CILLIAN My eyes fluttered open as I struggled to breathe. There was a great deal of pressure on my chest, and I thought I saw a metallic shimmer around my view. My heart stopped, and panic slammed into me, clouding my senses. The nightmare I had endured when I thought Ciara had been taken flashed through my mind, stealing every ounce of my reasoning. “Mmm,” Ciara’s low murmur startled me as my eyes adjusted. The metallic shimmer vanished and was replaced by the golden halo of dawn. I pulled in a ragged breath as I realized the only person pinning me down was Ciara. Her arm was draped over my chest and shoulder as she used me as a pillow. I chuckled. The woman took over the entire bed. I was surprised she hadn’t pushed me to the floor. Thirsty, I glanced to the left for the water bottle on the nightstand and sighed. It was torture to see it so far out of my reach yet so close. I tried lifting Ciara off me a bit so I could gain a few more inches. She didn’t budge. If I tried for the
There was an ache in my heart that I didn’t quite understand. It felt as if my chest wanted to cave in or implode. I couldn’t quite figure out what it wanted to do. I ran my fingers through my hair and drove down Main Street. With each passing moment, my mind raced through every possible scenario I could be walking into. I didn’t want to allow myself to think about getting kidnapped again. Cillian would feel it and never let me go on an assignment again. No, I had to be brave in the face of danger. I glanced around the town as I waited for the light to turn green. It seemed as if Moon Valley had turned into a ghost town overnight. Sure, there were people out and about, but there weren’t nearly as many as there should have been at nine-twenty in the morning. Normally, Main Street would be bustling with activity from the shops that lined both sides of the road. But there was an eeriness to the town, almost like a dark cloud had come over the whole state of Nevada. I couldn’t help but
CILLIAN White light blended and molded into various colors behind my closed eyes. I felt weightless and free. When I was a child, I always wanted to be an astronaut. Being able to go out into the vastness of space and see into the heavens had seemed like a thrilling idea. The reality was much harsher than I’d expected and far more terrifying. Every muscle in my body ached as my limbs twitched uncontrollably. Only one consistent thought fluttered through my head as my body shifted from weightlessness to extreme gravity. Ciara. She was the cord tethering me to the earth, keeping me bolted and anchored to the world around me. I struggled against my heavy eyelids and peered through the fuzzy, bright light. In the distance, I heard Ciara’s voice calling to me. It was muffled and strained, but I knew she was right beside me, even if we were worlds apart. “Ciara,” I called to her. Her name tasted like hot cakes fresh off the griddle and melted on my tongue like honey. A weary smile tugge
Iclung to Cillian’s hand, refusing to let him go. Every fiber of my being felt as if I’d stuck my finger into an outlet, but I didn’t care. I was just grateful he was alive and sitting beside me. “I’m fine,” he whispered. The plastic chair creaked under his weight as he shifted closer to me. “If you think I’m letting you out of my sight, you’re crazy,” I said to him as I squeezed his hand. “It’s about time you see things my way.” Cillian’s lips curled at the corner as he leaned in close and kissed my cheek. I didn’t care who saw us or what they were thinking. It didn’t even bother me to have the pack think we were in competition with Titus and Helene for which couple expressed their love in public the most. I’d always thought it was strange how a person would freely give themselves over to someone else. The whole prospect of finding that one person to love and to hold always seemed to be a dream I had never thought I’d get to experience. Yet, here I was, beside the man I knew I co
CILLIAN “Can’t you people read?” Vlad grumbled as he trudged past me. “Stay off the grass. It’s only one rule—one simple and modest rule. Yet no one seems to care. No. You all just stomp right on through it like it’s just something to stomp on.” “Are you ever going to tell Vlad your family put down fake grass years ago?” Ciara whispered as she leaned in close to me. Her scent filled my nose and made me want to whisk her away and steal her all for myself. “Nope. My parents say it gives him something simple to complain about. And I promise, if you ever want to marry me, you’ll keep it to yourself,” I teased, just to watch Ciara’s eyes light up and catch the shimmering starlight in her eyes. “Is that so?” she giggled as she turned to Vlad, testing me. But the old man had disappeared around the corner before she could say anything. “You’re terrible.” I laughed as I pulled her to me and let the warmth of her body drift through my shirt. “You know I won’t say anything,” she said with
