EVANGELINE. Zedkiel gave Alistair some tasks about what he wants him to do with me later, before he led me away. I didn’t question where we were going, but now; I wish I did. I stare at the handsome man before me as he lets the door swing shut behind us, and I look at the huge room before us. There are weight training machines, lifting benches, treadmills, and other equipment. There were three boxing bags to the side and an open area for sparring, too. I don’t understand why he waited until Alistair had finished my makeup and hair. All that effort to get dolled up only for him to bring me to an indoor training room. I have the urge to ask him that very question when he removes his shirt, and my mind goes blank. My heart races as I stare at those delicious abs, the way his body flexes, and my gaze falls on the tattoo on his arm as he tosses his shirt aside and looks at me. “Take your heels off.” He commands, and I look down before obeying. I purse my lips, looking at him as he begins

ZEDKIEL. She surprised me. I wasn’t expecting her to win against Maryka, sure I was hoping that she’d be able to try better against her than she would against me since she seemed to be terrified of hitting me without having a mental breakdown in the process. But she had impressed me. She showed far more potential than I had even hoped for. I just need her to stop acting so fucking afraid of me, although I don’t blame her… the urge to devour her entirely is always there, and the hunger for her blood is growing with each passing day and I know it is wrong. No vampire drinks the blood of a supernatural… It's taboo. We enter our quarters and I lock the door, letting go of her wrist and tossing my shirt down. “Run the bath.” Her heart’s pounding, but she doesn’t disobey and walks off. My eyes flash when I see the bruises on her back; Maryka aimed to hurt, she is a practised fighter and instead of treating it as a sparring match and using her fighting techniques, she instead was attacki

ZEDKIEL.Over a week later.That night, I messed up.For a fleeting moment, I saw her relax and rather than run from me, she had embraced our closeness. Until I fucked it all up and ripped through her flesh. I don’t remember what exactly happened. I just know that the urge to taste her blood consumed me and I had bitten into her. Then I remember her torn flesh and blood dripping down her breast as she stood across the bathroom.But it was the look in her eyes that got to me.The fear… the fear of the beast before her. The same fear I see in the eyes of everyone else…I found her screaming on the bathroom floor and then she had lost consciousness, probably due to the blood loss. I wonder how much I had drunk and although I hated it; it rejuvenated me like none other ever could and I wanted more. So much fucking more and I know I can’t. I had carried her to the bed and bandaged her up before I had wiped her clean, hoping she’d be ok.When she awoke the following morning, her words still

EVANGELINE.His words cut me like a sharp knife, and I look up at him.How could he?I didn’t reply for a moment, trying to remain composed, knowing we have many eyes watching us, and even with the music and loud chatter, they might overhear. So, I simply smile gracefully at Zedkiel and slowly pull out of his hold. I don’t think he understands that I am going to take this deal seriously. Absolutely seriously, and I am not going to do anything to mess that up. Especially something such as fraternising with another man as long as we are married, which can lead to problems in front of the court and would not be ideal for the tournament.“Nothing to say?” He asks, and I realise this conversation isn’t over until he gets an answer. His eyes are blazing red, and his anger only continues to rise.“Let’s not do this here.” I whisper back, “If you want to talk l-lets take it outside.”I’m scared to be alone with him anywhere, but he is going to ruin this before we even have a chance to prove w

EVANGELINE.I stare in the mirror, towelling my wet hair. The sun that shines through the steamy bathroom window really makes my skin glow and highlights the freckles along my nose and cheeks. Zedkiel’s words return to me, and my heart skips a beat.‘I wouldn’t intentionally hurt you…’I smile faintly, his words basking me in warmth. I’m glad I told him about my nightmares, and I hope he understands that if I do get jumpy or scared, it’s because of those dreams. Everything he had told me last night replays in my mind, and I believe there is a connection between us.The nightmares and his experience with the Shadow Wolf, a description that fit me perfectly was proof of that connection… but are we dangerous to one another? Sure, he had hurt me, but I saw the sincerity in his eyes. He hadn’t meant to.But there is something that niggles at my mind. Last night he hadn’t completed his sentence… there was more to say before he stopped; 'When I step into his life'… at the end of that sentenc