“Kas! Is it true? Les will be here tomorrow?” I turn around and see Sun charging at Maya and me. I brace myself to protect Maya from getting squished by our sister’s powerful hug. “You know what that means, right?” “Hi darling. I-I think it means Hephaestus will be here.” “Well, that but also-“ “Kas!” Lena squeals and rushes up behind Sun, joining in on the group hug. “Why are you crying?” “Oh, sorry. Maya and Dre had to get their vaccinations.” I wipe tears away and try to smile. “Maya growled at the nurse and they both cried from the shots. It made me cry too.” I feel my lip tremble just thinking about their sweet little faces when they felt the needles. Lena looks at Maya lovingly and takes her from me. “I’ll help her feel better.” She gives Maya a kiss on the forehead, letting her silver healing energy move to Maya. I breathe a sigh of relief when I feel Maya’s tension relax and she coos at Lena. “Thank you, Lena. Is everyone in the conference room? I have about half an ho
“Oh, eyes just like your daddy!” Bronx’s mom Sandy gives Dre a fat kiss on the cheek and nuzzles him. “Kas, we’re so proud of you, sweetie. I know it was a rocky start, but you have done a great job with these two so far.” “Thank you, Sandy.” I look past her and watch Bronx’s dad, Michael, making wolf faces at Maya. “I take it she looks like you did when you were little?” He looks up with a huge smile on his face. “Oh yeah. There are no pictures to compare, but same color eyes and mousey brown hair. It’s amazing to think one day those eyes will turn red and her hair dark brown, huh?” “We’re so sorry we didn’t come sooner, Kas.” Sandy rocks Dre in her arms. “After what happened with Lenora, we took some time to live in wolf form and we were just so disconnected from everything. We didn’t even know you were back until we got to Prague last week. Bronx explained it was an accident. So, if he forgives you, we do too.” “It’s okay, Sandy.” I consider how to answer her. “I’m just glad y
Another knock at the door interrupts Lady Camille and Delilah while they explain the complexities of suppressing the dark magic. Bronx excuses himself and answers the door. We all stop and turn when he bursts out laughing in the doorway.“Codi girl, what are you wearing?” Bronx laughs harder when he raises her high in the air. “Uncle Bonx! Codi a weretiger like Swagga!” She is wearing a winter beanie hat, orange with black stripes and cat ears sewn on top. Her shirt is neon green with a jack-o’-lantern face and her leggings are hot pink. I chuckle at the ballet slippers that finish her chaotic look.“Leticia bought her the hat.” Klay stands quietly in the doorway with his hands clasped in front of him and watches them. “Beta Milo had to take care of a few security matters for tomorrow’s ceremony. He asked me to escort Miss Codi to visit her cousins before it’s time for the nanny to put her down for bedtime.”“Thank you, Klay. Please come in.” Bronx steps to the side and closes the do
Bronx’s POV“Hey Bronx.” Milo comes in without knocking. If it were anyone else, it would bother me. Things have calmed down between us, so I let it go. “I need a huge favor.”“Of course. What’s up?” I sit back in my seat.“I have a thousand things to do for tonight. Can you please take Codi to get her a dress? She’s Hell bent on a white one like Kas has.” He looks worn out. I wonder if I could convince him to take time off. “Ashley already called the kids’ boutique and they have a few, but Codi needs to try them on. It’s the place Lenora always took her, so Codi knows the owner. Nice lady. She can help Codi change and all that. I would do it, but I just don’t have time.”I look down at the to-do list Carly left me. It doesn’t matter. I can squeeze in time with my niece.“Sure, but I’m taking your truck.” “Deal. You’re a lifesaver.” Milo looks relieved. “Klay will go with you. Oh, and she’s going to want a cupcake from the bakery.”“Cupcake. Got it.”“No juice. Just milk or water. Th
“Get up.” Saint pulls me back from a dreamless sleep. “We have to get out of here, Bronx. Get up.”I inhale a sharp breath. The scent of astringent burns my nose. It makes me groan and forces my eyes open. I’m in the hospital, but it doesn’t smell like Blood River.“Saint? Which hospital is this?” I reach up to rub my eyes, but pain shoots down my arm. I look down at the sling, keeping it in place. “The photographer shot me?”“Yeah. Now we’re in a human hospital.” He sounds calm, but is not willing to sit around any longer. “We have to get out of here.”“Human hospital.” I try to recall what happened. My heart skips when I remember the details. “Codi.”Time to move. I have to get out of here and find Codi and Klay. I ignore the pain and sit up. Wires and tubes stick out from my skin. I pull them out and slide off the bed. When my feet touch the floor, I feel myself wobble, so I lean against the side of the bed.“Saint, give me an assessment.”“Forty cal to the shoulder. Nicked artery,
When I get to the second floor landing, most of the Menae are heading out to the backyard for the ceremony.“Bronx, what are you wearing? That won’t work.” Sun stops and looks at me like I’m dressed in a chicken suit or something. She’s only wearing a simple cotton dress, but it’s an olive green instead of the natural fabric she usually wears. “Should I ditch the tie?” The women walking with her are in similar plain dresses of varying colors and styles. Even the Maven, who always pride themselves on dressing in the most current fashions, are in simple pink flowy dresses. “Bronx, why are you in a monkey suit?” Ayrelles laughs as she approaches. She isn’t in her signature all black form fitting clothing either. Her light blue dress only has one shoulder, exposing a tattoo usually hidden by her high neck tank tops that is an exact half-size replica of the rose and dagger tattoo Lenora had on her forearm. I feel my mouth drop slightly. How is that possible?“I… didn’t know you...” I fee
I look back at the Menae. A soft golden glow engulfs the outside of their circle, spiraling inward. The light creates a gentle, strobing effect that matches the cadence of their song. As curls its way toward the center, goes to the center, it turns red, then silver, then blue, and finally violet. The alluring lights grow brighter and seem to dance in a spiraling pattern around the women.The women sing like they’re a practiced choir. At the center of the circle, their collective energy creates a white light around Kas. It gets brighter by the second, until it’s impossible to see her. The floating crown shines black with deep purple flames, brighter than the energy Menae release. Five jets of jewel toned fire rise out of the spires high into the night sky. As they touch the crystalline bubble, they expand and turn into spotlights. The spotlights extend to the clouds, breaking them apart like they are nothing more than a simple vapor. The crowd gasps, then claps and cheers at the specta
“Good Morning Alpha!” Diane comes into the apartment with a happy sing-song tone. “Oh, someone’s not thrilled this morning.”“Yeah, how long does teething last again?” I say over Dre’s wailing cries. “I tried everything you told me. He’s been up almost all night.”Diane goes to the kitchen, washes up, then comes back and takes Dre from me. She sits him on her lap, takes her pinky finger, sticks the tip in his mouth and moves it around until she finds the tooth causing his discomfort. She hums a soft tune until he stops wailing and just sniffles at her.“Wh-what did you do?” I look at her in awe.“Just a little pressure on that tooth. Helps ease the pain for a few minutes. Lena showed me how to do it last night. My little Mandi is teething, too. You should see Jordan. He worries about her so much and he already has healer instincts even though he can’t heal her yet. He puts his hands on her cheeks and coos at her.” She puts Dre against her shoulder and rocks him while she pats him on t