ZEDKIEL.
Both Evangeline and I look at her sharply.
âThatâs not true. Whoever told you that crap lied. Itâs the vampires who have been on our doorstep. Threatening our kind, that if they did not hand me over, they would wage war.â I snarl, my eyes flashing.
Evangeline is by my side in an instant, her heart racing a little faster as she places a hand on my chest, sending intense sparks through me. They calm me, despite Zerachielâs rising anger.
âZedkiel, calm down⦠sheâ¦â
âIs lying,â I growl.
Zeina raises an eyebrow.
âYou are blinded, but that will soon change.â She says quietly. âItâs the werewolves who send assassins to check us off, handful by handful⦠like cowards. It is the werewolves who have been murdering even the innocent children.â Zeinaâs eyes glimmer red, her heart thumping faster.
I frown, about to say something, when Evangeline shakes her head slightly and speaks.
âI can sense that you arenât lying, but you might just be believing something that isnât true. Thereâs a misunderstanding somewhere and we will figure it out.â She says softly. âBesides, these kingdoms are now united through us. We will do the right thing-â
Sheâs cut off when the sound of a huge explosion goes off.
âWhat the f**k is that!â I growl as I rush from the room, another violent explosion makes the chandelier on the ceiling tremble.
âSheâs hurt!â
âMove!â
I turn sharply as the doors are open and two men run inside, one is holding a bloody dagger, whilst the other is carrying a bloody Ziahra, they are in front of me in a flash.
âWeâre⦠the werewolves are here!â One of the men says.
Ziahra coughs, b***d spilling from her mouth, the strong stench of b***d fills my nose and I look down at her. Sheâs breathing heavily, her face pale and I see sheâs clutching her stomach weakly.
I quickly take her from the men, my hands instantly drenched with b***d.
âZiahra!â Zeina says, rushing over.
âListen⦠you have⦠go back⦠itâs not whatâ¦â She coughs up more b***d.
I rush to the lounge and place her down as Zeina shouts for someone to bring an antidote.
Evangeline is by her side, her aura radiating around her.
âWill she be ok?â I ask her, trying to hide the fear thatâs spreading through me.
What the f**k is going on? Who is attacking and why? Didnât Adonis get back and tell them anything?
âI will heal her, but Zedkiel, something is wrong.â Evangeline says, her aura pouring into Ziahra, âI need to talk-â âNot now. I need to find out whatâs going on.â I say, turning away.
I leave the room and stride towards the double doors to the castle when two vampires rush over and bend the knee before me.
âThe werewolves sent a message.â One of them says in a strained voice.
âWhat is it?â I ask.
âHand over their Queen or rivers of b***d will flow.â The other one says, before he coughs and tumbles onto his side.
What the f**kâ¦
I crouch down, leaning in and stare at the b***d. I brush my fingers through it and raise it to my nose, sniffing it.
Poisonâ¦
âI need to stop this!â Evangeline says as she hurries from the room, her eyes blazing. Sheâs about to hurry to the door when I grab hold of her arm and stop her.
âItâs not safe.â
âIâm the Goddess, Zedkiel, Iâll be fine. I donât believe that this is-â
âNo, Little Mouse, we need to assess whatâs happening. This canât be right. Why would they attack like this?â I murmur, just as the ground trembles again.
Another explosionâ¦
âThatâs what I want to go find out! â Evangeline exclaims.
âThey hurt Ziahra! Our own people have turned on us! Mate canât go!â Zerachiel growls âWe need to teach them a lesson!â
I hear footsteps behind us and turn to see Zeina standing there.
âSheâs stable, thank you, Evangelineâ¦â She says, her face distraught. âShe was near death.â
âIt was nothing. Sheâs family.â Evangeline says, but I can see her worry.
Zeina smiles slightly at her before she turns to me, her eyes hardening.
âWhat will be your next move, King Zedkiel?â She says quietly.
Several vampires step forward and I know their future depends on my answerâ¦
âSay the word and we ride to war.â One says, lowering his head to me.
I can see the empty coldness in his eyes, a being hungry for warâ¦
âI will first go out there and talk to them⦠there has to be a misunderstanding.â I say quietly.
âYes, letâs go but Mate must stay here, itâs dangerous. If they betrayed us, they might hurt her. It must be Chasyn!â Zerachiel snarls.
I frown as I lead the way out, knowing Evangeline was capable enough. They wouldnât hurt her. Besides, I will be there with her.
âSheâs coming with me. She is not the Evangeline she once was.â I tell Zerachiel coldly.
A scream of agony from the room we had just talked in reaches my ears and Evangeline turns and runs back to the room.
Ziahraâ¦.
âLetâs go without her.â Zerachiel urges.
I hesitate, but hearing Ziahraâs screams makes me turn to the open door.
âFine⦠but I know that Chasyn wouldnât betray me.â I say to him, he isnât like that.
âIf only you saw what I did⦠you will learn it the hard way.â Zerachiel says quietly.
I step out through the doors to see the fires that spread through the surrounding forests, an odd fume emanating from the fire.
âCan anyone hear me?â I growl through the mind link, trying to reach out to anyone from my pack.
But Iâm met with a block.
What is going on?
âThey have closed us off.â Zerachiel says gravely.
I glance around, sniffing the air, when I realise what âs happening.
Theyâre spreading poison through the fire⦠this isnât a war⦠Itâs murderâ¦
âZedkiel! Ziahra wants to talk to you.â Evangeline calls through the link.
âWe need to stop this!â Zerachiel snarls.
âWe have to see what she needs to say.â I reply.
I turn and head back inside quickly. Sheâs on the sofa, and Evangeline and Zeina are both trying to calm her, her hands are covered in b***d and she looks like death.
I thought she was healing?
âListâ¦â She chokes.
My heart thunders, âDid you see who did this?â I ask coldly.
Her eyes meet mine, but she refuses to speak.
Why?
âKashâ¦wonât⦠b-beâ¦t⦠rayâ¦.this⦠set upâ¦â Her words are almost incoherent before her eyes roll and once again she falls unconscious.
I stand there staring at her.
âSee? Someone has betrayed youâ¦â Zerachiel mutters, but his words are distant.
Evangeline is saying something but I canât seem to focus, anger raging through me.
Ziahra had helped us⦠and this is our payback?
Zeina doubles over coughing as does the vampire who had brought an antidote for Ziahra.
âQueen Zeina!â Evangeline gasps as she rushes to her side, and her aura fills the room.
How⦠How do I cope with this?
Iâm torn⦠Stuck between two species and the worst thing is, the species I grew up with are in the wrong
This attack is cowardly, there are children who are inhaling those toxic fumes.
I glance out of the windows, sunrise is coming⦠but before then⦠I will have made my move.
My eyes flash as I turn away, clenching my fists. âTell me how many men we have at our disposal. Get me any maps you can find of this place, and how do I work the mind connection with the vampires? Itâs time I commanded my own army.â