“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
EstrellaDried blood itches under my fingernails. A few sticks scratch the back of my neck where they’re caught in my hair from sleeping under the moon. I cling to Anwen’s hand as he leads us through a series of underground tunnels back into the castle.I’ve never been in a fight like that before. N
“Good morning.” Candace’s smile is taut. “I’d like to introduce you both to Lady Eva of Snowcrest Canyon. She’s really made a splash here already.”Her words seem strange. I peer at her face, see a little of my own exhaustion within, then look at the redhead again. Sharply pointed nose, high forehea
“There’s no need for that!” I say quickly.“She injured—”Before she can finish her sentence, I reach out to the Goddess. The power springs to my command, easier and easier every time. My hands glow, and so does my ankle under the dress. When the feeling of pain fades, I lift my skirt to show the un
AnwenKieran pauses outside the door to his office and looks at me. “This part’s almost done.”“What part?” I ask.“The bullshit part.” He smiles. “I know the Goddess steers us all to our true mates during the Haze, but people who claim that means you’re perfectly matched from the start are fucking
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
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