His Dark Obsession

chapter 41 A Couple of Gifts

Evangeline

Hours have passed, but I can’t get the rule book out of my head.

Consummate the marriage before the tournament? How!All I can think of is everything that can go wrong if we do that, but without it… it means we can’t even participate.

Urgh!

Just think, Evangeline, if you weren’t an omega, you would have to be marked, too. But the downside is, once the rest of the couples all mark one another, until they go into heat, no one will even know if they are mated, unlike me… I have a feeling that rule was put there because I am unable to be marked due to being wolf-less.I shudder at the possibilities of what could go wrong. It isn’t that Zedkiel is that bad… but this life, this rank, it’s all a façade...

I sigh heavily, running my fingers along the spines of the leatherbound books that line the shelves in the royal library. I don’t even know what I’m looking for, but I need something to keep my mind off everything.

I spent two hours with Alistair, and I am exhausted. He gave me all his theories about what our test may be, but regardless of what it will end up being, I know I just need to think smartly and with a level head. I’m hoping I can at least do that.

Glancing around the library, I see that it is mainly empty. There is scarcely anyone here, and I appreciate the silence. To my dismay, I had also learned that all the couples would move into the palace the night before the tournament’s first day.

The double doors to the library open, and I turn to see Lucia peek in, her eyes lighting up when she spots me.

“Luna Evangeline!" she whispers loudly. I frown slightly at that title.

“Evangeline,” I correct her as she hurries over, trying her best not to run and remain graceful.

“You’re the Luna now. Congratulations on your wedding,” she says, lowering her head to me politely as if just remembering all that.

I reach over and place three fingers under her chin, tilt her head up and shake my head. “Lucia, I’m still Evangeline… your friend, or I hope we were friends,” I say.

“Of course, we were-, I mean, we are… but you are Luna now.”

“And it changes nothing,” I say. “So, tell me, why you are looking for me?”

She nods, smiling gently before she looks around and then reaches into the bag she is carrying. “I got you something.”

“Oh, for me?” I ask in surprise, not expecting anything.

She nods as she takes out a small rectangular box; it's plain white with gold writing on it.

“Here,” she says, holding it out to me.

“Thank you,” I say as I take it. My heart skips a beat as I flip the lid open. My eyes widen when I look at the gold bracelet that sits on the suede cushion. A delicate chain with three charms on it set with pearls.

“I found out your birthday is June the third, so you’re a Gemini, hence the zodiac charm, a pearl pendant for your birthstone for June, and a good luck charm to help you through this tournament,” she explains, looking at me with a smile, but I can see she’s worried I won’t like it. I’ve never ever had such a thoughtful gift.

“Thank you… it’s…”

“Do you like it?" she asks softly.

I nod vigorously before I step forward and hug her tightly. “I love it, thank you, Lucia." She hugs me back before I step away. “I really do.”

I know, some may say, that my birth date is wrong, but I know deep down Alpha Aeron only said that to make me feel better. The Oracle is never wrong. I push the gloomy thoughts away and instead admire my bracelet.

“Here, would you like to wear it? I’ll put it on you," she offers gently.

I look up and nod, “Yes, please! I will wear it for the entire tournament, although I’m sure you are rooting for your prince to win,” I tease.

She chuckles, blushing before she shakes her head. “Can I not root for both you and him?”

“Yes, you can." I smile as she takes the bracelet out of the box and places it around my wrist. My eyes fall on the one around her wrist; it is almost identical to mine, but instead of a Gemini charm, it has a Pisces charm and two different birthstones.

She sees me looking at it, and once she hooks mine up, she moves back. “It’s mine and Prince Chasyn’s birthstones," she explains softly, playing with the ruby gemstone.

I nod, feeling an ache inside at the fact she can’t have the man she loves.

“It’s gorgeous, too,” I say. “We are twinning.”

“We are!" she says, holding her wrist out to mine.

It may seem trivial to some, but for me, it is special to share something with a friend.

I look up, and our eyes meet. I smile at her, feeling the gloom of the morning fade away. She has cheered me up nicely!

“What are you doing in here?" she asks, now scanning the shelves.

“Just looking for a good read,” I say. “Preferably about the Chamber of Truth, its origins and how it came to be.”

“Oh, those books won’t be here. You will have to ask the Third Prince for access to the private area," she replies.

I feel disappointed and sigh. “Oh… well, I guess I’ll ask Zedkiel. Shall we go?”

“Zedkiel?" she whispers, her eyes lighting up as I blush.

“Ah! He wants me to call him that," I mumble, making her giggle.

“Of course… You two look very in love," she teases, making my cheeks burn even more.

“I’m leaving,” I say with a pout, leading the way out of the room. She laughs softly as she follows. I bid her farewell and head to my quarters, remembering that Zedkiel said we would visit the Oracle today. I better go back before he searches for me.

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