and laughed ruefully. “I am so glad I met you, Sweetness. If not for you, I don’t know how I would have gotten through these last couple of years. Thanks, Evie. Thanks for being my friend.”

  “Anytime, Maxie. Anytime.”

  “Ugh! Don’t call me that! I hate that nickname. Sounds like a human woman on her period or something.”

  Evie giggled uncontrollably. “Sorry, Maxie.”

  “Brat!”

  Max reached over and picked Evie up. Lifting her easily, he stood straight up, draping her over his shoulder. “Max! Don’t drop me!”

  “I might. Right into the cold water unless you promise not to ever call me that again.”

  “Fine. Put me down first. I don’t trust you not to toss me in no matter what I say.”

  Max placed her on her feet, holding her by the shoulders so he could stare into her gaze. His eyes were alight. The old Max was back. “Say it, Evie.”

  Still feeling playful, Evie wrinkled her nose in mock confusion. “Say what? Maxie?”

  She squealed as his hands swooped down and started tickling her sides. Within minutes, she was so breathless she had to admit defeat. “You win, Max. I promise.”

  Evie had no choice but to concede. Her sides were twinging, reminding her she still wasn’t fully recovered. Luckily, Max didn’t notice. He laughed, he wrapping his arms around her, holding her close. His arms tightened around her, and she cuddled her cheek close to his chest. “God, I’ve missed you. You make everything just a little better, Evie. You make me feel hopeful that I am not damned to spend eternity with an empty pit where my heart should be.”

  “Max, no matter what. I am here for you. You’re my best friend. You also have Caleb. From what you have told me, he is suffering alongside you. You guys can lean on each other. Plus, you have the best healers at the Suoja Guild. One of them will figure out what’s wrong with Cammie.”

  “I know. That’s what I keep telling myself.” Max sighed against her head. “Okay. That’s enough self-pity for one night. I have other news that I think you will love.”

  “Really? What is it?”

  "Caleb came back with me. You finally get to meet him. I’ve told each of you so much about the other, you guys should be fast friends.”

  Evie looked around the clearing. “Where is he?”

  “It’s broad day light, Sweets. Can’t have a Surmata walking around camp. He would kinda stick out like a sore thumb.”

  Slapping Max on the chest, Evie chastised him, “No shit. But we are hidden away. I thought you would have stashed him nearby.”

  “Nope. Caleb is full-blooded Surmata. My demon side allows me to hide my eye color. Caleb doesn’t have that luxury. The humans around here would know what he was the moment he looked at them. Come back to the clearing tonight after your father’s asleep. You can meet him then. Plus, I have a birthday surprise for you.”

  “Max! We don’t have to do anything for my birthday. I’m not used to celebrating it anyway.”

  “Bullshit, Sweetheart. It’s not every day my best friend turns seventeen. We are going to celebrate.”

  Evie was suddenly nervous. She wa
sn’t used to people making a big deal out of her birthday. She treated it just like any other day, nothing special.

  “Max. Whatever you do, can we keep it simple. Please?” Evie begged, stressing the last word.

  “You are the birthday girl. It’s your choice. If you want something small and simple, that’s what you will get.”

  Evie’s smile lit up her entire face. “Thanks, Maxie.”

  A scowl was Max’s only reply.

  5

  Shadewolf Kaveri

  Sneaking out of the cabin that night proved more difficult than Evie anticipated. Her father arrived home in a temper from his meeting and immediately went into his office, slamming the door. The window in his office looked out onto the back of the cabin, Evie's escape route. Slipping out her window and then sliding down to the lower roof line allowed for her to make it to a spot where she could hang over the side, close to the ground. From that position, her feet dangled just a few feet from the ground so she would be able to drop safely. But with her father still in his office, she couldn’t leave her room.

  With no other choice, she waited him out. An hour later, her father headed to bed. The next hour crawled by, but she wanted to ensure that he was asleep. When she felt it was safe, she grabbed her flashlight, ducked out the window, and left the silent cabin behind her.

  She was over an hour past the time she agreed to meet with Max. She hoped he was still there. He knew how unpredictable her father could be, so chances were good he would be.

  Clicking on the flashlight once she reached the edge of the forest, she wove her way to their spot by the spring. The full moon decorated the night sky. No clouds darkened the moon’s rays allowing the light to shine so brightly that Evie almost turned the flashlight back off. She thought better of it since her coordination suffered due to her two left feet sometimes. Graceful butterfly described some girls her age but not her. It was like the roots purposely reached up and grabbed her foot, tripping her.