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We watched as Summer's head rolled towards the other side of the bridge, her horror-filled eyes meeting ours after every 360 degree turn. I mindlinked Arian to take Alaska away to safety, meaning back to his castle, away from the demonic forces.

Avian and I ran towards the main reception. Most of the vampires were clawing at their necks and drawing blood, some seemed to feed off other vampires and the remaining had disappeared.

I sped over to Raven. He was kneeling on the ground and staring at nothing in particular. He looked absolutely devastated. I put a hand on his shoulder. "I need your help," I said.

"My mate," he whispered vulnerably.

"Your family needs you. Your people need you," I reminded him.

I knew what it was to lose a mate. When the wound is fresh it could make you want to kill others and feast off your blood. That's when you have to be strong. When you have to pick up your broken pieces and hold them together.

"She's dead," he said again.

I sighed. "And so will all these people be if you don't pick your self up and act like a leader," I hissed. It was harsh but it was the only way I could reach him. He wiped his tears away and stood up.

"What do you want me to do? I don't specialise in exorcisms," he grumbled at me. I shook my head at how lightly he was taking all this. "Run to your garden and grab some angelica. Go to the biggest room that you have in this manor and sprinkle it around the entire room. Then burn the remaining."

"What for?"

"It acts as a protection shield against evil spirits. No one possessed can enter either. You burn it to drive away demons and other nasty spirits. It can also repel hostile magic."

He sped away and I turned to look at the scene in front of me. Avian had already began burning some asafoetida and a few people lay unconscious. Jamie, I think her name was, came walking up to me with a champagne glass casually in her hand.

"I have a message for you," she said.

"No time now. Maybe later," I said and began making my way towards the vampires that were trying to set themselves on fire.

"It's from Cara."

I stopped in my track and stood still. Cara. I've been trying so hard all this time to get her back but what am I going to say to her when I finally see her? Will she even want me?

I fixed my tie and jacket and turned behind to look at Jamie. "Where is she?" I asked reluctantly. She smiled at me. "Go to the lake below the bridge. Throw this in," she said and handed me a powder.

I took it and frowned. "Where did you get this from?" I asked. She laughed. Maniacally. For an entire minute. I gritted my teeth in anger. "Tell me who you are," I demanded. She stopped laughing and shrugged.

"An old acquaintance that you stole from," she whispered, "go now. You don't have much time." Saying those words, she disappeared into thin air in front of my eyes. I didn't bother searching for her or helping those in need.

I needed to see my mate.

I ran over to the edge of the lake and threw the powder into the water. I watched as some of the heavier particles caused ripples as they sunk below whereas the remaining powder formed a circle on the surface of the water. I touched the water in awe but hissed and pulled back my burning hand.

The water was laced with vervain.

Before my eyes, above the water's topmost layer, a figure started forming. At first it was just like a shadow, then it began forming intricate details.

She had a warm chestnut colour hair and pastel white skin which made her beautiful pink lips stand out. Her cheeks were rouged and she was dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and a grey band shirt.

Brown doe eyes gazed at me.

I always thought meeting her would be a tornado and roses combined.

But it wasn't like that.

Seeing her was like seeing an old friend.

I wanted to tell her so much.

The time I last saw you, just one day in a lifetime, surrounded by others - I wanted to take you by the hand and lead you away. I wanted to walk with you, talk with you, but you weren't really you. It was your body but someone else's soul. Yet, I could feel your presence.

I didn't want to steal you, cheat or lie - just to be able to tell you that I love you and know that you love me. I'll take you away from everyone and we'll be together and happy. Always and forever. Just you and me.

"Hello from the other side."

She burst into a fit of laughter. The way her lips lifted upward. The way her one dimple crinkles. The way her teeth are perfectly aligned. The warm glow her happiness gives.

Her smile is a ray of sunshine, and I am a sunburn.

"So you're my mate," she said with a soft smile that calmed me down.

"Adrian Lancaster at your service," I said, trying to bite back a huge grin.

"Adrian," she murmured, testing it out on her tongue.

I could listen to her forever.

I didn't care that she was dead or locked up in the deepest pits of hell. It didn't matter that right now she was just a flicker of magic before my eyes. I wanted to know her favourite song and ask her how many kids she wants.

"You need to be careful, Adrian," she whispered softly. "The dark arts that you perform daily are creating havoc for the other side."

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.

"The dead shall come to life and those living will be pushed to insanity. It will all happen right in front of your eyes and you'll be left with nothing to do but watch," she said.

"No," I said firmly. "I shall bring you back to life. I deserve to have a mate. I want you to give me a chance."

"And I will," she promised, "I don't have much time. But listen to me. You're looking at the wrong things, using the wrong magic. You need to find her."

"Find whom?"

"The Queen. She is the one who can help you."

"Arian's mum, Allison?" I asked.

"No. The one after her," she said urgently. We were running out of time.

"Alaska." I said.

I shook my head.

"She's only human."

"She has power running through her veins. Without her, we are a lost cause,"she said sadly.

I sighed. "I'll get you out of there. It's a mate's promise."

Her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face. Her pain was evident in the crease of her lovely brow and the down-curve of her full lips. But her eyes, her eyes showed her soul. They were a deep pool of restless gold, an ocean of hopeless grief.

As I looked into her eyes I knew, all the beauty of the universe could not even hope to compete with this simple thing: passion. Passion turned her eyes into orbs of the brightest fire, and in them I read clearly that she would fight to the very last tear for her life.

"I'll see you soon, Adrian Lancaster." She smiled.

"I look forward to it." I replied with a polite nod.

•

•

•

•

•

I looked around the garden. We'd managed to clear everything up and settle down the mess I'd created. Avian had chanted and contained the evil spirits, Rayne guided his people to safety and I kept switching between exorcisms and keeping vampires from killing themselves or even others.

It was like getting fucked it the arse.

Is what I'm assuming.

I haven't had anal sex.

Whatsoever.

Like at all.

"Arian and Ally have reached back safely." I turned around to see Avian walking towards me, doing his best to not trip over any dead bodies or body parts lying around. He handed me a bottle of whiskey which I declined.

I have to find my mate.

"Ally's friend, Jamie, is missing," he said with an exhausted sigh.

I saw her face in my mind and I cursed. I had enough of time to think of who could have been in Jamie's place. And reasons as to why they would let me talk to my mate for the first time if they actually intended to take revenge.

I'd killed thousands and ruined the lives of millions. I could list at least half of the supernatural population that would want to see me kneel. But they'd go straight for the kill.

This person was into foreplay. He was toying with my heart and mind and no doubt enjoying every bit of my suffering knowing that he had the means to end everything for me.

I could think of only one person.

Ezekiel Gabriel.

That man was both evil and genius.

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