ZEDKIEL.
Her crying terrifies me. I don’t know why she’s crying, but something isn’t right.
I feel different, too, but I’m not complaining. Without the constant rage that I was battling with, I feel content, just as I did when we had gone to the other realm. I know I’ve lost a part of me, but it is not a part I will mourn over.
She did the right thing. She did what was needed, and I am beyond proud of her, but her gut-wrenching cries are breaking me. The bond between us sizzles powerfully, but the pain is all I can sense.
Why is she so devastated?Her aura isn’t as strong as it was after her powers manifested, and even with all the intense emotions, it’s obvious she’s somehow lost some of her powers.
Everything is pushed aside as she screams out in anguish, breaking down into wracking sobs. “Our baby Zed. Our baby is gone. I gave our baby away without even realising what I was doing,” she sobs.
My heart skips a beat as her words take a moment to register.
Our baby?She was pregnant. Was.
“What?” I ask quietly, trying to hide all the shock from my voice.
Dread fills me as she looks up at me with anguished eyes that are blurred with tears.
A Treasure of the Moon. I promised him our unborn child without realising what he meant,I inhale her scent to calm my own emotions, wanting to be strong for her. I knew that would come back to bite us.
How can the loss of someone you didn’t even know existed hurt so much?I console her, kissing her as I mask my own regret and pain because I know she’s probably feeling worse.
It doesn’t matter. It’s going to be fine. I’ll figure something out,She’s broken and filled with guilt.
Of course, she is. After all, she made that choice, and I am not going to make this worse for her.
It’s going to be okay. Can you open a portal to the other realm? I will try to barter with him. There must be a solution,She looks up at me and shakes her head.
I can’t. The only time a portal will now open will be on a full moon when I have to make a round to the realm for my duties. But my powers will no longer work on this planet. I’m powerless until I have lived one werewolf lifetime on Earth.Powerless.And I know she would now happily give it all up to be near our child in that realm.Are you saying there’s no hope?Her silence answers that question, and I pull her close.
I won’t stop trying to find a way. I promise.“You did what you had to. Don’t blame yourself. I am certain our child will be safe,” I say quietly.
I glance up at Kash and the others, my eyes stopping on the woman who stands behind Ragnar. She’s strikingly beautiful and looks so much like …
“Evelyn?” I say, shocked, realising who it must be. I have no idea how, but it is definitely her.
Evangeline looks up, and I’m relieved to see a small smile on her face, even if her eyes remain filled with sadness.
“Yeah,” Evelyn says, shrugging as she crosses her arms.
I stand up slowly, helping Evangeline up and kissing her lips softly.
Things will get better; you broke the curse. You saved me and Evelyn and ended this curse; be proud of yourself,She kisses me back, and I brush her tears away before she slowly pulls away and goes to Evelyn.
“I’m so happy that you are here, Evelyn,” she says and simply hugs her. Evelyn’s face softens as she hugs her back tightly as Kash embraces me.
“Welcome back, bro,” he says, slapping my back.
Fuck, that hurts.I bite back a grunt of pain and raise a brow. “Obviously, I’m back,” I say cockily, turning to Ziahra.
It’s not hard to miss that these two are standing a little too close, and Kash is a hybrid.
What have I missed?I frown slightly as I hug her.
“Glad you're back, Zedkiel,” she says.
“Hmm, I’m sure,” I say, glancing between them, but just then I hear footsteps that are accompanied by a powerful aura.
“I have a pack to fucking run, traitors to punish, a land to claim, and a mate to hunt. Stay out of my way and send the deed papers. My part is done.” He says coldly.
I turn to look at the man, knowing by the way he was talking that he’s none other than Godric Astorath.
“The deed is yours. As for your mate, you wished to reject her. You will stay away from her,” Evangeline says, her eyes sharp as she returns to Alpha mode, staring down the man before her.
He sneers coldly. “I’d like to see you stop me.”
