"I heard you scream and I thought something might've happened. Are you alright?" Lionel asked, voice low as he held me against his chest.My heart fluttered against my ribs, my pulse racing. I couldn't think of anything to say as a response, not when he was so close and warm against me. I opened and
Lionel looked back to me with a small smile on his face. "Then, we'll take it."I looked away from Lionel, back to my reflection in the mirror. My face was flushed and pink. I smiled to myself.But there were still other things to do. After we changed back into our normal clothes, the girls went to
"What are you doing?" I asked flustered, my face warm. I kept my voice low as Lionel's arms were wrapped around my waist.It was one thing for him to do this sort of thing when it was just us or the girls, but I couldn't believe he was acting this way when we were around so many other important peop
"Please, just follow me." The maid said, walking back into the house and rushing through the hall until we arrived in a small room. But the girls weren't there.It was Cora.The room was small and dimly lit with two overstuffed chairs and a small side table between them. On the table were two wine g
Lionel’s POVI looked down at Nan after she had fallen into my arms. I cradled her close to my chest protectively. She was disheveled, her hair was all over the place, her dress slightly torn and stretched around her as if someone had been trying to remove it.But worse than that, she didn’t look li
“Cora... she put something in the wine.” Nan whined out, reaching for me. Her voice was weak and soft.I sucked in a breath, rubbing my thumb against her flushed cheek. I had always known that Cora could be petty and jealous, but I couldn’t believe that she would stoop as low as to drugging someone.
Lionel’s POVI felt the mate bond spark between us as I kissed her, but it lost the connection as soon as I pulled away. I didn't know why it wasn't staying. Why the connection was so brief.I looked down, seeing Nan had fallen asleep while I had been lost in thought. I took in a heavy breath, as I
"I'd like to speak to her." I said, nodding my head decisively."Are you sure?" Lionel asked softly with a furrowed brow. I could see the concern in his eyes from across the room.I noticed the bags beneath his eyes that came from a poor night of sleep. He had been asleep in the chair beside my bed.
Third Person POVIt had been the easiest wedding Nan had ever planned.She knew that she might have been stressed under any other circumstances. Nan had survived much worse than planning her own wedding. So this did not phase her.Scarlett and her sister had been a huge help in that regard.Nan was
He pulled out all the way and then slammed back in. Again and again. It was fast and brutal.I loved every second of it. This is what I had been craving. Lionel at his wildest and utterly crazed for me.At one point he turned me onto all fours. This new ankle only brought him deeper. Making me clenc
Nan’s POVIt should have been awkward.We were on a deserted island. The heavy weight of history of this place resting over us like a dark cloud. Exposed to the elements.It should not have been as arousing as it was.There was something about this that excited me. We were out in the open. Anyone co
I felt sick to my stomach. Everything I had uncovered had hinted at some dark origins. I could not have imagined anything like this.I could imagine it in my mind’s eye. The betrayal from the people they had led. Blood and shackles their new fate.“Only one clan remembered its original purpose. Only
Nan’s POVThis was the moment I had been waiting for.Mr. Holder had allowed us to go home and rest for a while. Correctly guessing that Lionel and I needed time to rest after that ordeal. Neither of us wanted to be far from each other that night.Mr. Holder had requested for us to meet with him at
I let the bond wash over me. Lionel pushes his emotions through. His fear, his worry, his love.I send back my own terrible fear and pain. He takes it into himself. Almost cupping it like he would a wound.There are no true words in the bond. Not really. But if there were…‘Remember…fight…remember w
Nan’s POVMy entire world was aflame.Fire filled my vision. Smoke burned my lungs. I held my breath.The fire licked at my skin. Heated my blood. Seeking to fill the hollow of my bones.The strangest thing was that I was not burning.I should have been. Any normal fire would nave incinerated me. Ye
“Yes?”“If we do this-” She begins.“Nan!” I interject sharply.I am ignored.“-and it fails…what will happen to me?” She asks tightly.He meets her gaze head on. Unflinching. “You would most likely perish.”“See?! It’s too risky!” I growl.Nan is not paying me any mind. Her attention is directed at
Lionel’s POV“Today marks your third trial.”“What is today?” I ask weakly. “Running through the forest…a treasure hunt?”Each trial had gotten progressively more difficult. I had not forgotten the man’s last words to us. Knowing that this would be the worst of all did not inspire much confidence in