The summer breeze caressed my skin as I stepped out of the car, a welcome respite from the oppressive heat that had plagued the city for weeks. I felt so much better today, and I hated that it was probably because of Elroy’s visit. The baby's energy wasn’t draining me the same way, and I could focus
Mrs. Davis wiped her eyes and reached for her phone with shaky hands. "I should call Tommy," she murmured. "He'll want to be here." I nodded: Thomas Davis was Sarah’s older brother, Mrs. Davis’s only available relative, and handing over this situation to someone else to handle sounded really, real
I was allowed to go back to the manor after a blood pressure check, but Elroy was adamant that I rest for the remainder of the day. I gave up a token protest, not wanting to be taken from the investigation, but to my surprise even Astor backed up his brother. "I'll look into Midnight Echoes," the
Iris's cool fingers pressed against my skin, her touch gentle yet probing. I held my breath, waiting for her verdict. I knew everything was fine, but for some reason this was still nerve-wracking. "Well, Olivia," Iris said, her voice soft and melodic, "I'm pleased to say you're in perfect health."
Elroy’s POV I wanted to punch a hole in the wall. This was impossible, obviously, given the walls were thick stone, but the intention remained! "Damn it!" I growled, pacing inside my mom’s rooms. I resisted the urge to snarl. I didn’t want to upset Mom. "That so-called 'emergency' was nothing
The moonlight cast long shadows across the terrace as I made my way to the Ruby Room, my footsteps muffled by the plush carpeting. It was late—much later than I’d intended, yet again. This investigation was eating up all my waking hours and then some. The band lead wasn’t panning out, and that put
The dungeon's musty air clung to my skin as Astor and I descended the winding stone staircase. Flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the damp walls, and I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched by unseen eyes. Ugh, creepy. They probably kept the dungeons like this to demoralize prisoner
Astor, apparently, didn’t feel the same. A low growl rumbled from his chest, almost making me trip in my surprise. Was Astor really going to step in just because of one half-baked insult? Rita must have been surprised too, because her voice was tinged with shock and betrayal as she said, "I though
Olivia POVElroy left with a thousand soldiers the next morning, half on horseback and half in their wolf forms. I supposed I should be curious about the battle strategy, but I wasn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to care.A part of me knew I wasn’t defeated, that I would still fight for wolves’ rights a
She held up a hand. “I said I had to ask. I didn’t say I give him any credit. Officially, I am asking if you’re denying his claims.”“Of course I am!” I threw up my hands. “It’s all just some lie he’s made up to cause trouble.”I put my hands down. “Think about it, if I had someone from my past I lo
Olivia POVRefusing to follow behind Elroy like a naughty child, I swept out of the room ahead of him, though I took care to dismiss Jordan gently. She, like most of the wolves in the room who didn’t fight, looked shaken but still present in the moment. I trusted they could all take care of themselv
He looked at me and then bowed deeply, making several people gasp.“Come with me, Lady Olivia,” he urged, looking up with his hand stretched toward me. “I have gathered an army of Rogue werewolves who call me their king. Come with me and rule them by my side.”I was about to demand just what sort of
Olivia POV“He seems to know you,” Elroy said, and there was some accusation in his tone.“I promise I have no idea—”“Alphas! Betas! Omegas! And ladies and gentlemen!” the man said, his voice easily reaching over the chamber music to every corner of the room.Elroy signaled for the music to stop, a
Olivia POVI had always admired blood woods. Unlike the rather ugly bloodwood trees of southern Africa (so named because they seemed to “bleed” red sap when cut), blood woods’ deep scarlet color, elegantly twisted trunk, and thickly canopied dark green leaves made them a delightful focal point of an
But Jordan was right. What Ines and the others had described was a caste system in all but name.“People aren’t going to like our using that word,” I muttered.“People aren’t going to like a lot of things,” Fay said.“Yes, but there’s a knee-jerk reaction to the term ‘caste.’” I knew we were all thi
Olivia POVI had no idea what to say. I needed to do so many things, but right now I needed this man to continue to be the kind, playful husband he was being. My whole body seemed to light up inside from his touch, and all I wanted was for him to keep smiling and be happy.“Do you mean that?” I aske
“Jordan,” I said, “I think it’s time to hold a banquet.”The low light of my bedside lamp lay across Elroy's face, casting a warm glow on his furrowed brow as we settled down to sleep. It was hard to believe that I’d once been so reluctant to lay near him, and now this protective little cocoon we fo