LOGINThe sensation was indescribable—like finding a piece of myself I hadn’t known was missing, like coming home after a lifetime of wandering.I grinned up at Nicholas, feeling almost impish with the secret I’d kept for so long.His mouth hung open, shock written across his features. “You knew,” he said
Kayla“One more push!” the doctor’s voice barely registered through the haze of pain that had consumed me for the past sixteen hours. “I can see the head, Kayla. One more big push!”Nicholas gripped my hand, his other arm supporting my back as I leaned forward. I was beyond exhaustion, beyond pain,
There was Emma, fierce and loyal despite everything she’d been through, slowly healing from her injuries with her brother’s unwavering support. Marcus, who’d practically raised his sister from childhood and would do anything to protect those he cared about, including us.Noah, with his gentle demean
Kayla“She’s going to get what she deserves. Today,” Emma said, drumming her fingers against the armrest of her wheelchair. It was the third time she’d said it in the last half hour, but none of us called her on it. We were all tense.We stood outside the guild hall in a loose circle, our faces grim
“What did you do with her?”“She’s locked up in Nightshade’s prison for now,” Nicholas said grimly. “I’m going to speak to the guild to decide her fate.”I shivered. I couldn’t believe it, and yet… Somehow, I could. Because Isabella had done so much worse. This was just the cherry on top.My thought
KaylaLight filtered through my eyelids, hazy and blurred. Everything felt heavy. Sore. But alive.The first thing I saw was Nicholas hunched over me, clutching me so tightly I could barely breathe.“Kayla,” he murmured against my throat. “Kayla, please come back…”My shaky hand came up, my fingers
Kayla“Happy birthday, Kayla.”The moment those words left Nicholas’s lips, I thought I must be dreaming. Had he really not forgotten after all? Was all of this—the announcement, the decorations, the feast—really just for me?“But the engagement party—”“Was an excellent cover to keep you from doing
“Your wound…”I shook my head, too flustered to explain. How could I tell him that his kiss last night had healed me? So instead, I took my hand and gently moved his, placing his palm over the jagged scar. His skin was warm and tender against my thigh, and I bit my lip as I glanced up at him, hoping
I glanced up through my lashes, taking in the guildsmen sitting at their long, semicircular panel at the front of the room. Beside me, Nicholas was as stiff as a board, although the way his fists were clenched didn’t go unnoticed.As for Noah, he was wringing his hands, looking like a nervous wreck.
But then reality returned, and with it, the memory of that woman’s pregnant belly.Just before Nicholas’s lips touched mine, I pressed my palms flat into his chest and pushed myself away. Gently, but just enough to put some distance between us. Nicholas’s arms slackened slightly, and I took the oppo







