HollisI squeeze between Candace and her so-called father with a comfortable smile on my face. I’m just sitting down for dinner with friends, I tell myself. They invited me. There’s every reason for me to be here.Hell, it’s not like I’m going to come up with a reasonable excuse for why I’m doing th
She stiffens like I struck her with lightning then turns very slowly. “What?”“Eva wanted me to let me know that if there’s anything you need, she’s there for you.” Smiling at Candace is easy. My face stops feeling like a painful rictus of forced cheer.Her now-dark gaze roams my face, searching for
Candace“What do you think?” Ingrid asks. “The green or the gold?”I study the dresses hanging from each of her arms. The green is a soft seafoam, a frothy thing that makes her look like she’s just stepped off the top of a wave, especially when she lets me style her hair. But the gold, embroidered w
He blows out a long breath and rubs a hand over his face. “Well, repeated dreams about the same shit tend to be some kind of turning point. Major life events and all.”I nod. “But what about this dream? Is there a chance it’s more like a metaphor than anything real?”“A chance? Sure.” The smile he o
With the heavy thump of drums and birdlike trill of some flute, they’re a little easier to ignore. That–or practice.“Dancing first?” Kash asks. “Or would you prefer a drink?”I glance at him. “You’re more comfortable here than I would’ve expected.”His hold on me tightens, but he smiles. “You reall
HollisFuck.As soon as I saw Candace walk in, I knew I was in trouble. She’s dressed like I’ve never seen her before. Tight green fabric cups her breasts and ass like I want to, trailing from the hem up to a loop hooked over her finger to keep her mobile enough to dance. Her hair spills loosely out
Blonde eyebrows lift, and her plush lips part.“I… meant to,” I admit. “I thought it would be enough. Make everyone stop asking about the failed Haze. Give her something to hold onto.”Candace’s face crumples. “Right. Because you’ve made your decision, and she’s going to be your wife. Hollis, let me
CandaceI pace back and forth under the moonlight, the hem of my gown swishing over the grass. Alone.Of course, I’m alone. Hollis has been more than clear—there is no future for us. Throwing myself at him one last time was obviously nothing more than another chance to humiliate myself. Mother alway
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