But I couldn’t fault him for the idea. I would have done the same, if I had been the one to think of it first. A public engagement party wasn’t exactly ideal, but it was a great way to make the public happy. There were bound to be tons of cameras there, plenty of chances for sweet moments and phot
Kayla I laid on the couch that evening, reading the last pages of my book—the same fantasy romance that Nicholas had recommended. I was finally almost finished with it, and admittedly, I was sad that it was nearly over. No matter how annoyed I was with Nicholas, I had to hand it to him: he had g
So, despite my better judgment, I picked the book up again and flipped to my last page. As I read, I told myself that I was just curious about the plot and that the sex scenes were just a bonus. But the more scenes I read, the more marks I saw on the page, the more I pictured… him performing those
KaylaI woke the next morning to a stinging sensation on my neck, right over the mating mark. When I lifted my sleepy fingers to brush them across it, the mark stung, throbbing beneath my touch. I winced and groaned, dropping my hand back to the blanket.There was no need for me to look at my reflec
“Goddess, what happened to you?” Jade suddenly asked, stepping up to me and touching the tender mark with one finger. “Did you get in a fight or something?”I pursed my lips and looked away, unsure of what to say. But I didn’t need to say anything, because Emma and Jade quickly figured it out on the
KaylaI stared up at Nicholas incredulously as he slipped the key back into his pocket . There was a roguish glint in his eye, as if he knew something that I didn’t.“What were you doing in there?” I asked, folding my arms tightly over my chest.“Nothing. None of your business.”I pursed my lips and
“That’s the second time you lost control and bit me,” I whispered. “If you hadn’t already marked me the first time, then would you have marked me that time?”Nicholas stared at me incredulously for a moment, and I hoped he couldn’t sense the erratic thrill running through my body. I didn’t know why
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
The 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
Across the room, Noah let out a roar of grief and anger, his fist punching through the wall with enough force to crack the plaster all the way to the ceiling. Marcus’s hands tore at his hair as he cursed violently. Emma shook in her wheelchair, silent tears streaming down her face. Grace simply star
Nicholas“Detain her!” I snarled at the nearest warriors, who were tangled with their new mates in various states of undress beneath the trees. They scrambled to their feet at my command, eyes widening as they took in Isabella writhing on the ground beneath me, her glamour spell completely faded now
“I’m here, Kayla,” she whispered. “I’ve always been here. It’s going to be okay…”Sobs tore from my throat. “I’m miscarrying, aren’t I?” I choked out, clutching her tighter. “I’m going to lose my baby.” I pulled back just enough to look into those luminous green eyes. “Please emerge before that happ