“Ella,” Cora says, taking me by the shoulders and giving me a little shake, though I can see a blush on her cheeks. “Let it go.” “Fine,” I lie, still frowning at her. Cora sighs and shakes her head. “I’m tired, Ella,” she says, looking towards the door and then back at me. “I’m going home, but I d
Sinclair I know it’s a little perverse, but, as I look down at my furious little spitfire mate, glaring angrily between my brother and I who outweigh her by three or four times… God damn it, but I get a little hard. She’s just so passionate, and when she’s all worked up like this all I want to do
“No,” I disagree softly, evenly. “I didn’t take his side – I just asked you to stop, because we had other guests, and I didn’t want to make Roger and Cora’s business everyone’s business.” “Is that what you’re saying I was doing?” Ella asks, getting steamed again. She opens her mouth to say more, bu
Ella I sigh and spreads my body out against Sinclair’s, tracing the lines of his body beneath his clothes. I close my eyes, relaxing, letting myself feel the warmth of him, basking in the joy of having him safe and healthy and near, of the knowledge that our baby boy is asleep on the other side of
“Sinclair,” I call, holding the baby monitor tightly between my hands. “Why –“ “Precautions,” he responds, concentrating on the note. Then, he carefully places it on the butcher block and grabs a knife, moving his body away as far as he can as he begins to carefully slice the sticky seal holding th
Ella Sinclair whips his face up to mine, relief in every line of it. “It’s fine,” he says, his body shaking with his unused adrenaline, “he’s…he’s here…he’s still asleep…” A sob breaks from my throat as I press my eyes closed and sink to the floor, still clutching the door frame, unable to stop th
They’ve taken on the wrong people. My child is the most precious thing to me in this world. My mate is the most powerful Alpha in the world, perhaps that’s ever been born. And me? Well. Let’s just say they’d better be prepared to face the wrath of a goddess, if they ever want to take what’s mine
Cora When I wake up it’s almost eight at night and I groan, realizing that my sleep schedule is completely wrecked. I’m reminded, suddenly, of my years as a medical resident when this sort of thing was normal – sleeping all day, taking night shifts, living moment to moment rather than a steady, sch
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