I don't recall falling asleep, but the next day I woke with crust on my face from crying. Azriel had truly got to me, and my sleep was deep and full of empty thoughts.

Sitting up on the bed, fully healed, I stretched my arms and looked around. Beyond the basic furniture were two doors and a double window.

After the depressing thoughts of last night, I decided I cannot live like that. I may be just a thorn, just a nuisance, but Azriel wasn't Darius. He knew how to play his cards and when to fold; he knew how to manipulate me just as quickly as he knew how I hated being held by the jaw.

He was smart.

But I was smarter.

I cautiously crept out of bed to go into the one I remember leading to the bathroom. Reliving myself was short-lived. As the moment I flushed, the door swung open.

"Ah, Princess, you are awake!" Azriel beamed.

I remained silent, washing my hands and then face in the sink. He scurried behind me, and I tensed when his hands rested on my shoulders. Looking up at him through the mirror, he focused his eyes on my chest, or rather, my throat.

"Time to hold up your end of the deal." He grinned.

I shuddered as his fingers pulled the mess of my hair from my face, tugging it behind my neck. I swallowed as his thumb pressed into the pressure point, just glad he wasn't near my mate mark.

"Azriel..." I whispered.

"Hmm?" He smiled, flicking his eyes up to meet mine.

"How come your bite does not mark me?"

"Because I have no intention of marking you, Princess."

"It works that way?"

"You can control it, yes. You are not my mate, so I have no desire to mark you. Besides, it is my vampire that wants to taste you, and vampires do not mate."

"They don't?" I wondered, surprised.

You'd think living so long would give them a reason to find a mate. I knew they liked to screw around, Asra telling me about Eris' relationship with his father and her master. That reminds me... That night we rescued Arabella, we ran into Eris who was running around Evermore. Why was she there? At first, I had believed her tales and a quick redirection of conversation, but now it just seemed suspicious.

That was the night I started to question my blood and who Arabella was to me. But Eris also said something else that now stuck out to me. She wondered if I was bitten, half-blood, or bewitched because her charm did not bother me like it did Arabella.

Did this Eris know something back then? Were vampires more in tune? She was old, older than Asra, so perhaps she holds more knowledge?

Also, Asra was unaware of the northern settlement, so why was the vampire suddenly there? She said she was full, so it couldn't be for food. Unless... She had already eaten.

"Azriel, vampire covens. Are there many?"

"Are you stalling, Princess?"

"N-no, I just was wondering." I dropped my gaze.

Happy with my submission, his fingers stilled their tracing on my skin. "There are many like the wolves, yes, but we have one lead coven."

"Like a king?"

"You could say that." He mused. "A woman runs the lead coven."

"A woman?" My eyes widened.

"Why so many questions, Princess?"

"I just... remembered something."

His hands played with my hair again, goosebumps rising on my skin. I didn't like the way his hands touched me, how they were too soft to be Asra's.

"What was that?"

"It's nothing." I shook my head.

His grip faltered and tightened on my shoulder. "Tell me."

I winced, looking away from him. "I once met a vampire in the woods."

"And you lived to tell the tale." He hummed.

"Asra was with me. We outnumbered her."

"Asra knew of this woman?" He wondered. "Let me guess... Eris?"

My eyes widened again. "You know her?"

He rolled his eyes. "Enough questions, I'm hungry."

I was about to object but he didn't give me enough chance. His fangs sinking into my skin burned like boiling hot lava. I could see the blood pooling down my collarbone in the mirror, feel the tight grip he had on my shoulders as he pressed me into the sink vanity. Tears pooled over, spilling from my eyes as I gasped with pain.

Then his vampire sucking lessened, and a low hum filled my body as the pleasure took over. I sagged into his hold, eyes fluttering closed with a soft whimper. Azriel was grumbling, his chest vibrating me as he released his fangs from my neck, sealing it with his tongue. I shuddered, my every nerve feeling alive.

"Why does it do that?" I murmured, words slurring.

Azriel didn't respond, dragging me by the armpits back to bed. I groaned as he threw me onto it, not wanting to go back to sleep. It was all I seemed to do! I just wanted answers to my questions. I tried calling his name, but he was walking away from me.

"Sleep, Ailia!" He ordered, and like a light, I was out.

***

This time, I woke with a vengeance.

All thoughts of having no purpose or meaning were long out of my head as I was set on getting revenge. Azriel used me for a snack and forced me to sleep. Now I was pissed.

With shaky legs, I stormed my way through the house, searching for Azriel. The entire- wait. Was it two days? How long had I been here?

Shaking my head, I continued to descend the stairs. I was sure he had heard me now, and was staying quiet. Upon reaching the bottom step, I drastically collided with something. Or should I say, someone?

My eyes narrowed on the vampire male, remembering him from the cell.

"You!"

"Me?" He grinned.

His black painted finger tips reached out to touch my skin, but I recoiled and took a step back. Crossing my arms, I raised my chin.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Nobody." He mused.

Narrowing my eyes, I tried hard to curb my irritancy. Not only was I forced to sleep yet again, and drank from like a damn tap, I woke up cranky.

"Where is Azriel?"

"You don't get to speak about Master Azriel that way."

I snorted a laugh. "Master? Hilarious. If he is a leader of a coven, I will-

"You will what, Princess? Eat a shoe? Eat my ass? Which is it?" A familiar voice chuckled.

My head spun, glaring at Azriel as he entered the hallway. He observed me amused, a stack of paperwork in his hand.

"You are not a coven leader." I pointed out.

"Not a leader, but I am part of the leads."

