My eyes widened. “We’re going horseback riding? On the beach?”Chris nodded, unable to keep the grin off his face. “At sunset. I thought you might enjoy it. Romantic, isn’t it?”“Romantic? It’s like something out of a movie!”The stable hand helped us mount our horses. I felt a bit nervous at first
AvaI woke up feeling more refreshed than I had in weeks—maybe even longer—despite the hard floor beneath me. The warmth of the fire had faded, but Chris’s arms were still wrapped tightly around me. As I stirred, he opened his eyes, a slow smile spreading across his face.“Morning,” he murmured, his
After dinner, we moved to the backyard. Leonard set up the horseshoes while Ophelia and I prepared the fire pit.“I can’t remember the last time I did this,” I admitted as I skewered a marshmallow.Ophelia grinned and handed a piece of graham cracker to Princess, who ate it daintily in her lap. “The
AvaThe journey back to Moonstone was tense and silent. Dedrick sat hunched in the boat, his wrists bound behind his back, while Leonard and the scout kept a watchful eye on him. The moonstone hung around Chris’s neck as he drove the boat back to the docks, its soft blue glow a stark contrast to the
Chris scoffed. “And you believed her?”“I had nothing left to lose,” Dedrick shrugged. “It was all I wanted from the beginning.”“What were you doing here tonight?” I asked.“Spying. Waiting for a chance to slip in and take Chris out.”I felt my blood run cold at that: take Chris out. As in… kill hi
Chris“Thank you so much, James. I really appreciate everything you’ve done to help us out.”“No problem, man. You know I’m always here if you ever need anything. Sometimes these older human execs are… well, stuffy and outdated. It’s about time someone stands up to them.”I leaned back in my office
But nothing was ever that simple.Sighing, I returned my attention to the folder in my hand. As I flipped through the pages of Ava’s work, I marveled at the thought and care she had put into every aspect of the trip. From scheduling meetings with each pack’s leadership to arranging cultural exchange
AvaThe methodical back and forth of the brush against the floor was strangely meditative for me. With each small stain and scuff that came away clean, it felt like another little part of my mind came away clean as well.When I wiped away the stubborn smudge of tomato sauce under the kitchen table,