However the longer the evening dragged on, the more comfortable Isabel grew, though she didn’t notice until she caught herself laughing out loud at a joke. She slapped her hand over her mouth in surprise, and a low purr sounded in her ear. “None of that, now. I love hearing you laugh.” Her wide blue
JamesAt first James thought he misheard her. Then he thought he misunderstood. But there could be no doubt now – not the way Isabel was looking at him, with big eyes full of hope, anticipation, and just a little fear. Hearing the guarded she-wolf profess her love sent his heart soaring, until it
She raised her shining eyes to him, and he kissed her again, lingering. “I’m going to do everything in my power to come home to you and Sadie. Nothing will keep me away.” His need for her was growing wild and violent, even stronger now that they spoke about parting. Isabel simply nodded, arching for
3rd Person“Well it seems like you and I are the only singleton’s left in this place.” Cora remarked to Gabriel, watching Isabel and James in their secluded corner of the dinner table. Thankfully they weren’t as obvious about their romance as her sister and Sinclair, whom one could easily become sca
Roger pursed his lips, sliding his hands into his pockets as he sidled forward. “Well since things already are so awkward, I might as well ask you why you’re crying… and why you were angry that someone is happy?” Cora crossed her arms over her chest, wishing he could kill this man with her eyes alon
Ella“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” Cora grouses, shooting me a death glare as we gather at the Royal docks. Vanarium-hulled ships fitted with cutting edge defense and weaponry systems are moored along the wharf, their crews flitting around like hundreds of tiny ants as they prepare the vesse
I can hear the words he’s leaving unsaid, his hope that he lives long enough to see these gifts manifest, and to see our son come into the world. Oh Goddess, I think as his mood grows heavy. It’s getting close to our departure time, but I’m not ready to say goodbye, not yet. I’ll never be ready.I n
EllaThe floor of the ship’s afterdeck bucks and reels on the rolling ocean waves, the deck surging up and falling beneath my feet. I grip the railing and try to breathe in the fresh sea air, keeping my eyes locked on the distant horizon. Cora appears by my side with a bottle of water. “How’s the na
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