“Do not test me, Alpha Godric. Your mate belongs to my pack, and that means she is under my protection,” her eyes flash, and Godric simply looks bored, but I’m certain he won’t listen.
Now he wants her back?I don’t have my Lycan. Which means I can no longer mind-link my Lycan family or pack members.My heart squeezes, and I realise no matter how much I hated him for all his lies and what he has done and tried to do, I’m going to need time to adapt to life without him.
He knows she’s got his son,But it doesn’t matter. Isa is far from here, and I’ll make sure she’s safe. He will never get his claws into her.Good,He helped Evangeline, and I’m grateful for that, but he is not a man whose company I want to be in.
“Excellent, I’ll be waiting for it,” he says before he motions his men with a simple nod of his head and leads them away. He howls into the air, and his warriors follow.
Animals,He heard that. I know he’s a hybrid, I can see that. But I also realise that they now share scents. I look at them sharply, and Evelyn scoffs.
“Oh, come on, isn’t it obvious? They’re mates,” she says, planting her hands on her hips.
“Oh yeah,” Ragnar smirks.
“Just great,” I mutter, making Evangeline chuckle.
“Don’t hurt her,” I say to Kash, frowning as I spot the mark on her neck.
Seems she hasn’t marked him back yet, as his neck is bare.Ziahra smiles at me before their eyes meet, and I know he’ll treat her right.
I now turn to the twin sisters. The bond between Evelyn and I is gone, but I can tell from just the way she’s standing that it’s her.
“I’m happy to see you in your own body,” I say, not knowing where this left us.
Evangeline gives me a smile, but although I know she’s willing for us to make it work, I can’t.
The love I have for Evelyn is different. I close the gap between us, and I hug her, kissing the top of her head gently. She’s taller than Evangeline. After a few moments, I move back, placing my hand on Evangeline’s waist.
“I got my wolf back,” Evelyn declares proudly.
Evangeline’s eyes flash blue. “Really?” she blinks, and her eyes return to normal. “Sorry, that was Luna, but she’s happy that Stella is back.”
Evelyn nods, but her eyes flash with hurt at the mention of Luna. I guess that’ll take time to fix. After all, Luna killed Stella.
“Good to hear,” I say to Evelyn. Our eyes meet, and she tilts her head.
“The bond is gone, so you can relax,” she states, and I’m glad she doesn’t look upset at that. “So you two can be happy now. I am free to do whatever I want, and I’m going to make a bucket list of things to check off!”
Evangeline looks down. “I realised … the dynamics of our bond,” she says hesitantly.
“Oh?” Evelyn questions as we all look at her curiously.
“Yeah, and what exactly are those dynamics? Because our bond is still intact, but anything that linked me to Evelyn … is gone,” I say to Evangeline, caressing her smooth, creamy neck and brushing my finger over my mark that adorns her neck.
“We were both mated to Zerachiel. But, I am the one who was also mated to your vampire side,” she says, looking up at Evelyn hesitantly.
My heart thuds as I imagine if that bond was not there. What if … Fuck, I don’t want to think about it.
“So, that’s why you cared more for her, because the bond was always stronger. Not because of me as a person,” Evelyn says quietly.
Evangeline’s eyes flash with sympathy, and I know how Evelyn always felt second best to Evangeline.
“There was never anything wrong with you,” Evangeline says firmly.
Ragnar whistles. “That all makes sense, but I can also sense Zedkiel is no longer a hybrid, correct?”
“Yes, I’m simply a vampire,” I say.
“Not simply, you are our king, the true king, and you will bring prosperity for our kind,” Ziahra says with determination. “Just as mother wanted …”
She trails off, and I’m about to ask where Zeina is when a sickening scene straight out of a nightmare returns to me, and I step back.
Zerachiel had used her as a shield.Evangeline places a hand on my arm, ‘I’m sorry. I-’
Don’t,