LOGINLisa POVStaying inside the chapter house became harder every day. I needed the isolation, but being cut off from the rest of the world was starting to wear on me.My phone had been left at home. I couldn't hear my mother's voice or find out whether Cameron had finally stopped calling.The days blurred together until they all felt the same. Everything that made life feel normal had been stripped away.The pregnancy wasn't helping. Midnight cravings had become their own kind of torture. I'd wake desperate for spicy grilled chicken, then remember breakfast would be another bowl of soft vegetables and herbal tea that tasted like someone had boiled all the flavor out of it.The food was healthy, and I knew the baby needed it. My hormones didn't care.Some nights I buried my face in the pillow because I wanted fried chicken so badly I could cry. Other nights I missed Cameron. That annoyed me almost as much.Of all the people I should've stayed away from, my own body kept reaching for him.
Evangeline POV The immediate aftermath of the blade pulling out was silence, except for my mother's gasping as she tried to draw a breath through the wound.Her eyes locked onto mine. Confusion crossed her face. She looked down at the knife buried in her chest. Blood welled around the silver blade, soaking through the white fabric of her robe. Blood spilled from her nose and mouth, dripping onto the forest floor.Her lips parted."Eva..."The word came out like a wet bubble.She looked at the knife again, then back at me."What have you..."More blood spilled from her mouth and streaked down her chin. Her knees buckled. She reached toward me, expecting me to catch her.I didn't move.She collapsed onto the forest floor.I looked at the women surrounding us. They stood frozen.Then I looked back at my mother."What have you done?" one of the women screamed."Oh my God! She killed her mother."The screams crashed over one another. They pointed at me. One woman clamped both hands over h
Cameron POV The last traces of sleep left me as I stretched in bed, but the dream from the night before stayed with me.I had dreamt of Lisa. We stood on opposite sides of a sheet of glass. I reached for her, trying to pull her through it or break the barrier so I could hear her speak. But it stayed between us and slowly turned opaque until I couldn't see her anymore, and all I could hear was a muffled voice.I couldn't stop thinking about it. Reality had started finding its way into my dreams.I sat at the edge of the bed and picked up my phone. Her name was still at the top of my recent calls and, as expected, the automated voice answered. "The number you're trying to reach is switched off."Just like yesterday.And the day before.There was no way Lisa hadn't been able to charge her phone. There was no reason for it to be off. Her mother and Kieran kept saying the same thing.I wanted to drive straight to Kieran's house and demand answers. But I knew how pointless that would be. I
Evangeline POV Kade's words, Trust us, kept echoing in my head.Trusting them would mean killing them. If all of this were over, and the Meridian finally got what they wanted from me, Kade would be glad he hadn't tangled himself in something that would ruin his life forever. His bravery would get him killed within hours if I didn't keep my mouth shut.Cameron had looked at me, searching my face for signs of the cult's conditioning, as if he himself wasn't already a Meridian target. I was heading to the bathroom to empty my bladder when I spotted a midnight-black ribbon tied around the doorknob. The fabric carried the choking smell of grave dirt. I leaned closer, and the metallic stench of rotting blood filled my nose. It was the psychic calling card of a cult execution, not my panties, or whatever I'd left hanging there carelessly.My teeth chattered as I tried to untie the knot with shaking fingers. But the ribbon felt unnaturally heavy, sticking to my skin like wet tar until I g
Evangeline POV The persistent knock made me groan as I wondered which servant was at my door. Food was the last thing on my mind. How could I eat when my own life now had an expiration date?I remained silent, staring at the ceiling, knowing whoever was knocking would eventually leave. Then I heard an oddly familiar voice."Evangeline, open up. It's me."I sat up.Kade.I wrapped my robe around myself and crossed the room, opening the door just enough to look at him."What are you doing here?"He wore a grin, unfazed by the frown I was giving him."I was in the neighborhood," he said."You shouldn't be here. Cameron doesn't like visitors coming in without his permission.""I got permission. I came from his office."His grin widened. I bit my lip to stop myself from blurting out what I really wanted to say: to fuck off, go home, and keep his nosy self away from whatever was happening to me."Kade, please go home.”He leaned against the doorframe, looking far too comfortable."When di
Cameron POVThe house had gone quiet after Evangeline stopped filling the empty spaces. She hardly came downstairs anymore, and at mealtimes she barely touched her food before pushing the plate away. Before finding out who she really was, I would've thought she was sick again. Now I didn't know what I was looking at.Sometimes I'd find her staring through the sitting room window. A maid would call her name, and she'd flinch before turning, like she'd forgotten where she was. Dark circles settled beneath her eyes. She drifted through the upstairs hallway without speaking, then wandered into the garden with nowhere to go. I watched it happen and couldn't make sense of any of it."Is she losing her mind?" Nadia asked as we stood behind a pillar, watching Evangeline disappear into her room."I almost feel sorry for her," she muttered, then snorted. "She should at least tell us what she did before she completely loses her mind.""That's unlikely," I said."Why?""She could be trying to
Lisa“What’s wrong with him?” I whispered to my mom as we watched Alpha Kieran stare into the distance from the terrace.“I don’t know. He’s been this way since he returned. Perhaps he received bad news.”My heart skipped. “You know you don’t have to hide anything from me. If this is about Cameron,
NadiaAlpha Kieran’s call ended without making me feel any better. He kept saying he was handling things, help was coming, and Cameron would be fine.I wanted to believe him. Instead, I lay awake staring at the ceiling, dreading another nightmare that would drag me out of sleep, sweating and angry.
Nadia POVThe television downstairs kept talking about my family like we were characters created for public entertainment. By morning, clips from the broadcasts had spread everywhere, and my phone stayed flooded with messages I refused to answer.Some came from women I barely tolerated before the s
Cameron POVI did not believe Nadia and Franklin.It was more than just their bad acting; they were trying too hard to look relaxed. Franklin’s eyes darted away every time I looked for detail. Nadia kept her focus pinned on me, tracking my every move like she was weighing a prize. It felt rehearsed







