OpheliaThat one word, it was a warning. A warning wrapped in a neat, pretty bow. One meant to keep me safe. One meant to wrap me in wool because I was their precious mate. It was in Jude’s nature to harm, just as it was in Ryker’s to protect.Fuck his protection.The girl I was now…she no longer needed it.“That’s it, Jude,” I laughed. “Heel, Jude. Down, Jude. Obey, Jude.”Ryker’s eyes flashed with murder. I couldn’t see the expression on Jude’s face, but from the way his chest heaved against my back, I knew my words hit home. Jude’s teeth scraped along my ear, nipping so hard I yelped. A surge of—of emotion swelled in my chest, causing the bond to hum softly. I began to panic. “I’m going to enjoy tearing you apart, little dove. My perfect mate,” he whispered, “So pretty. So breakable.”As he lapped up my blood, his fingers flexing on my bare stomach, that panic began to grow.“Goddess,” my laughter was breathless. “You say you’re not his enforcer anymore, but you’re still his trai
Ophelia“You’re crazy.” I shook my head back and forth until the world blurred.There was no way, no way, he’d go through with this. This little game we played was one thing, but fucking me with the hilt of a knife? No, it was pure insanity.Jude’s smile was sardonic, “I prefer the term mentally unhinged.”The hilt of the blade grazed my inner thigh, causing me to tense. There was no barrier keeping it from entering me. Even trying to close my legs was futile as Jude’s large frame blocked me from doing so.His eyes never left my face.“Hold her hands behind her back,” he barked at Ryker, lips curling even higher. “You know what you have to do to stop this, little dove. Words won’t work,” A knuckle skated down my cheek. “You’ll have to fight, but we both know you won’t.”The hell I wouldn’t. I lunged forward and snapped my teeth, nearly catching Jude’s lip in the process. He leaned back, only marginally, to avoid getting bit. Ryker’s magic danced through the air, snaring my wrists an
Ophelia “Shit.” I cursed and spun on my heel, eying the walls of the tent we stood within. Ryker and Jude mirrored my movements, both more on edge than ever. I’d have to find some way to slip past them. Fighting them would be hard, both magically and emotionally, but I couldn’t let them steal me away. This was for Coop, I reminded myself. To find a way to get the demon out of him. It was also about learning my father’s plans. As much as I wished I could say that were it, that wasn’t the truth anymore. Asmodeus’s vision changed everything. I could bring my mother back. I could have her and my father by my side. I could have a family. A family that loved me. A family that wanted me. I’d do anything to make that vision come true. “What is it?” Ryker pinned me with a single dissecting look. “Something’s happened. Is it Morningstar? Has he done something to you?” “What? No!” I scoffed, “We came here for a reason. I have a job to do, and standing here with you two is wasting precio
OpheliaJude’s smile was dark, cloaked in shadows. The light of the flames reflected off his straight white teeth. He reminded me of Asmodeus. Beautiful and haunting in a carnal sort of way.“Anything for you.”My wolf liked that. She liked it a lot.He and Ryker exchanged a look.The two brothers were opposites in many ways. Ryker had a kindness within him. A kindness I once had too before it was snuffed out. He wanted to be different from the man his father was. He wanted to be a just Alpha. One worthy of following.For a moment, I wasn’t sure he’d agree to help.“No one gets hurt,” he said firmly.I lifted my shoulder in a half-shrug, swallowing the truth. “If they move fast enough they won’t.”His gaze was all consuming. “I know you, Ophelia. No matter how much you’ve changed you wouldn’t hurt innocent people.”The bond throbbed in my chest, causing a red-hot pain to streak through me. It stoked my temper, causing me to grit my teeth.“I can’t wait to prove you wrong.”It wasn’t a
OpheliaAs the three of us approached the air seemed to shift.Smoke billowed up into the night sky, thick and cloying as I inhaled it into my lungs. In the distance were shouts and screams to call the fire department so that they might put out the flames.I wiped the sweat off my forehead and branched off from Ryker and Jude, who seemed torn between following me and keeping their distance from my father. In the end they chose to trail close behind, their guards up and firmly in place. Magic swirled in the air around us, creating a stillness that I could feel deep within my very bones.“What’s he doing here?” I asked, my voice echoing despite the crackle of burning wood in the background. “I thought we were meeting up with your old friend.”I made sure not to mention Haruto Nakamura by name in fear that my father would think I betrayed him.My eyes strayed to Nail Sharpe. He stood beside my father, looking wholly out of place in his striped Polo and khaki’s. Even his loafers were fres
RykerTwo days had passed since we cornered Ophelia at that small town carnival.We carted Haruto Nakamura’s corpse back to Lunar Isle in hopes that Sterling might be able to use his empty flesh suit to make contact with his spirit. I was becoming desperate to rid myself of Kimberly and spare Jude in the process.With each passing day my hatred for her—and myself—grew tenfold.What kind of Alpha was I to have let her manipulate me in such a way? My father would have ended her life the moment she served her purpose. I had never wanted to emulate him. Never wanted to become the horrible person he was, and yet I was beginning to see that being cruel and ruthless had its benefits.That changed when my precious mate killed a man in cold blood.She hid it so well, but I could see the torment in her eyes. I could tell that her actions were chipping away at her beautiful soul and before long would consume it entirely.We had only ourselves to blame.I had been selfish and foolish wanting to s
RykerI had no choice but to leave the book behind for now. My shirt as well considering it was now coated in that strange, greasy substance the tendrils of darkness left in their wake. I’d have to come back for it later and make sure the spell that Kimberly placed on Jude wasn’t just broken.I wanted it destroyed.Sterling hadn’t been too far off when he claimed the disturbance on the island was Death.I raced through the winding streets of downtown Lunar Isle, craning my head left and right. My heart hammered in my chest. People were running in all directions, most shifting into their wolf forms to take off into the surrounding forest. The voices of my people assaulted me, racing down the mind-link in a slurry of panic and terror.“Alpha, help us!”“The children! Get the children!”“What’s happening? I don’t understand!”“What are these things? Someone needs to alert the covens!”Sunlight streamed down, bringing humidity and heat that my wolf’s tongue lolling out. It was a beautiful
Ryker“He’s not working alone.” Nova added quietly, “Ophelia’s with him. Do you think…”“Spit it out.” Jude snarled, his gaze turning murderous. Blood coated him from head-to-toe as if he’d bathed in the shit. “Go on, Nova. Say it with your chest.”“Jude,” Sterling sighed.Nova’s brows creased. “Ophelia could’ve helped him do this. You said he got away with that trunk of his. Why would they go through all that trouble if it weren’t for something worthwhile? She could be behind this too. Like it or not, she’s made her choice again and again.”Vines crawled up from the cracks within the earth, slithering along the ground as they crept towards Nova. More than one began to sprout thorns which twisted and curled upwards, ready to draw blood.“So what are you proposing?” Jude said quietly. “Are you saying we should kill them both? Get rid of them and maybe all of this will end?”“Goddess no, Jude. I’m not saying we should kill Ophelia you fucking crazy—”Sterling nudged her, “Maybe we shoul