They rode in silence for a bit, each lost in their own thoughts without peeking into the other's mind. To break the heavy atmosphere, Hera asked, “How long until we reach the village?” “At this speed, we’ll get there by midday.” “So, we’ll be heading back after dark. Is that safe?” She glanced at the woods, wary of any lurking thieves. “I can keep you safe, Hera.” She noticed the huge sword at his side, his straight posture, and messy hair reassured her that she had nothing to worry about. No criminal would dare to challenge him. He’d protect her and look good doing it! Total eye candy. She didn’t even try to block her thoughts from him. Suddenly, she got a flash of a child’s lollipop popping into her mouth from Thomas’s mind. She caught his playful gaze, which had a hint of seduction. He moved his horse closer. “Want a taste?” She bit her lip. “Maybe just a little.” What could possibly go wrong on horseback? He leaned in, and as their lips met, Hera felt waves of plea
Nolan Morris stood at the peak of his home, gazing up at the sky. The clouds had rolled in from the sea throughout the day, signaling that rain was on its way, likely arriving later tonight. Unfortunately, that was too late for what he needed. He shut his eyes, stretched out his arms, and raised his palms to the fading sunlight he wished would vanish. Then he summoned his power. Gradually, the wind began to change direction. With a bit more concentration, Nolan conjured darker clouds and the distant rumble of thunder. The air filled with a gentle mist, a sign of the pressure dropping, which would be felt by those with old bones. Before long, the mist transformed into tiny raindrops. Once the sky was completely overcast and rain dripped from his hair, Nolan let his arms fall, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. Below, Lilian observed her husband with her arms crossed. She attempted to read his thoughts but found herself blocked. As the air turned cooler and the wind picked
Like a little kitten finishing its cream, Hera stretched out next to Thomas and nestled into his arms. Despite having barely enough sleep to count on one hand, she felt more rested than ever. Thomas stirred awake, slowly realizing it was a gorgeous day. The sun streamed through the window, and the rain was a distant memory. A few glowing embers in the fireplace lit a thin wisp of smoke. “Good morning, love,” he murmured, kissing her head. “Morning,” she replied, still cozy in his embrace. They had slept in, and the sun was already high in the sky. “We should probably head back.” With a smile, she snuggled in closer. “I don’t want to. Let’s pretend it’s still raining.” An idea popped into her head. “Can you summon the rain like you do with fire?” He pulled her tighter. “Not without some dark clouds, I’m afraid.” She lifted her head to look at him. “I was just kidding. But you seem serious.” “And I can see from your face that I must shave.” He gently brushed her cheek, noticing t
The night was completely dark; not a single star dared to peek through the thick layers of clouds above. A chill hung in the air, seeping into her bones and making every joint and muscle ache. The leg she had broken when she jumped into the vortex, she was nearly healed.Aurora reminisced about the night she returned to her homeland and the days of her reign. She had never been one to rely on luck, but she couldn’t think of a better word for how she managed to slip past Hera, Thomas, and Gelo. The rain and thunder had masked her arrival, giving her the perfect cover to escape.The first few days were a harsh reminder of how tough life was in the sixteenth century. Being immortal had its perks; otherwise, hunger would have drained her strength and taken her life. Gitanas stumbled upon her, and with a little nudge, she convinced them to take her along. To her, they were just a bunch of untrustworthy thieves, but their knowledge of the land and its people was exactly what she needed. S
A few days turned into five, and those five felt like an eternity. Each day dragged on, and the nights seemed even longer. If it weren't for the constant stream of guests, Thomas and Hera would have struggled to keep their promise of staying apart. Two nights before the big event, Hera found herself sitting across from Thomas at a massive table in the main hall. She was surrounded by unfamiliar faces, making small talk during dinner. Celeste and Hogwart had tied the knot that day, along with a few other couples from the village, and everyone was invited to celebrate with the Morris family. Knights filled the table, while their pages and squires occupied another nearby. Some of the men weren’t thrilled about dining with the village commoners, but they kept their thoughts to themselves around Nolan and Lilian. They knew better than to challenge Master Nolan, who ran his household with an iron fist and raised his sons to do the same. Hera was certain that when Thomas took over, the vi
Hera walked alongside him, her steps faltering as she picked up on the chatter around them. Thomas hushed the nearby voices, signaling her to pay attention.“Take my hands,” he instructed.As she grasped his hands, she felt the warm fur of what had to be a horse. A soft sound and a little movement from the creature made Hera open her eyes wide.She gasped. The mare was stunning, her tan coat reminiscent of caramel and her mane deep like chocolate. Those big brown eyes sparkled with trust.“Hey there,” Hera whispered, her voice gentle. “You’re so strong and majestic.” She ran her fingers along the horse's neck and glanced at Thomas. “Is she for me?”“Indeed.”“You’re making me tear up again.” She gazed at the horse in wonder.“Sorry about that.” Thomas offered a half-hearted apology.“No, you’re not.” She leaned in to show her gratitude.Even Gelo couldn’t help but blush before interrupting the moment. “You two are making me sick. Brother Malloy better not take his sweet time with the
