AgnesThe slap was so loud it was like a gunshot through the quiet house.My stepmother staggered backwards, cupping her hand against her face. She stumbled back against the foyer table so hard that it sent the vase on top toppling over, glass, water, and flowers shattering across the marble floors.
Once she was satisfied with the space between us, however, her previous bravado returned. She pulled her shoulders back and said, “So that’s what this is about: that little girl. You think she’ll replace your dead daughter, don’t you? Well, she won’t. She’s not yours, Agnes, and she never will be.”
Agnes & ElijahAgnesElijah’s lips left mine just briefly so that we could come up for air, and as we inhaled deeply and raggedly, the space between us felt like it hummed with static, the air thick and heavy like a grassy field just before a storm.My heart was racing like a warm drum in my chest,
I scrambled out of Elijah’s arms, my feet hitting the floor just as Thea’s small figure appeared at the end of the hallway. My heart was still pounding, and my face felt like it was on fire, but I forced myself to smile and smoothed down my hair as casually as I could manage.“There you are, sweethe
AgnesMy hands trembled as I spread peanut butter and strawberry jam across two slices of plain white bread, the smooth, sticky pink surface of the jam gleaming under the kitchen lights. I tried my best just to focus on making the sandwich and nothing else, but the butter knife kept clinking against
Elijah & AgnesElijahI stared blankly at the conference table, the smooth, polished wood blurring in and out of focus with each breath. The voices of the council members droned relentlessly around me, their words flowing into one long, indistinguishable hum.There was no way in hell I could get mys
I shot him a warning glance, but he only smirked.“It’s written all over your face,” he continued, utterly unbothered by my glare. “You’ve been brooding all week. Something’s on your mind, and I’d bet my life it has to do with her.”“It’s not like that,” I muttered, although my tone lacked convictio
AgnesThea had been bouncing around my room all evening, pulling dresses from my closet and tossing them in a massive heap on the floor. She was so enthusiastic that I didn’t have the heart to ask her to stop. Finally, she seemed to settle on a deep emerald gown, one I hadn’t worn in years, and her
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “No,” she said after a moment. “There is only one fated mate for each person. But…”“But?”She tilted her head, considering for a moment, and then pulled one card from the deck. “I sense something strange about your bond. A tangle somewhere in the invisible red thread tha
ElijahLast night was a mistake.At least, that was what I kept telling myself as I sat in my study, staring blankly at the paperwork spread across my desk. The words blurred together, the numbers meaningless as my mind repeatedly wandered back to Agnes—her scent, her touch, the way she’d felt benea
I watched as she stepped inside, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. She set the basket on the table, carefully arranging its contents: some pink tulips, chocolates, assorted tea bags, and a stuffed animal.I knew that Thea wouldn’t eat the chocolates with her stomach upset, and she’d bee
AgnesElijah had some matters to attend to at work that day—although I had a sinking feeling that he was just avoiding the awkwardness of what had happened last night, and I couldn’t even blame him—and Thea was still resting in her room with a stomach ache, so I had the house to myself for most of t
Elijah blinked at me in surprise. I expected him to be disappointed, to scold me for taking a book from the restricted section of the library—especially one with such volatile information inside.But instead, a slow smile spread across his face, his eyes lighting up with something that looked almost
AgnesI woke to the sensation of Elijah’s arm around me. For a moment, I forgot where I was, the events of the previous night a hazy blur in my mind. All I felt was cozy familiarity.But then it all came rushing back—the cab, the kiss, the way we’d stumbled into the house, so desperate for each othe
He feasted on me like that, right there on the floor, holding me upright with one arm. I dug my fingers into his scalp, yanking at his hair, which only elicited low, guttural moans from him that rumbled into my pelvis. “Agnes,” he murmured into me, the word sending a shudder of pleasure through my b
AgnesThe cab driver practically dumped us off in front of the estate, hardly giving Elijah time to hand him a wad of cash before he was speeding away. My cheeks were flushed, my skirt rumpled around my thighs and my lipstick smeared.We’d hardly been the pristine picture of an elegant Alpha and Lun
Agnes & ElijahAgnesGertrude’s grin was nothing short of impish as she shoved me and Elijah together. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if I had ever seen the often meek librarian’s eyes flare with such mischief behind those glasses.My heart pounded as I glanced up at Elijah, his warm body pressed agai