Chapter 3: Unsettled
Mathias
It has been two weeks since I’ve met Lukan Garron’s former mate and daughter. Yet, I still feel a little unsettled. My mind keeps returning to the vision of Cassia’s exquisite face. Why is she haunting me? I’m very confused by my reaction. Closing my eyes, I try to clear my mind of this strange fascination.
I’m currently in the council chambers debriefing my enforcers, but my mind is miles away. “We need to continue looking further into Lukan Garron’s disappearance. There has to be something we’re missing. All of his assets were frozen, and we’ve locked down all of his properties. Right now, we’re guessing that someone he works with might have found his body. In the meantime, I want to continue to search.”
Gadriel and Corbin nod their heads in agreement. “Yes, sir. What do you want to do?” I think for a moment. “I would like for you to look further into his financials. Check his computer files, and research any other people he might have come in contact with. Maybe people whom he has worked with extensively.”
Both men nod their heads and confer before they walk out of my office.
Leaning back in my chair, I run my hands across the file that Isaiah handed me earlier. I open the file and look at the picture. Cassia Garron’s striking green eyes are staring back at me. Isaiah found very little to link a relationship between Cassia and Lukan. You’d never guess she was Lukan’s daughter. She’s currently a student at Cal State and a sorority girl. Her major is Art and dance. Apparently, the drawings I saw in Alandra’s office walls were drawn by Cassia. Tightening my lips, I glance back at her picture. She’s wearing a long black gown with a heart-shaped top that showed off her beautiful shoulders and neck.
Suddenly, my phone rings. It’s Nevaeh.
Smiling, I push the answer button. “Nevaeh, how are you?” Nevaeh release a nervous laugh. “Hey, Mathias. I’m good. I…I…just wanted to see what you were doing.”
I look around my office then back at the file. “Nothing right now. What can I do for you?” She clears her throat. “Well, …um…I know we saw each other last weekend, and it was really fun. Seriously, Mikhail can’t get over the fact that you beat him at Call of Duty. Anyway, I was wondering if you would like to go to my college visit to Cal State?” She mumbles hurriedly.
I lean back in my chair, smiling. Nevaeh and I have been seeing each other more lately. It’s humbling to know that she’s inviting me to go on her college visit.
I guess she took my pause as a negative response because she continues on. “It’s because you know parents always go, but mom's not around, and I thought maybe it would be good if you came. But if you don’t want to, that’s─”
I interrupt her quickly. “I’d love to go, Nevaeh. What time do you want to go?”
She takes a relieved breath. “Really? That’s great. Okay, how about we meet at my house tomorrow morning at eight? Mikhail and Rowan will be going with Alex, so you and I can ride together and talk.” She asks with a hopeful tone. Since I found out that she was my daughter, we’ve gotten to know each other, but we’ve never really had an in-depth discussion. Perhaps it's time to dig a little deeper.
“Okay, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at eight.”
She laughs nervously. “Okay, bye.”
“Bye,” I reply before I lay my cell phone down on the desk and look back at the picture. What is it about this angel that has me so intrigued?
Chapter 4: Fate’s planCassiaI was hoping to see Mathias weeks ago. I mean, I’m his mate. He should have called me as soon as he left my mother’s house. However, he never came around or called. I’m so confused because he should have known who I am. Mates are supposed to feel a call. Angel mating is intricate. When an angel female is ready to find her mate, she dreams of him. The male angel will also begin feeling a lure to a certain place where they will find their other half. It’s different with some half-angels, but pure angels know by the dreams they share and the unmistakable lure. An angel that finds his or her mate usually becomes restless. As if we’re searching for something. I’ve been feeling that way since I saw him. So why hasn’t he come to see me? Groaning with frustration, I bury my head in my pillow.Another thing that has worried me lately is the constant creep factor. When I l
Chapter 5: Coincidence?MathiasNevaeh and I are strolling through the Cal State campus, enjoying the tour. Neveah smiles with excitement every time she sees something she likes. When we arrived, we had to tell the admissions office that I was her brother. Unfortunately, even though she’s my daughter, Nevaeh and I don’t look very far off in age. It has been fun anyway. Right now, we are walking to a coffee shop for a quick break. Clapping with excitement, Nevaeh turns to me. “So, how do you like it?” She waves her hand around the campus.Quirking a brow, I give her an approving smile. “I think it’s a great school, and you’ll fit right in.” Her smile widens, and suddenly she’s in my arms, her arms tight around my shoulders. I stand there, stunned for a moment. Even though we have been spending more time together, we’ve never hugged. It’s nice.Feeling comfortable, I pull
Chapter 7: DoubtsMathiasI walk back to the coffee shop, feeling like a complete and utter ass. Mikhail and Nevaeh are sitting in a corner kissing and cuddling. It’s as if they’re in their own little world. Their affection brings me back to that kiss with Cassia. I’m still feeling unbalanced by how good it felt. It was an incredible kiss, but we can never be. I cannot betray Marael again.As soon as she sees me, Nevaeh rises up from the chair. “Hey, Mathias, is everything okay? Did you catch up to that hot girl?” She turns back, to Mikhail who gives me an inquiring look. “You should have seen her, Khail. She has long blond hair and green eyes. She gave me this what the fuck looked when I wrapped my arm around Mathias. I think she likes him.”Mikhail turns to me with an amused smile. “Wow, Mathias, you’re picking up college girls again? Aren’t they a little too young for you?