The music shifted, signaling Hera's entrance. She had asked Nolan to accompany her down the aisle because the thought of walking solo made her too nervous. Plus, she still felt he was to blame for this whole situation—after all, he was the one who had pushed her hand into Thomas’s and set everything in motion. Thank goodness for that.Amber was right behind her, holding the long train of Hera's dress and grinning at all the attention. Thomas stood tall and proud in front of Brother Malloy, who looked a bit jittery as he prepared to join the couple. He kept making little gestures with his hands, trying to nudge Hera along.But today was all about her wedding, and she wasn’t about to let anyone rush her. No way!Thomas looked incredibly handsome in his kilt. She knew he had one and had even tried to convince him to wear it a few times, just so she could have the fun of taking it off. Today, she was marrying a guy in a skirt—who would have thought? The idea made her want to smile. He wor
As fall settled in, the chill of winter crept into the mornings. The family huddled around the fire after Amber and Cian had turned in for the night.“Your mom had another vision,” Nolan said, his voice heavy with concern.Lilian had a special Augur gift for seeing the future, a way the Archaics communicated with them, and it was how they had learned about Aurora’s looming threat.Sometimes Lilian’s visions were crystal clear, while other times they were more like riddles. Each one carried a weight of emotion that was impossible to ignore.Hera noticed Lilian scanning her children's faces, and the room fell silent.“The winter solstice is approaching,” Lilian announced.“With it comes the urgency to stop Aurora from regaining her powers,” Gelo added.“But this time feels different. I’m not convinced the solstice is tied to Aurora anymore,” Lilian said, squeezing Nolan’s hand.Hera caught the worry in Lilian’s eyes.Gelo nodded in agreement. “I doubt Aurora will wait for the solstice i
One year later…T H O M A SAfter the celebration of our wedding anniversary.I only last one hour before I steal my wife away from everyone. One day without her, and now I need her all to myself.“There are still guests, love,” says Hera mischievously.“I told them to leave.”“Oh my God!” Her eyes widen in shock and I shrug.“I want to fuck my wife,” I huskily growl. “And they don’t need to hear you scream my name.”Her friends have already left so I don’t stop myself from carrying her in my arms bridal style to our bedroom. Our room looks like a bridal suite with the candles lit on the bedside while rose petals cover the bedspread. Hera’s eyes darken with lust while a blush covers her rosy cheeks.Carefully placing her on her feet, I tug her head back with her hair in my fist and smash my mouth against hers. I tilt her face back before pushing my tongue past her lips in a hard kiss. She moans and I swallow the sound greedily while pressing her body into mine.Her eyelids fall open
T H O M A SIt's been a while since we returned from that dimension. Time there felt like just an hour in the real world, even though we spent days in it. “I really don’t want to see that old lady again, Gelo,” I said. If I were my old self, I would’ve kicked her out of my territory without a second thought. But I promised Hera I wouldn’t be that cruel Thomas anymore. “Anything else on your mind?” Gelo asked as he set the plate down. I frowned. “You brought fruits for my wife, but you’re the one munching on them, you jerk.” Gelo laughed, standing up with a smirk. “Relax. I got hungry—” “What’s the situation at the border? How are the intruders?” Gelo shoved his hands in his pockets. “Some have been dealt with, but a few have already slipped into the territory. Don’t worry, the councils are on it. We just need a bit more time.” I nodded. This could’ve been avoided if it weren’t for that old woman. Hera is still in the hospital recovering. “Step out and check the campsit
K E I AMy knee slammed hard into his groin. The dress cushioned my effort, and all he did was grunt.“I’ll take that as a yes, pumpkin.”Gelo had me pinned between his arms and the wall.“Excuse me, sir, could you call security? I’m being kidnapped.”The elevator attendant was clever and kept his back to us.“Excuse me, sir?”He didn’t respond.“He’s not going to help you. I own everyone I want. You’re mine now. You agreed to marry me. That’s a verbal contract.”The stupid giant ruffle on my dress didn’t do much except amplify every breath I took. But the closer he got, the more my heart raced, and my breaths quickened… and oh, damn, my panties were soaked. Every time I thought I had my feelings under control, that I had pushed away the parts of me that wanted to be a girl and wanted love, this idiot found a way to break through.“Gelo Smith, Beta of the Dark Midnight Pack. We’ll revisit this ownership thing later. But about this proposal? I agreed under false pretenses. No dead guy
