*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
My quill flows across the page, writing down every word of the story. Mother’s voice rings in my ears, soft over familiar phrases. When I’m done, I don’t read it over. I’ll just crumple it up if I do. But I scribble one last thing at the end.Even if the tower never falls….Seconds tick away as I st
HollisI’m a moron. Worse than that, I’m insane. That’s what Mother said when she found out I’d stuck my tongue to the frozen pole outside of the kitchen three times in a week and basically skinned the damn thing every time. But every time, I thought it would be like in a story Eva and I read, where
“I want something more active,” I say. “Like you. I want to… I don’t know… make something?”“Easy.” Ingrid claps her hands together. “Have you ever done any fine arts? Drawing, painting, sculpting?”I shake my head. Yet another class Mother thought was filling my head up with nonsense.“Okay. I know
CandaceI’m sitting at the dressing table, fixing my hair for the first time in days, when a bird starts singing right outside my tent. An ash warbler. For the third time since sunset yesterday. I almost smile.When it first happened, I made Ingrid go check. We were way outside of where the warbler
‘Catch me if you can!’ she calls through the mind-link.In wolf form, I can’t give her the necklace if I want to. I stuff her clothes and mine in her sewing bag, then shift and give chase.Escuro flies by. I barely notice it. My attention remains locked on Eva’s bright-red tail disappearing between
HollisMy plan to act like I actually believe Eva is going to be my wife is going great—except for the fact that I basically haven’t slept since I started it because my mark hurts so Goddess-damned bad. That’ll fade. I know it will. Because I do believe Eva’s going to be my wife. It’s what everyone
Outside the tent, someone makes the tiniest whimper I’ve ever heard. My heart squeezes.“They can come in, but no lights.” I sit up. “And don’t ask, please.”Ingrid nods and starts to turn away, but her gaze locks on mine. She’s noticed. Of course. Every muscle in my body tenses.She turns back for
CandaceFor the third morning in a row, I pull my covers over my head as lunch approaches and rub eyes gritty from crying.Well, not exactly the third morning in a row. The very next day, I tried. I got up, made myself beautiful even as Ingrid fluttered around me, saying I didn’t have to go out if I
Not that I’m keeping track. I, in fact, am doing the exact opposite. I’ve been so caught up in her that I’ve been neglecting my responsibilities. Even if she’s not the person I’m going to spend my life with, I still believe in her dream. There’s just no reason for her to lie, or to seem so scared if