"That makes no sense."

"Like wolves, covens can have multiple hierarchy leaders. We just share the same title."

"So, you're what, a beta?"

"You could say that." He grunted. "I should be an alpha."

"Yeah, well, you didn't get the gene. So, what?" I huffed. "That isn't Asra's fault."

His eyes blazed, turning dark with anger. I suddenly remembered how outnumbered I was, and that my grumpy morning self stood no chance against people who could move faster than I could blink.

Azriel stormed toward me, his footsteps heavy as they echoed around the room. I held my ground, and his nostrils flared as he stopped before me.

"My brother did not deserve to be alpha. He is not the firstborn."

"Your mother is not his mother. You are not even fully related to him." I shook my head.

"Do not speak of my mother." His eyes hardened.

Did he care for her? Did I find a weak spot? I knew she had died many, many years ago, so was it still that fresh?

"Then you do not speak ill of my mate." I snapped.

He seethed, his head raising with the deepest inhale I've ever seen. I expected him to explode, or let it all out in one puff and fly away like the cartoons, but he held it there, his chest broad. I blinked, waiting for him to do something, but he didn't. Just exhaled and blinked.

"Your mate is not even looking for you."

My heart cracked a little, and it must've shown on my face because he smirked. Moving close to me, I stepped away from him, but the weird-ass vampire from before blocked my exit. His pale hands wrapped around my arms, holding me to his chest as Azriel stopped right before me. I shuddered as he came to eye-level, his breath fanning my face.

"He doesn't want you, Ailia. You are worthless now. He is fully mated, stronger than ever, and does not need you."

I shook my head. "You're wrong."

"Am I?" He mused. "Then tell me why he is not here. Tell me. Why does he not look for you?"

"He will be." I demanded.

"Oh, but he is not." He laughed, and I flinched at the sight of his fangs. "I believe the death toll is up to nine now. The pack is in a dark, gloomy time. It's almost like... seventeen years ago, when his mother died."

I gritted my teeth as his eyes flashed dangerously. Was he implying that Asra was going rogue like his father? He wouldn't do such a thing. My mate had perfect control of his aggression. He was a master at it...

"That is different. The pack was under attack back then. They killed the luna!"

They killed my mother.

"Who orchestrated the attack?" He breathed. "Who wanted the luna dead, Ailia? Who would like to destroy such old blood?"

My blood felt icy in my veins, and I was at a loss for words. Azriel had just as much a tendency to wind me up as his brother did. I blame their father. It must be genetic.

"What are you getting at?"

"You get a question after I take your blood. Use it wisely." He murmured.

I swallowed, his eyes following the movement. I had a question. What was my question?

Attempting to give myself more time, I jostled in the vampire boy's arms, but he hissed at me, holding me tight. Azriel tutted, grabbing my jaw, and grinned down at me. I tensed, freezing in the spot as I thought hard about what I was supposed to ask. I had to be clever, but how? How could I be when I was in such a compromising position?

"What..." I drifted.

"Yes?" He wondered.

Nervously, I took in a deep breath, exhaling it through my nose.

A sinking feeling in my stomach had my eyes drop to the floor. The many thoughts that ran through my head had no distinct meaning. Most of them I already had answers too, or some were too complicated to get. But then there were the hunches. Those thoughts and questions deep in my head that I never wanted to venture near.

Asra and his mother were ancient blood, inherited from the first alpha wolf himself. I, somehow, was to be the protector, also inherited from way too many fucking years ago. So why kill them? Why erase my memories? Was it to protect me? Or was it for another entirely different reason?

"Time is ticking away. I am growing bored. My offer may soon expire." Azriel grumbled.

I licked my lips, taking a shallow breath. Time to listen to these gut feelings. They were always so strong, always so pronounced. There was a reason it connected me to the moon, the lake, the wolves. But why? Why me? I was nothing but a weak, stupid, flimsy girl.

"I did not grow up in Evermore." I began, and his entire face froze. "My childhood memories are erased, and I only lived there for six months before my father faked his death."

Azriel didn't blink, didn't move as he waited for me to continue.

"What is the name of the village and district I grew up in from being a toddler?"

Finally, he blinked, and his sudden laughter startled me.

"That is your question?" He snorted. "Seriously?"

I scowled, holding my ground. I already had so many pieces of information in my mind, I wasn't about to let him one-up me.

"Yes." I nodded. "I know you know."

He breathed a laugh. "You lived in a human village."

Shaking my head, I frowned. "That's not the answer to my question. I asked for the name."

"Fine." He mused. "You lived in Northwood. It is owned by Alpha Augustus."

I knew it.

I tried my hardest to keep my poker face, and thankfully succeeded because he leaned away from me with a snort. A dismissive wave of his hand had the vampire behind me, letting go.

"Take me there." I demanded.

"What?" Azriel snorted.

"Take me to Northwood. You can teleport, can't you?" I probed.

"Why would I do that? So, you can run?"

"Who am I going to run to? You're stronger than me." I rolled my eyes. "I don't remember my childhood town."

He tutted. "I suppose it will kill a few hours whilst I wait for your mate to do something else drastic."

"He wouldn't."

"You could do with the stimulation." He smirked, ignoring me. "So be it. Let's go."

Azriel passed the paperwork to the other vampire, who scowled at him. His eyes hardened and the lesser vampire huffed and dropped his eyes. Azriel took my arm next, and in his other hand, grabbed the crystal around his neck. He muttered something I didn't understand, and before I could tense my body, we were hurtling through time and space.

*****

Ailia got her smart, thinking hat on.