*Kieran*It makes me uncomfortable to admit that she makes me feel comfortable.It seems ironic, but it’s true.She’s not supposed to make me feel this way because, in the crevices of my mind, the ones that haven’t adjusted to the new reality yet, she’s my sister.Even though I know she’s not, and e
By dusk, we are higher up in the mountains than I intended. I think I may have swung us a little too far to the west. I start to think about going back down, but somehow I’ve lost my bearings. We are on a cliff, and it’s getting darker by the moment when I start to think I might smell rogues in the
*Blanca*My heart thrums in my chest, and it has nothing to do with the fact that I almost died. With Kieran’s arms around me, his muscular chest pressed against me, I don’t even feel the scrapes and cuts I collected slipping down the mountainside. He pulled me back from the darkness, and now, here
Despite our frantic pace, Kieran doesn’t finish quickly. He keeps me at my peak for what seems like hours, though I’m sure it’s not that long. My body buzzes with pleasure, and I whimper and moan, knowing I’m about to come unraveled all around him. When he slides his hand down my abdomen and between
*Kieran*Blanca stares at me as if she can’t comprehend what I’ve just said. I don’t blame her; I’m not sure I can comprehend it myself. But then, I’ve said it, and I mean it.“Kill your father?” she repeats.I nod. “That’s right. We need to kill him. Of course, it would be nice to hear him confess
“Sorry.” I look over at her, and she nods. “I didn’t mean to yell at you. I was having a bad dream.”Her fear melts away, and concern takes its place. “Are you all right now?”“I will be.”In near silence, we go about our morning routine and then get on our way. Seeing the spot where she fell the ni
*Blanca*Kieran is gone–swallowed up by a tree! I can hardly believe what I’m seeing. The tree simply opened, and now, he’s disappeared. It takes me a moment to comprehend, and I have to wonder if perhaps all trees are capable of this, and my sheltered life has left me thinking otherwise, but then I
Luna Delaney approaches us carefully, her face as ashen as possible considering she has a dark complexion like me. Her eyes are also dark, as is her hair, which is tied up on the top of her head. I see the crinkles around her eyes that say she’s had a hard life, and I am again reminded of myself. A
When he brings a hand up to tease my other nipple, I remember I can actually move my arms. One hand, I thread instantly into his hair and tug. The vibrations of his grumble ripple through me. The other, I slip down his back, nails out, scratching red lines I can’t see. I need to mark him as much as
CandaceI trail after Hollis through the dark halls of the castle, my heart pounding. If Finn didn’t talk to me after the meeting, I would’ve let Hollis whisk me on whatever adventure he had planned for today. I never would’ve heard the story about his mother—and he wouldn’t have told it. Judging by
“Long story short, I pitched a fit.” I shake my head. “She finally told the painter she’d sit with me in the room, or not at all.”Candace giggles. “Don’t tell me that’s when you gained your taste for paint thinner.”“No, but I did eat a fistful of blue paint I’ve never seen come back out.” I stare
HollisI take a full step back from Candace before my brain catches up with my body. We were supposed to go try to get some of the staff on our side today—and if the idea appealed, maybe have a private lunch in the kitchen, without all the pressure of a formal meal. Talking about Mother is… not exac
Maybe I don’t have to. Hollis and I made it into town the other day, and it’s really not far from the castle. If Kieran paid for my accommodation in an inn there, that might go some way toward easing the tension. Maybe mine and Kash’s. He’s still enjoying the palace far more than he has any right to
Candace“King Andri has refused my latest meeting request,” Kieran says.Taner groans. Finn rolls his eyes. Ingrid cracks her knuckles and glares at the portrait of the king that hangs over the small sitting room they’ve been granted to use for their meetings.I scratch a line through the bottom ent
Open the east gate, I call through the mind-link to the soldiers that should be on guard there at this time.They do as they’re told, and metal whines in the distance. Candace pricks an ear then picks up speed. Fuck. I can’t explain to her that’s just my orders being followed. She doesn’t even know
HollisMy first plan didn’t work out. Hell, I haven’t seen paw nor tail of Kash since that disastrous conversation with him. I have no idea why it went to shit. It really seemed like we were onto something, like Candace was about to unearth some big secret… and then he just shut down.I roll out my
Kash frowns. “Then how’d she find out? See a mark?”“In effect.” Hollis stares at the rocky floor.“He’s softening it.” I bite my lip. “We didn’t not pursue as much as we intended to, and she caught us. We made a terrible, selfish mistake that’s caused a lot of problems, and we just want to fix them