I am secretly relieved that at least one of my daughters might not be so easily manipulated by Katya insincere façade of motherly kindness.“Nan is busy at the moment. But I’m here.” There is a tight undertone to her words now.“I’ll wait.” Patti replies.Katya’s eyes darken slightly. “She might not
Third Person POVIt was almost boring.Had had Lionel gone soft after her ‘death’? Maybe fatherhood had addled his keen brain. The result was the same regardless.Katya was winning.All she had to do was throw scarps of attention and the children’s affection was hers. The weak pup was more resistant
“Oh?” Katya voiced. Never one to turn down free information.This opens the flood gates.“Last time mom turned the whole house into a treasure hunt.” Patti exclaimed.“She even made maps and traps! Just like a real pirate movie.” Vera said excitedly.“One of the traps spit chocolate sauce on us!” Pa
Third Person POVPatti had known that Katya was a liar.Katya’s eyes never held the same sincerity as others. Patti had seen that from the start. It was obvious to Patti that Katya was not what she appeared to be.Patti had never known someone who could be so mean.Patti tried not to let things upse
“Stop it.” Vera pleaded.“I would love too.” Katya replied sweetly. “It brings me no pleasure to hurt a child.”“Then don’t.” Vera choked out as Patti seemed like she was about to start bleeding, “That depends on you.” Katya laid out. Voice as gentle and lilting as ever.A stomach-turning ice settl
Third Person POVVera wanted Katya gone.The obvious approach would not work. Katya was too slippery. But Vera was sneaky too.Vera also had something Katya did not. Vera had Patti. She could do anything with her sister’s help.Katya would regret scorning Patti and her mom.The girls went through se
Not when poor Vera was so sick.“Lionel!” Katya scolds. “You can’t just send me away.”“Vera is ill.” Lionel countered. “I need to focus on her.”“I am their mother.” Katya stomps her foot. “It’s not fair that she is staying when I am being sent away.”Lionel’s impatience becomes frustration. A bit
Third Person POVKatya was annoyed.Everything had been going so well. She predicted that she could have broken Lionel’s relationship up within a few more weeks. She would have even taken back her rightful place by the girls’ 7(th) birthday in a month or two.Those little brats through everything of
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