Novels by Jackie O'Quinn

Selene POV"This is crazy..." Liana, my wolf, scolded in my ear. "You felt it, Liana. The pain. Whatever is happening to Aiden, I'd be surprised if he can withstand it for much longer.""But should we not at least have told your mother? I see no good coming from sneaking away on our own.""The only one that might have come was Evangeline, but I couldn't risk it. We have enough power to face whatever lies ahead, Liana. You can feel it as well as I can.""Exactly, I can feel it. It's volatile, and you've barely scraped the surface of being able to control it. You're being reckless, Selene, and you know it.""I'm not being reckless. I saw the vision, I know what this could mean. But how much longer do you want Ronan to suffer?"There was a long pause in my mind, and I wished Liana was in her corporeal form so I could get a better read on her. As strange as it sounds, I enjoyed having her by my side instead of it having to be one of us or the other. Even though it had been that way for m

Aiden POV My mind was racing as the blurred stone walls that made up the cell I was now trapped in became clear. That voice... I'd heard it before, but where? Who was it? How did they overpower me? Was it a betrayal? Gabriel. He was the one that sent me here. That son of a bitch, I should've known better than to trust him. I could hear muffled voices in the distance, but the volume suggested they were drawing nearer. A quick scan of my surroundings confirmed my suspicions. I was strung upside down, ankles and wrists bound by a metal so strong I couldn't make it flex with all my strength. Below my arms, which were hanging above my head, was a chalice with a distinct red liquid sitting in it. Dried blood on my palms indicated it had likely come from my wrists. As the footsteps neared, I closed my eyes, and the creek of the door alerted me that I had company. Three sets of heavy footsteps entered, and I focussed on slowing my heart rate, for little good it did me. "Reall

Aiden POV As I sat staring out the window of my bedroom overlooking the field that led to the great forest for what felt like the hundredth night apart from Selene, I prayed. The silence was deafening. I suppose I thought she might hear me, answer... Come back to me. There had been no activity since the gathering, which I'm certain was intended to be our slaughter. Something stopped the attack or someone... A knock at my door broke me from my thoughts. "Aiden? Sorry to intrude, I saw the light..." "Come in, Blake." Blake had been apart from Evangeline as long as I had been apart from Selene, and I recognised the look in his eyes and the fatigue in his soul. It was weakening us both, though not as much as it should have been. Wherever our divine mates were, they were well and making sure we were as well. "I thought they'd at least have sent word by now..." he mumbled, half to himself as he poured us each a glass of whiskey. "There must be a good reason for it. Though I

Selene POV I stifled a smirk as my Mother rejected my Father's advances for what felt like the hundredth time since we returned to the palace. "What on earth is going on? Aren't you supposed to be training?" Evangeline whispered to me. "Yes. But not before issuing a little payback." Rather than attempt to recount the events, I placed my hand over my sister's and showed her a snippet of the conversation I'd had with my father. "Selene... you didn't!" she gasped, her whisper squeaking as the pitch of her voice rose in shock. I simply shrugged, feigned a look of innocence and turned my attention back to my parents. "Hey... Dad." The word still tasted strange on my tongue, "Need I remind you of the grave and mortal danger being faced in the human realm and the lives that are dependant on my training?" My Father turned to me, my Mother taking the opportunity to slide out of the corner he'd backed her into and make her away across the room. "Of course. Forgive me, daughter. I

Selene POV My Father's private chambers were not at all what I was expecting. The palace of the gods, the place I had always known to be home, was luxurious and indulgent. My father, it seemed, preferred more minimalistic surroundings. The thing about Eden, is that no being will ever be able to explore its vast reach fully. The garden is alive, and it changes constantly. As my father guided us through the unassuming little clearing he called home, I understood why. He lived hidden in plain sight, watching us. "Why here?" I questioned as I took a seat on a log by the babbling stream. "Where else? It is perfect, Selene. So perfect. I wanted them to have it. But, as I have learned, with all great gifts, they are easily taken for granted by those who don't have to work for them." A silent acknowledgement lingered between us as my mind wandered to the power I had inherited. Something I was sure would betray me the moment I took it for granted. "So, you really expect me to believe al

