“I spent it with—” My tongue sticks stubbornly to the roof of my mouth. I cannot say the words, cannot admit my sickening betrayal.I spent the night in Prince Anwen’s bed, I tell her.Tess’s mouth tightens in a way I know means she’s biting the inside of her lips to keep from having a reaction. My
AnwenDays pass in a blur of activity. Every one is exactly the same and just different enough to drive me crazy. I wake up reliably with the sunrise, something I’ve never done before in my life. My steward, Frazier, is shocked the first time he comes in to wake me up and I’m already half-dressed wi
He simpers. “Apologies, Your Highness, but my magic simply isn’t powerful enough. There is no way for you to inspect the king’s body without disturbing the ice, which—”“Will damage the body before they can get it back to Sundrop Gem,” I snarl. “I’ve heard the speech before. Just”—I shake my head—“k
EstrellaIn a break between meetings, when Castor reports Anwen is shut up in his office with orders not to disturb him, I creep through the halls of the castle to visit Father. My dress, a re-dyed version of the purple and blue Tess offered is now purple and deep, dark red that reminds me of blood
In some ways, I could. I could brush my fingers over his ruined cheeks and return color to them. But with my weak abilities, I could do no more.“Would you like that?” I ask anyway. “Then, we could change you into something a little more comfortable.”I wonder if Floyd can hear me through the door.
AnwenI tap my feet against the solarium floor, fighting an instinct that demands I pace.She’s coming, Baz reminds me without looking away from the spread on the table in front of us. I called him back from the chase leading ever closer to the castle because there’s no one else who could sit at my
My temper flares. “And what if someone from your own kingdom perpetrated the attack? Baz and his team didn’t rule out Sundrop Gem. We don’t know your smells.”Her grip on her utensils tightens. “My people would not do this. My father was beloved. We gain nothing from his death.”“Apologies, Luna Est
EstrellaI yank against Anwen’s grip, ignoring the way my wolf howls for more. “Unhand me!”He looks at me with those icy blue eyes, then turns to Tess. “I must insist you give us a moment alone.”My face burns. How dare he talk to her like I’m not here? I am Luna Queen of Sundrop Gem! I turn to Tes
She groans. “I really think that might count as two parties.”With a laugh, I let them lead me out of my new bedroom in my new home and down to the temple to start the rest of my life. Ingrid, Estrella, and Raven leave to join the crowd, but Eva stays with me. According to Snowcrest tradition, she w
CandaceI drag a comb through my thin hair and stare at myself in the mirror on my vanity. More accurately, the new mirror on my new vanity. Hollis and I had to exchange one more goodbye because I had to return to Dun’s Crossing long enough to pack up my life. Some things weren’t worth the trouble o
I press my mouth to hers, mapping the curve of her smile with my tongue. She laughs up into me, breathless with relief. I trace the fullness of her cheek, the slope of her neck. She nips my lower lip. I climb into the bed with her, careful of her many injuries. Someday, we’ll talk about her mother,
Hollis‘Got some more over here,’ Zain calls through the mind-link.I drag the heavy cart across the red-mottled snow toward my Beta. My muscles burn with exertion, but I’m not stopping until this whole battlefield is clear. I won’t let a wolf suffer longer than they have to.Zain nudges ice off a h
“No!” Nessa shrieks. “I warned you about this, about her. She’s twisting your mind.”Eva laughs in her face. “She’s twisting things?”Nessa darts to Soren’s side and grabs his arm. “We can’t stop. Rowena said there would be hell to pay if—”Hollis gestures sharply with the arm I’m not holding onto.
CandaceMy heart hammers in my throat. Our weapons shine dully in the snow, Hollis’s sword dwarfing my dagger. Eva drags her gaze from them up to our clasped hands. My other arm throbs, a reminder that I don’t think I could fight her off if I wanted to.She adjusts her grasp on her knife to a stabbi
Eva scoffs and smashes the hilt of her knife into my fingers around her arm. “When have we ever had trouble talking to each other?”“Exactly.” My fingers throb as I wrap them around my sword. “That’s why it was so hard.”“Bullshit!” Her voice cracks. “Just tell me. Four little words. I found my mate
HollisAt the same moment as I reach the wide ring of defenders and ranged fighters encircling the heart of the battle, Candace limps to a stop at my side. Blood stains her gray coat in a dozen places, and my heart leaps into my throat. I meet her huge, dark eyes. She melts into a human before me. H
There. The break I need. ‘Gavin wouldn’t let you lead, would he?’The shield flickers for a moment, and I crash through it. Sweet air courses into my lungs. I can’t waste the moment, so I charge at her blindly.‘I kept him as my figurehead,’ she howls. ‘I did not need his permission to act. I needed