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
EstrellaI tug Anwen through the forest. While I do have a map in the bag strapped to my back, I don’t pull it out. The bag is heavy because King Kieran packed us enough fresh water in canteens to last a week. I need a moment alone with my mate.The twisting, winding roots guide my steps deeper. Th
“Close,” I manage to nearly sob.I expect him to let off, to string out this beautiful torture as long as he can like he seems to prefer. He doesn’t even hesitate.My orgasm rattles through me. I clutch his bare shoulder, and the scent of his blood licks the air as my claws extend for a better hold.
Anwen‘Wake up!’ Candace yells through mind-link. ‘Right fucking now!’I shoot up. Candace doesn’t curse. She’s never cursed before.‘I’m here. Who are you, and what did you do with my sister?’‘Shut up. I had a dream. You need to move everyone.’‘Your dreams are bullshit,’ I reply. ‘You can’t see t
The clearing becomes my racetrack, and I’m darting side to side, slaughtering one rogue only to dodge a vicious attack from another.And I haven’t seen Estrella since that rogue knocked me off course. Or Dorian Meadows.She’s not injured, I think as I suck in a deep breath. I would know.The tide of
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