When I come out of my closet in a comfortable pair of pajamas, and see Cora likewise cozy in borrowed leggings and a zip-up hoodie, I can’t help but laugh. “What?” she asks, grinning at me as she turns away from Rafe’s bassinet. “I was just so worked up fifteen minutes ago,” I say, shaking m
Ella I’m really sobbing by the time that Cora tells me that her wolf led her to Roger’s wolf, and then to her pup – just ugly crying my little heart out in absolute happiness for my sister, as well as – well, as well as in jealousy. Just a little bit. “Ella!” Cora says, laughing and reachin
“Why not?” Cora breathes, and I jump a little as I feel a tap on my knee. I smile when I look back at my sister, realizing that she kicked me. “Come on, we can be pregnant together. Torture the Sinclair brothers even more than we already do. It’ll be a blast.” “Because,” I reply, taking a deep b
Ella I’m up very early the next morning, my mind instantly on poor Sarah, poor Jessica, somewhere in the palace, probably worried about what on earth is coming next. I slowly pull my body from its warm place at Sinclair’s side, grimacing as I try not to disturb him as much as I can – he’s so
“I don’t know about this,” a voice above me says, and I jump a little and then laugh when I see Sinclair standing above us, his arms crossed over his chest in mock anger. “I don’t know if I like the idea of this little guy stealing my best girl’s heart.” I laugh harder, sitting up. “Seriousl
lla As Sarah and Jessica come to sit down at the table, I’m surprised to see Henry take the lead in speaking to them. I get a little cup of coffee for myself, and a bowl of sliced fruit – honestly, I’m going to be too distracted to eat much – and listen interestedly to the start of the conversat
“Well, that was nicely done,” I murmur to Sinclair, peering at Henry who follows Jessica to the back of the room to ensure that she’s settled. “Henry is full of tact,” my mate murmurs back, smiling proudly after his dad. “You should have seen the clever things he did to convince Roger and me to
Ella Cora asks Sarah about her mother in a frank, curious way that I think allows Sarah to straighten her spine and answer impassively, like she’s giving a report to a doctor instead of having to break a hard truth to a queen who will probably break into tears. And I smile a little at the back o
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