EstrellaAnwen dives at me, the ribbon tying us together tugging at my skin, and I lean closer rather than away. Our mouths crash together. Those beautiful rings scrape lightly against each other. My emotions threaten to overflow yet again, a cup being filled over and over again. When he first descr
He strokes it rhythmically, slipping to either side now and again to toy with my breasts and tease my nipples to peaks. The agonizing memory alchemizes into something sweeter under his touch. There is so much to be grateful for—too much to simply lie here and receive.I roll us over, pressing his ba
CandaceFour months after Anwen left to become Alpha King of Sundrop, I struggle to focus on the embroidery in my lap as the carriage bounces along a rutted road.“She was here for a week!” Ingrid laughs. “You can’t be that excited to see her again.”I stick out my tongue at my younger sister. “How
Eva blinks and turns to Hollis. Through the angle of the sun, I didn’t even realize he was standing next to her. He doesn’t look at me—he’s always a tough nut to crack, but he’s got a nice laugh when I do—and his face is as impassively unimpressed as usual.I don’t want to hear their thoughts. While
Anwen“Wish you could still be my Beta.” I fix my hair in the mirror again. “I was looking forward to being able to boss your ass around.”Baz grins. “How do you know that wasn’t why I changed packs in the first place?”I snort. I should’ve known he was gonna move with me when I saw him at that part
My chest tightens. King Isai was an incredible man. Someone who would’ve been really helpful to have around while I figured out how to deserve his daughter.Estrella releases my hand to throw her arms around Castor and whispers something to him that I can’t hear.“I know,” he replies. “I love you.”
HollisBy the Goddess, I feel like shit. My head aches, my skin burns, and I am far too hot. I told Father sleeping in the carriage away from Escuro wouldn’t work out for any of us—if I feel like this, I can only imagine how he’s doing this morning. We could’ve left this morning without losing any f
The scars on Luna Estrella are enough to prove it.“I—” She shakes her head. “What does this have to do with the Haze? Why are you running away?”“Because you’re not my mate.” This time, my shoulder sears like my arm is about to fall off. More memories of last night leak in. Someone’s teeth in my ar
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