Skyla POVWhen Xavier first turned me, it was difficult to control my blood lust; I am ashamed to say I couldn't get enough. I now understand Andras’s addiction to Fae blood; no other species in our world compares to the exotic taste of Fae blood as it tantalizes your taste buds and flows down your throat. The difference between Andras and I is that I only kill the Seelie; I justify my actions to myself by saying I am only making them pay for the years of cruelty they have inflicted on the rest of us. I sneak out of the castle while Xavier is asleep. He didn't know I overheard him talking to our guard. Cassandra’s warriors have been seen in the werewolf village that Xavier and I lived in with Lisha and Tyler; it's not uncommon for the Seelie to be seen there since Lisha’s disappearance. Lisha and Tyler have been gone for twelve months; Allana said she feared they were both dead as she couldn't locate either of them. I still hope they will return, but Xavier keeps telling me it's wish
Lisha POVWe take turns carrying Asher as we run; it takes longer than we thought to reach the outskirts of the village I grew up in. My childhood home is just above the rise in front of us; Lilly, Sharna, and I have agreed to stop there overnight as Asher has been restless all day. Just as we are about to enter the clearing behind the house, I freeze when I see a familiar figure walking toward the spot where Allana opened the portal. I mind-link Sharna and Lilly, screaming, “Stop, don't enter the clearing.” We hide amongst the trees watching as Gabriel and half a dozen Seelie guards search my mother's house. Each of us is exhausted, but we have to keep going. Our plans of resting here for the night have been ruined. We slink back into the thick forest surrounding the house, and I take the lead and run toward Allana’s cave. Once we are far enough away that Gabriel and his guards do not sense us, I stop and sit on a fallen tree to rest. I haven't told Lilly and Sharna that I felt Dam
Skyla POV I knew Allana was lying to us when she said Lisha and Tyler were dead; if Xavier had listened to me, he would be here now and would finally know his sister was alive. Allana always avoided my questions regarding Lisha and Tyler; everything I heard about Allana and Cassandra must be true; why else would she keep Lisha’s and Tyler's whereabouts a secret? I hug Lisha tightly and follow her into the cave expecting to see Tyler; when I realize he isn't there, I ask, “Where’s Tyler?” Lisha shakes her head slowly as she says, “I don't know, Skyla.” I look at Lisha in disbelief and ask, “What do you mean you don't know?” She sinks slowly into the chair, wrapping her arms around her stomach; her eyes glisten with tears as she answers. “After the attack on the village, we were taken to the werewolf realm; a couple of days ago, there was an uprising; Sharna and Lilly helped me escape with Tyler's son.” There are two she-wolves asleep on the floor near the bed; I walk toward
Xavier POV Skyla and I shouldn't be able to mind-link each other, but we can; I have put it down to us both having Fae's blood. Don't get me wrong, being born a vampire has its perks, but being a hybrid makes me much more powerful. I am stronger than any vampire in our realm; my father didn't realize what he had created until it was too late. When my father attacked Skyla, and I heard her screaming in fear, I lost it; my father's addiction to Fae blood was his undoing. I still don't feel remorse for killing the bastard; my only regret is that I didn't prolong his agony by torturing him. When the elders saw how easily I defeated him, no other vampire was courageous enough to challenge me. It took much less time to restore order in my realm than I thought it would. I rake my fingers through my hair, watching Skyla chatting amicably with Allana. Something is up; Skyla always makes herself scarce when Allana is in our realm. Skyla and I watch as Allana leaves the castle grounds. Once Al
Tyler POV It was clear to me that we couldn't win this fight. Theo had too many wolves backing him; as soon as I saw Damian fall, I ran to my chambers to try and get Jasmine and Asher to safety. I thought none of Theo's wolves had made it deep inside the castle; as soon as I opened the door, I realized I was so wrong. The rich coppery tang of blood filled my senses; what was left of Jasmine was scattered across the room; the bastards had torn her apart. I don't have time to grieve for her; I need to find my son. I searched our chambers, looking for Asher; he was nowhere to be found; rage like I had never experienced before ran through my body, causing it to shake. I knew I had to remain calm if I had any hopes of finding him; I didn't realize I was kneeling beside his cot until I looked at my hands. I was clutching his blanket against my chest; I couldn't stop the tears running down my face. The same thought kept playing on rewind inside my head, ‘who had my boy? Where could they have
Lisha POV The first things I noticed when I entered the library were the comfortable sofas in front of the fire, the smoke from the flames dancing on the wood, and the dusty smell of ancient books. Sunlight streamed through the window, and dust particles floated in the air. The room was lit with oil lamps strategically placed beside shelves filled with hundreds of books. A calm, comfortable feeling settled inside me; I could lock myself away in here for days and lose myself inside the pages of a book, leaving all my troubles behind me. I promise myself I will do just that one day in the near future, but I have plans to make right now. I reach out and caress the binding on the book closest to me, jumping when Skyla hooks her arm through mine and whispers, “I love this room; when Xavier first brought me here, I used to get lost in here for days.” Xavier is standing by the window. He turns when he hears Skyla’s voice; I incline my head slightly before sinking into one of the sofas. Sk
