Raven I stared in horror at the sight before me. My horse was now laying on the ground, her leg twisted awkwardly, the arrow I had loosed embedded deep into her knee. Blood seeped around the shaft, staining her glossy coat a dark crimson. Panic surged through me as I scrambled off the ground and
“Isn’t it?” I felt my palms begin to itch. “One minute you’re… you’re kissing me up against a tavern, and the next you’re treating me like I’m nothing!” “Raven—” “I’ve had enough!” I wiped at my eyes angrily. “I am so fucking sick of men like you and Nathan treating me like an object to be used
Raven The horse stood, completely steady, her dark eyes blinking as if nothing had happened. I reached out tentatively, my hand brushing against her knee where the arrow had been just moments ago. Her coat was smooth, unbroken. No blood. No wound. Not even a scar. Nothing. “What…” My voice c
I processed that in silence for a moment, saying nothing. “I care about her as my friend, my equal, my confidante,” he said simply, glancing at me over his shoulder. “And last night…” His voice trailed off, and he shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. My cheeks flushed a little as memories of our
Raven The phone in Castor’s hand was silent now, but according to Castor, it had been buzzing all morning. My heart skipped a beat as Neil snatched it from him. He flipped the phone open, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the screen. “Multiple missed calls,” he muttered, turning the device so I c
“I started feeling poorly,” he said wryly. “It was funny, really. I woke up one day feeling like I had a fever and a little back pain, nothing tragic.” He inhaled deeply, wheezing with the effort. “Next thing I knew, I was diagnosed with cancer.” I couldn’t believe it. As long as I had known my fa
Raven The moment I dismounted and unsaddled my horse, I headed straight for Neil’s quarters. I needed to talk to him, tell him what I had just found out. Stage 4 liver cancer. My father was going to die. Yeah, well, not if I could help it. I strode through the castle doors, my leather boots
Raven Neil’s arms around me were an unexpected comfort. His warmth enveloped me, the steady beating of his heart thrumming against my chest. I didn’t know how to react, didn’t even know how to breathe at the contact. I just stood there, my cheek pressed his body, my eyes wide and unblinking. T
“Raven!” my old public relations manager, Valerie, exclaimed, her face lighting up. She was dressed to the nines in a sleek black dress and heels, her hair perfectly styled. “Goddess above, where have you been? You’ve had me worried sick!” “I…” I faltered, unsure of how to respond. “It’s been… com
Raven The process of handling my father’s affairs felt so… clinical. After hours of signing papers and talking to coroners and a whole blur of other preparations, I finally stepped out of the hospital, feeling sick to my stomach. But I also felt strangely numb. Numb because I had the chance to
My breath caught, and I stared at him, waiting for him to laugh or tell me he was joking. But he didn’t. “A Lycan?” I repeated. “You’re… serious?” He nodded weakly. “She was from the Lycan kingdom. A defector. She left her people… left her family… because of me.” I couldn’t breathe. The walls see
Raven I swallowed hard, clutching the strap of my bag as tight as I could as I followed the nurse down the hallway. I’d left the others waiting outside, which was probably for the best. If I had walked in here with a posse full of strange-looking people, it might raise eyebrows and reveal that they
As I nuzzled down into the cloak, I glanced up at him. His face was impassive, his jaw set hard as he gazed out over the water. He didn’t look at me, but I did feel eyes on me, and I looked over to see Ember staring. She said nothing, although I did see her gaze soften a little before she looked a
Raven The nearly-full moon was already hanging high in the night sky by the time I slipped out of my room, my modern clothes feeling oddly uncomfortable around my body. The jeans were snug, hugging my legs in a way that felt unexpectedly restricting, and the black sweater was soft but a little too
“You have been busy,” she finally said as she took her seat. I froze, the cup halfway to my lips. “I—I’m not sure what you mean, Your Majesty.” The corner of her mouth quirked upward in a faint, almost amused smile. “Do not insult me with feigned ignorance, child. I know what happened to Hannah.
Raven I woke to an empty bed. Neil’s warmth was gone, replaced by the faint chill of the early morning air. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as my heart sank. The spot where he had lain beside me was cold now, his scent already fading. All that remained was a pile of modern clothes folde
I blinked up at him, my breath still uneven. “Neil? What… What are you doing here?” His gaze didn’t waver, the tension in his jaw visible even in the darkness. “I heard whispers,” he said quietly. “About Hannah. About what happened.” My stomach twisted. “I—” “Did you kill her?” he asked, cutti