EstrellaCandace jerks in her seat. I look up from where I’m pacing the room to see a grin spread across her face.“He’s on his way,” she says.Tess, who long ago finished braiding the princess’s hair, squeezes my hand. I don’t need to ask who’s coming. My heart thuds like a racing horse. Soon, Anwe
“I love you.” I drop a kiss on his lips. “And, Goddess forgive me, I trust you. But you must take Castor.”Anwen grimaces. “Will do. The rest of the women should stay here with you.”Tess makes a disdainful noise.“I can’t leave her unprotected,” he tells her.I twist and watch my best friend soften
AnwenWith Nessa’s list in hand and all three of us dressed in plain, heavy clothes, Baz, Castor, and I sneak down into the city proper, through my favorite secret passage so even the guards don’t know we’re gone. My whole body hums with adrenaline. I couldn’t—can’t kill Floyd. Not yet. But this fuc
Like he can read my fucking mind, he hangs a hard right into a narrow alley with a standing market. Vendors in layers of mismatched clothes crowd the tiny space. Speed won’t help me here. I could throw back my hood and demand they stop him as their prince, but—“Allow me.” Castor breezes past me int
EstrellaMy room!’ Castor shouted through the mind-link. ‘Now!’I turned and sprinted out of the solarium without a second thought, leaving the party behind. I hurtle down the halls of Solberg Castle, the veil of my wedding dress flapping behind me like a broken wing, without a thought in my mind b
I shake my head furiously. “I killed him.”“What?”“Father.” My shoulders shake with sobs. “I knew the bond would make me stronger. Strong enough to—to—”“Oh, love.” Anwen kisses my cheeks.I tear out of his arms. Everything is too loud, too much.“Don’t say that about yourself,” Castor says roughly
Anwen“Are you sure of this?” King Andri rumbles.I hold the massive Alpha’s dark stare. “Someone working with Floyd on the whole plan told us everything. I’m sure you understand why I can’t tell you who.”“You think you cannot trust me.” He studies me.I hold my straight-backed posture. The king of
She laughs then covers her mouth. “No. Father’s… I’ve never seen him give up on anything. He’s probably just changing the plan, now that he’s lost the element of surprise.”That, too. She’s weirdly calm for having turned her back on her father.Kieran said I was projecting when I told him my worries
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