Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 251

Chapter 251

It was like being trapped in a gilded cage where the bars were made of politeness.

By nightfall, I was ready to scream with frustration.

I couldn’t sleep. How could I, knowing Evelyn was somewhere in this cursed place, knowing Faelan had vanished trying to find her?

I sat by the window, staring out at the dark gardens, my mind churning through possibilities and plans.

That’s when I heard it-a soft scraping sound from the corridor outside.

I moved silently to the door, hand on my dagger. Scarlett was already awake, positioned on the other side.

The scraping came again. Not from a servant’s measured footsteps, but something furtive, desperate.

I yanked the door open.

Faelan practically fell into the room.

69

“Thank the Goddess-” His normally tidy appearance was a disaster. His robes were torn, dirt smeared across his face, his carefully styled

hair wild. But his eyes-his eyes burned with urgent intensity. “Elowen! I’ve been trying to reach you for hours! They have patrols

everywhere, I could barely-”

“Faelan!” Scarlett caught him as he stumbled. “What happened? Where have you been?”

“No time!” He gripped my arms hard enough to bruise. “I found her! I know where Evelyn is! The Crimson Sanctuary-it’s not a sanctuary

at all, it’s a temple! An ancient ritual site!” His words tumbled out frantically. “She’s there right now, I saw her, but I couldn’t get close,

there were too many guards—”

“Show us.” I was already moving, grabbing weapons. “Take us there. Now.”

“We need to hurry.” Faelan was already at the door, checking the corridor. “The ritual-I think they’re preparing something tonight—”

The three of us moved through the darkened estate like shadows, following Faelan’s lead. He navigated the winding corridors with

surprising confidence, avoiding patrols, taking routes that kept us hidden.

Finally, we emerged into an open courtyard. Across it, I could see a massive structure-all dark stone and crimson banners, with light

spilling from its entrance.

“There,” Faelan whispered. “The temple. That’s where-”

1/2

14:48 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 251

“HALT!”

Lights blazed to life all around us. Vampire guards materialized from every shadow, weapons drawn, surrounding us completely.

Zane stepped forward from the temple entrance, and his pleasant expression had vanished entirely, replaced by cold calculation.

“Breaking into sacred sites during the night. His voice carried across the courtyard, pitched for the gathering crowd of vampires. “Violating the sanctity of our most holy temple.” He looked at me with something like disappointment. “Elowen. I welcomed you as a guest. I extended every courtesy. And you repay me by treating my hospitality as cover for espionage?”

“You’re holding my friend prisoner-” I started.

“Am I?” Zane spread his hands. “I told you she left. You chose not to believe me. And now you’ve invaded our sacred grounds, accompanied by this man-” He gestured at Faelan. “-who’s been sneaking through our territory like a spy for days.”

More vampires were gathering. I could feel the hostility building in the air.

“This is a violation of centuries of peace,” Zane continued, his voice grave. “You’ve entered vampire lands under false pretenses, violated our sovereignty, desecrated our sacred spaces.” He looked around at his people, then back at me. “Tell me, White Wolf-are you here representing yourself? Or is this an official act of aggression from the Wolf Kingdom?”

My stomach dropped as I understood the trap. If I claimed to act alone, I’d be imprisoned as a criminal. If I claimed to represent Kaius,

I’d be starting a war.

“I” My voice failed as I stared at Zane’s coldly triumphant expression.

We’d walked straight into exactly what he wanted.

Comments

LIKE

Write Comments

SHARE

2/2

14:48 Thu, Jan 22