Awarm breeze rustled through the trees of the Harkness Manor Estate, filling the night air with the sweet aroma of summer. Every nerve in my body tingled, and my heart pumped violently. It seemed as if I had been waiting for this moment my entire life. How many years had I denied the bond I shared with Cillian only to find out it had been pointless? How many different paths had I sought before realizing I belonged here? I couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across my lips as friends, family, and pack members gathered around to celebrate my engagement to Cillian Harkness, the alpha of the Crescent Moon pack. They’d always said that we were fated mates and that we’d be bonded for life, but I’d never believed the superstitious nonsense they spouted during my youth. Yet here I was, nearly a decade later, astonished to find myself not only marked by Cillian, but also engage to the man I’d sworn I’d never be with. It was funny how life worked itself out. Even through all the chaos and
CILLIAN My nose crinkled as I tried to take in the new scents from the shifters in front of me. It was strange seeing these three large men standing at my parents’ house. Although I knew Torque, the other two made my skin crawl. The soft clearing of a throat behind me had my ears twitching. The breeze was blowing in my face, masking the scent of the shifter behind me. For a moment, I wondered if Laya had come to see what was going on. I glanced over my shoulder to find my mother standing behind me. Her shoulders were pulled back and the stern expression on her face was one I’d seen many times before in my youth. “Pardon my intrusion,” my mom said, her eyes locked on me. It seemed she couldn’t care less about the three strangers in her driveway. “Cillian, dear, you should have mentioned you invited other guests.” “And just who might you be?” Hatchett asked. There was an air of defensiveness around Hatchett that I didn’t appreciate as he inched closer. I braced myself for an attack.
“Sorry! That’s it? You walked out on our engagement party! Do you have any idea what my parents were complaining about? They said that when a guy can’t even stick around for the party, he won’t stick around at all.”“What did you tell them?” Cillian asked as I felt his mind probing mine and overriding my anger and disdain for him. He was admiring the black dress that clung to my body. I had picked it just for him, but now I wished I hadn’t. I was pissed at him, and I wasn’t about to let him change my mind on that. I inhaled deeply and tried to see reason.Cillian was the alpha—everyone in Moon Valley was aware of that—and I had to come to the realization that maybe there were things he’d have to attend to that didn’t include me. I could feel his soft, tender thoughts stroking the edges of my mind to calm my irritation, but we both knew I was on the verge of forgiving him.His lips twitched, and then he flashed me my favorite crooked grin as he tenderly brushed the back of his fingers
CILLIAN “You sure you wanna be doing this?” AP asked as he snuffed out the cigar in the ashtray. “I mean, this is kind of permanent.” “It’s already set in stone for me, AP,” I said as I chuckled at his disgruntled expression. “But marriage? Isn’t it enough that you two marked each other? Why you gotta go and get all traditional? Oh, wait, never mind. That’s just who you are.” “What’s the matter, AP? You don’t like my sister?” Aiden asked as he stood before the mirror, fumbling with his bow tie. “You all know what she did to me in tenth grade,” AP grumbled. I laughed. “Still can’t get over the fact that she kicked your ass, huh?” I laughed. “Ciara didn’t kick my ass,” AP insisted. “She cheated. There’s no way a girl of her size could fit that many pies in her little stomach. Losing that contest ruined everything for me.” “Didn’t you end up with Malia a few months ago?” I asked as I stared at myself in the full-length mirror. “Yeah, but I’m not one to settle. Everyone knows tha
