Agnes I stared down at the rose in my hand, unsure of what it was supposed to represent. It was a beautiful flower, but the red color also left my head reeling. Was it an apology? A romantic gesture? An attempt at taking back what he’d said? And then Elijah told me to get ready for dinner, and m
He was doting on me, yes, but there was no substance behind it. No acknowledgment of the things that had been said, the hurt that lingered just beneath the surface. It was all glitz and glamour, and none of it addressed the real issue. By the time dessert arrived, one of those chocolate confection
AgnesThe wall was cold against my back, but Elijah’s hand was firm and warm as he pressed it over my mouth. My heart pounded, the closeness of him doing nothing to steady my breathing. His eyes, sharp and serious, held mine as he leaned in, his body shielding me completely.“Shh,” he murmured.For
My fingers flexed against the fabric of my dress, my wolf’s earlier whisper fading into silence. She was gone again, like she had never been there at all. And with her also went the certainty that Elijah was ever supposed to be mine.I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. “Right,” I said te
AgnesHearing Thea cry, even over something as small as not wanting to leave vacation, made my heart break.“Oh, baby,” I murmured, dropping to a crouch and pulling her into my arms. She melted into me instantly, her little body shaking as fresh tears soaked into my shirt. I held her close, rubbing
AgnesAs soon as I saw that headline, I practically bolted out of bed and ran straight to Elijah. I found him in the living room, his tie loose and his feet kicked up on the ottoman with a book open in his lap. I shoved the phone in his face without preamble.“Look at this.”He frowned, leaning clos
AgnesI stepped into Elijah’s office, and was immediately hit with the familiar scent of his cologne. He was sitting at his desk, flipping through a stack of papers. His head lifted when the door clicked shut behind me, and his eyes found mine instantly.“You called?” I asked.He gestured toward the
“Yeah, and maybe some better lighting? These fluorescents give me migraines every day. It’s awful.”“Don’t even get me started on the coffee machine,” another chimed in. “It’s been broken for months! I don’t want to traipse halfway across the building to the marketing department just to refill my cu
“Of course. The flowers, the lighting, even the table settings—it’s all beautiful.” I tilted my head, studying his expression. “Why do you look so pleased with yourself? Did you have something to do with this?”Before he could answer, Thea tugged on my dress, pointing excitedly to a group of childre
AgnesAll eyes turned toward us.I felt my face heat under their collective gaze. Looking around at the other women in attendance, I realized with a start that my gown was by far the most elaborate in the room. The structured bodice with its window to my heart, the crystal beadwork catching every fl
I looked up at him, puzzled. “Why not?”“It’s a surprise,” he said simply. “Trust me on this.”As I turned the locket in my hand, I thought I heard something rattle inside. Curious, I shook it gently, and there it was again—a tiny clinking sound, like something hidden inside.“What did you put in he
AgnesI woke to a gentle knock on my bedroom door. Blinking away sleep, I glanced at the clock. 7:30 in the morning. The gala wasn’t until later that evening, but my stomach fluttered with anticipation anyway. Today was the day I’d finally wear my creation, against all odds.“Come in,” I called out,
Eventually, Thea’s boundless energy drew her away to chase a butterfly, leaving Elijah and me sitting beneath the cherry tree. Petals drifted down around us like pale pink snow, catching in my hair and on Elijah’s shoulders. We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching Thea run between
AgnesMy fingers trembled as I attached another crystal bead to the bodice of the gown. I’d been sewing for hours, but my mind refused to settle down no matter how much I tried. The same questions kept circling like vultures, picking at my flesh until it was raw.Could it really be true? Was Mason m
“Agnes?” Elijah squeezed my hand gently. “Are you okay? You look pale.”I forced a smile, pushing aside my suspicions for now. “I’m fine. Just shocked about the witch. And thank you, for waking me up from that nightmare. It was…” I shuddered, remembering the little skeleton in Thea’s bed. “It was ho
AgnesSunlight streamed through the bedroom window, illuminating Elijah’s dark eyes. It was morning. I was in bed, safe although terrified, and the house was just as it always was. Warm and cozy, embers still glowing in the fireplace, and not a cobweb or a skeleton to be seen.Elijah’s face hovered
Just then, a soft rustling sound came from the bed, drawing my attention. There was a small form under the covers, quivering slightly. Like she was hiding under the blankets, scared. Or maybe holding in laughter. It was hard to tell.“Thea?” I said, relief flooding through me. “You scared me, honey.