I woke up in the bedroom Ben had offered me the day he put the crest on my palm.
"Bet you never thought you'd sleep in that bed."
My eyes snap to my left, Ben is watching rain patter onto the balcony through the glass window in the french doors.
For the next half hour, we were too busy sorting through what's been happening, for Ben to yell at Dante and me for making contact. I knew it would come later though. Right now, both boys were furious at mefor keeping the recent attacks on me a secret.Ben called for a handmaiden, and under his orders she got off every scrap of makeup on my body, revealing dozens of nasty wounds, scrapes, and bruises.
I sat on the edge of my bed, trying hard to focus my mind. While both boys were barely on speaking terms, they were both in firm agreement that they would find a way for me to back out of the tournament. I wasn't optimistic.My mind was still racing, it made no sense, what was the queen gaining with me as a competitor? I had a feeling, a gut feeling, this Tornment would end up being a lot more than just a competition. Something darker, deeper and far more important was going on. And I intended to find out what.
I was tired, no scratch that I was absolutely exhausted. Training had been heavy, and my muscles ached as I moved. I flung open the door, headed to the kitchen and almost cried in pure happiness at the sight of the fridge. Food, I thought greedily, my dearest most loyal friend how Ihave missed your deliciousness. I scanned the shelves for something good to eat, my mind moving to upcoming events.Meg would be home soon, hauling in her new fiance. I hadn't met the bloke yet, they had been on a romantic cruise getaway all summer. Now that they were back, I'll finally be able to see him in the flesh. She sounded happy over the phone and I was happy for her, just a little too tired and sweaty to be excited right at this moment.But then, just as my eyes landed on the grapes, the most incredible scent filled the kitchen. Dark coffee beans dancing impossibly well with the soft freshness of a summer rain "No," I whispered. "No,
BEN'S POV God, she was infuriating, running off after clawing at my arm like a pup! It was ridiculous. I had surprised myself in the kitchen, my wolf took over in seconds. Normally I have far more self-control, but her scent, my god her scent. It was intoxicating, a spring breeze, somehow mixing with the smell of full, ripe strawberries dipped in chocolate. My wolf went wild. We are mates, we have to be. I knew there was a lot to sort out, a lot to talk about, but for some reason, her refusal to admit to our bond made me furious. I shifted in my seat, unable to concentrate on the movie after coming back into the house. Megan had left, gone to see about wedding flowers. Something she had dubbed, a "floral emergency." I couldn't possibly care less about wedding flowers. They seemed the epitome of irrelevance. But Meg had been planning her wedding since she was in the third grade, I enjoyed being alive way too much to risk questioning her judgment on
It was bright. Way too bright. I cracked my eyes open a little more and held my hand up to shield off the light. My whole body ached, feeling heavy against the thin mattress. I sat up a little, watching through the filter of my fingers as Ben's silhouette moved toward me. He stopped in front of me and I dropped my hand, letting my eyes adjust. His gorgeous eyes stared down at me, the supposed hero standing over his wounded damsel.'Asshole.' I thought. "What the hell Ben?" I demanded, shifting a little in the thin sheets. My wolf didn't put up too much of a fight. We had something very important in common, pride. "You seem to have the roles reversed love, you ran into battle like it was a playground. I get to be angry about this Carrie, not you." I rolled my eyes easily, "It's my job, Ben. I would've gotten home and been fine. I've done it a hundred times over." He growle
BEN'S POV "Stubborn, ridiculously stubborn, bordering impossible." Jace laughed quietly, "you did force her into a pack she doesn't want to be a part of." I growled, "Shut up Jace." I continued to pace in front of him while he played with a coin mindlessly between his fingers. "She needs to be protected, this keeps her alive." Jace nodded easily and switched the coin to his other hand, "fine, just don't expect her to cooperate with you." I growled and he laughed again, "what the fuck is so funny?" Jace caught the coin with a metallic snap and looked up at me, his mouth curving into a grin,"I'm imagining her clawing you're cheek." My fists tightened, "And why is that funny?" His smile widened, "because, if anyone forced you into something you didn't want, I think yo
