EVANGELINE. I spent the morning in the off-limits library, a place that is not open to the public. Only a select few are allowed to venture here. A place that feels like it has not been disturbed in years, these books contain such precious history and are preserved by magic, but I can feel the spells have weakened greatly, some not even holding up on half the books resulting in them becoming unreadable. The musty smell of dust and old books has seeped into my nose, ticking it. I have sneezed plenty of times. I found two books on vampires earlier that I hoped might have some answers, but I decided not to look at those here, placing them aside to take and study when I’m alone. Alistair has been a blessing, lightening the mood considerably when seeing the large piles of faded, battered books to go through. At the same time, trying to make sure we don’t damage them further. Alistair is sifting through them, trying to organise them, whilst Lucia and I bury our heads in the old scrolls

EVANGELINE. I am fighting my tears as I run out the gates of the castle, trying not to let his lies and deception shatter me entirely. A part of me is telling me to calm down and go back to him and make it clear he’s mine alone, but another part is telling me I had given him chances and it isn’t outside the norm for alphas to have mistresses. Just the way his brothers and his father do… I bite back a whimpering sob as Luna curls up within my mind. Weren’t mates supposed to be one for one? ‘He won’t betray us.’ Luna whispers. I can feel her pain but she’s still trying to comfort me. ‘Won’t he?’ Evelyn murmurs, unhelpfully. Nothing I do can remove the image of him hugging her from my mind and even when I was trying to make sense of it, he was hell-bent on protecting her. I keep running, speeding up when I sense others hot on my heels. It’s not hard to outrun them, although I know I can simply command them to stop and they would have to, but I don’t want to abuse my powers. Soo

ZEDKIEL. This day is one that I will always remember. The threat she held over me – she meant it. It was sickening to watch her take on Evangeline’s coy demeanour, to see her fit in with all her ways, and only when I told Kash what happened did he believe me. Night has now fallen, and she is asleep by my side. No matter how fucking angry I am, my woman is inside there somewhere. I regret that the last words we exchanged were ones of anger. Hers hurt like a fucking knife in the chest, but to hold on to my sanity I tell myself that she was not herself when she spoke those words. My Evangeline knows she means the fucking world to me. No one else matters, only her. I will do anything for her. Anything. ‘But if you weren’t so nice to that woman! Then our mate wouldn’t have been hurt!’ Zerachiel snarls menacingly. His wrath burns me like poison and guilt rips through me. I know I messed up, I never meant for this to happen. I was just fucking trying to do the right thing. I sit the

ZEDKIEL. I couldn’t believe it took so long to finalise a team. As I sat there with Kash, I was hesitant, and in the end, I have rounded it off to people I know. During that time Evelyn feasted on grapes while watching us, as she swings her legs from where she’s sitting as she turns back to the television. Something she clearly enjoys, it's currently some horror show and every time something disturbing happens, she cackles like a witch. “Do you need him?” Kash asks regarding Adonis. I sigh. “I know you don’t want him around, but this is a mission, and I need efficient warriors. If it was down to that, I mean, I wouldn’t even take you, but I’m hoping they have an answer and a way to heal you.” I say quietly as I shuffle some of the papers with the warrior stats on them around. “We’ll see…” ‘We will find a way.’ I say firmly through the link. ‘Yeah, but if we don’t… take care of Isa for me…’ He says quietly. His face is unreadable, but I realise that in that moment he’s sentencin

ZEDKIEL. I refuse to believe this. My heart is thundering and even Zerachiel is at a loss. “Fuck you, Ziahra!” Kash growls, pushing her hand off him. She smiles, grabbing his jaw painfully, clearly not getting the fucking hint. “Now, now, let’s not get that tongue dirty.” She whispers, slipping a finger into his mouth. I’m getting fucking sick watching this, because he has the chance to bite her fucking finger off and he hasn’t. ‘Kash, kill her!’ I snarl through the link. A flash of guilt flickers through his eyes, as they blaze brightly, but Ziahra doesn’t move her finger as if knowing he won’t kill her… He wouldn’t betray me, not him. I’m done with this! ‘We need to kill her Zed!’ Jeremiah’s sharp voice comes through the mind link. I’m about to get to my feet when I suddenly sense the darkness spreading from Evelyn. “How dare you!” Evelyn snarls, her eyes trained on Ziahra. Ziahra’s eyes turn upon her, then in a flash, she’s suddenly behind Kash, holding a long blade to