Ella “Ella, Ella wake up.” Sinclair’s urgent voice invades my dreams, just as the ground begins to tremble beneath my feet. As I’m wrenched awake, I realize the ground wasn’t trembling at all, instead my sleeping body was being shaken by my mate. Sinclair’s handsome face hovers above my own, his ey
I feel so grateful for my mate in this moment that I could kiss him, but he’s holding me too tightly to move. Instead I kiss his neck and thank him profusely as he cuddles me like a human security blanket. When I’m done showing my thanks, I’m able to turn my thoughts to the future. “Dominic, what ar
Ella The journey to the hidden territories was swift once we reached the coast. We boarded a small plane and ascended into the heavens at top speed, and I swear Sinclair didn’t relax until we were cruising at 30,000 feet. I didn’t realize how tense he’d been even after we left Moon Valley, until w
“Well he didn’t do it on his own, or honorably,” Sinclair grumbles. By now I’ve been caught up on all the developments regarding the Prince’s coup, and I know these wolves consider the use of poison a cowardly, disgraceful tactic. “Still, it is hard to fathom.” He agrees, squeezing me a bit more tig
I never imagined being in exile would look like this. King Gabriel’s palace is the most extravagant display of luxury I’ve ever seen, and it’s not as if I’m a stranger to mansions and palaces. That thought alone is enough to send me reeling… who would have ever dreamed that poor orphan Ella w
Bite me. My own wolf replies, speaking before I have a chance to consider the wisdom of these words. Gladly. Sinclair replies, nipping his claiming mark where my neck meets my shoulders. My wolf immediately lights up from the inside out, and the doctor gives us a quelling look. “I can’t very well p
Ella “Won’t you come to bed?” I inquire, leaning over Sinclair’s back and wrapping my arms around his neck. “You need to rest.” My mate is sitting at his computer drafting emails and marching orders, secret correspondences to his allies and spies across the continent. He’s been trying to figure ou
“What do you mean?” I inquire anxiously, not liking the dark note in his voice. “I mean the only reason that you’re in this situation in the first place is my fault.” Sinclair growls. “If you’d never met me you could have had a normal life. A safe life.” “Dominic, if I’d never met you I would be b
He shakes his head at me as tears fill his own eyes and he leans forward, pulling me against him while somehow miraculously managing not to crush our children between us as he holds me tight in his arms. “So, I guess it wouldn’t matter,” he murmurs against my hair as I sniff back my tears and nod.
“Even more than the kids!?” I gasp, my mouth falling open a bit. “I mean, the kids,” he says, shrugging as if they’re not much, which makes me laugh. But then he goes a little rigid as he realizes something, raising his eyes to glare at me a bit. “Wait, are you saying you like the kids more than m
Ella “Nope,” Sinclair says, heaving himself out of bed and grabbing his phone off the bedside table as he does. “I can’t live like this, Ella – I’m calling Roger, I’ve got to know –“ “Dominic!” I say, laughing and grabbing for him, trying to catch the edge of his pajamas and failing because I’v
She laughs and I look first at Sinclair, who shrugs, and then back at my sister. “Come on,” Roger says, nodding at the crowds of people waiting to congratulate us and at the small table of refreshments. “Let’s decide this over some champagne.” Sinclair nods at me and I sigh, moving with my famil
The last image, though, lingers. Ariel, with Rafe and Jesse on either side – as they always are – and her two mates behind her. All standing together on a battlefield with Ariel at the center, magic welling between her hands and passing to her brother, to her cousin. Their faces are serious as t
Cora The images of Ariel’s future come in quick flashes, and somehow I get the impression that the Goddess is eager to share these glimpses of her life. The ones that come first are what I sort of expected, especially after seeing some images of Rafe’s childhood and hearing about the ones that
“We are not,” Cora scoffs, gently taking Ariel into her arms as Sinclair and I laugh. Roger grins, leaning forward to kiss me on the cheek before passing Jesse to me. “You know I’m kidding, right, Ells?” he whispers. I smile at my brother-in-law and gently pat his cheek. “When in doubt, Roger,”
Ella Three weeks later – Ariel was born under a waning quarter moon, not a new moon like her brother and her cousin – I stand anxiously in the woods, my little girl held tight in my arms. “I’m sensing some anxiety,” Cora says, grinning at me with a little too much glee as she comes up to my sid
“Oh my god,” I say, the words spilling out of my mouth. “Oh my god,” I sit up straight, staring at Henry, my eyes flicking to his legs – because honestly, I don’t even notice his chair anymore, or think of him at all as someone whose abilities are hindered. Or of me as someone who is able to do an