G E L O“You can tie the knot with me, and I promise I won’t ruin your life.”Damn, I really didn’t think that one through.“Did someone knock some sense out of you?” she asked.Honestly, that was a pretty good question.“This is the worst proposal ever, Gelo Smith.”I stepped closer, wanting to wrap my arms around her. It had been way too long since I’d held her.“Alright, how about this? Marry me, and I’ll take care of the jerk who hurt you.”She glanced at Prieto, probably looking for his approval. But what she said next completely threw me off.“Yes.”What the hell had I just done? Did she really say yes? All I could see was that scumbag standing between me and, well, everything. He was in the way of her. She meant the world to me. The thought of anyone else having her, especially treating her poorly? No one was allowed to touch her. But this?“Yes?” I repeated, because seriously, what had I just gotten myself into? I wasn’t the kind of guy who got married.I glanced back at the
Totally caught off guard, Aurora fought to keep Hera upright. Hera pushed against her with every bit of strength she could muster. Thomas shot his hand out. The knife slipped from Aurora’s grip and skated across the floor. Thomas stepped in, positioning himself between Hera and Aurora, his gaze locked on their foe. He raised his hand again, and a ball of fire appeared in his palm. Aurora stood her ground defiantly. Hera sensed Aurora’s grip on her loosening. Aurora smirked, a sneer spreading across her face. Hera’s gaze darted between her husband and Aurora. The flame flickered out. Thomas’s hands flew to his throat. When he dropped to his knees, Hera realized he was gasping for breath. “NO!” Aurora’s sinister laughter echoed through the room. Hera rushed to Thomas’s side.Her beautiful eyes, usually filled with warmth, were now wide with fear. Blood trickled from her neck onto his chest.Amber's voice became more urgent. “At this moment, summon the sacred power.”The fac
"Can you hear her?"She nodded. “She’s singing to drown out the other one. She’s scared I’ll talk to her and that Aurora will overhear. But she’s really scared.”He understood that, but hearing his youngest sister’s sobbing made him anxious to get moving.“The falls? Do you know which ones?”Amber shut her eyes and recited Hera’s song.“The woods are thick and deep around me. Lots of huge, tall trees. The cottage has an old thatched roof. The smoke will billow out in big black clouds.I can hear the stream close by. I need to sing this lullaby. Keep my baby safe inside of me, bring me help, oh please, please, please.”Amber squeezed her brother’s hand. “She keeps saying it over and over. Can I tell her you’re on your way?”“No. Don’t.” He smiled at her. “You’ve done enough, now get some sleep. I’ll bring her back before dinner.”He nodded to their mother and stepped out of the room.Outside, his father caught him. “Take more men with you.”I’m handling this on my own.Nolan grabbed hi
Hera came to, face down on a damp, musty floor. Her head throbbed painfully, and she could feel dried blood on the back of her neck.Her hands and feet were tied with rough rope, and a piece of cloth covered her eyes. A small opening at the bottom let in a sliver of light from a nearby fire.The room was filled with a sinister laughter that she recognized all too well.“Look what the cat dragged in.”Panic surged through her, and she fought against a wave of nausea. She could hardly forget that voice.“Aurora!”“Ah, so you remember my real name,” Aurora replied, a smirk in her tone.“What do you want from me?” Hera tried to push herself up.A heavy boot pressed her back down.“You’re not of much use to me now.”“That’s up for debate.” Aurora stepped away.But the boot remained, pinning her down. Lancaster!Hera strained to catch a glimpse of Aurora, but all she could see was a shadowy outline through the fabric.Aurora shot her a fierce look, tilting her head like she was weighing her
Meanwhile, Hera, taking charge of the household, was discussing dinner plans with Alice. She spent a lot of her day overseeing the servants, making sure they took down the tapestries for winter cleaning before the bad weather hit. Once everyone was busy with her tasks, she decided to try knitting to keep her hands occupied. She was more than happy to set it aside when young Jacob, Thomas’s squire, came in with news of a visitor. “Lady Morris, sorry to interrupt.”Matthew of Lancaster stood behind him.“No problem at all, Jacob. Sir Matthew, what brings you here? Were we expecting you?” Hera hadn’t heard anything about his visit, and a little alarm went off in her mind.“No, my lady. I was passing through when I encountered Lords Nolan and Gelo. There’s an issue.” He glanced around the room and lowered his voice. “A matter they need your help with.”Her earlier unease crept back. “What kind of issue?”“They asked me to bring you to them. They didn’t want me to disclose what I’ve see
Rumors started spreading around the Keep and made their way to the village. People began to whisper that Myra was suffering from a serious illness. Some even speculated that she had run off with one of the guys who came to the wedding.The buzz about Hera’s pregnancy helped to quiet some of the chatter about Myra. Still, the Morris family figured they should come up with a reason for Myra’s absence. No one knew how long she’d be gone, and pretending she was still around was wearing everyone out.One afternoon, Nolan was in the courtyard with Gelo, getting ready for their latest scheme.“She’s impossible! She turns down every suitor!” Nolan shouted.“Take it easy, Dad. Myra knows her own mind,” Gelo replied.“Whatever.” Nolan threw his hands up in frustration. “She doesn’t understand what’s best for her. Maybe a stay at the convent will give her the peace and time to think about my proposal.”“Are you sure about that?” Gelo’s voice was loud enough for the guards in the towers to hear.