[Aera's POV] "What did you just say?" I stare at Benny, waiting, as he looks from me to Corinna and then back. "I just got word," he continues, seeming genuinely uncomfortable. "Your father is dead." At his words, I feel my heart drop, and many different scenes begin to play in my head, but inst
[Ayla’s POV]I stare down at the raging river below me as my feet dangle in the air. How many times have I thrown myself into that damned river to try to wake up, only to find myself back in this place? Again and again, it continued to happen, making it more and more clear that I wouldn't be able to
[Ayla's POV]Fire envelopes me, attempting to lick at my skin but not doing any damage. However, even if the fire wasn't a real threat, the large beast towering over Alphonze was."No, you don't!" I hiss, lifting my arm, so a flame thrower appears. "Don't you fucking touch him!"A scream of rage esc
"Chop chop!" He growls, slamming his hand on the desk. "Where the fuck is he?""He…" she begins, eyeing me warily. "Isn't allowed.""I'm not what?" I hiss, moving forward and joining Silas. "Do you want to try to repeat that?"I didn't give a damn if this was what my father instructed; no one was go
[Aera’s POV]"Well?"Barren’s face is calm as he stares me down. It’s clear that he is already convinced that I will agree to his terms since he is the only one who can find Ayla since she has gone missing."Listen here," Silas snaps, shooting a glare toward Barren. "I don’t think you’re truly in an
[Ayla's POV]I spin around in Barren's computer chair, trying to entertain myself until Barren returns from wherever it was that he went. I wasn't quite sure why he left so urgently after helping Alphonze, but before I could ask any questions, he disappeared."I wonder if anyone I know is sleeping,"
"Alphonze!" I gasp, eyeing Izzy. "You need to contact Alphonze and let him know what has happened.""That’s impossible," she sighs, making it clear there was even more I didn’t know about. "The capitol and the temple in particular have been locked down tight after a recent event that happened there.
[Aera’s POV]"This is just fucking great," I growl, staring down at the chains that clamp tightly around my wrists. "When I get my hands on that bastard, I’m going to kill him."After being tricked and left wrapped in vines, it was easy enough for my father’s men to arrest Silas and me. Now, we were
Nodding, I take a deep breath and rush to Ayla’s side while Gwen begins the operation, and after a few minutes have passed, I hear a shriek fill the air before she is lifting a tiny creature into the air and handing it over to Brian to clean while she cuts the bloody cord attached.Once she is finis
[Aera’s POV]9 months Late"Mmm, Aera, right there."Ayla’s voice echoes around me, spurring my movements even more. Knowing she was enjoying what I was doing to her was all the encouragement I needed."Ah!" she gasps, leaning more into the chair in front of her. "Not so hard."Chuckling, I lean for
When I reach my parents, their faces fill with relief, and I feel my heart squeeze. Even though they hadn’t spoken a word about everything that happened, I was sure that they were now expecting me to snap at any given second. I still had a lot of making up to do in order to gain everyone’s trust an
[Celia’s POV] I stare up into Alphonze’s dark, unreadable eyes while trying to figure out exactly what I was feeling. Was I just caught by surprise because he suddenly appeared, and that was why I suddenly felt jittery and my heart was racing? Right, that had to be it; there couldn’t be anything e
This had been proof to me that we were intended to be together since we didn’t meet just once by chance but twice.After that, I approached her and began to woo her since I couldn’t stand the thought of losing her. It was a love that I never imagined could exist, let alone for me, but she made me so
[Alphonze’s POV]I stand to the side, watching as everyone present for the evening enjoys themselves, laughing, dancing, and being merry. It had been a while since I had attended something like this, so it was taking a bit to get used to it again.The last time I came to a full moon ball was when I
"It seems that your date for this evening has arrived," Alphonze announces, clapping me on the shoulder. "I wouldn’t distract you any longer."Nodding, I give him a look and don’t miss the sorrow that flashes in his eyes as he looks from Ayla to me."Hold on as tight as you can because you never kno
[Aera's POV]Soft music drifts toward me as I stand to the side of the large ballroom, waiting for my date to arrive.Despite all the chaos that had been happening in our world, Silas and Alphonze insisted that we have a small, intimate gathering for the full moon as a way to relax and unwind after
[Ayla's POV]The next day, I sit in the passenger seat of Aera's car, staring at Crimsone Tides Estate while fighting the urge to run away. When I entered that building, I'd be making the toughest decision of my life, and I wasn't exactly sure if I was ready.Beside me, Aera remains silent while hol