Chapter 9

Terrence couldn't believe it. He had ,on pure instinct ,ended up here and there was Azalea. She'd ran directly into his arms and he could tell she'd been crying.

They stared at each other for a good minute before Azalea firmly whispered, "Same time, same place," before pulling away from him and running down an alley. 

Terrence looked after her and then spotted Devon from the corner of his eye.  Terrence quickly tried the door of the flower shop only to find it open and went inside of it.  He watched from the shadows as Devon quickly disappeared into the alley that Azalea had gone into. He wanted nothing more than to rip Devon to peices and pull Azalea all the way back to his pack. But he knew he'd have to be patient. Tomorrow would come soon enough. 

***

"My Dark Mistress," murmured Azalea. "Mission complete."

"Good," cackled Sybl. "I am glad you were finally able to complete a kill. I had sent Devon to make sure to complete the job incase you failed. But you have pleasantly surprised me Azalea."

Azalea didn't respond and left with a swish of her cloak meeting Devon on the way to her room. Devon bowed acknowledging her. Azalea walked past him. She knew he'd tell Sybl that he was the one to make the kill. Azalea didn't care. 

"Mistress," said Devon kissing the hem of Sybl's dress and then standing up. "I tried..."

"Try harder then. I will not lose her to that loving fool. Just a few more months and I'll be invincible. Then she can go running to that fool Terrence Evans and there will be nothing anyone can do to defeat me!"

"M-Mistress....my fiance' and I are to be married next year. I can not live a charade like this for long."

"Devon there is one thing I have learned about Azalea this past year and that is that as long as she feels...loved," Sybl paused treating the word love as if it was a piece of filth. "She will stay true and loyal to that person. Do you understand?"

Devon bowed. "Yes." 

He knew argueing was no point. Hanging his head in defeat, he left Sybl to inform his fiance' that their engagement must be kept a secret for awhile longer. 

****

Terrence reached his apartment slamming the door shut.

"Where've you been?" asked Silas groggily looking up from his midnight snack.

"What are you doing up so late?" asked Terrence.

"Eating. I get up at this time every night and have a snack."

"Hey! Were you the one who ate my cake two days ago?"

Silas shrugged. "Maybe. But back to the original question .....Where were you?"

Terrence then explained everything to Silas.

"It might be a trap," Silas concluded. 

Terrence put his head in his hands. "I'm still going tomorrow so don't try to stop me."

"But it could be a trap! You never know!!" Silas protested.

"Silas I'm going," stated Terrence adamantly and that was the end of the discussion.

****

Azalea was confused. Devon...he couldn't like her could he? She didn't like him at all.

'Maybe I should talk to him about it,' she thought to herself.

She made her way to his house. It was a huge manor made of gray stones. Like a huge dungeon. Azalea walked in to see a female member of Sybl's dark coven kissing Silas. She was stick thin and stunningly beautful with platinum blonde hair. The kind of efforltless beauty Azalea could only dream off. 

"Oh so what was all that you deserve better Azalea shit before?" asked Azalea calmly.

Devon and his lover broke away. 

"Azalea-"

"Shutup Devon!" Azalea said and ran from his manor.  

To be honest, Azalea was just relieved Devon didn't truly like her. That would have made her want to throw up. 

It was late and Azaeala stood by the flower shop waiting. She wore a black dress with white flowers splashed across it. She kept twirling the black pearl ring shining daintily on her middle finger. Finally, she saw a figure approaching and when she saw his face, she smiled.

"Hullo Terrence," she said quietly.

Terrence grabbed her hand and there was an awkward silence between them as their mate sparks travelled up and down their bodies.

"I've missed you." whispered Terrence.

Azalea looked down at her hands entwined with Terrencees. 'Blow the whole I'm in a dark coven and you’re my target so we can't be together speech' Azalea thought to herself.

"I love you," Azalea lsaid ooking up at him and brought her lips up to meet his. It was a kiss filled with all the love they had for each other. It was a kiss Azalea hadn't experienced for a long time. She wrapped her arms around Terrence's neck and they stood there holding each other for a long time.

"Azalea," Said Terrence.

"Hmm?" asked Azalea breathing in his scent that she'd missed.

"Please. Leave the Dark Mistress and come back to me."

Azalea let go of Terrence. "Terrence do you know what you're asking?"

"Yes. Azalea she's evil and we have sources saying that she will kill you!" 

"Speis?" Azalea said. "Who is spying on us?" Azalea asked, reacting angrily out of instinct. 

"Azalea do you know what you're saying? Azalea these spies are the ones saving inoccent people's lives. Which is more than I can say for you. You were the last one I'd suspect of being in her dark coven. You were voted most likely to-" then he stopped speaking abruptly.

"You can say it," said Azalea with a sad smile. "I was voted most likely to become Mrs. Terrence Evans."

"Azalea just listen to this," said Terrence handing her a small crystal ball. "One of the witch's created it for me to give to you. I'll meet you here tomorrow at eleven to hear your decision," he said.

"Terrence wait-" said Azalea a lump forming in her throat. He turned around.

"Yes?" he asked.

Azalea kissed him one last time before opening a portal to leave. She landed in her room and sat down on her bed.

'I'll miss him' Azalea thought as she threw the crystal ball carelessly onto the floor where it rolled underneath her bed unknown to Azalea and she fell asleep.