EVANGELINE.
Zedkiel is the King of the Vampires.
“Is that why you hate him and refuse to show him the sign of our true king?”
Don’t make assumptions. I was angry. The rage within me, knowing that my mate was taken from me, drove me to the brink of insanity. I cursed Evelyn because I was jealous that Zerachiel got to live, only I didn’t realise the Eternal God had cursed my daughters, too,
My heart squeezes as I look at Raziel. Even though he had simply wanted his love, in his rage, he had cast a curse upon his own child.
Zedkiel drank from you. For his and this kingdom’s future; you must make sure nothing happens to you like every other time, because when Selene created a protector for her daughters, she gave him powers to rival my own,
“Zedkiel will be fine, even if something does happen to me.” Even as the words leave my lips, I don’t believe them.
Will he? You wanted my truth, then take it and heed my words!
My stomach twists, and I clench my fists. I have seen Zedkiel’s rage, how he killed Odette without blinking. Without me here …
See, I told you you’ll go back on your word!
Luna growls, pushing her to the back of my mind.
No. I won’t. Believe in me, Evelyn.
You always fail me.
I look at Raziel. “Is there a way to break the curse you created?” I ask quietly.
A low growl leaves him, and he raises his head, his burning eyes now upon me. I can feel that heated gaze, feel it burn through me.
I cannot say, but you hold the answers already. Look within; this is the start of your path.
I frown, knowing he’s trying to tell me more, but it’s obvious he can’t.
What is he trying to say? Think, Evangeline, think!
I close my eyes, furrowing my brow as I try to think of everything we know. The Oracle’s voice rings in my head, making my heart thump.
‘Go back to where it all began.’
This is where it began.
‘Do not run from the Gemini Bane, for only then do you have a chance.’
I’m not running from Evelyn, from this curse.
‘You are a curse and a blessing, and only one may survive.’
We complement one another. We are sisters, two opposites.
I hear Evelyn scoff, but there isn’t as much hatred in it.
“To break the centuries-old calamity, learn who you truly are,” I whisper out loud.
And who are you?
My chest heaves as overwhelming emotions wrap around me.
‘When that answer comes before you, only then can you rise from the earth and take your true place.’
“I am … the Goddess.”
‘Pay for the Goddess’ crime, and the cycle shall end. But remember, you must do so before the stars align, or your time shall come to an end.’
My heart thunders as I realise what I need to do. I don’t know how, and it may sound crazy, but there has to be a way to go back to the source.
“How does one contact the Eternal God?” I ask, my eyes snapping open, my heart thundering.
He doesn’t even blink, as if expecting this question. You are a Goddess, you may cross into the other realm, yet it means your mortal body shall remain here, and if you do that-
“Evelyn will take control.” I finish. “And until I break the curse, I can’t allow that to happen.”
I will find a way.
You will find the answer. You are on the right path. Now, you prepared for the Blood Ritual and have come for your first shift. Do so before the time passes,
“I didn’t come here to-”
Listen to him, we need to shift,
Although I’m not a royal, I simply nod. If he wants me to, then I should respect his wishes. I turn my back to him and untie the back of the cloth I have around my breasts.
Focus and relinquish control to me, let me come forth.
Searing pain flashes through me as every bone of my body seems to break. I gasp, my eyes stinging with the pain, and for a moment I can’t breathe, but then it’s gone. I feel power dance through me as my vision becomes so much sharper, my hearing, all my senses. I turn towards Raziel, and he’s watching me like a father, proud of his pup.
Luna,
It’s been so long. This is the right thing to do. She has come so far this time; there is hope until all is lost,
Yes. I have done all that I can; the rest is in their hands.
He stretches his paw, and a blinding gold light swirls around the cavern, spreading and swirling into every corner of the Chamber before it wraps around me. I feel my feet lift from the ground.
The water from the river is rising, splashing across the Chamber’s floor. The wind is whipping violently, but in my cocoon of golden light, I am simply protected. My eyes close as something tugs me away from the Chamber.
My vision clears, and I’m in a beautiful hall. The sun shines through the stained-glass windows, bathing everything in a golden light. It’s a throne room. I spot the two identical dazzling thrones of equal power and stature, yet one is directly in the centre of the room, and the second is to the left. A handsome man in black is seated on the throne to the left, his arm resting lazily on the armrest, one leg bent, the other sprawled ahead.
