~Annalyn POV~
Matteo's eyes locked onto me, he did not blink, did not look away, as though the answer to a thousand riddles had suddenly been placed before him. His voice was low, almost trembling, when he asked, "Annalyn… are you really our true mate?"
The word true struck deep inside me, it echoed against the hazy corners of my mind, but the alcohol blurred my thoughts. My fingers trembled around the glass as I forced myself to laugh, though it sounded hollow.
He leaned forward, the journal still gripped tightly in his hand. "Who owns this book? Tell me."
I lifted my gaze to him, but the room was already spinning faintly, my tongue felt heavy. "I… I don't know who owns it."
Matteo's expression tightened, his jaw clenched. He reached out, cupping my face with sudden urgency. "Look at me, Annalyn. Did Isabella give this to you? Where did she get it from?"
