The next two hours were spent doing shadow exercises. Sebastian had my shadows extend out and attack him as he timed them. I never landed a blow on him as his shadow was too fast, and would quickly block my own. He told me he would teach me how to do that with my own shadows tomorrow when he trains me. Apparently Al is gearing up to help in the fight with Alester and won't be available the next few days. "You're free to go. I look forward to seeing how quickly you improve these next few days. We look forward to having you back in the colony." "What are you talking about?" I furrowed my brows at him. "When you're free of Alester we expect you to come back to the colonies. You will be an elder in training for the colony in the west." He said it so simply, like his words didn't just irritate the absolute shi.t out of me. "No, I'm not. I am not living in your colony." I stared him straight in the eyes. His brows furrowed for half a second before he composed his face again. "You don't
"Welcome back." Kiran whispered, before kissing me so passionately, I was melting in his arms. I moaned into those plump lips of his as his tongue lightly licked my lower lip. "Glad to be back." I told him through a smile. All the anger I was feeling before I got here, dissipated into the air. "Kiran what's going on with your body? It's like you bulked up overnight?" I asked him, squeezing his now very large biceps and running my hands down his very chiseled pecs. "I am not sure. Since I emerged from the ashes of my Phoenix, my muscles have been growing. I think it finally stopped like an hour ago. We figure it's a phoenix thing, but there's no way to really know. You like it?" He arched his brow with a sexy smirk. "I liked it before and I like it now. Doesn't matter to me." I ran my hands over his now very defined abs. I bit my lip, actually really liking the way he looks now. "Although maybe I need to see you fully naked to really make a decision." I joked, wiggling my eyebrows s
I finished getting dressed and headed to his ensuite to wet my hair and fix my unruly curls after that sex. When I couldn't get it to comply, I tied it up with a frustrated sigh. I stepped out of his room and followed the most delicious scent towards the kitchen. My mouth was watering so bad by the time I reached the kitchen that I had to swallow to keep from drooling. "What are you making? It smells delicious." I sat at the bar stool on the kitchen island and watched Kiran's back as he continued to cook. His muscles were hardly contained by his shirt now. "I am making some shrimp fajitas." He turned, smiling widely at me. "They're my favorite quick dinner." "Good to know." I realized what Kiran said was true and we didn't really know much about each other. "What's your favorite food?" He asked me. "I don't really have one." "Really?" He wrinkled his nose in surprise. "Honestly we never cook. We have sandwiches for lunch and dinner is usually something that has been frozen an
'Zerena, come back right now! He's at the door!' Percy's panicked voice woke me. I didn't have time to say anything to Kiran before I instantly traveled to Percy's shadow.I came out on the bed, sandwiched between him and Kellan. Just perfect, right between the people I want to avoid the most. Percy pressed his fingers to his lips to tell me to stay quiet and pretended to be asleep. I did the same realizing what he was telling me without saying a word. The door quickly shot open and I could feel Alester staring at us all. "Wake up. Time to get things back in place." He ordered. We all rose off the beds quickly, as it's normal for us not to daddle when there's a wake up call from Alester. He's conditioned us too well, all of our lives. Alester looked at me and then between Percy and Kellan with a stupid grin that just made me want to slap the shi.t out of him. "Zerena, here. Take this now. I want to see it when you're done." He threw a small box at me, and I caught it easily. I tur
Kiran's P.O.V. I woke up and she was gone. I thought we had gotten past this, but it seems not. I hate when she disappears like this. I hope once she's free of Alester that she won't disappear from me this way again. I missed feeling her small body against my own already.'I love you, Kiran.' I let her words replay in my head over and over. They were words I didn't realize I needed to hear until she said them. I love her unequivocally and irecably. She's my everything and I plan to keep the promise I made to her. I need to improve my life in order to keep that promise. I need to go to college. I can't stay here for too long especially once Zerena is free. Will Tate be okay with Zerena staying here a while? Does Zerena even realize that I want her to live with me? Has it occurred to her or was she planning on relying on Everett again? I pulled myself off the bed, staring at the spot she was laying in last night. Her perfect body kept me cool throughout the night. A beautiful peacef
