Nadia “Hey, Cole,” Rose says, laughing and twisting her hips as she says it. She wrinkles her nose at him and my hands clench in my lap. God, this girl thinks she’s so cute.And I mean, she is. But…whatever. I hate her anyway.“So?” Rose asks, lifting her chin again after my dad. “Updates?”“Sorry,” Cole says, smoothly standing from his spot next to me on this log. “That’s classified information, Rose.”Suddenly aware of being the only one sitting and peering up at the rest of the group like a toddler, I stand too.Rose scoffs, I think genuinely surprised to be denied. Suddenly she turns her head to glare at me. “Well, why does she get to know?”“Hi, I’m…Jeanie,” the therapy student says, giving an awkward wave and attempting a smile that doesn’t stick as she looks
Cole “Who is that girl, Cole?” Rose asks, her voice low and cold as she glares up at me.I sigh and look down at her, studying her face, realizing that this riled-up jealousy used to be precisely the thing that worked my wolf up into a frenzy. But now my wolf just studies Rose with his ears pricked, more curious than anything else. Then he yawns, placid, and turns away.I smile, pleased at this relative freedom from the power Rose has traditionally held over me. “You already know the answer, Rose,” I say. “She’s one of our nurses. Their representative, actually.”She scoffs. “But she’s just a human, surely she doesn’t have the capacity –“I tilt my head, glaring hard at Rose, and she stops mid-sentence, her lips still parted. “Don’t go there,” I say quietly. “Things are different in Oseania, but you’re in Clyth
ColeRose snarls, baring her teeth when I don’t take her bait. “Who is it that you’re dating, Cole? Is it that redhead I saw in all those pictures at Midwinter -”I smirk, suddenly grateful that Iris invited some friend over for Midwinter – the girl was perfectly nice, but certainly not someone I was interested in. Still, she was in all the tabloids as part of Midwinter celebrations, and she’d be the perfect distraction to get Rose’s mind off Nadia. But still, I don’t want to outright lie or put Rose on that girl’s tail. No, Daph doesn’t deserve that. “No, not the redhead.”“Then who the hell –“ Rose storms forward again. I just lean back, letting her come, knowing that I’ve got the trump card that can end it all.“Rose, I met my mate.”She freezes, the blood draining from her cheeks, her expression fa
NadiaMy group and I work through the afternoon and into the evening, getting everything ordered and set up. By the time we’re finished, night has fully fallen and most of the nurses have stepped out to go get dinner and hang out by the fire or take some time to themselves in their bunks.But I’m still here, munching on a sandwich and organizing the little office space we set up, ensuring that everything is labeled and where it should be. I like things neat, after all.Or, well. I like things in the clinic neat. My room at home is always a disaster.But one can’t be picky. Nobody’s health is at stake if my bed goes unmade, but sterile syringes need to be kept that way.“Are you all good here?”I look up to see Jeanie smiling down at me. I smile right back. “I think so,” I say, nodding eagerly and looking around. “Nearly done.”
Nadia I can hear the grumble of Cole’s growl resonating through his chest as the two figures hesitantly move forward. But after only two or three seconds it’s apparent that they’re not threats –They’re patients.People who need my help.Immediately I step to the side and then rush out ahead of Cole, striding for them. He sighs and calls my name, but I ignore him. He catches up easily and hurries at my side – not stopping me but certainly not letting me go alone.I glance over to the larger group by the fire, some of whom have started standing, noticing that something’s up. “They need to stay back,” I say bruskly to Cole, turning my eyes back to the people at the edge of the camp. They shrink away from me in fear and my heart seizes for them.Cole falls back a step, giving some sort of hand signal to his men before coming back to my side.&l
