*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
*Kieran* King Cole and I lock eyes, and for a moment, I see his fire. Despite his physical weakness from the harsh beatings he’s recently received, he’s ready to fight. “A little help here,” I mind-link with my friends. The dungeon doors swing open, and Taner, Whyte, and Lucian storm into the spac
“What’s the meaning of this?” he snarls, indicating our clothing. “It was awful, King Gavin,” Taner interjects, his tone bordering on weepy. Of the two of us, he’s the better actor, so I agreed to let him take the lead. “I was reading a book in the library when I heard the soldiers heading down to
*Raven* I watch Mother as she paces back and forth among the line of troops. No one would call this an army. It’s more like a rag-tag team of poorly trained teenagers. They aren’t all so young, but they are scrawny, pale, and a little gaunt. It’s evident that many of them have not seen the sun in a
*Kieran*There’s little time to prepare for the journey. Father wants us to leave the castle as soon as possible so we don’t delay in hunting down King Cole. He makes me bring Anwen along because, in his words, “Anwen needs some toughening up.” More like, Anwen is getting under foot, and Father wan
My heart races in my chest, but I maintain my facade. “That’s ridiculous,” I say as nonchalantly as I can. “Where would you even have heard such a malicious rumor?” “It’s not a rumor,” he answers evenly, sure of himself. “One of the guards sent a mind-link before you killed him. And if I heard it,
*Raven*Mother wakes me early, her excitement and anxiety evident in her face and posture. “He’ll be here tonight,” she breathes out, standing over my bed. “We must prepare. The soldiers will be close behind him.” I sit up quickly, trying to process her words. “Were you able to mind-link with him
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