EVANGELINE.
I donât know what happened but Iâm alive; I had really thought I was going to die but Zedkiel saved me.
However, his wrath was beyond terrifying. I had woken up to him standing there smelling of b***d. His eyes burning red as the King, Chasyn, Alcazer and Ragnar tried to hold him back. I donât know what he wanted to do, but he was in a rage. The healer steps back, looking down at me clearly scared for his life.
âI want the entire place turned upside down until I find who did this.â Zedkiel now snarls, pulling free from his brotherâs hold and crossing his arm as he reaches down and grabs my hand, looking down at the bruises on my wrists that were caused by the ropes.
Iâm awake but my throat feels raw, and I have a bitter taste in my mouth.
âWe will Zedkiel. Now get some rest too. Youâve had a long day and you need to be up early tomorrow, the results will be announced then.â Alpha Ambrose says and Zedkiel scoffs.
âThatâs all you can think of?â
âThis tournament is still important Zed, in fact, it seems to me someone wants you out of the game.â Chasyn says frowning as he looks down at me.
I feel a little self-conscious with all these men crowded around and so I close my eyes.
I canât see them⦠they arenât hereâ¦
âI wonder who, though? But is it a surprise? You make enemies faster than a pup soils his diaper.â Ragnar remarks mockingly.
I hear Zedkiel scoff. âIâm not threatened⦠it just shows they feel Iâm a threat⦠Father, from this day on, Iâm placing guards with Evangeline at all times. Iâm not risking it.â
âThen how do you expect her to participate? Will you always shield her? She needs to be strong if sheâs to ever be considered as the Queen, Zedkiel.â Alcazer says icily.
I hear a low growl, and something slams against the wall making my eyes fly open. He has Alcazer pinned against the wall. Both men are glaring at one another in rage.
âYou donât need to tell me what she needs to be to become Queen. She survived down there⦠she could have f*****g died.â Zedkiel growls defensively and I feel a warmth flood me. Heâs always defending me⦠Now get the f**k out. All of you.â
The king glances at me and gives me a small smile.
âRest well dear.â He says before they all turn and leave and I feel I can breathe a little. I didnât even realise how hard it is with so many Alpha auras in one room⦠Zedkiel locks the bedroom door, his red eyes turning to me.
My heart thumps and I force a smile. âHi?â
Why did that come out like a question?
He frowns as he sits down on the bed, making it dip as he leans closer, placing the back of his hand against my forehead. My heart skips a beat when I feel a strong tingle rush through me. âDo you have a concussion?â He asks, moving his hand back.
Maybe, why did his touch feel so pleasant? I mean, more than before.
âUmm noâ¦â I say forcing my heavy body to sit up. To my surprise, it isnât as difficult as I thought it would be. I guess Iâm ok. Thank the Goddess and Zed.
I look down at myself and realise Iâm just wearing a shirt, one of Zedkielâs at that.
âWhat happened? I want to know every little detail from when you left that balcony.â He commands.
I nod slowly, trying to shuffle back so I can lean against the headboard when he moves forward, placing his hands on my thighs. He slides me back so Iâm up against the headboard, making me gasp in surprise. He c0cks a brow and crosses his arms over that gorgeous chest of his, and I look up at his handsome face. My cheeks burn at the memory of what those l!ps have done to me, and I lower my head to hide my blush.
Why is my mind going there? That was only for this tournament? Right?
âWellâ¦â I begin, slowly I tell him everything from where to put the clue to being told to go with the guards. How they had told me to change. The woman in the bathroom and then how they took me and gave me a list of commands.
I shudder when I finish telling him how the water kept rising, and no one came⦠up until I passed out. The only thing i didnât mention was the voice that I heard. Heâll think Iâm psychotic or crazy.
âYou donât remember anything else? Nothing?â He clarifies, I shake my head.
âNo.â I reply.
âThe guards who escorted you had no record or anything suspicious on their records. In fact, they have served the Vilkas family for years, and their families before them. To the point, I think they actually thought they were following the rules of the tournament.â
âDid you find them? I can point them out to you.â I say quietly.
âThey were found dead. Someone else is pulling the strings, yet rest assured, that I will find the one behind this and I will kill them.â He promises coldly.
âSome things can be sorted without violence. Itâs ok, Iâm alright. You donât need to do anything.â I find myself mumbling.
His eyes blaze and I gasp when he grabs my throat, tightening it, but not to the point I couldnât breathe. My breath hitches when he leans closer. âSome things can be sorted⦠like a certain Little Mouse running her mouth⦠yet some things⦠call for violence and vengeance and I feed off it. So donât tell me itâs ok, because itâs not. Touch whatâs mine and I will burn the entire world down.â He whispers menacingly, making my heart thump, and Iâm not sure if itâs from fear or excitement.
I donât respond, not knowing what to say. His eyes are still burning red, and I can sense the anger and hunger combined from him.
âZedkiel⦠Iâll be ok, youâre always looking out for me, and Iâm sorry. I should have been more careful too. Next time Iâll be more vigilant.â I say softly.
âPlease doâ¦â He says, his gaze lingering on my l!ps. I swallow hard, making the mistake of looking at his l!ps before biting my own and turning away. âLook at me.â
I look up at him at his command and heâs frowning, but says nothing more as he searches my face for something.
âWhat is it?â I ask curiously.
He seems to struggle before he frowns and lets go of my neck, the moment between us vanishing.â Nothing, I just think we need to figure out what we need to ask the Oracle. I canât wait any longer. Tomorrow evening the next round begins and before then⦠I want some answers.â
He stands up, turning his back to me, and I can tell heâs tense.
âHas your wolf still not awoken?â He asks me, almost sounding angry.
I feel guilty. If I had my wolf, I wouldnât be so incompetent.
âIâm sorry⦠no.â
âReally? Or are you just pretending.â He asks, turning and looking at me almost accusingly.
âWhy would I lie?â I ask, my heart clenching. He didnât seem to care before if I had a wolf or not, so what happened now?
He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and touches his forehead with his index and thumb. âIâm not saying thatâ¦â He says quietly.
âWe can ask two questions⦠I want you to ask her who you really are, and what you are. Your true identity.â He says, making me frown.
No⦠I want to ask him about the voice in my head⦠or about Zedkielâs Lycan and what exactly he meant. Wasnât that better? Why does he suddenly want me to ask such an unimportant question?
âUnderstood?â He asks.
I canât agreeâ¦
âN-no. I wanted to ask something else.â I mumble bravely.
âWhat exactly is so important?â He snarls, making me flinch.
âI-I canât say.â I reply softly.
His eyes flash and he clenches his fists and I try not to stare when I see the b***d dripping onto the floor. He is hurting himselfâ¦
âSo you will keep secrets from me.â He states coldly. His eyes are boring into mine, and I donât remember the last time heâs looked at me with that much hatred. âWeâre meant to be a team.â
âFor this tournament not-â I cut myself off seeing his anger rising. That came out wrong. âI didnât mean-â âI understood.â He replies icily.
I look down. How do I tell him everything when his Lycan told me not to⦠what do I do? There is still a chance he might shift and kill me.
His canines have elongated, and I can see heâs about to shift.
âIâm sorry.â I whisper, wrapping my arm around my legs.
âI donât know what more you want me to prove. Youâre pathetic.â He says harshly, before he turns and leaves, slamming the door after him. I flinch, closing my eyes and resting my head against my knees, feeling his words sting painfully.
This isnât how this is meant to go.