Ella After hanging up with Sinclair, I return the King’s cell phone and look around at the gathered men. “When does Leon arrive?” I inquire, forcing down a shiver. “Within the hour.” Gabriel replies, solemn-faced. Though they’d all agreed that the developments back home warranted accelerating
“I… I don’t know.” I stammer, not really wanting to move deeper into the possibility – after all, if my first incident with them resulted in the binding of my wolf, I’m not eager to find out what might have come next. “Don’t resist the ether, Ella.” Leon advises. “Just let it carry you. I know it’s
Trigger Warning - Sexual Assault, Violence Ella I turn on my heel and run away as fast as my feet will carry me. My would-be kidnappers curse and soon their footsteps are pounding into the pavement behind me. I fly through the sleeping city, careful to make sure I travel in the opposite direction
“What is she looking at?” The first man grumbles, sounding annoyed that my full attention isn’t on them. “I don’t know, there’s nothing there.” The second mutters in frustration. I can’t focus enough to comprehend that they can’t see the strange men, I’m still staring at the pair with desperation,
Ella When I return to the present, the room is completely silent. Henry is still holding my hand, though he also holds a bucket in case I need to be sick. Leon is watching me closely, as if trying to decipher my mental state. Gabriel, Philippe and Roger look on from the doorway in a horrified hush.
“Talking about it won’t change the past.” I insist. “It’s done. “You don’t think it’s worth exploring all the things you suffered because you didn’t have your wolf to protect yourself, or because you were trying to protect the people you love?” Leon presses, and my frustration grows. “If it were
Ella My nightmares were worse than ever before the night after my second session with Leon, and I wake thrashing in my nest, with Philippe hovering above me, shaking me vigorously. I shriek and recoil, and he backs away from me with his hands outstretched in apology. “It’s okay, I’m sorry.” He br
“But I’m older, I’m supposed to be the one looking out for you. Do you have any idea how much I hated myself when we were growing up, how much I still do, because I wasn’t strong enough to take care of you.” I suspect Cora has done a lot of thinking since our fight earlier this year, because rather
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