Lilac’s P.O.V. “I change my mind; I don’t want to do this.” A wall of muscle carrying the scent of my mate blocked me from turning around and marching my ass out of the building. Nox had his arms folded over his chest, but I knew if I tried to book it they’d be around me in an instant. “You’re wi
“I know you’re right and all, but it still sucks. The woman’s a stranger to me, and no number of journals or mindfulness worksheets is going to change that. Talking to her—telling her about the deepest parts of myself feels fucking awful.” Jada’s plump lips lifted in a sympathetic smile. “I’m speak
It turned out opening up was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Half an hour in and Norah’s constant stream of questions had taken their toll. What did Phineas subject you to? How do you think that’s affected your sense of self? Are there times where you feel as though you’re not truly here?
Lilac’s P.O.V. I suffered through the rest of my session that day, taking many breaks when the screaming in my head became too loud and the walls began to close in. Norah was a hard ass for sure, but she understood when I needed space and when to push me further. By the end of our session it was e
“Go ahead.” Norah smiled encouragingly. She cleared her throat, her voice crackling softly. “My name is Annamaria Einar, and I was kept in that place for over fifteen years.” Unease rippled over the others, causing many to shift in their seats. Pitying glances were thrown her way, but she acknowled
“They made me drown people.” The boy whispered, peering out at me through his curtain of hair. “I’m an elemental. I control water, like my dad. I lost count of how many I killed, but I still see their faces. I dream about them a lot. When I was little, I wanted to be a warrior.” He swallowed, “I sti
Nox’s P.O.V. The look on her face as she took in her surroundings was nothing short of adorable. “A mall.” She cooed, forcing a smile to her face. Panic danced in her eyes, and I knew the only reason she bothered to cover it up was to keep from upsetting me. Crowds had been understandably difficu
Lilac utilized my presence as I’d hoped, ushering me in and out of several dressing rooms until she realized how biased I truly was. “Nox!” She whined, “You’re supposed to help me, not say yes to everything I try on.” I leaned against the wall, drinking in every dip and curve of her body. It wasn’
Kalix froze. In fact, I was pretty sure we all froze. “My wife is pregnant?” “Yes.” Natasha nodded. “With my baby?” “No, the mailman’s.” She snorted, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Who else would it be?” “I’m going to be a father?” A giggle bubbled past her lips. “That’s typically what happe
I recognized the look on Kalix’s face whenever his sister and Shayla were in the same room. The mixture of awe, terror, and bliss was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. We had everything we could’ve ever wanted and would do anything to keep it that away. “Where’s Natasha and Hakeem?” Shayla aske
Nox’s P.O.V. Six Years Later “You no good cheater!” I heard my mate belt from across the backyard. Her father’s boisterous laugh followed, drawing my eyes. The two of them stood in the stand pit off to the side of the pool and were currently hitting a volleyball back and forth. Jada and Brinley w
I threaded my arm through his and patted his hand. “Well, now you can focus on other things.” A gleam of nervousness filled his eyes. “So, is everything ready for tonight?” Shayla often mentioned how flustered she’d get by Kalix’s smooth charm, but she was the only one who failed to see how nervou
Mom beamed, tears blossoming in her eyes as she threw her arms around our shoulders. We clung to her side chuckling when Jada raced forward to blot her make-up with a microfiber cloth. “I’m sorry, I’m just so happy. I never thought I’d get to see this moment. Goddess, I’m so grateful. I’ve got both
Lilac’s P.O.V. Three Years Later “This itches.” I grunted, picking at the lace clinging to my rear. “Mark my words, I’m going to have a rash on my ass by the end of the night.” “No scratching!” Shayla smacked my hand away, a playful grin curling at her lips. Since disappearing on a little trip w
“Your aura has never been brighter.” She murmured quietly in my ear, a bright smile warming her face. A few minutes later, Diego called our names and invited us onto the stage. I laced my arm through Nox’s and followed his lead. No less than six cameras were stationed on us, each one set at a diff
The tension faded from her shoulders as she nodded. “Thank you for being there for me. I never meant to put you in a spot. Anyway, you came here for a reason, right? Don’t let my tears chase you off.” “You sure?” I paused, “It’s not exactly a light topic.” “None of our conversations this past wee
Lilac’s P.O.V. One Week Later “How have you been?” Natasha turned from where she sat on the balcony and smiled softly. Pain lingered behind the action. I should know considering I’d made that same expression a time or two. She motioned me forward, gesturing to the chair beside her. I sat down fo