OpheliaAt a closer glance I could see that Ren Nakamura was several years older than me. If I had to guess, I’d pin him somewhere in his early to mid-thirties. Despite that, he looked young for his age and well put together, though I expected nothing less given his father’s wealth.The women crowding around him giggled as I approached. I spared them a cursory glance, tucking my emotions away.Reminding myself that I was playing a role, I made a show of running my eyes over him, letting them linger on his chest and arms. “Is there a reason you had your goon come and fetch me?”The corner of his lip lifted, exposing a hint of teeth as he flashed me a smile that was nothing short of predatory. “You have no idea who I am, do you?”“I’m new to town.” I replied, “Are you a doctor or something? Maybe a CEO?”He let out a husky laugh that had the women surrounding him flushing, “Something like that. This club that you’re in,” He motioned around us with his hand, “I own it. My name is Ren Nak
JudeOne Hour Earlier…We found her.We found her.We found her.One month, three days, and four hours later, we finally fucking found her.At long last the tracking spell Ryker had been casting religiously snagged on Ophelia. It required blood from the closest relative, which meant we had to get some from Kimberly. We had tried Lucille’s, but the damn thing didn’t take. When I heard about the dark magic spell she’d placed on me I nearly killed her myself, fully aware that I would follow her into the afterlife. It was for Ophelia that I didn’t. The last time we drew blood from her, Kimberly had made the mistake of threatening to harm herself. I watched with equal parts glee and jealousy as Ryker pinned her against the wall, his magic keeping her rooted in place, unable to do so much as blink.The wound on my arm, which was several inches larger than the meager pinprick on Kimberly’s hand, meant for drawing a small amount of blood, was already healing.“If anything, anything at all,
OpheliaI stood at the elevators for a few seconds to regain my composure when I heard the quiet footsteps of someone creeping up behind me.With defensive magic curling around me in invisible wisps, I turned to lock eyes with Nova. Any surprise I might have felt was quickly squashed beneath a mask of cold calm.“Ophelia,” She began, her hands clenched in front of her. “You look good.”I raised my hand, not wanting to hear whatever it was she had to say. All my emotions, all the guilt and pain, had been shoved down deep. I wanted them to remain in the abyss in which I’d thrown them in.“Not interested.”Her flinch told me that she recognized those words. They were the exact ones she told me that day in the halls of Eclipse U. I’d been so desperate to talk to her, to apologize for my horrible mistake.I didn’t blame her for not wanting to hear it, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.This was probably the first time I’d seen Nova without a face full of make-up, and a body full of lace
OpheliaI turned slowly, my heart pounding heavily in my chest.“Hello, Jude.”Just like his brother, my unhinged, psychopathic mate had seen better days. Dark circles ringed his silver eyes. Eyes that were both haunted and manic, obsessive and full of the very ruthlessness that allowed him to kill so easily.He wore an old Metallica t-shirt that hugged his muscular chest, and a pair of black jeans covered in holes. The scar slashed through his eye rippled as he drank me in.Standing to his left, eyes glazed and slightly wobbling on his feet, was Ryker. The drug was still in his system, though it was going through him much faster due to him being a werewolf. Nova too had recovered from the spell I’d used on her, and judging from the tilt to her narrowed eyes I’d say she was now on guard.Good for her.“You look even more beautiful than I remember.”The way he said it, partially under his breath, his voice almost a whisper, made me think he hadn’t meant for me to hear him.I felt my br
OpheliaFlexing my fingers, I let the ropes tighten until the tendons in his throat appeared.“Sit. Stay.” He stopped thrashing. “Good boy.”I watched him struggle, feeling out his own clumsy attempts at using his magic. It reminded me of a toddler in the middle of a tantrum. Punches and kicks were thrown but they were uncoordinated blows, too weak to do anything substantial.“You have magic, but you’re not very good at using it.”My father swept into the room. His presence silenced the retort Ren had been about to unleash.“That’s his father’s doing, I’m afraid. He taught Ren what he knew, of course, but learning how to master your magic without ever tapping into it is a hard feat.”He circled around the back of the chair, causing Ren to stiffen. I rested my chin in the palm of my hand, watching him squirm. My father stopped directly behind him. A strangled sort of sound left Ren’s lips as my father’s hands fell on his shoulders.“If it’s money you want—”“Ren’s lack of magic hasn’t s
Ophelia Two Weeks Later… I looked into the gilded mirror that adorned the faded, peeling wall of our latest hide out and realized I hardly recognized myself. The green of my eyes was bright just like my fathers, while my strawberry-blonde hair, the same as my mothers, hung down my back in loose waves. I was bits and pieces of their hopes, dreams, and regrets meshed into a single form. The clothes I wore, the way that I spoke, the emptiness I now clutched against my heart like a shield, it was all necessary. I knew that doing this would change me, I just had no idea how much. Rubbing my sternum, I closed my eyes and felt around the frayed edges of the bond. It missed Jude and Ryker. It missed the other pieces of my soul unlike anything else. It yearned for them despite the hurt and the pain and the betrayal. It raged at me for the way I had treated them in return. But I couldn’t give in. They were my mates. They were supposed to notice. They were supposed to save me from Alp