Chapter 6: RejectionCassiaI feel as if I can’t breathe. Mathias rejected our mating without a thought. Am I that forgettable and easily dismissed that he didn’t care how it would make me feel? Of course, Mathias isn’t the first man to reject me. The first man to ever make me feel worthless was my father. Lukan never cared much for me and viewed me as an intruder in his life. I clutch my chest as the pain threatens to burst through my body.I’m so distracted by my pain that I don’t see the form in front of him until I run into him. Crying out in surprise, I pull back and prepare to apologize.The man before me peruses my body then gives me a wicked smile. He is incredibly beautiful with dark as sin hair and icy silver eyes. He’s what my friend Kendra would call rugged with high cheekbones and sexy five o’clock stubble. His six-foot-five body is massive. He has large shoulders and a tapered waist. Feeling uncomfor
Chapter 8: UndoneCassiaThe party is going well. Kendra and I decided to split up and look at the new art displays. I’m shocked to find my own art on display. My aunt and uncle, Arabella and Draco, approach me at that moment, glowing with pride. Arabella and Draco are art professors at the school. They are also a beautiful couple. They have been mated for over two hundred years. Arabella has long red hair and green eyes, and Draco is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.Aunt Arabella places her arm around my shoulder and mutters enthusiastically. “Cassia, this one is brilliant. People love it.”Frowning with chagrin, I turn to Arabella and mumble reproachingly. “I wasn’t ready for this painting to be shown, Arabella. I told you I wanted to wait.” Arabella waves her hand dismissively. “Nonsense Cassia, your work is exquisite.
Chapter 9: AwakenedMathiasI don’t know where I’m going, but my mind is mixed up. That painting was incredible. It was obvious who it was. She showed me her heart, and now I don’t know what to do about it.“Mathias!” I hear Mikhail call out to me. Turning around, I hold my palm up to stop the incoming deluge of recriminations. “Look, Mikhail, I just want to be alone right now.”Mikhail waves away my words. “No, Mathias, you need to listen to me. When I met Nevaeh, I was scared. I was scared of what I felt for her and what might happen to her if she entered my world. Since we’ve gotten here, you’ve experienced a variety of things that have shaken your world. But I have to tell you, you’re being an idiot.”My head snaps forward at his comment. Not a lot of people dare speak to me in such a tone. I’m Mathias Black, head of the Council. A centuries-old Sera
Chapter 10: Bad newsCassiaLukan is alive. Oh my god. I listen as Nevaeh tells Mathias and the other guy about Lukan’s reappearance, but I refuse to participate. I’m still shocked by the night’s events.It also doesn’t help that I’m still feeling a bit heated after struggling in Mathias’ lap. What the hell am I doing? This man rejected me, and I’m turned on.My thoughts are halted when Mikhail parks in a garage and turns off the ignition. Without a word, everyone files out of the car. Nerves frayed, I look around the unfamiliar surroundings. Nevaeh must notice my nervousness because she moves toward me and takes my hand. “Are you okay, Cassia?” I nod my head. There’s no way that I’m going to tell her that my body is still thrumming with arousal from Mathias’ touch.“Have you ever been to the Council headquarters?” She asks softly. I shake my head. “No, I have
Chapter 11: Inconvenient ReincarnationMathias“What do you have?” I ask Gadriel with a grim frown. I’m sure that everyone in the room can hear my teeth grinding as my rage escalates. Gabriel nods his head and reaches into his pocket, presenting me with an old, weathered page. “We were unable to find Lukan. However, we did find this in one of his houses. We had a few witches review the sheet in hopes that they’d know what it means. They all agree that the symbols on the page refer to Lazarus’ tears. The theory right now is that Lukan did, in fact, actually die. From what we gleaned, he somehow found a vial Lazarus tears and was resurrected.”I’m stunned by the news. I had heard about Lazarus' tears, but I didn’t believe they were real. If this is the case, this changes everything, and I can see that everyone else is coming to the same realization. However, I can’t focus on that. Right now, all