And I jump suddenly at the unexpected pain of it, my hand flying to my mouth, stunned. Roger blinks and pulls his hand back, looking at it. “What the,” he says, looking at his fingers as if he somehow willed this thing between us to take form – to become actual lightening – But as he looks at his
I cry out as I’m pulled backwards – surprised more than hurt – and suddenly I’m pressed against him in the pouring rain. Roger holds me tight, one hand around my upper arm, the other wrapped firmly around me, pressing my body to his – And the feel of him, of his skin hot against my own – my towel
I nod fervently, ignoring his insult, tucking my head against his shoulder and breathing hard as I let him carry me back to the motel. Barely above the sound of the storm, I hear him growling more frustrated words with every step, something about insane women who run naked into storms and how he sho
Cora I want him right now – immediately – so I impatiently sit up to fumble at the top of his boxer briefs, to push them downwards – Roger glares at me a little again, at the challenge in my voice, and I glare right back. “Fine,” he snarls, rolling briskly away from me so that he’s sitting on
“Oh,” I say, my eyes going wide as I realize what he’s asking me – and the significance of it. It’s such an incredibly intimate moment – Roger is still pressed inside of me, his arms wrapped around my body, his face just millimeters from mine, so close that our lips brush as he talks. “Roger,” I say
Ella I’m sitting anxiously by Rafe’s basinet, watching him sleep, while my mind wanders impatiently elsewhere. It’s been twenty-four hours since we heard from Cora and Roger and I feel, just a tiny little bit, that every passing minute is a knife in my heart. Where is my sister? I wonder to myse
“Distracted,” he says, smirking smugly at me and sinking his hands into his pockets. “What?” I ask, confused, looking between the two of them. “Distracted by what?” Cora blushes – Blushes?! My mouth drops open. And then Cora, a little chagrined but smiling a little at Roger, explains. “Th
Ella “As happy as this is,” Sinclair says, folding his arms over his chest and looking around at the four of us. “And it is happy,” he says, looking at Cora and Roger to let them know that he’s sincere. They nod their understanding. “We do still have a problem on our hands,” he says, nodding to R
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