Nadia“Easy, Jade,” the taller woman says, putting her hand on Jade’s shoulder. “She’s helping.”Jade hesitates but then her face falls in apology. “Sorry,” she says, working the word around her wheezing breath.“Here, darling,” Grace says, taking the blanket from the bottom of the bed and wrapping it around Jade’s shoulders. “Let’s get you cozy warm while we work.”Jade gives Grace a small smile and lets me continue to probe at her wrist.I smile at Jade, trying my best to be friendly – which doesn’t always come naturally to me. I work the wrist as gently as I can, stopping when she flinches. “It hurts a lot, yeah?”She nods and we go through a few experiments to see how much mobility she has, stopping when it hurts too much. A tall woman with red hair streaked with grey comes into the tent in a white coat, look
Nadia“We can airlift them if it’s medically necessary,” Cole says, glancing over at the two women still being attended to by Grace. “But that would make our location obvious to the Children of Solace, which is not preferred. If they’ll survive the wait, I can get a medical transport here…probably by dawn.”“I’d shoot for that,” the doctor says, straightening up and folding his hands behind his back. “They’ll be fine and there may be others on their way.” She turns her eyes to me. “We may be facing a busy night with no sleep, nurse. Are you prepared for that?”My mouth spreads into a smile. “Yes,” I say, nodding once, knowing that our preparation all afternoon is paying off. “Yes, yes we are.”“Good,” Cole says, sharp and definitive, starting to turn away. “Consider it do
Nadia“Options?” Ivy asks, looking warily between us.“You can do whatever you want,” I say, wanting it to be very clear to these women that they’re not trapped. “But the doctor has ordered a transport for you in the morning. We’ll make you comfortable tonight, but we’d like to send you down to a hospital a little north of here to –““What?” Ivy asks, her eyes widening, the word falling from her mouth on a huff of breath. She snaps her gaze between us, horrified. “N-no! We can’t go north! They’ll – they’ll enslave us! They’ll make us work for them! They’ll keep us in a room and send men to us –“Grace stands straight, staring at the sisters, shocked.I exhale slowly, trying to stay calm for their sake. I was worried this would be their reaction. I’ve heard rumors about
NadiaCole huffs a frustrated sigh, looking after Jude. My mouth starts to tremble as I realize that he wants to be over there, with Jude and Iris. Not here with cry-baby me. I try so hard to stop crying – but it hurts so much…Cole turns his face back to mine and lifts his hand, using his thumb to wipe away some tears from each cheek. “Come on,” he says with a sigh. “Let’s go see mom.”I frown and step back, my feelings hurt nearly as much as my arm. “You don’t want to,” I say softly, still sniffing. I raise my good arm and wipe it across my face, not wanting to be a baby anymore. Not in front of him.Cole stares at me, his face twisting in confusion because…duh. Of course he doesn’t want to help the crybaby – he wants to go with Jude so they can play wolves. “Nadia, we can –““I didn’t trip!”H
Nadia My voice cracks in rage at the fact that Cole is just pretending he doesn’t remember one of the most important days of my life.“When we were eight – or, I was! You broke my damn arm and –““I never did that, Nadia,” Cole says, leaning closer to me and shaking his head slowly from side to side. “I didn’t even know you ever broke your arm!”“I did! You did!” I almost shout, holding my right arm out to him like he can see the well-healed bone. “You were there!”Cole just stares at me, his mouth open, his throat clicking as he racks his brain, trying to remember what I’m talking about. Then he suddenly snaps his jaw shut, sitting up straight. “We were eight?”“Yes!”“Playing by the fountain in the palace courtyard?