My heart skips a beat as our eyes meet. Upon his head is a gold band, and he jerks his head towards the centre throne. My eyes widen as I find myself walking down the centre towards that seat. Zedkiel holds his hand out to me, a smirk on his handsome face as he helps me take my seat on the throne.
I gasp as I realise what this means, making Luna chuckle.
How can he be king of our kind when the Goddess is walking this earth?
Despite my imprisonment, this ritual of selecting the true ruler was given to me by Selene herself. It is not part of my imprisonment, and I will always appoint the true ruler,Take us to victory, child.
Suddenly, the whirling energy and the gold light abruptly vanish. Silence settles, and all that remains is the thumping of my heart. I’m on all fours on the Chamber floor. Even Luna is silent.
I have my answers. I now have a goal to achieve.
I look around, spotting my discarded clothes that are now soaked and put them back on. My heart is still pounding, but I’m thankful that I attained what I came here for.
I’m almost at the door when I freeze, hesitating. Unease fills me.
Zed. This throne belongs to him.
And it still will, alongside you,
Will he be mad?
The Goddess fears her mate?
No. I just …
He will be mad, not for the throne but for you coming here without his permission, and I hope he gives you one of those punishments you dreamed of,
That-that is a secret!
She simply laughs, and I am about to reach for the door when it swings open, and a powerful aura rips through the Chamber. The seductive scent of my mate hits my nose, and despite the deadly aura that he’s emitting, his eyes burning red, his chest heaving, and clad only in a pair of grey sweatpants, he looks like a god.
So befitting.
“Evang-" I cut him off, flinging my arms around his neck, crashing my lips against his as I wrap my legs around his waist, not caring that I’m wearing just some soaking cotton or that there are several people just a mere few metres away, or that I’m shamelessly kissing my mate, because I honestly don’t care.
Explosive sparks rush through me, and Luna purrs in my head, clearly having missed him, too. A soft moan leaves my lips as Zed kisses me back roughly. His hand grabs a fistful of my hair, and his other arm wraps around me, pulling me flush against those delicious abs. Only a little piece of wet fabric between my pussy and his hard abs.
The Chamber door swings shut, but I can only focus on him.
I can sense the anger in him, but at the same time, he’s unable to stop kissing me, and that just makes this all the hotter. I feel my core knot, the ache only growing.
I’m his weakness, I’m his addiction, I’m his obsession, and I want to be it all.
I tighten my arms around his neck, biting back a moan when he runs his tongue along my lips, kissing me roughly. I gasp for air and pull away, blushing deeply because I can smell my arousal.
“Zed,” I whisper. “We can’t,”
He frowns as he moves back, looking me over. “What were you thinking?” He growls, his voice thicker in his anger.
“I’m okay,” I say softly.
Hearing footsteps, I quickly slip my legs down and smoothly try to fix my wrap as those who were standing metres away now approach.
“This is absurd,” Franco mutters as Alpha Ambrose watches me intently.
“Turn, Luna Evangeline,” he says quietly.
“Oh, I’ve seen the brand, and even if it’s similar to your mark, it is not the same as the mark of the king!” Franco says, clearly at the edge of his patience.
“Just shut up,” Kash growls at him, and I glance up at Zedkiel. He crosses his arms, looking so handsome that all I want is to be in his arms.
“Turn,” he commands. My heart pounds and I slowly turn my back to them all.
Silence follows, and I hear a whistle from Kash with a few sharp intakes of breaths.
“It is now complete.” Alpha Ambrose says quietly.
“How is this possible? She-she is an Omega, not a Lycan! How-” Philip murmurs.
“Yet she has an aura far more powerful than ours,” Chasyn cuts in. “The proof is before us. You saw her step out of that Chamber.”
“That’s the mark of …” Someone else mutters.
“The mark of the true king,” Alpha Ambrose says. “Luna Evangeline Rose Vilkas, is our true ruler.”
My heart thunders, but I’m not able to focus on anything but Zedkiel. He hasn’t said anything. His face is not giving anything away, but his heart is racing.
Please say something.
“Bow to your queen,” he commands coldly.
I still can’t look away. From the corner of my eyes, I see the men go down on one knee, and the king himself lowers his head slightly, but all I care about is my mate, who is staring at me in a way that terrifies me.