“But we weren’t a happy family even when you and mama were together,” I whispered. “Just because mama and you didn’t work out, it doesn’t mean you can’t pick up the pieces and find happiness again. She did. You can too Papa.”He shook his head.“Mija…I was supposed to be the star football player. Th
Gabe’s POVThe only reason this pendejo wasn’t dead was because Evelina had called me Gabe. Not Gabriel…not asshole…Gabe. The familiarity with which she said it...it had struck something within me. Something that wanted to please her. And something told me she wouldn’t like it if I killed that assho
Her stunning eyes, unusually dark, gazed at me with the fear of a trapped mouse. Revulsion filled my gut. This was not how it was supposed to be. I walked over to her, opening the remaining buttons of my shirt. My eyes watched the way her breath caught, the way she leaned into me robotically. Her de
The sheets made a soft rustling sound as she shifted her position, turning to face me completely. She placed her cheek on top of her clasped hands, her eyes fixed on mine.“He raised two girls as if they...as if we... were his own. But he was never our biological father. What he did…he did because o
I closed my eyes, trying to not let the regret of nearly losing my mate consume me. Revenge was dangerous. I’d nearly lost her by my own hand. And I’d spent the proceeding years making sure she was safe. Atonement for nearly doing the one thing I never should have done.The desire to protect her was
Evelina’s POVMaybe I was just over emotional. Or maybe I’d just gone insane. Because not even two minutes ago he’d been admitting how he’d plotted to kill me, and now I was throwing myself at him. But when Gabe shared how he felt about raising another man’s child, he bridged a chasm between me and
My hand finally slipped under his shirt bunched around his chest, touching more of those finely chiselled muscles I’d seen a vague outline of in the dark. I wanted to kiss my way across them. To feel them under my tongue.“Vos sos mia…(you’re mine),” he murmured against my lips.”Vos sos mia para sie
I woke up the next morning to realise I’d slept nearly 12 hours straight. There were vague remnants of a memory or maybe a dream of Gabe coming to bed and slinging an arm around my waist. Maybe I’d snuggled deeper against him. Maybe I hadn’t. Maybe it was all a figment of my imagination. Or wishful
“Your turn!” I called. “This is going to be easy for you, mi vida.” I knew the missing planks were there—places I’d nearly stepped into myself. “You already saw—” but I stopped speaking when I saw the mist begin to swirl furiously in front of my very eyes, covering the entire bridge in a shroud of d
**Gabe’s POV** I stood at the edge of the ancient bridge, dark mists around us, as my heart pounded against my ribcage. I looked down into the thick mist swirling around the chasm below. There was nothing but darkness under the bridge. The bridge stretched out in front of us, its wooden planks worn
"Here lay the knights of the Order, tasked with protecting the Sacred Flame," Sister Agnes explained. I stared at the tombs, realizing that there was much more to the story of the Sacred Flame than was told in the book. We were missing a key piece of information. Why would the Sacred Flame need pr
**Evelina's POV** Standing before us was Sister Agnes, a smile on her face. She did not seem at all threatened by or afraid of Gabe. “I knew you would come! I knew I would see you again!” she crowed excitedly, taking a step forward. Gabe let out another vicious snarl. I looked at Sister Agnes a
I took a step back arching a brow. “Tell me why we’re here, “ I insisted. Gabe sighed, before looking at me with resignation. “We’re here to find the witch of Avalon and obtain the Sacred Flame,” he relented, making the pit of my stomacch drop. Could I, a witch that held a part of Lilith inside
Suddenly, I felt the darkness curling around me. Trying to take control while I was in the throes of ecstasy. “Control it, mi vida. Master it,” Gabe urged, sensing what was going on. "Yes," I moaned, feeling the familiar sensation building inside me. "I am more than just the darkness." I arched
**Evelina's POV** Gabe leaned in closer, his eyes filled with raw hunger, and my heart pounded in my chest. I didn't need the mate bond to tell me what the look in his eyes meant. He was turned on. Which was surprising to say the least. “You…aren’t grossed out?” I queried warily. A huff of laug
“It’s getting easier to control it,'“I whispered sleepily. “It’s almost like…it’s merging with me rather than fighting against me now. I can feel its power….I can feel the sinister intent. But I can also cut through it and maybe harness the demonic energy.” I couldn’t help my eyes dropping shut as I
I took in a deep breath, feeling the tension slowly release from my body as I trusted Gabe's words. I concentrated on his presence around me and the tranquil effects of the hot water as it enveloped me, removing all the stress and exhaustion from my bones. It was then that I felt a sudden calmness s