Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 253

Chapter 253

Elowen

“Of course.” I pretended to examine a map on his wall. “Though I imagine anyone who invested in their expansion would expect timely

returns. Political ventures can be… unpredictable. And when returns don’t materialize as promised…”

Zane’s fingers drummed once on his armrest. “Indeed. Some parties make promises they cannot keep.”

I turned to face him. “That must be frustrating. Especially when the debt grows beyond reasonable repayment.” I let my words carry weight. “I’ve seen it before-ambitious leaders who overextend themselves, who borrow more than they can ever pay back with coin or

influence.

His eyes narrowed slightly. “You seem remarkably informed about matters that don’t concern you.”

“I pay attention.” I held his gaze. And I know that when debtors can’t pay with traditional currency, they find… creative solutions.

Resources. Artifacts. Access to rare bloodlines…”

I let that last word hang in the air, watching his reaction carefully.

Zane’s expression remained neutral, but his silence was deafening.

“Hypothetically, I continued, voice carefully casual, “if someone owed you a debt they couldn’t repay—say, a political leader who’d borrowed heavily for her ambitions-what would you consider equivalent value?”

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*That would depend entirely on the debt’s size.” He stood, moving to pour himself wine with deliberate slowness. “And what the debtor had to offer.” He took a sip, his back to me. “Some things are worth more than gold, after all. Ancient bloodlines, for instance. The kind of magical heritage that’s been diluted over centuries…” He turned to face me. “Finding pure sources of such power? Priceless.”

My blood ran cold, but I kept my expression carefully blank.

“An interesting perspective.” I moved toward the door. “I’ll consider our potential business arrangements.”

“Do that.” Zane’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Though I suggest you focus on your own affairs rather than speculating about others’.

Curiosity can be… dangerous.”

I left before my rage showed on my face.

Evelyn wasn’t just visiting. She was payment. Arabella had sold her own daughter to settle her debts.

And if Arabella had left us that warning in the letter-if she’d created those passages-it meant she knew exactly what she’d done and was

trying to help us fix it.

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Chapter 253

Or it was a trap.

Either way, we’d find out soon enough.

:

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That night, sleep was impossible. Scarlett dozed fitfully while I stared at the ceiling, mind racing through possibilities. We needed to get

into that temple. But how? Every approach was guarded, every path blocked.

I got up to pace again, my hand trailing along the wall-

And felt a slight give under my fingers.

I froze. Pressed again. A section of the ornate molding shifted inward with a soft click.

Magic rippled across the wall, revealing a hidden seam. A door began to materialize, carved with symbols I recognized from the letter-the

same magical signature.

“Scarlett!” I hissed. “Look at this!”

She was at my side instantly. “What is it?”

“Arabella.” I traced the symbols. “She left us a way in.”

The passage beyond was narrow and dark, but it led downward, winding through the estate’s foundations. We moved quickly and silently, following the path that Arabella had somehow prepared for us.

Finally, we emerged in a massive chamber-and there, suspended in the center of a glowing ritual circle, was Evelyn.

She floated in mid-air, magical chains binding her wrists and ankles. Her normally vibrant appearance looked faded somehow, like color being slowly drained away. But when she saw us, she managed a weak smile.

“Well, well. Took you long enough,” she said, her voice hoarse but still maintaining that characteristic sarcasm. “I was starting to think you’d decided vampire hospitality was more appealing than rescuing me.”

“Evelyn!” I ran forward, then stopped at the edge of the ritual circle. Touching it might trigger something. “Are you hurt?”

“Define hurt.” She tried to shrug, but the chains held her fast. “Physically? I’m fine. Magically? They’re slowly siphoning my power. Emotionally? I’m absolutely furious that my mother sold me like livestock.”

I noticed she didn’t mention the passages Arabella had left. Good-neither would I. Not yet.

“What do they want with you?” Scarlett circled the ritual, examining it from all angles.

“My bloodline.” Evelyn’s smile turned bitter. “Turns out I inherited more than just Mom’s political skills and charming personality. I have ancient witch blood-the kind that vampires have been hunting for centuries.” She looked at her fading hands. “They’re extracting it. Once

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Chapter 253

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they have enough, they’ll be able to walk in sunlight. No more hiding in shadows. Complete immunity to their greatest weakness.”

Horror crawled up my spine. “That’s why Arabella-

“Sold me? Yep. Evelyn’s voice cracked slightly. “Apparently her political debts were more important than her daughter. What a shock.”

“We’re getting you out-‘

The temple doors burst open with a thunderous crack.

Zane strode in, and this was nothing like the pleasant host we’d met before. This was a vampire lord in his element-power radiating from him in waves, his eyes burning with predatory intensity, his entire bearing transformed into something ancient and terrifying.

“Really, Elowen.” His voice echoed through the chamber like death itself. “Did you truly think I wouldn’t know the moment you entered my

temple?”

He smiled, revealing fangs that looked far more lethal than they had before.

“Welcome to the Crimson Sanctuary. I’ve been waiting for you.”

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14:49 Thu, Jan 22

Alpha’s STOLEN Mate