Well, that’s two questions answered. Alessia is definitely a Guardian and because she’s a Guardian, her parents ran away from


    the pack rather than risk having her forced into a mate bond.


    As thankful as | am for some answers, and as excited as | can see that Cara is, Angel is still recovering. She needs her rest.


    “Okay, we''lle by tomorrow for dinner, but | think that’s enough for tonight. Angel still needs to rest and get stronger.”


    “Yes, of course.” Cara says. “But, before | go, | need to know. Have you been on the run this entire time? Liam mentioned


    something about vampires.”


    | look at Angel. It’s her story to tell. “| was held prisoner by vampires.” She says. quietly.


    Cara’s enthusiasm immediately ends. “What?” She looks between us. “What do you mean ‘held prisoner’.” She uses her fingers


    to make air quotes as she says held prisoner.


    “A vampire prince kept me prisoner as his personal blood bag for seven years.”


    Cara gasps, her hand going to her mouth. “But you’re a werewolf. Vampires hate the taste of werewolves.”Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Angel shrugs. “The one who caught me, his name was Sebastian, called met something like ‘custos regni‘ when he tasted my


    blood.”


    | watch as Cara goes pale. “Cara, what is it?”


    She turns to look at me. “Do you know Eatin?” She asks.


    | shake my head. “No.”


    “Custos Regni, it means ‘Guardian of the Realm’. It means,” her hands going instinctively to her stomach, protecting her unborn


    baby, “that they know of ust and we, as Guardians, must taste good to them.”


    “Not just good, | think maybe he became addicted to my blood.” Angel says. “He wouldn’t let anyone else feed on me. No one


    was allowed to touch me except once when another vampire royal visited. And no one was allowed to taint me. His word. But I’m


    thankful for it, because it meant none of them ever raped me like they did to everyone else in that hellish ce.”


    | can’t help the snarl that rips from my mouth. He’s lucky he didn’t rape my mate, but he''ll still pay for what he did to her.


    +15 BONOS


    “| need to go.” Cara says looking like she’s going to vomit up her dinner. “I need to try to get ahold of Ailduin before youe by


    tomorrow.” She turns to me. And if those bloodsuckers think they cane and take Angel, they''ll have one hell of a fight on


    their hands. We will stand beside you. We would have anyway, but there’s no way Rik and Anders will put either Dad or | at risk. |


    just hope Rik doesn’t try to put me on some kind of lockdown because of it.” She shakes her head as she stands.


    She leans over, hugging Angel again. “It was so good to finally meet you. I’m so happy that we found you. You will be safe here. |


    promise.” She turns and looks at me as if confirming what she said. | nod.


    “lll walk you out.”


    We walk to her car in silence. When we get there, she turns. “She doesn’t know you''re her mate yet.” It’s a statement, not a


    question.


    “It doesn’t seem so, I’m hoping Alessia will recognize Cyran when she’s stronger.”


    She grasps my wrist. “I knew Rik was my mate before Artemis confirmed it. Be there for her, be someone that makes her feel


    safe and even if it takes Alessia time, Angel will feel it.”


    | lean down and kiss her on top of her head. “I’m working on it.”


    She slides into the driver’s seat. “Anything | need to know about Eli before | leave?”


    “He says he’s sorry and willing to pay penance for what he did to you, but he’s still denying that he killed my mother.”


    She frowns, looking at me. “Why is he denying it?”


    I shrug. “I have no idea, but | won''t stop until he gives me what | want.”


    She smiles up at me. “I’m d you found your mate. She''ll keep you grounded.”


    | close her door and watch her drive off before heading back to my mate.


    When | get back upstairs, she’s fallen asleep. | decide to use this time to get some work done. | head to my office on the first


    floor. | find Dustin behind my desk when | walk in.


    “So, Cara? How was that?” He jumps right in as he moves out of my chair.


    “Surprisingly good.” | reply, taking a seat.


    “Really? No hard feelings, no lingering love interest.”


    +15 BONOS


    | look at him. He hasn’t met his mate yet, so he doesn’t know what it’s like. “No. | don’t know how to describe it, but it''s as if she’s


    not good enough anymore. Like she could never be to me what Angel is. The mate bond is a strange thing. | never realized how


    strong the pull to your mate would be. It’s exciting and scary all at once.” | stop and look at him. “Does that make any sense?”


    “Not even a little, but | trust your judgement. Maybe some day I''ll get lucky enough to stumble across my mate and I''ll


    understand.”


    ?