Aiden POV When I rose to my feet, I could sense that something had shifted. The surge of power was intense but fleeting. With its disappearance, so went the darkness. I could no longer sense the presence of the vampires. As my eyes darted around the creatures that had gathered for the ceremony, I also noted that a certain leprechaun had vanished as well. "What the hell just happened?" Blake's voice broke me from my thoughts. "You felt it too?" "Aye, I felt it. We all did. Whatever it was, I think it just saved us from an attack." I turned to Gabriel, who stood a few metres away with his wings fully unsheathed, staring toward the heavens. "Do you know what it was, Angel?" I questioned. He lowered his wings before slowly turning his head to glance at me over his shoulder. "That..." he began, "Was divine power." "So? I'd have thought you'd be used to that... being your kind." "You'd think." he scoffed, "But I've not felt anything like that in millennia... Look around, pu

Sophie didn’t feel awkward in the passenger seat of Pierce’s expensive sports car. Although he was paying for her to be his date this evening, the conversation was free-flowing and comfortable. They asked each other the usual questions, getting to know each other a little to help with the façade of the evening.“That’s a great dress, by the way…” he said with a flirtatious smirk forming across his handsome face.Sophie couldn’t help the blush the hit her cheeks as she ran her hands down the emerald satin gown. It was one of her favourites, figure hugging yet flattering and the colour accentuated her unusual eyes.Callum had always insisted black was her best colour. That anything else drew far too much attention away from her natural beauty. The emerald green gown was an exception. The first time she wore that dress his eyes roamed up and down her body and his jaw noticeably dropped a little. She still remembered

It was Friday, and it had been exactly one week since Callum Buchanan had crash landed back into Sophie’s life.They had been texting back and forth all week. Both resisting the urge to cancel all their other plans for each other. They were determined to do the whole dating thing more traditionally this time. So, they had settled on a lunch date.Lunch was decidedly safer than dinner. Plus, Sophie had a client that evening.Callum insisted on picking her up and she gladly accepted the offer. He had always been chivalrous—the kind of man who opened doors, walked on the traffic side of the footpath, picked you up before a date… Sophie had always loved that about him. It made her feel nurtured in a way that wasn’t overbearing. The gestures always seemed thoughtful rather than possessive, she could handle herself and Callum knew that, but he still always tried to make her feel secure.Sophie was waiting outside her building when she h

“Callum, it’s no big deal, honestly. I put on a pretty dress, and I hang off the arm of a lonely guy at an event. It’s good money, and it’s temporary. Just until I have enough to buy the premises for my patisserie….”Callum stared straight ahead, hands still gripping the steering wheel. His brows were furrowed, jaw clenched, and his knuckles were beginning to turn white.Sophie was beginning to feel cross. Who did he think he was? Showing up out of the blue and reacting this way when she was only trying to be honest. What did he expect after five years? That there’d be no surprises, that she’d simply been sitting around waiting for the day he decided to chase after her… Until that package arrived at her door, she was convinced she would never see Callum Buchanan again.“You know, you really have no right to be mad at me. How I chose to earn a living while we were broken up for five years is really non

“It’s late, Callum. I should get going….”Sophie was being a coward, and she knew it. But, she wasn’t ready for the intense conversation they needed to have. He’d asked her what was holding her back like it wasn’t the most complicated question ever posed. It would’ve been easier to tell him what wasn’t holding her back.Callum nodded solemnly, sensing wisely that if he pushed too hard now, he might push her away entirely.“I’ll walk you to your car…” he offered, ever the gentleman. Sophie agreed, and they walked slowly to the entrance of the orchard.“Shit.” She muttered to herself.“What is it, love?”“I didn’t drive. I uh, got an Uber. It’s fine. I

Sophie had half-expected him to tell her to leave. He had always been impulsive and spontaneous. It was what drew her to him from the start. But after two years of living out of her comfort zone, she had started to crave some predictability. Or so she thought. Ultimately, her inability to make up her mind about what she wanted is what led to their downfall.He offered her the world. Anything she wanted, he would make it happen. He’d marry her or not. They would have kids, or they wouldn’t. All he cared about was the two of them being together. And it terrified her.It terrified her to consider being loved so completely by another person. However, she loved him that much. Years of heartbreak and self-doubt caused her to become paranoid and cynical.It didn’t matter how much he proved his love and his loyalty to her; there was always a voice in her

They had naturally moved into a position where their bodies were entwined. Her head resting on his chest as he draped his arm around her. She didn't need to tell him that she still loved him. He knew her soul better than she did. The fact that she showed up at all told him all he needed to know. She thought back to that first night, trying not to dwell on the time they had wasted these last five years apart. She looked up at him with her trademark sweet smile and said, "So, what now?" His smile lit up his face, reaching all the way to his eyes as he looked back at her. "Remember that time we went apple picking at Ballycross Apple Farm in Wexford?" "Of course." She laughed like she could forget the way he caught her. Like some kind of knight in shining armour when she fell from the ladder, only fo

