4 Days EarlierMikaela's Point of ViewA whirlwind had passed through my life. From stability and family, to losing it all in the blink of an eye. But I still had her. I have always had her by my side. A rock breaking any strong current sweeping my way. Goddess, the thought of losing her now as well made my heart ache. Luciana hadn't opened her eyes, even after Julian had fed her his blood. Even after our mating bond had started. Mating bond. Another foreign concept. In some twisted way, I always knew Luciana was mine. Home had never felt like a place, but more like a person. Especially when she smiled at me. The fire in her eyes. Strength leeching from every pore on her body. I had wanted her for numerous years now. She never made any such feelings for me clear, so I had let them slide. Pushed down the urgent need to be with her. But Luciana felt natural. Inviting to me. Now there stood another person before me. Also my mate, but a co

2 Days Earlier Mikaela's Point of View Julian hadn't come to see me after our little discussion yesterday. Lillian hadn't bothered to look for me, either. This left me with enough time to myself to explore the manor. Luciana hadn't woken up or even stirred. Her heartbeat was steady again, but there was no sign of consciousness. I had all but screamed at her to get up, to help me in this situation we found ourselves. I wasn't as strong as she was, Lillian had been right. All the information I had gathered on Julian yesterday hadn't sat well with me. The fire inside his eyes when he had mentioned spilling blood still heated my own. I didn't want to acknowledge that fact yet. His anger hadn't scared me off, instead it ignited my own hunger for justice. Luciana would have handled it better than I had. She would have had counter strikes and questions. All the information in the world couldn't brace me for the fact that I felt alone. Even

I had mustered up all my courage for this task. For this conversation. Emotions weren't something I liked speaking about. They were a taboo. Things that had no place being told to other people. No one could fix me, so why drag them into the depths of my mind? But for this relationship to survive. To even begin, I had to let down my walls. Crash them to the floor and hope what Julian and Mikaela find don't set them running to the hills. Trudging into the manor, I wandered towards the kitchen. Mikaela had the same tendencies I had. She loved food almost as much as I did. Chocolate would be her first place to go. Granted Lillian or the person stocking this house had bothered to buy any. Staff members passed me fleetingly, their eyes drifting to the floor as I strode forward. A girl with auburn hair glanced my way, slight sneer on her face. My eyes grew cold as I hissed softly at her. She scuttled off into a different direction. I smiled to myself. Some part of me loved the power I had

To hear Julian ask such a thing of us warmed my heart. But filled it with dread all the same. He trusted us enough to take us to them. Loved us enough to introduce us, even when they were gone. This was a part of him so few saw. The soft boy who had loved his parents dearly. How many years had they been gone? Too many years spent alone. Lillian was his only family left, until we arrived. Until we carved our places into his heart. Mikaela was pacing the length of our room. Her brow set deep into a frown. Our dresses were already placed on our beds once we exited the bathroom. To have staff wait on us at every turn was a new experience, one we never quite imagined we would have the luxury to do. It still felt somewhat ridiculous to know that there were people in this house ready to wait on us hand and foot. Breakfast yesterday was a nice reprieve. A ploy to make us feel like our normal selves. That was cut utterly short with Julian's request. Mikaela wasn't all that impressed by it, t

Fear was an ugly thing when it reared its head. It made you lose focus and only allowed you to function enough so that you could bare witness to that which caused the fear. Adrenaline counter acted fear in some cases, but the adrenaline also came with a price. I slid into the back side of the SUV, my heart hammering in my chest. Mikaela's tear stricken face still clung to my memory. I couldn't do a thing to save her. If it weren't for Julian, she would already be on her way to my father by now. Weak and utterly useless. Pressing my eyes shut, I wished the horrible thoughts to pass.A warm hand clasped around my own, smooth skin instantly granting me some warmth. Andrew would be detained until further notice. An interrogation was the only way to know what had really spurred him our way. If he had acted alone or as part of some grand plan. Trembling, I opened my eyes again. Mikaela stared back at me, her face expressionless. The cut on her throat was already healed, only an red