Chapter 40 (Raziel) I materialized in front of Alpha Drake. He was sitting at the bar in his pack house. To say I was upset, was an extreme understatement. I was fucking furious. Knowing how much Alpha Drake cared for Rayne, even possibly loved her, I couldn't believe he would be a part of this goddamn shit. Our deal was for him to protect her, not give her to the god damn enemy. He was sitting alone at the bar, drinking brandy on the rocks. It seemed as if he expected me, but how could he not? Even despite knowing I was right behind him, he didn't turn around or say a word. He just kept drinking his brandy. "What the fuck did you do?!" I exclaimed as I slammed my hand down on the bar next to him making the liquid in his glass ripple. Much to my surprise he didn't even flinch. He just picked up his glass, took another long drink of brandy, and set it back down. He turned to me, and we locked eyes. While his face was solemn and void of emotion, I could see the emotions swimming in

Chapter 42 (Raziel) I was pacing in my brother's room trying to figure out what the hell to do. I was trying to figure out how I could find the gate and stop my devious brother from completing the mating ritual with the woman I loved, when suddenly, I felt it... Rayne was using magic! That meant the barrier was down, she was no longer hidden! I materialized to her in an instant, just in time to hear her ask The Shadows to remove the mark. I knew the price. It was a bond for a bond. A price that was too steep, especially if I were her intended mate. Even though the chances were so slim, it was a possibility I wasn't willing to give up. “No!!” I shouted, as I reached for her arm. But it was too late. “I accept.” She snarled. And before I could get to her, she was engulfed in Shadows. They were only on her for a second, but that was all it took before they took something from her that she could never get back... and then they started disappearing into nothing, and everything. I mater

Chapter 44 When Raphael marked me, it was as if he was just touching my face. I didn’t feel anything for him, I didn’t feel anything at all, really, except a slight tingling. Which was still there in the morning, and that is why I checked the mirror. That must be what happens when you are marked and there are no feelings there prior. The feelings take a little time to manifest. When Raziel marked me, it was as if every fiber of my being exploded into ecstasy! It was a feeling that I can't even explain. Something more, something deep down to my core. It felt like his mark ran straight through me, invading every inch of my soul. Like it touched my every nerve ending, every fiber of my entire being, linking me to him for eternity. I watched him step back after he was done and admire me. I had no idea what his mark actually looked like, but I was assuming it was similar to the crescent moon on his golden gate at his house. Raphael’s was the same as his silver gate, so I was just guessi

Chapter 46 (Raziel) I couldn’t help but worry about Rayne. Something was different about her ever since she lost her mate bond. There were times when she was perfectly fine. When she seemed normal, like her old self. Those were the times when nothing seemed different, and everything was ok. Then there were times when I could feel something, something dark. Like a darker energy trying to push its way through her. I didn’t know what it was. I had never encountered this before, but when making deals with The Shadows you never know what you will really get. I could only assume it had something to do with her losing her mate bond. That was my best guess, if I had to guess, of course. I tried my best to conceal my worry, but every time it threatened to take over, I could see it in her platinum eyes. She didn’t know, but they had black smoke looming in them when it was near. It flooded through her platinum orbs, slow and snake-like until it overwhelmed them. The sight always worried me.

Chapter 48 Within seconds, it was as if my entire body was consumed by The Darkness. I was suspended midair, surrounded by a whirlwind of dark smoke. I could feel The Darkness engulfing me in an extreme blast of icy warmth. I closed my eyes and just took in every ounce of the icy warmth, feeling it remove any remnant of the void I had once felt. This time the icy warmth didn't go away, it felt permanent. I was reeling with power as if it were a constant flow. The dark energy flowed so easily through my palms, and it felt as if anything I wanted, I could have. I felt like a Goddess... No, I was a Goddess. Suddenly, I felt the familiar pull away from The Darkness as Raziel was gently slapping my face to wake me up. “Rayne, Rayne, come on, wake up!” He said with panic in his voice. My eyes fluttered open slowly and I saw him gasp when he looked at me. I could see my reflection in his golden eyes. My eyes were completely black... I shook it off, and materialized up and into a standing