OpheliaWe emerged from the forest, then crossed a large dirt parking lot littered with people. Mothers and fathers hauled their young children out of their minivans, urging them forward with the prospect of funnel cake, rides, and arcade games. The sweetness of powdered sugar tinged the air as we approached the carnival's gates. The lights on the sign flashed in bursts of red and white, illuminating the sea of people passing through below. Further up ahead parents nudged their children forward with tickets clutched in hand. “Some illusion magic should do the trick, don’t you think?” My father murmured, looking my way. I lifted a hand and wriggled my fingers. Holding my intention in my mind I let my magic fill the air. Like thin swatches of silk it wrapped around us, shielding us from view. I could have easily made us a few fake tickets, but where was the fun in that?We slipped past the line of families waiting to purchase their way in, and waltzed right inside.“Show off,” he win
Ophelia The male’s smile was sharp. As sharp as the cunning in his milky eyes. “And we have a winner. I’d offer you one of those stuffed animals as a prize, but you don’t seem the type. Maybe once,” he mused. “But not anymore. Funny how quickly a person can change. Though I wouldn’t use a word as mundane as ‘person’ to describe you, Atticus Morningstar’s pride and joy.” It didn’t matter that my father claimed our family line could control demons. The fear had been so ingrained into my being that I could taste it burning on my lips. One blink and I was back in that house, watching as my friends were slaughtered. Watching as a demon tore it’s way into Coop’s body. No, absolutely not. I refused to sit here and cower. The Ophelia that participated in that ritual was a foolish little girl. She and I were not the same person, nor would we ever be again. The male—demon—cocked it’s head. “You’ve met Abaddon.” Abaddon, the demon that possessed Coop. Even now I could hear it’s voice sl
OpheliaWe ran into a familiar face just outside of La Stella.“Ophelia?”Nova stood a few feet away from the back-alley door leading into the club. She wasn’t wearing her usual lacey, coquette clothing. The babydoll dresses, Mary Jane shoes, and frilly socks were her staple. Her outfits were what drew my attention when we first met. This time there were no bows in her hair or eyeshadow on her lids. It was exhaustion she wore.Her eyes darted around before settling on us. Something had her on edge. Nova wasn’t usually this flighty.“Nova.”I meant for her name to come out as nothing more than a passing greeting, a wall thrown up between two people who had once been friends, but instead it came out like a projectile. The stupid drink that heightened my emotions was still screwing with me.Stupid, it had been so very stupid taking a sip of that drink without confirming it had been the right one. I’d been distracted from the girls slamming into me, but that was no excuse. I had only mysel
RykerI had never paid much attention to what women wore. To get my attention they typically dressed themselves in the finest clothing they had. Jewelry, heels, gowns, the works. They thought it impressed me. It should have.I liked Ophelia most when she wore those small jean shorts that hugged her bottom while she ran across the beach. The little lace tank top she paired with it barely concealed her perky breasts. It wasn’t at all modest, but she was oblivious to that fact. Tomorrow she’d quietly whine and pout, muttering about the horrible sunburn she had. A sunburn that traveled down her chest to the soft swells I wanted to taste.Ophelia was the warmth of Lunar Isle. She was the brightest of colors and softest of sounds.The memory left as quickly as it had come.We talked as we danced. She had her back flush against my chest, her chin tipped to the side as she spoke. Back and forth we went. She was intoxicated from something and would need to be watched. As for me, I was drunk on
RykerWe arrived back at my place to find the house empty, and the wards carved through like sheets of tissue paper.Scraps of the residual magic hovered over just about every surface like confetti.Jude stuffed his hands into his pockets and whistled. “She did this on purpose. Could’ve just unraveled or drained them in that little way of hers, but this? She wanted us to notice.” His eyes sparkled. “Our mate wanted our approval.”I wasn’t going to risk his heart—or his sanity—by telling him I didn’t think that was the case.We found the door to her bedroom wide open, which wasn’t a surprise. I noticed a ball of crumpled paper sitting on the bedside table and picked it up. Almost immediately I could feel Jude hovering over my shoulder like a phantom.“…tasks for Ryker and Jude … earn forgiveness—” Jude lunged forward to try and snatch the paper from my hands. I evaded his grasp and used my magic to knock him back a step. His nostrils flared. “I want it. I’m not fucking around. Give it
