[Zane’s POV]A howl of disappointment escapes me as I attempt to make my way to the window where Eliana and the others disappeared."No you fucking don’t!" Nol snarls, beginning to shift into his lycan form. "If you want to kill someone, then you’ll have to get through me."Snapping my gaze from the window, I feel my body beginning to move again, making its way to the very weak-looking lycan behind me.‘That’s it,’ Nol’s voice announces in my head. ‘Come get me.’As I move, he rushes forward, meeting me halfway and throwing me against a wall before jumping on me and wrapping a hand around my throat.‘Snap out of it, Zane,’ he hisses in my head. ‘Before you do something you regret.’‘I…’ I try, hoping he can hear me. ‘Can’t. Please kill me.’That was the only thing that was going to end this—my death—and I was more than willing to accept it.‘I won’t,’ Nol responds, loosening his hold. ‘If you die, Eliana will be sad.’Eliana… Of course, the only thing he cares about is her, and I can’
[Nol’s POV]I don’t know how long Eliana sobbed on me while I helplessly watched because I knew that there was nothing that I could do since there was no bringing Zane back. Beside us, Alexandria continued to fight Blaine until she became so exhausted that all she could do was cling to him while her gaze stayed fixed on the rubble.By the time the police arrived, there was nothing left to be found, but Alexandria’s friends had managed to bring them the evidence needed to prove not only Alexandria’s innocence but that of all of us.In the end, all the blame fell on Jeckel since he was already accused of being part of a human trafficking ring. It didn’t take long for the rest of his corruption and misdeeds to be found and his name to be tarnished.Afterward, we waited to see if any remains could be found, but all that were deceased were too burned to make out and would simply be thrown in a mass grave for Disastria and Romando to be mourned by those who were oblivious to all that both a
[Eliana’s POV]Warm sun beats down on my skin while I lounge by the pool, watching Nol wade on the steps with Ryker. Never in my life did I ever think I would see such a strong and arrogant man act like a child, but here he was splashing and laughing along with our son.Since Ryker’s birth, I have been seeing many sides of Nol that I didn’t think would exist, like him changing diapers, making bottles, and even cuddling while Ryker was sick. I even caught him singing to him a few times, but he insisted that he wasn’t.To say that life was perfect was a bit extreme, but it was damn near close. There was only one thing missing, and that was Zane.Two years had passed since his disappearance, and despite multiple searches, contacting a medium, and even asking rogue mages for help, no one was able to locate him. It was almost as though he disappeared entirely, but Nol was certain that wasn’t possible since he was aware of the consequences of bringing the hellhounds to this earth.Sighing,
Flames surround me, but for some reason they don’t burn. I don’t quite understand why I’m here, but I feel something beckoning me, drawing me further and further in until I see him.He sits on a throne made of skulls and stares down at me with a look of boredom. He’s so familiar but so different at the same time.Unable to quite believe what I’m seeing, I move slightly closer, only to find that a strong force doesn’t allow me to go near him."Zane?" I whisper, trying to make sense of what is happening. "That’s you, isn’t it?"It had already been two years since his disappearance, but I never truly accepted that he was gone. I mean, how could he be when there wasn’t even a body to bury? Or any sort of feeling toward his existence vanishing from this world—wouldn't I be able to feel it given the fact he wore my mark?This was why I held onto hope no matter the amount of time that passed, even when others continuously told me to let go. And now here he was in front of me, but where exactl
[Eliana’s POV]I stare at the woman who is staring back at me. I barely recognize her and find myself wondering if she truly is me. Her hollow eyes hold no emotion, nor does her perfectly painted face. Her lips, which should be turned up in a smile given how important a day it was, sit in a thin line, and her posture is almost similar to that of a mannequin.Letting out a laugh of disgust, I realize that, in a way, I am a mannequin. I am a thing to be done with as anyone pleases. I had no right to want to even attempt to do anything for myself any longer anyway; Trent made sure of that long ago."What do you think, madam?" Gretchen, my personal maid, asks, "Do you like it?"For a moment, I examine myself once more taking in the woman that I had become after all these years. Feeling hollow, I force a smile and turn to meet Gretchen's gaze."You’ve done a wonderful job, Gretchen," I respond. "Shall we get going? The ceremony should be starting soon.""Of course, madam," Gretchen beams.
[Eliana’s POV]A soft breeze blows, causing the daffodils that surround me to tickle my skin as I stare off in the distance, waiting for the familiar figure that I have come to hold dear. He promised to come no matter what today since it was my birthday, but so far there hasn’t been an appearance.My birthday… Ha, this was the first time I had ever actually been the slightest bit excited about celebrating it, and it only took me sixteen years to get here.Since a long time ago, I had deemed the day I was born as the day that my misfortune had begun. Born to a bloodthirsty tyrant and a whore, I was considered a disgrace and a reminder of infidelity that I had no choice in.Maybe if my father hadn’t been so desperate to fuck any woman that showed him even the slightest bit of interest, I wouldn’t have been brought into the cold palace to be used as a pawn to unite the packs of Elgin and Brawn.Shivering, I try to forget the cold eyes of Trent Dupris, the future alpha of Brawn. He was a
[Eliana’s POV]Later that evening, I lay in bed, staring at the golden chain that rested against my skin. I still couldn’t believe the events that took place earlier in the day. Despite hoping that Zane shared the same feelings as me, I held no hope that it would be true.Beaming, I touch my lips as images of that kiss begin to play across my mind."Oh gosh," I whisper, covering my face. "I’m sure I’m a blushing fool."Letting out a sigh, I allow myself to have hopes for the future where I never would have even thought of doing so. Since being brought to Elgin after my mother’s death, my whole life has been planned out for me. But now, for the first time in sixteen years, I felt like maybe there would be a light at the end of my dark tunnel."Zane," I sigh, sitting up and making my way toward the tiny, barred window that was my only view of the outside world. "Please don’t make me wait too long."As the words leave my lips, I stare down at the ground below to find that something is of
[Eliana’s POV] "Oh, she looks so much better cleaned up," Madam Ophilia announces. "You’ll most certainly earn me quite a bit. Tell me, girl, how old are you?" After being washed from top to bottom, I was sent off to Tumescere House, where Madam Ophilia and her henchmen were waiting to prepare me to become nothing more than a breeder. It was amazing how no matter where I seemed to end up, the final result was always the same… I was simply meant to help some men procreate. I don’t respond as she waits patiently for me. Why would I? What was the worst that she could do? Beat me? I was already used to that. Would she kill me? Great, that was even better than being made into a thing to be used to create life with. I wasn’t afraid of whatever it was that she would throw at me. "Madam Ophilia asked you a question, bitch!" My captor growled, grabbing my hair and tugging. "You’d be wise to answer her." "Fuck you!" I growl, earning myself a slap that sends me crashing to the ground right