Tyler POV I don't know how long I have slept; dreams have haunted my sleep all morning. I kept seeing Jasmine's body strewn across the floor of our chambers. Now and then, Asher's face would cloud my vision; his sweet face was always blurred, I would put my arms out to hold him, but he was always just out of my reach. Sweat has soaked through my clothes, making them cling to me. My skin feels like insects are crawling all over me; my mind is restless. There's no way I will get any more sleep today. The sounds of my wolves snoring bounce off the cave walls. I tilt my head to one side when I hear water trickling down the cave wall; I walk toward the sound and notice a small hollow on the ground. I bend, cupping my hands together, and dip them into the water. The water is ice cold; I take a hesitant sip; it has a slightly metallic taste, but other than that, it's okay. I drink my fill and wash my face trying to clear my head. Then make my way to the threshold of the cave; it's mid-aftern
Lisha POV As soon as my feet touch the ground, I open my eyes; and snarl, turning toward Xavier; why are we back in the vampire realm? Blood pounds in my head; I clench my teeth in anger; my arms shake as I lift my hands, placing them against Xavier's chest and push him; he stumbles backward, holding his hands in the air when I scream, “What the fuck, Xavier? You were supposed to help me find Tyler?” He pisses me off further when he says, “Calm down, Lisha.” I growl; I fucking hate it when anyone tells me to calm down; something inside me snaps, and I stalk toward him. There’s a red haze surrounding Xavier, I don't know if it's just because I am angry, but all I can focus on is hurting him like I am hurting; I feel betrayed; we didn't even look for Tyler. Xavier keeps backing away from me, I can see his mouth moving, but because of the ringing in my ears, I can't hear him. When I am about to lunge at him, someone grabs me from behind; I struggle, trying to get out of their gras
Lisha POV It's been two years since Allana’s death, Tyler has never asked how it was possible I left the Unseelie realm and returned home with him, and I have never told him. Damian’s and my son Nate was born a couple of months after we returned home; he is a beautiful little boy with the same deep-set chocolate brown eyes as his father, olive skin, and a head full of curly brown hair. Nate and Asher will grow into extremely handsome men; I can see them breaking many hearts before they find their true mates. Nate and Asher adore Tyler, and he is a fantastic father; he treats both our boys as his own. The first thing Tyler, Xavier, Skyla, Tiffany, and I did was build a meeting house in the center of the four realms. Every three months, we come together as representatives for our species and discuss any issues that may arise. Each kingdom has two representatives for the Unseelie, Zane and I; the werewolves, Tyler and Mateo; the vampires, Xavier and Skyla; and the Unseelie, Tiffany, an
Tyler POV Lisha winks at me and whispers, “No matter what happens, hold the circle.” She moved closer to Allana while reaching behind her back and placing my hand in Skyla’s. A dense fog was rolling in from every direction; a cold chill crept up my back, and the hairs on my neck and arms stood up. I knew there was someone behind me, but I didn't dare to turn my head and have a look. Lisha smirked as the fog grew thicker and denser; Allana was so confident in her abilities that she refused to consider for one moment we could beat her. Allana hissed, her eyes glancing at each of us as she snarled, “You can't beat me, you foolish girl.” Lisha's laughed softly. Only the people closest to her knew what that particular laugh meant; it always sent shivers down my spine. She looked at Allana and whispered, “I am not trying to beat you, Allana; you wanted power, and I am going to give it to you.” Allana's eyes narrowed as she stared at Lisha, her lips twisting into an ugly smile as
Lisha POV Tyler and I woke early, we had a feeling that someone had betrayed us, and we were right. Xavier, Skyla, Tyler, and I knew what was coming, but no one else did; the fewer who knew what we intended to do, the better. Tyler made short work of Anton, the warrior who told Allana we were here; he was one of Dimitri’s wolves, I knew we should have killed the lot of them when we killed Dimitri, but Tyler wanted to believe that they were loyal to us, so he did. Sometimes it's better to learn the hard way than be made aware of the truth by someone else, even if you love that person wholeheartedly. The day we have been waiting for is finally here; we leave Mathew's cabin under cover of darkness. The one hundred wolves Tyler brought with him will stay hidden inside Mathew's village until everyone else arrives. Then they will join us in the procession to where Allana, Xavier, and Skyla were supposed to be waiting for us. We could hear Allana’s people getting organized for everyone to