Carrie left immediately after dinner. I ached to be near her, god knows what the stubborn woman was up to now. Stay I told myself, your fiance is here, you're meant to ache for her. Megan began squealing about napkin colours, it pushed me to the edge. I made a lame-ass excuse and left. If allowed her scent all the way down the street and around the corner to a gym. I sighed at the sight of a girl with chocolate hair weaved into a plait, wearing tights and a crop top, beating the crap out of a punching bag. Every word said the punching bag went swinging. "Stupid"Hit"Controlling" Hit "Son of a, " "Carrie!" I called. **************CARRIE'S POV I turned, he stood watching me, a mixture of anger and amusement dancing in his eyes. "Leave me alone Ben," I said, fixing my plait. His eyes followed my move
I flew into the ring, transforming into my wolf as I slid under the ropes and straight into the champion's space.He was a pitch-black wolf with startling blue eyes, we circled each other slowly, then I flew at him, he stepped to the left and bit my side.I spun around my teeth sunk into his shoulder.It was a never-ending faced past dance. We couldn't outdo each other. As soon as one of us gained an advantage others would find one of their own. We swirled around the ring, a mindblowing blur of movement and adrenaline.My wolf was tiring, I needed to transform. Apparently, the Champion had the exact same idea. We became human as if on cue.He pulled me underneath him by my sneakered feet and locked me down by my forearms. His hair was the same pitch black as his wolf's fur and his eyes were the same sparkling blue. We stared at each other, panting. I arched toward him slowly and crushed my lips to his.He responded immediately, his lips moved perfec
I sat on the edge of my bed, trying hard to focus my mind. While both boys were barely on speaking terms, they were both in firm agreement that they would find a way for me to back out of the tournament. I wasn't optimistic.My mind was still racing, it made no sense, what was the queen gaining with me as a competitor? I had a feeling, a gut feeling, this Tornment would end up being a lot more than just a competition. Something darker, deeper and far more important was going on. And I intended to find out what.
For the next half hour, we were too busy sorting through what's been happening, for Ben to yell at Dante and me for making contact. I knew it would come later though. Right now, both boys were furious at mefor keeping the recent attacks on me a secret.Ben called for a handmaiden, and under his orders she got off every scrap of makeup on my body, revealing dozens of nasty wounds, scrapes, and bruises.
I woke up in the bedroom Ben had offered me the day he put the crest on my palm."Bet you never thought you'd sleep in that bed."My eyes snap to my left, Ben is watching rain patter onto the balcony through the glass window in the french doors.
BEN'S POV!!!!!!"This is ridiculous.""I don't care.""Ben!"
I fell onto my bed, gripping my bleeding side. Goblins. They had attacked the house, and they weren't the first. Someone had leaked my location, all kinds of creatures were attacking throughout the week, trying to recapture the "Future Valderian Queen."Rent had called, he still hadn't gotten a confession from his guards. The mole on our team was still unknown.
The alpha gave me the prophecy, but I knew the others were waiting. So I stuffed it into my pocket, and stumbled out to the car, knowing my face was as white as a sheet. Everyone bustled, saying goodbye, and getting into the right cars. I came face to face with Rent, and immediately my eyes welled with tears."Oh Carrie," he breathed fondly, pulling me warmly into his arms, "
BEN'S POVEverything began to happen very quickly. It took us another night and another day before we reached the border.Carrie kept a space between us that was way too big to be natural. Her face was a constant flat stone plate. Her usually sparking eyes, dull and walled over. I'd never seen t
CARRIE'S POVI cried until pale light splattered across the dark sky. I knew Ben wasn't going to change his mind about this. It was over. My sister had lost her fiance, and it was my fault.Ben set out a breakfast of pheasant cooked for my benefit on a small fire. He said nothing, I didn't touch the food, he didn't push me to, and we ignored my red-rimmed eyes.
BEN'S POVTwo days. Two days of walking and camping. But I barely noticed. Time melted, waving around us like soft silk.Carrie's link was still open, her contentment warmed my body, her happiness swirling in my chest.Her chocolate hair was thrown up into a