Mate of Fate

Shadows

Alice's POV

Alone

The air was cool and crisp as I stepped outside, the twilight casting long shadows over the landscape. I needed to clear my head, to process everything Gabriel had told me. The destruction of the world, the loss of my family, and this strange, celestial bond that I was supposedly a part of, it was all too much. Gabriel would have no doubt wanted to accompany me if I had told him, that's why I just snuck out from under his radar. With any luck, I would have at least an hour to myself. I needed space to think, to breathe.

I walked along the edge of the forest, the familiar path somehow comforting despite the surreal situation. The trees stood tall and silent, their branches swaying gently in the evening breeze. My thoughts raced as I tried to make sense of the chaos my life had become. The weight of the world’s end pressed heavily on my shoulders, and I struggled to keep my composure.

As I rounded a bend in the path, a sudden sense of unease and longing washed over me. I glanced around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Still, the feeling persisted, and I quickened my pace, hoping to shake off the creeping dread.

Then I saw him.

Zadkiel.

Betwixt the shadows

He emerged from the shadows, his black wings blending seamlessly with the darkening sky. His blonde hair and piercing brown eyes stood out starkly against his dark surroundings. He was both mesmerizing and terrifying, all combined in what felt like a tantalizing dance between a predator and his prey. My heart both skipped a beat and pounded wildly at the sight of him.

"Good evening, Alice," he said, his voice smooth and unsettlingly calm.

I stopped in my tracks, my pulse quickening with every word he spoke. "What do you want, Zadkiel?"

He smiled, a slow, predatory smile that sent shivers down my spine. "I wanted to see you, to speak with you without my brother's interference. You and I have a lot to discuss."

I took a step back, my instincts screaming at me to run, but something about his presence held me in place. "There's nothing to discuss. Gabriel told me everything."

Zadkiel's eyes darkened, his expression turning serious. "Did he now? And what, exactly, did he tell you?"

"He told me about your conflict, about the destruction of the world, and about this... bond we supposedly share," I replied, my voice trembling slightly.

Zadkiel took a step closer, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze. "Supposedly? Oh, Alice, it's far more than that. Our bond is real, and it is powerful. You belong with me just as much as with Gabriel."

"I belong to no one," I snapped, finding my courage. "I am not a prize to be claimed."

He chuckled softly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You are fierce, I'll give you that. But you cannot deny the connection we have. You feel it, just as I do."

Before I could react, Zadkiel closed the distance between us, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek. His touch was surprisingly gentle, yet it burned with a possessive intensity. "I won't let Gabriel keep you from me," he whispered, his lips inches from mine.

My heart raced as he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. I could feel the magnetic pull between us, the undeniable chemistry that made my head spin. But I refused to be swept away by it.

"No," I said firmly, placing my hand on his chest to push him back. "I won't be claimed like this. I won't be a pawn in your game."

Zadkiel's eyes flashed with frustration, but he didn't move away. Instead, he leaned in even closer, his lips brushing against mine in a tantalizingly brief kiss. It was a kiss that promised more, a kiss that left me breathless and agonizing in desire for him.

"You are no pawn, Alice," he murmured against my lips. "You are the queen. And I will do whatever it takes to make you see that."

I pushed him back with more force, my anger flaring. "Stay away from me, Zadkiel. I don't want any part of this."

He studied me for a moment, his expression a mix of longing and determination. "You can deny it all you want, but the bond between us is real. And I will not give up on you."

With that, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving me standing there, trembling with a mix of fear and desire. As much as I hated to admit it, Zadkiel's presence had stirred something deep within me, something I couldn't easily dismiss. Even more so than before, I needed to think about all of this. I had wanted to talk to him alone, and he provided me with the opportunity. So why is it that every time I speak to those two I always end up with even fewer answers? This is all so overwhelming and out of nowhere. I definitely need to force them to sit down together with me, peacefully and answer every single question I might have. They owe me that. I will not just accept this fairytale-like explanation. I can feel them as deeply as they seem to be able to feel me, and I know in my soul that they're holding so much back. If they refuse to tell me everything and all, then I will provide them with my refusal to both their claims for me.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart, and walked over to sit down by the lovely creek, just flowing at a steady rhythm just perfect to soothe an aching soul. I closed my eyes and let my mind flow with the stream.