Ava“Rise and shine…”I was awoken by the gentle sensation of light kisses along my neck and collar bone. Soft lips grazed over my skin, eyelashes fluttering against my cheek. Before even opening my eyes, a small smile tugged at my lips.“Five more minutes…?” I murmured, feeling Chris nuzzle into th
“That must have been devastating,” I said softly, glancing over at Clara, who nodded sadly from behind her coffee cup.“It was. Is. I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself,” Patricia said with a sigh. “Those trees were more than just plants to me, you know? They were like old friends. I’m sure you un
ChrisBernard stormed out of the dining room, leaving a deafening silence in his wake. The seed that I had had Leonard send to us with an overnight courier sat in the middle of the table, unappreciated.Slowly, I turned to see Ava, Patricia, and Clara looking at me; Ava had shock and dismay written
Bernard’s expression remained stony, but I pressed on, determined to make him understand.“I am truly sorry for hurting Patricia. That was never my intention. All I ever wanted was to find true love, and I’ve loved Ava since we were young. Yes, she’s ten years older than me and has been mated before
AvaJust moments after Chris left to follow Bernard, Patricia quickly grabbed the seed from the table and excused herself, hurrying after them. I found myself alone with Clara, an awkward silence settling over the breakfast table.Clara cleared her throat and offered me a small smile. “More coffee,
Bernard’s eyes narrowed slightly, clearly still not fully trusting me. “What kind of offer?”My heart pounded a bit as I approached. “Last night, I couldn’t sleep. So I spent hours researching the beetles that have been plaguing Crescent Moon. And I realized something—they have no natural predators
AvaThe afternoon sun hung high in the sky as I made my way to the mansion’s communal bath house, eager to relax after the tense morning. Crescent Moon was known for their rich bath salts, made from the plants and herbs grown in their forests, and I was looking forward to trying it for myself.As I
Patricia’s eyes widened. “That’s so romantic; like it was written in the stars.”I chuckled. “I’ve never thought of it that way, but yes. I suppose it was.”“And that night,” she asked, “Did you know it was him?”I shook my head, chuckling. “Not at first. It was quite a shock when I found out. I rem