*Blanca* “It’s okay, Little Raven. I’m okay.” Mr. Blake’s voice sounds in my head, and I freeze, afraid to breathe. This isn’t just like when a person thinks they hear someone’s voice because it’s so familiar to them. No, this is completely different. It’s as if I’m on the phone–something I’m neve
“All it takes is a little faith–and recognition, my Little Raven.” I open my mouth to say more, but I hear a jingle in the door. “Someone’s here,” I whisper. Mr. Blake laughs in my head. “You can just think it. If you’re thinking of me when you have a message to send, I’ll hear you. I’ll always he
*Kieran* “Oh, my. That is a bright shade of pink.” My mother blinks her eyes a few times before sipping her wine again. She’s commented on Nessa’s dress at least five times since dinner started only a few moments ago. Every time she does, Nessa giggles and squeezes my hand beneath the table, as if
I’d still like an answer to our question, though. “Why didn’t you kill Blake then?” I take a sip of my wine, trying to sound unbothered. “Because… the old coward begged me not to kill him. I dragged him back here and locked him up in silver chains, hoping perhaps one day he’d use his powers to he
*Blanca* After Candace left, I’d sat there immoble for quite some time. Her statement about Nessa being the worst match for Kieran had made me nauseated. But I’d managed to eat the food she’d brought me, and now, I’m pacing in the small area of my room. I can mind-link with Mr. Blake but no one in
I’m thin enough in my human form I can probably slide between the bars, but how I can get all the guards in front of the gate to look away for a moment is beyond me. “Unless….” A thought occurs to me, and as I pick up speed running toward the nearest gate, I use my mind to call together any birds t
*Kieran* I’d seen her rush past while I was sitting in the rose garden, thinking about everything. My first instinct was to shout at her and tell her to get her ass back inside. But I can’t do that, and I know it. She has to leave. Not just because she doesn’t really belong here but because it’s
“Am I?” She tips her head to the side and looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Kieran, we look nothing alike.” “I know but–” “We act nothing alike. I have these weird powers. I can hear a man we both know is from Escuro in my head.” A nervous laugh erupts from her mouth. “I’m starting to think someone
Anwen grunts in pain. “Okay, that’s enough.”“Just a moment longer,” I plead.Out of the corner of my eye, I see his indulgent smile.After another moment, my family unwinds themselves from me. I exhale in a gust as my pain becomes manageable again. Tess perches on the edge of the seemingly wooden t
EstrellaI float for a long time in darkness. Not exactly here or absent. Not exactly comfortable or in pain. Not very much at all.Then, my whole body flames back to screaming, torturous life at once. I am the heart of an inferno, consuming everything that I am to produce the flame. A hoarse, ragge
Like she should be. Fuck. If Estrella is already gone somehow, already looking down on me, and she sees me abandoning all the progress I’ve made the second she’s not watching, she’s going to find a way to become a ghost just to kick my ass.I start pacing. Raven takes a dropper of the liquid, winces
AnwenSomeone screams. I think it might be me.I slide across the glass-covered floor to Estrella’s side and wrap my arms around her. My heart hammers.“No, no, no,” I mumble. “You can’t—not after—please.” My voice breaks on the last word.Her body is still warm. That has to mean something. It fucki
Behind me, Estrella sucks in a breath. Fabric rustles. Every instinct screams to keep my eyes on Floyd—I glance back at her. She is pushing into a sitting position. The black veins climbing up her throat threaten to choke me, but she nods. Sways, nearly falls, but fucking nods and picks a piece of
AnwenI pluck at the neck of my wedding clothes and look at myself in the mirror.“You look like shit,” Baz says from the bed behind me. Despite Estrella’s efforts, he’s still healing.“Thanks.” He’s right, though. Sundrop’s bright colors just kind of make me look sick. And the damned thing is so st
The cold. If it hurts enough, Anwen will feel me. He’ll know. And he’ll free me from this Goddess-damned ice so I can tear Floyd Winters limb from limb, as he deserves. That’s what Floyd missed.I grind the tender flesh of my ankles against the jagged edge of my prison.“You’re barely fucking civili
EstrellaMy heart thunders against my ribcage. My pulse roars. Mother, Castor, Tess—all gone. And with the wedding in an hour, I cannot yet mind-link to Anwen. I am alone.With the man who murdered my father.An oil-slick smile splits Floyd’s face as he circles me. The dagger in his hand shines. I l
King Andri clears his throat loudly. “In Snowcrest Canyon, it is rude to have a private conversation in public.”“Apologies.” Kieran dips his head, but I catch the scowl he’s hiding. “Prince Anwen was curious about how Prince Hollis came to hold such a position of power.”I smile as surprise washes