TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 251

Two hundred and fifty one

Evangeline POV

+15 Benus

“Are you at least going to give me an inkling of what is going on?” Kade said after settling into the passenger seat. He waited for me to speak. “What has she dragged you into?”

My stomach tightened. I kept my eyes on the windshield.

“Do you need my help?” he asked “Do you need saving?”

A laugh almost slipped out.

If only it were that simple.

I looked at him and shook my head.

“Well, I don’t believe you.”

I shrugged.

“Whether you like it or not, I’m helping you. This isn’t you.”

I looked away.

The last thing I wanted was for my brother to get involved. We weren’t particularly close, but I’d rather die than watch him cross paths with the people who had used me and thrown me away.

“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Don’t worry about me.”

“That’s not how siblings work.”

Silence filled the car. My fingers traced the steering wheel.

“Is this about Cameron? Or politics?”

I said nothing.

“Fine. Give me something. Is there anyone hurting you? Is there something I should be looking for? You can’t shut me out.”

Every instinct told me to keep my mouth shut. Meridian punished loose tongues. People disappeared over less than admitting they belonged to the sect.

But another part of me wanted someone else to see what I’d been trying so hard not to.

“If things get worse…” I whispered.

Kade didn’t look away.

“Go on.”

I turned back to the window.

“Evangeline.”

The name caught in my throat.

I shook my head.

1/4

trand and My and

“Forget it. I had a rough night. I probably drank too much. Just forget I said anything.”

He didn’t answer.

He wouldn’t forget.

The thought of him digging until he found the truth scared me more than anything.

By the time I got home, I had nothing left to cry over.

returned.”

Franklin’s car disappeared through the gate as I drove in. Inside, a maid hurried toward me.

“My lady, Alpha Cameron has been looking for you. He asked us to tell him as soon as you

“Thank you.”

My voice scraped against my throat as I climbed the stairs.

Cameron was waiting in the upstairs living room. Relief crossed his face when he saw me.

“There you are. I was starting to worry.”

I managed a smile.

He came closer.

“Where did you go?”

“I went to see my parents. I needed some air.”

His eyes searched my face.

“You should’ve told me. You don’t look well.”

He tipped my chin up.

“I’m tired. I’ll be fine.”

It would have been easier to hate him if he weren’t standing here looking at me like this.

If he’d reached full dominion, none of this would’ve happened. Meridian wouldn’t have stripped me of my position. My life would’ve continued exactly as it was supposed to.

Instead, he was still himself.

“What happened last night?” he asked. “I’ve never seen you like that.”

My jaw tightened.

“I overreacted.”

“No. Tell me what you saw.”

Blood.

The stench.

My stomach twisted.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

+15 Bohus

2/4

Two hundred and fitty one

+15 Benus

He let out a slow breath.

“We’ve both been under a lot of pressure. Whatever this is, you don’t have to carry it alone.”

The words almost pulled a smile out of me. If he’d stopped fighting what he was supposed to become, I wouldn’t be standing here waiting for everything to fall apart.

“Whatever it is,” he said, touching my chin again, “don’t let it destroy you.”

I looked past him.

Nadia stood in the doorway.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Her gaze moved between us. “I came to call Cameron for lunch. You’re welcome to join us.”

Her eyes lingered on me before she turned and left.

Cameron reached for my hand.

I pulled mine back.

“I’m fine. I’m going to sleep.”

He watched me walk away.

The sleep helped.

When I woke hours later, the weight in my chest had eased enough that I almost ignored the message from my

handler.

Ignoring Meridian, however, was another way to sign your own death warrant.

I opened it.

The surrogate is being shielded. We can no longer reach the pregnancy.

I frowned and sat up.

What did that mean?

Another message appeared before I could reply.

If you want redemption, find the source.

My fingers froze above the screen.

Someone was shielding Lisa’s pregnancy.

Someone powerful enough to keep Meridian out.

And if Meridian couldn’t reach Lisa anymore, they’d come after the person who had failed to stop her.

Me.