Zerena's P.O.V.Kiran: You will make an amazing mother, Zerena. I'm here no matter what. For my kid and his. I'll be by your side, so lean on me. I have stared at his message for an eternity, and read it about a million times over. I don't know what to say to him. I've had the phone hidden behind the shadows in case Alester were to burst into my room, but I know that I need to hide it again soon. Me: Thank you. You better mean it, Kiran, because I really am going to need you.I finally sent my text, feeling like it wasn't quite right in the end. This whole thing is a shi.t show and I only have Alester to blame. I heard the door knob twist and I quickly shoved the phone under my pillow, like an id.iot. Apparently being pregnant has made my brain stupid. "You know that's a terrible hiding place." Percy teased me as he entered the room. My stupid traitorous eyes and emotions had me crying the moment I saw it was him. "I'm so sorry, Zerena." He closed the door behind him and stepped sl
Knowing Isaac was in my future no matter what, scared me more than I liked to admit. I don't want to be stuck in the shadow colony. I don't want to be forced to marry a shadow weaver or to have his kids. What bullshi.t is that? I explained everything that happened with Sebastian last night and what he told me. I told him about the arranged marriage, the need to produce a shadow weaver heir. I told him what Sebastian said about Isaac as well. How his shadow could bind mine. I told him about the different parties and how I would have to choose one. I even told him how Sebastian said I could keep Kiran, but that I still had to marry the shadow weaver that beat the rest in a ranking match. "I don't like this, Zerena. I can't see a way to get you out of this either. You can't tell them about our kid. They need to believe that both of them are Kiran's. That's already bad enough, but if they find out you are having a seer's baby as well, it'll make them want your kids more. They will be ve
"You know, you could send a message like Al, through the shadows, give a girl a little warning." I snapped at Sebastian, getting off the ground. "Alester is watching me closely today and tomorrow. I don't know that training is a good idea." I recalled Percy telling me I couldn't go anywhere…not even for a second. "Don't worry about him. He won't be a problem after tomorrow. We need to get you up to speed." He said. "If you're not so worried about him, then come train me in my room." I taunted him. It would be easier to hide him, or for him to leave, than for me to try to keep up with when I need to be in my room. "Very well." We were back in my room before he even finished his sentence. Everyone jumped into action, ready to lunge at Sebastian, but never getting the chance as he firmly gripped them all in his shadows. "Put them down. They aren't enemies. They're my family." I scolded Sebastian. He raised a brow, but complied with my demand. "This is Sebastian. He's going to tra
I traveled to the spot in the yard, not believing my eyes from that distance. I approached the figure in the moonlight cautiously. He turned when he heard me step on a twig. That long black hair and dark eyes met mine. He smiled widely at me, swooning my heart the way he use to. “Percy?” I cried. “Hey, Zae.” “You as.shole.” I went to punch him but my hand went right through him. He laughed at me. “I figured you’d try to hit me. Sorry I don’t have a body anymore to hit.” He shook his head at me. “I’m sorry, Zae.” “You should be. You have no idea how much this has hurt. Damit Perc, you should have told me. I would have stopped it!” I yelled at him, tears flowing out of me like a waterfall. “You couldn’t have. Trust me, I didn’t want to leave our Ares, but it was the only way.” He sighed. His transparent hand reached for my face. I could feel him the same way I feel the air across my cheek. “Our Ares could really use a visit from you.” I told him. “I only have one more of
8 years later“Happy birthday Ares!” We all yelled, trying to surprise him, but who were we kidding he already knew.“I knew you wouldn’t forget.” He smiled at us all. “Auggie said everyone had forgotten about my birthday and that’s why no one had said it to me yet.”“Augustus Daimen Barlowe! Did you really tell your brother that?” Kiran scolded him.“I thought if he believed it he would actually be surprised.” Augustus explained.“I’ll talk to him, keep the party going.” Kiran told me, kissing my temple, before pointing to the door to let Augusutus know to walk out.I hugged Ares, holding him tightly for a long moment before he complained.“Mom.”“Sorry
Topher had already finished here. He was wrapping the elders up. We don’t plan on killing them or imprisoning them. They just won’t be in power anymore. I know they won’t like it, but with only a few elders they won’t be able to go against a whole army. We’ll be changing a lot around here, starting with the parties and classist shi.t. Obviously the higher class will hate it, but since they are few, I’m not worried about it. “Everything go well in the North?” Topher asked me, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing my temple. “Easy as pie.” I assured him. “Yeah, especially after she went all devil on us.” Isaiah smirked. “You did?” Topher asked, obviously not liking the fact. He didn’t like me using that side of myself much. “Yes, just for a little while. I’m fine, don’t worry.” I assured him. He looked at me for a while, assessing me, before nodding his head. He kissed my forehead now, letting his lips linger there. He let his arm wrap around me further, until his hand
