ZEDKIEL. This feels good… I wrap my arms tighter around the woman I’m holding in my arms, and she laughs softly, a sound that sounds oddly familiar… “I missed you.” She whispers, placing her hand over mine and guiding it to her breast. “Did you miss me? My Prince?” I frown slightly, my eyes feeling too heavy to open. Missed me? Who is she? Who cares… As long as I can enjoy her… I squeeze her breast, placing soft kisses along her neck. Her intoxicating scent lulling me into a sense of security. A soft moan escapes her and then a shriek makes my eyes fly open, and I see Evangeline jump from the bed, dragging the duvet with her. Fuck, was I just feeling her up in her sleep? I don’t let any emotion show on my face as she stares at me with wide eyes, her heart thumping and her cheeks flush a gorgeous shade of pink. “What are you doing?” She asks with a frown. “Sleeping.” I say, placing my arms under my head. Sleeping after sex is pretty neat, rather than waking up to a dead body s
EVANGELINE. One minute I was looking down at Zedkiel at the table and the next we were being whisked away. Apparently, our first round was meant to start simultaneously, or so we thought. “What is this?” Maryka asks holding up the envelope in her hand. We were each given one; they are identical aside from the name on it. Mine reads ‘Zedkiel’ in gorgeous gold embossed writing. “Well, this is part of your first test.” Jean says. “Let’s say you are the queen and this city is under attack, and you are most likely going to be kidnapped or killed. Now, to save your people, you have the chance to leave your Alpha a message. Where will you put it, knowing that time is short, and he must find it before anyone else?” “Is this part of our test?” Celia asks, frowning. “Yes, it is. It’s a good chance to display how in touch with your Alpha you are.” Jean replies in a clipped tone. Celia looks down. “Then that’s surely unfair. Some of us have been married for far longer-” “There is no place
ZEDKIEL. I rush through the halls trying to pick up her scent, but there’s nothing at all, no fucking scent. They’ve sprayed something here; the entire place just smells the same… Fuck! I punch the wall, looking down at the paper. There has to be some fucking clue in here? I glance up when I see Chasyn run down the hall, his face pale. “What is it? Is Maryka in danger?” I ask, knowing if his mate is hurt, he could at least feel it. He shakes his head before he runs off down the hall, not saying anything. I’ll find her. Somehow. Rolling the papers up, I stride down the hall, desperate to find her. I don’t like her out of my sight, alone, especially if I don’t know where she is or who she is with. I should have asked someone to watch over her. I don’t trust anyone here… I run through the halls, trying to think where they may have taken her, but nothing seems out of the ordinary. It will be somewhere hard… there has to be a clue in here! Unrolling the papers, I flip through them,
ZEDKIEL. I shifted the moment I left the castle. The urge to crush the camera entices me, but instead, I hang the strap around my neck and bundle my clothes together before breaking into a run. I’ll find her and if anything has happened to her… The forest is dangerous and it’s not somewhere I want Evangeline alone. I try not to think of the worst. Obviously, they will have people posted there, but still. It’s over an hour later and I reach the forest, trying to catch her scent. I ran as fast as I could and although I made it here at record speed; I'm beginning to feel extremely uneasy. There’s nothing… I’ve been here countless times; I know where all the store cabins are, and any houses located in the area. I’ll check them all out. With each passing hour, my restlessness is growing. I need blood, but at the same time, I can’t shake off the growing unease. Am I overreacting? I finally reach the deepest part of the forest and approach the small cabin that sits in the middle. I slam
EVANGELINE. I don’t know what happened but I’m alive; I had really thought I was going to die but Zedkiel saved me. However, his wrath was beyond terrifying. I had woken up to him standing there smelling of blood. His eyes burning red as the King, Chasyn, Alcazer and Ragnar tried to hold him back. I don’t know what he wanted to do, but he was in a rage. The healer steps back, looking down at me clearly scared for his life. “I want the entire place turned upside down until I find who did this.” Zedkiel now snarls, pulling free from his brother's hold and crossing his arm as he reaches down and grabs my hand, looking down at the bruises on my wrists that were caused by the ropes. I’m awake but my throat feels raw, and I have a bitter taste in my mouth. “We will Zedkiel. Now get some rest too. You’ve had a long day and you need to be up early tomorrow, the results will be announced then.” Alpha Ambrose says and Zedkiel scoffs. “That’s all you can think of?” “This tournament is still
ZEDKIEL. I don’t know what she wants from me. Blistering rage rushes through me and I clench my jaw, my eyes flashing. How dare she… I’m trying. Trying to show her that I’m on her side, but she can’t even share something so simple as what she’ll ask the Oracle. I have told her everything! We were meant to be in this together. I punch the wall, feeling the pain jar up my arm, but I’m far too angry to care. What more do I fucking need to do? I get that I’m not the ideal husband or Alpha… but I’ve tried, I’ve tried so fucking hard with her. I growl, making the guards who stand outside our door flinch. “A-alpha… if you are to leave, we must accompany you.” One of them says bravely. I almost sneer. Dad placed his most trusted and, in his eyes, his bravest and strongest guards here because I doubt anyone much wanted to even do this job. Being around me is something they’re all afraid of, and don’t trust… just like she doesn’t trust me. She might act like she does and for a short moment
EVANGELINE. “Listen to me!” I cry, gripping his upper arms as the water soaks us both. My chest grazes against his and I don’t miss the way his eyes, even full of anger rake over my breasts, making my stomach flutter. I know I have made him angry, and I don’t know how he found the phone, but I have to get through to him. He slams me against the wall, making me gasp as pain shoots through my back and neck. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to clear the shampoo from them. “I’m done listening.” He snarls, and for a moment his forehead touches mine, his nose brushing against mine and our hearts are pounding as one. But the moment our eyes meet, he suddenly lets go of me and turns away. Is he going to go after Sinclair? Fear envelops me and before he can even step out of the shower, I wrap my arms around him from behind. It’s not about Sinclair, but what this could mean for us all. The tournament, and then Grandmother Philomena and Alpha Aeron, would be devastated too. “Please listen,” I
EVANGELINE.I cough when he lets go, and I look up at him.“Zedkiel!” I say, reaching for him, but it’s then I realise it’s not him… “You’re…”“Can you not tell the difference between us?” He says darkly, and I realise my mistake.He’s talking in that strange stiff manner like the words aren’t natural to him…Oh no… was I just talking to Zedkiel right now? “Y-your…”“I told you not to mention anything to Zedkiel… He heard what you said. He knows we talked. You are making things extremely hard for me now, Little Dark Mate.”“I didn’t mean to. Keeping secrets from Zedkiel is only causing problems. I need answers. You said he will kill me, you said that-”“I also said do not tell him.” He looks down at his hands as if examining them.“I didn’t, I was asking you-” I begin, but he casts me a warning glare. “I’m sorry for not being careful…” I end meekly.“There is no need for meaningless words. Time is running out, Little Dark Mate, and you are awakening… Soon the stars will align…”He’s ta