Finn POVI’m not sure how I knew what to do. I was running on instinct when I grabbed Caterina and redirected that wave of power at myself. Somehow, I knew I would be able to absorb it.I glanced over at the pool to see several shocked faces looking our way. Caterina’s sister was on the ground, desperately trying to catch her breath after her near-death experience. Served her right, I thought. She showed complete disregard toward the fact that I was her sister’s tethered-mate. As though I could be tempted by her Siren ways, when I was bonded to another.The only thing that tempted me was watching Caterina wield her power. She had drawn the energy from the pool in the same way she is able to from the sea. She was fierce, and I was more than aroused by the fact that her rage was fuelled by her devotion to me.“Are you alright, love?”I tilted her chin

Caterina POV“Até, I wish I could say it was good to see you, but we both know that would be a lie…”“Oh Caterina, you wound me. Is that any way to greet your favourite cousin?”Até is the goddess of mischief, and my cousin. Technically, all the gods and goddesses are. All daughters of Poseidon are Sirens, and we all trained under Até. She is a master of leading men, both mortal and immortal down the path to ruin. She is beautiful and dangerous. Not someone I was hoping for us to encounter here.“And who is this?” she purred, running her delicate finger down Finn’s chest before biting it between her teeth. I had seen her look at men in this way thousands of times, but the rage I felt at her looking at Finn that way felt like an inferno beneath my skin.“Caterina’s tethered mate. And I suggest to kee

Caterina POVAfter the murder of my Father, I had sworn I would not return here. There are few things that can kill a god. Less than a few. For the Sea Witch to have succeeded, she needed an accomplice. Someone powerful, with ancient knowledge. My Father’s list of enemies was long, but it is an act of war to murder a God. Whoever had aided her has declared war on the Sea, and in time, it will be my duty to avenge his death.As a means to an end, we need their help. There are no others, mortal or immortal who possess the knowledge of tethered mates. Finn and I are an exceptional circumstance because I am the daughter of a God. He is also descended from a very powerful lineage, that much is certain from the ability and strength he has already displayed since taking his true form.“Are we going to spend the whole journey in silence? I know you said we needed to keep our distance, but surely this is time we could

Finn POVHer words quickly brought me back to reality. I had been in a trance, consumed by the act of our bodies and power feeding from one another. I could feel her strength increasing with each movement which only spurred me on. Neither of us realised the effect we were having on the water….The ship was caught in rough seas, with a spellbound crew unable to fight for her. She was right, we had to get off the ship and we had to get far away if we wanted the ship and the men to survive.I used all my strength to carry us from my chamber to the deck and wasted no time in tossing us into the waves assaulting the vessel. I moved us with such velocity through the water I had to rely on pure instinct to trust that we would arrive at our destination.As we emerged from the water and caught our breath, I felt her finally pull herself away from me. I watched as she took in our surroundings. She was s

Caterina POVHe was fast. He moved through the water with such speed and elegance it left me in awe. The sea creatures danced and mingled with him as one of their own. This was one of his powers I realised, he could command the creatures of the sea. A common trait amongst the Mer of old, and would be a valuable tool in our inevitable battle against her.He didn’t know it yet, but soon we would commence the hunt. I had to ensure he understood his abilities first. But we needed to move with haste. The further she fled, the harder she would be to track.“So, what can you do?” He appeared before me so quickly I was startled. His movements in the water were almost untraceable.“What do you mean what can I do?” I quipped.“You know, what are your… abilities?”“I am a Siren an

Finn POVI pulled myself away from Caterina and looked down at my hands in astonishment. My skin was… Iridescent. The same sheen that you find on fish scales. Suddenly I felt like I couldn’t breathe, the room feeling crushingly small, as though walls were closing in on me.Without hesitation, she grabbed me and hurled us both through the glass of the small window and into the depths below.As soon as we were submerged, my lungs felt full once again. I could breathe…. But how?“Well, Sailor, that was unexpected….”I looked up to find Caterina floating a few feet from me, smirking.“I knew you were a child of the sea, but this, this I did not see coming”“See what coming? Caterina, what’s going on?”She floated close to me and gave me a reassuring kiss