RykerA few hours ago…We left Ophelia at the house knowing she’d find some way to eventually break out. Morningstar clearly left her here for a reason and underestimating her had only fucked us over several times. It would never happen again.She was our mate. Kind and compassionate as a ruler should be, but also as vicious and bloodthirsty as a wolf.Jude loved Ophelia as much as he was capable of loving anything. I knew my brother better than anyone else in the world, and I could see that she now meant more to him than I ever had. It didn’t upset me, but it did make me cautious.She knew she held him in the palm of her hand, but I wasn’t sure she realized just how fragile he could be. Her praise would transform him just as quickly as her rejection would shatter him.I wouldn’t lie and say her rejection wouldn’t shatter me as well, but no one had to worry about me leaving a string of bodies in the wake of my grief.Everything would work out in the end, I told myself. We would give ou
OpheliaThe dickhead was right.The moment he stepped away, melting into the crowd, my mind began to race. Jude had been in the fighting ring the first time I laid eyes on him. The brutality of his fight had been both terrifying and beautiful. Would it be Ryker in the ring tonight? Or would it be Jude?I had a feeling they’d be using the remaining members of Diana’s coven. It wouldn’t surprise me if they punished them publicly to try and earn my forgiveness. Too bad it wouldn’t work.The only asses I wanted to kick were Ryker and Jude’s.I made a mental note to add that to my list.Half an hour later the lights flicked off, plunging the entire club into darkness. The music went down in volume until I could hear the excited chatter coming from the crowd.The fighting ring flared to life beneath the stage lights. A young guy with a mohawk stepped into the light. His voice rang with magic, the volume eclipsing that of the music.“Humans, Witches, and Wolves!” The murmuring died down. “We
OpheliaBrushing some stray curls back from his face he grabbed his drink and brought it to his lips. The way he moved was smooth and sensuous, as if he’d had plenty of practice mastering his reactions. “Isn’t it obvious? Our fathers want us to work together.”My eyebrows jumped. What on earth did my father have to do with Lunar Isles military commander? How did they know one another? Clearly my father must have inspired some kind of loyalty for them to go against Ryker.The bond tensed in my chest. On one hand this would benefit my father immensely, but on the other … the bond didn’t like that they could potentially hurt Ryker or Jude.Tears burned the backs of my eyes. What if one of them got hurt? What if one of them—oh that stupid fucking drink.I grabbed the glass of untouched water sitting on the table and took several gulps uncaring of how I looked. A glimmer of panic arose in my chest. The drink was definitely heightening my emotions. Even those few sips were affecting me.I h
OpheliaWaltzing to the shelves of liquor he grabbed three off the first and began pouring random amounts into a large cup. I turned away at that point and leaned against the bar, scanning the basement for any familiar faces.The locator spell wanted me to head straight through the crowd towards the large fighting ring in the center of the room.Standing on my toes, I was immediately slammed into by a group of girls.I righted myself just in time, and bit down on my tongue to keep from lashing out. There were times I swore the potion I took nightly increased my anger. Perhaps that was another side effect.Standing front and center in a group of seven girls total was Diana, Chloe, and Gemma.They looked awful. All three had dark circles around their eyes and looked a good twenty pounds lighter.Before I could say a word the three of them paled, draining of blood until their faces were the color of cold marble. Chloe began to tremble, and Gemma looked as if she were going to vomit. Sens
OpheliaI had plenty of time to plot while spending the next two hours trying to untangle the mess of wards Jude and Ryker placed on my bedroom.Using a notepad and pen I found in the drawer of the bedside table, I’d compiled a list of tasks I’d have them to do earn my forgiveness. Most were juvenile like keying their cars (or in Jude’s case his motorcycle) or having them build me a castle with their own two hands. Others were a bit more demented and ranged from branding them with my name or tattooing it into their skin. Maybe I’d have Ryker declare me Alpha of Lunar Isle.Definitely adding that one.Oddly enough the bond, and my wolf, liked this little outlet I found. The thought of Ryker and Jude reduced to groveling had it humming in my chest.“Hah! Found it.” I lurched into a sitting position. Even though my back was sore from laying on the carpet, a grin took over my face. With a bit of magic I removed the sweat from my body and refreshed my clothes, swapping the torn shorts for
OpheliaI spun around. “Wards. You think wards are going to keep me in here? I’ll drain them just like I drained the dark spell Kimberly placed on Jude.”“That’s if you can find them all, which you won’t.” Jude rolled his lower lip between his teeth. The bond unfurled in my chest. I barely bit back the pathetic whine that threatened to leave me. “I missed hearing you say my name.”Ryker cleared his throat. His hands were clasped behind his back, making him even more imposing than he already was. It didn’t help that his dress shirt and slacks did nothing to conceal the muscled body that hid beneath.“I didn’t take a stand before, but I should have. We should have claimed you the second the bond snapped into place, because you’re all that matters, Ophelia. Not Kimberly. Not the idiotic deal I’d made with her. I fucked up by letting you think otherwise. You might end up hating me more, but this is me taking a stand.” He clenched his jaw, the muscles within twitching. “You aren’t leaving