Ella After concluding our three hour summit meeting, where the King, my hybrid family and I decided on a few special events, we kicked off preparations for a welcome banquet, refugee camp visit, an open forum for debate, and a grand ball. I’m still brainstorming different ideas for other ways to en
James’ eyes lift to Isabel’s face, and his dark eyes widen almost imperceptibly. Suddenly he’s looking at her so intently that I feel as if I’m intruding somehow. Isabel turns her head away, but I see the slightest flush of pink on her cheeks. Interesting. I think, with a flutter of excitement. I r
Ella It takes me a while to drag myself away from the orphans once they’re settled in the palace. I know I have about a thousand things to do, but seeing so many little ones in need of love and care is simply too much for me to resist. I stay for a few hours to help Isabel and James set up, glancin
It was a very small thing, I know, but I can’t help but feel as if this is right. These orphans, the refugees, need someone to look out for them, and I can help but think I’m the person for the job. Suddenly I remember what Sinclair told me about Lunas being the heart of a pack, and then Henry’s exp
Ella After my snack, I meet with the chefs to talk about menus for the summit, then ask to have dinner sent up to my rooms. I’m feeling too pensive and tired to be social tonight. I’m still reeling from discovering how badly I handled my troubles with Sinclair, and I’m both dreading and eager to ma
I’m breathing hard and near tears, my emotions swirling out of control. I’m prepared for the worst, and I even welcome it, anything to ease my guilt. However Sinclair simply crosses his arms over his chest, his expression dark and foreboding. For a minute I don’t think he’s going to speak to me, but
Ella Sinclair kisses me until I forget my anger and regret, until I forget why I was upset and how terribly I acted. He kisses me until I forget this is a dream, or that there has ever been a world beyond this enchanted forest. Only when my mind is so fogged with wanting that I can no longer think,
“I just don’t think I deserve to be rewarded.” I shrug, uncertain now. “I think it’s fitting that you get to have fun while I practice restraint.” “Well I don’t believe in punishments without rewards, little wolf.” Sinclair declares imperiously. “The reward is how I show you that no matter what hap
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