*Kieran*An hour later, I’m walking back toward my room when I see the absolute last person I can stomach at the moment. Nessa. The moment she locks eyes with me, she’s running toward me, latching herself around my neck. Her little minions titter in excitement behind her. Were they not there, I’d ma
My chest aches thinking about Raven there without me. I wish I could just tell my friends about her, but I’m not sure how much I can trust them just yet. We’ve been friends since we were children, but what if I slip the wrong thing to them and my plan unravels? It’s too important to see this through
*Raven*The next day, Mother guides me through a few more exercises to help me master my powers. It’s not much harder than controlling animals, but the feeling ripples through me like an electric charge. I still just think something and watch it happen, but the elements seem to shift around me and i
“You know that’s not how the Goddess works,” Melany tells her in a soothing manner. “She bestows gifts how She sees fit.” “Then she’s blind,” Sybil screeches. “You are nothing but a spoiled princess from a kingdom that tried to destroy us. You’re the last person in the world who should have receive
*Kieran* I stare back into the blank expressions of my three best friends, my heart pounding in my chest so loud I’m sure they can hear it. This might have been a bad idea. A really bad idea. Even though these are the three men I would trust with my life, I’ve asked them to stomach a lot in the las
I start walking down the long, dark corridor toward King Cole’s cell. A few of the other prisoners look at me in interest, some even throw out verbal insults, but I ignore them as I focus on my destination. He’s sitting on his bed when I arrive, waiting for me. I quickly look around to make sure no
*Raven* Every time I close my eyes, I see lightning strike down just inches from where Sybil stands. Guilt gnaws in my stomach no matter how much I toss and turn in my large bed. If Kieran were here, he’d hold me, tell me that it’s all okay. He’d probably laugh about it. I can almost hear his laugh
“There’s nothing you can’t share with me, love,” she tells me earnestly. “We’ve already lost so much time together, I never want you to feel that you have to keep things from me.” Tears fill my eyes again, and I nod. “I can’t help but think about my old family,” I admit reluctantly. “They ignored
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