“You’re back,” she said simply, holding out a glass of whiskey on the rocks.I took it, my fingers brushing hers. “Thanks.” I lifted the glass to my lips, the burn of the liquor steadying me. “You okay after all that?”She nodded, although her gaze flickered briefly to where Olivia had disappeared i
AgnesI sat at my desk a few days later, the late afternoon sun streaming through the office window, casting golden patches across the fabric swatches scattered in front of me. My fingers brushed over the silk I’d finally chosen for the gown—rather than black, I’d settled on a deep emerald green tha
Still, I knew it was only right to give Thea a say in the matter. Olivia wanted to walk with her in the fashion show, and I wasn’t going to make that decision for Thea. Elijah was on board as well, wanting to give her as much liberty as possible.One night, Elijah and I called Thea downstairs, and s
AgnesThe morning sun streamed through the tall windows, casting golden light across the polished marble floors of the fashion show venue. Lunas from various packs filled the space, each accompanied by a little girl—daughters, nieces, or younger sisters, all preparing for the mother-daughter showcas
Needing a moment to myself, I slipped away, navigating through the crowded backstage area until I found a quiet corridor leading to the restrooms. Once inside, I braced my hands against the cool marble countertop, staring at my reflection in the mirror.My skin looked pale despite the blush on my ch
AgnesI burst onto the runway, my chest heaving as I screamed her name.“Thea!!”The music cut off abruptly, leaving a hollow silence that swallowed the venue. The crowd stared at first, but then their murmurs began to ripple through the air, glancing at each other in confusion. The models up ahead
“Take that back,” I snarled.She lifted her chin. “Why should I? It’s the truth, you know. You lost your mind seven years ago because you can’t cope with the fact that—”I lost control before she could finish. Like lightning, my hands shot out, shoving Olivia hard in the chest. She stumbled back, he
AgnesI sat slumped against the alley wall, rain soaking through what was left of my gown. My chest ached from sobbing, my bare feet numb against the wet pavement. The emerald fabric hung in tatters around me, the vines I’d stitched so carefully now shredded beyond recognition.But most of all, beyo
“What do you think it was like for her?” I said after a moment. “My mother, I mean. Living her whole life afraid that someone would find out what she was.”Elijah’s thumb traced circles on the back of my hand beneath the water. “Lonely, I imagine.”“She never told me,” I whispered. “My own mother, a
AgnesThe saltwater felt like heaven against my overheated skin. I’d been soaking in my in-ground pool for nearly an hour now, but the heat that had built in my body still hadn’t completely subsided.Honestly, I was surprised that I hadn’t burned down the entire bar earlier. My finger had certainly
“Yes,” he insisted. “Because Elemental Enterprises is owned by your stepmother’s family.”The world seemed to tilt beneath me. I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself. “What?”“I’ve been keeping your true nature from your stepmother all this time,” he continued, the words coming out of him
AgnesI fidgeted in the passenger seat as Elijah pulled into the dive bar’s parking lot. The place looked exactly as I remembered it from my past life—grimy windows with neon beer signs, chipped paint on the exterior, and a crooked sign hanging above the door.Years ago, I’d spent many nights here t
“Elijah, wait.”I froze, expecting to feel the tug of the mate bond, that infuriating compulsion she’d used so many times to force me to listen to her, to stay when I wanted to go. But it never came. For the first time, she hadn’t used the bond to control me. Today was full of surprises, wasn’t it?
ElijahThat morning, I made yet another trip to the prison. I’d hoped to never set foot in this place again, because frankly it was cold and uncomfortable and unsettling, but here I was. I just hoped that Olivia would keep true to her word and that this conversation would be worth it—and that it wou
I hated that he was making sense. And even more than that, I hated that a part of me—a much bigger part of me than I wanted to admit—was actually considering it.“What if it’s a trap?” I asked quietly. “What if he’s involved with Elemental Enterprises somehow? He could be trying to get to Thea.”“Th
AgnesI stared at the letter in my hands the entire night, reading and rereading the words until they were practically burned into my brain. By morning, the paper had taken on a slightly crumpled appearance from how many times I had folded and unfolded it.By the time the sun rose, I wasn’t sure if
Elijah, noticing the tension leaving my shoulders, offered me a soft smile. “And I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t sexy as hell when you get like that.”I blushed and looked away. “Stop it…”“But I mean it,” he murmured, his voice growing husky as he leaned closer to me. His lips brushed mine ever so