Xavier POV Allana’s guards line the path leading up to her castle, each one holds a staff with a purple and black flag on the top of it, and Allana is standing regally at the bottom of the castle steps, a sweet smile on her face as she watches Skyla and I walk toward her. Skyla tugs on my shirt sleeve, murmuring, “You had better wipe that disgusted look off your face before we get too close to her.” I give myself a shake and remember why we are here, “She extravagant.” Skyla chuckles, “That she is; now smile sweetly for your bitch of a grandmother and lavish her with praise.” Allana takes a step closer to us, opening her arms wide; embracing Skyla and then me as she says, “I am so glad you are here; come inside, and I will give you a tour of my home.” The beauty of the castle and grounds are breathtaking; gardens are scattered everywhere, filled with flowers of every color and description imaginable. The castle itself has been constructed out of white limestone, and heav
Tyler POV Xavier glanced back over his shoulder at me once before Skyla, his vampires, and he stepped into Allana’s realm, my wolves and I didn't have to wait long before my father stood before me, motioning for us to follow him. I whispered, “Won't Allana become suspicious if our not with Xavier?” He shakes his head, “No, she only required Zane to escort Xavier, Skyla, and his vampires into the realm.” I grinned, “How is Lisha?” He smiled, “Good, she is safely hidden inside my cabin.” After my wolves were taken to their quarters, I left them in my father's care and went to see Lisha. Lilly opened the door of my father's house and stepped to one side before leaving; I frowned, “Where are you going, Lilly?” Lilly hesitated before glancing up at me and murmuring, “I thought you and Lisha might like some time alone.” I smirked and moved out of her way; Lilly is and has always been one of the worst liars I have ever met, Lisha has been up to something, and I need to fin
Lilly POV Lisha smiled as she walked toward us; when I asked her what had happened, she frowned and said, “You saw what happened, Lilly.” I shook my head.“No, we couldn't see or hear anything.” She smirked, “That's probably for the best.” This is her answer; that's probably for the best; what the hell is that supposed to mean? I grabbed Lisha’s arm as she went to walk past me and whispered, “Are you going to me? What happened in there, Lisha?” She blew out a breath and whispered, “It's getting light, Lilly. We need to get back to Mathews.” I growled, “How the hell am I supposed to protect you if you don't tell me anything.” Lisha glanced back the way she came for a moment, then turned back to me and whispered, “When we get back to Mathew's house, I will tell you everything, but if we don't go now, someone will see us.” Lisha raised her eyebrows and inclined her head in Zane and Matthew's direction; there was no point in arguing with her any longer; her expression alone
Lisha POV Lilly is correct; the forest feels cold and unwelcoming as we follow Zane deeper into the woods. Every so often, I catch a glimpse of glowing eyes peering back at us; I didn't say anything to Zane at first because of thought I was seeing things, but the last ones I saw were a little too close for comfort as far as I am concerned. I swear under my breath and increase my pace so I can walk beside him. The paths narrow, and it infuriates me further when I keep hitting my head on the tree's low-hanging branches. How fucking long has it been since anyone walked this trail? I grab hold of Zane's arm, causing him to stop mid-step and ask, “I thought you said no one would see us?” He glances at the trees surrounding us and murmurs, “The people here won't hurt us.” I growl, “What fucking people, Zane.” He shrugs, “The banished, the Fae that didn't support Allana, she banished them all to this part of the forest.” “Why here.” He raises his eyes, looking toward a cl
Tyler POV The air is electrifying as my wolves prepare to leave our territory, so many of them are still holding grudges against the Unseelie, I will have to keep a tight reign on them, so this doesn't turn into a total blood bath. Mateo is the only member of my pack who is similar in size and appearance to Theo; he will be the one to lead a hundred of my wolves into Allana’s realm. If he doesn't get too close to her, we will be able to fool her for a short time, at least. Not having Lisha here is hard; I know we argue sometimes, but what couple doesn't? It's all part of getting to know each other again. Having a bit of space from each other has helped me realize that if Lisha has to stay in the Unseelie lands until she has the baby, I will stay there with her. I know Mateo will take care of my wolves until we can work something else out. This time when Xavier appeared at my side, he didn't startle me; I sensed him coming before he arrived. He raises his eyebrows in surprise, asking,
Lilly POVI never thought there would be a time when I would be scared of anyone, but Lisha is starting to scare me to death. Since we arrived here, it's been like her mind is elsewhere, her eyes vacant, and the dreams, it doesn't matter if it's day or night, every time she falls asleep, she wakes up screaming and fighting against some unknown force. I can see and feel her changing; my nerves are shot, and I pray to the moon goddess every chance I get pleading with her to do something, anything to stop Lisha from falling into madness. I can't leave her. I love her too much, and in the back of my mind is the thought that Tyler will arrive tomorrow morning. Please, goddess let her hold onto her sanity until he comes, they say love conquers all, so if anyone can pull Lisha out of the pits of despair, it will be Tyler. The creaking of the trapdoor alerts me to the fact that Mathew is home; he cautiously descends the stairs, his voice hushed as he asks, “How is she doing?” I blow out a