NadiaI shake my head at Cole in apology, but he just turns back to the screen at the sound of his father’s voice.“Yes,” Ethan says, nodding seriously to all of us. “We’ll expect to send a great number of refugees as well as Children of Solace members – combative and not – toward you. General Amir, if we can get you some expected numbers, can you start to think of ways to sort this out? I’m aware that you have one medical tent right now and it…might not be best practice to mix populations, though we’ll want everyone who needs aid seen.”“Right,” my dad murmurs, nodding quickly to the King before starting to take some notes. “Yes, get me some numbers. I’ll see what I can do.”I exhale slowly, glancing at Cole, who focuses on the screen, his face quite grave.And as much as it surprises me to ever be in line emoti
NadiaMy dad looks up from his desk where he’s setting up the video call, his eyes moving quickly between Cole and me. “Nadia,” he murmurs, dropping his gaze to the keyboard, clearly hiding a smirk. “Good morning. To you as well, Cole.”“Good morning, sir,” Cole says, taking me by the elbow and giving me a little tug so that I follow him. As we move to stand behind my father, another man comes in – one I’ve seen frequently around camp, especially as he organizes the delivery of more and more patients. He stops at the entrance, narrowing his eyes at me with a frown.“Captain Stanzor,” Cole says, nodding to the chair in front of him, which is empty and clearly reserved for this relative stranger. “Good morning. It’s nice to see you again.”Stanzor slowly crosses as dad presses the button to connect the video call. The Captain tak
NadiaI scoff and roll my eyes. “Will you just tell me?”He laughs, looking down at the fire. “Listen, Nadia. I heard everything you said to me last night. Or at least, I tried to. And I’m very sorry. I’m going to try to be better.”My mouth falls open.He raises his gaze to my face.I snap my mouth shut, determined to let him eat his fill of crow.“I wasn’t fair to you and I wasn’t kind. I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you. I should have. I’ve arranged for –““I’m sorry too.” I bite my lip, looking down, pissed off at myself for giving in so quick. I mean, three seconds ago I was ready to indulge in a pleasant morning of sipping coffee and listening to the Prince grovel.Stupid conscience.Cole pauses.“I am,” I say, nodding solidly, not looking at him, my stupid
Nadia“Nadia.”A creaking little squeak rises in my throat as I turn my head toward the noise, a determined frown curving my lips.Something pats my mattress.“Seriously, Nadia.”My eyes fly open to take in the horrible sight of Cole Kincaid’s perfect fucking face eight inches from mine.I bolt up, starting to shriek, but - quick as a panther - he slips a hand over my mouth and muffles the sound.“Can you not!?” He hisses, glancing rapidly around at all of the other sleeping forms. “Everyone is asleep!”I start to say that I was likewise asleep and pleased to be so – but the words are all stifled against his palm, so I just seethe, already glaring – which is not an activity I enjoy before dawn when I haven’t had any coffee –“I come in peace, all right?” Co
Cole Slowly, General Amir smirks at me. “What?”I frown, shifting uncomfortably in my chair. “Other…young men?”He laughs, low, I think mildly entertained. “That’s a question for Nadia, Cole. Not me. But yes, you’re not without competition. And certainly there are some against whom she has less prejudice.”I groan, leaning back in my chair, covering my face with my hands and tilting my head back, trying to collect myself as my wolf races off into the darkness of my soul in a complete panic.Why? Why didn’t I ever even bother to ask if Nadia was seeing anyone!?But surely – surely Shayne would have told me –“Cole.”With an effort I collect myself, lifting my head back up and slipping my hands down so I can meet General Amir’s gaze.“She’s really putting you through your paces, isn’t she?”I sigh, nodding, dropping my hands into my lap. “She’s just…holding me to such a high standard, General Amir.”He raises his eyebrow at me as my wolf comes skulking back, no less panicked but wanti
ColeI look at General Amir evenly, holding his gaze. “I want Nadia to have full access to all the information I have. I want her in on meetings, debriefings, planning, all of it. She’ll have a vote in the proceedings of this operation – even just a minor one. I’m going to tell this to my father and I want you to support me on it.”General Amir raises an eyebrow. “Well, that’s a terrible idea.”I gape at him.“What?” he asks, smirking at me and lacing his fingers together as he leans further back in his chair. “My girl throws a temper tantrum and you reward her with unprecedented access?”I scoff. “I am not giving her rewards – and I’m not responding to her tempter tantrum like I’m her indulgent father or some-““Damn right you’re not.”General Amir’s tone surprises me. I sit taller in my rickety chair. “You’re being impulsive, Cole,” General Amir says, his voice low, words swift. “You’re eager to please her, which I understand, but she is a student nurse. She is clever as anything a
I take deep breaths, willing my mind to clear, my blood to stop rushing in my ears, but I still flinch when I feel Shayne’s hands on my shoulders, and then her arm wrapping around me as she trots to keep up.We walk together a few feet in silence, leaving the Prince behind.“Wow, you really let him have it,” she whispers, glancing back.I keep my eyes forward. “Was I too hard?”“Maybe a little bit, Na-na,” she whispers, giving me a squeeze. “But…I get it. It’s a subject that’s close to you. You care.”My head hangs lower, my guilt at war with…with everything in me that I hold dear. The ethics I inherited from my father, the big raw heart from my mother, the desperate desire to do anything I can to help. All mixed up in a big angry lump named Nadia.Tears come to my eyes again. Terribly confused, I slump against Shayne, who gives me a squeeze.&ldq