2 months later.“It’s gotta be simultaneous.” I told them all, through a mass shadow message. I stared down the elder’s building with group 1 at my side. I decided to take down the north elders, while Topher led the west rebellion group. We had a good amount of people with us in each colony.Our civil war begins. Only it won’t be a war, it’ll be one battle, and we will come out victorious.‘We’re ready in the south.’ Felix, the leader of the south, responded with his own shadow message.‘Say the word and we’ll attack.’ Helena from the East sounded ready to b
It’s been a month now since the battle with Alester. Percy’s funeral hit me hard, breaking me further. I almost couldn’t bring myself to go. Kiran and Topher dragged my as.s there, not giving me a choice in the matter. I saw Allie, her beautiful innocent eyes were puffy from all the crying. She admitted to me that she knew what was going to happen. She told me Percy had asked her not to tell anyone, and that he had set things up for Ares. Apparently Electra had been helping him see into the future. She admitted that she would be joining him soon too. It was almost poetic…almost. It’s so damn heart breaking. I am not sure there is a heart left in me. It feels so hollow in my chest, like it’s run away, unable to take the pain anymore. The only times I felt a remnant of it, were when I was with August or Ares, or when I’d look at Jesse’s ultrasound. She’s not shadow kissed like Augustus. She’s like Ares, in my normal womb. Topher and Kiran did their best at trying to cheer me up, or a
Zerena’s P.O.V.No! God No!Percy’s lifeless body laid at Alester’s feet, his eyes open, staring at Ares. I kept waiting to see him heal. Kept waiting to see him move, to get back up and pummel Alester before him. I watched him for a while, completely dumbfounded. This isn’t real, this isn’t happening. I haven’t lost Kiran and Percy just now. Kiran will come back with his Phoenix, and Percy will heal. They have to. They can’t leave me.A thick sadness was beginning to envelope me. I felt the cold seeping into my bones, as the darkness began to over take me, feeding on my depression. I felt it turning all the heartache in me into an unbridled rage. I looked at Alester now, who had Percy’s heart still in his hand, burning it to Ash befo
Percy's P.O.V. Zae had made her announcement to everyone. I thought it was sweet of her to go along with Topher's plan to have an announcement party. This is how it should have gone. A baby with only the person she chose and not because some crazy bastard gave her a sea witch's potion. I watched as everyone congratulated her. She actually accepted the hugs. God, I hope she continues to open up after I'm gone. I wrote her a letter too. I put it where I knew she'd find it after my funeral. I hope she takes the advice I wrote for her. Everyone was having fun. I watched as Zae's people all intermingled. It was like watching the many parts of Zea's life come together beautifully. Eventually, the party had started to whine down. The first to leave was group 1, followed by Zea's parents, and then Tate and Alara with her twin, Alexis, plus Maple left. Kellan had decided to stay a while longer to talk to Dex about water portalling. Rain and her mate, Nate, left as well. The only ones he
Zerena’s P.O.V.“How does this look?” Kiran asked, when he finished the icing on the cake.“Looks great!” I smiled at him, kissing his cheek. “Thank you, Kiran.”I was actually excited for today. I never thought I would be a big announcement kind of gal, but I think that I am. I really like the idea of surprising everyone today. Topher and I have been over the moon about our baby girl. I can’t wait to share the news with everyone. I am so very lucky to have Percy. I don’t think I would have noticed I was pregnant for at least another month. I am also so grateful that he has saved me time with naming all these children. Already knowing their names and their genders has been very convenient.
Percy’s P.O.V.Dearest Ares,I know you’re going through a hard time right now. It’s hard to be in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same way as you. I felt this way about your mother for the longest time. I know it is difficult, especially to watch them be happy with someone else. I promise you, it will get better. You will find your mate soon, and the pain you are feeling will be a distant memory.Stay by her side, fight through the pain, my son. She will need you when your brother inevitably breaks her heart. It will hurt, but you’ll have to help fix them in order to find your own happiness. I know you have a great heart. I can already see how morally grounded you are. You will make the right decision. I have faith in you.&nb