“This is nice, isn’t?” Laya asked as we waited outside the Picasso. I couldn’t help but smile as Laya looked over the menu posted on the wall. “Really, when was the last time we got to do this with just us girls? It seems like we’re always stuck with one of the guys, you know?” “Never,” Sam said as she checked her watch. “Do we know when Melody and Kenzie are going to get here? I’m starving,” I said as my stomach started to grumble. “Kenzie said she’d be here around six thirty the last time I talked with her,” Sam said. “Isn’t that them over there?” Daisy asked. I turned my attention toward the walkway and smiled as Kenzie and Melody stepped off the escalator. “Hey!” Melody shouted as she rushed through the crowd. “What took you so long?” Laya asked as Kenzie threw her arm around my neck and gave me a tight hug. “Traffic,” Melody answered. “But damn, this place is nice.” “Wait five minutes and the Bellagio fountains will start,” I said as I released Kenzie to hug Melody. “I’m
CILLIAN “Holden,” I snapped. “Yeah, I heard,” Holden said as he scrambled to disconnect from the system. I pulled him away from the system and shoved him toward the door. We did not need to get arrested for trespassing. “AP, Laya! Torque, Hatchett!” I called over my shoulder, hoping they heard me. I spotted AP and Laya rushing around from the back of the house. Their shadows bobbed through the broken windows. “We’re right behind you,” Torque called. I took a moment to glance over my shoulder and take one last look at the destruction. Everything was so surreal. It was as if the place had been in a war zone. The stench of death lingered in the air, but I knew it had nothing to do with the Corpse Lily. I was smelling what remained of Colleen and Tippy. “Pick up the pace,” Torque snapped as he rushed by me with Hatchett on his heels. We made it outside, and I glanced to the west. The clouds of dust coming off the tires grew as my heart drummed violently in my chest. “Take the back
Igasped and shot up. The room was pitch black, and my heart pounded fiercely in my chest. “Hey, you okay?” Cillian asked as he shot up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Relief came over me when I realized I wasn’t dreaming anymore. I was safe and all was well. “Yeah,” I said. “Just a strange dream.” “Come here,” Cillian said as he lay back down. “Come sleep on me. I promise I’ll protect you from those bad dreams.” A smile drifted over my lips as I scooted down into the nook of his arm. He was so warm and comforting, it amazed me that he could banish the bad thoughts in my mind so easily. “What did you dream about? Or do you not want to tell me?” Cillian asked as he played with the tips of my hair. “It was weird. I was back at the sacred oak tree, and it looked sick, like it was dying.” “That’s not a good sign,” Cillian whispered. “But then the red fog came through and I was rescued by Preacher in a chopper.” “What, I don’t get a cameo in your dreams?” Cillian teased as he h
CILLIAN The gentle knock on the hotel door roused me from my sleep. Pins and needles plagued the arm Ciara was sleeping on. Carefully, I slipped my arm out from under Ciara’s head and nudged her to the pillow. It had been more than a rough night, and I couldn’t bear the thought of having the maid wake her. Slipping the sheets off me, I let my legs fall over the edge of the bed. Ever so slightly, I got up, keeping one eye on Ciara and praying she wouldn’t wake. As quickly as I could, I moved to the door and peeked through the crack. “Housekeeping,” the woman said. “We’re good,” I answered. Before she could say another word, I closed the door and exhaled. Ciara stirred, and I held my breath, hoping she wouldn’t wake up. She had been through so much; I just wanted her to get some sleep. “Cillian?” Ciara’s voice was tired and muffled. For a moment, I wondered if she were asleep or awake. Tiptoeing to her, I craned my neck to spy on her as she slept. A sensation of peace washed over m
Cillian growled in my ear, drowning out the clinking and clanging as we moved through the casino. It was amazing that we got anywhere at all with the way he refused to let me go. Every fifth step, I found myself caving to Cillian’s needs. “What if I took you right here and now?” His lips brushed against my neck as he spoke. My skin tingled as his hot breath caressed my skin. “You just want the hot waitress to watch us, don’t you?” I asked as Cillian pinned my arm over my head and kissed me. “No,” he growled and pinned my arm against the slot machine. The old woman playing at the machine gasped as she sent us a disapproving look. I flashed her a smile, wondering if she had ever experienced the kind of passion I had. “You’re the only one I need,” Cillian said. “The only woman who could ever sate me. Don’t you know that it’s only ever been you?” With my free hand, I grabbed his hair and jerked his head back. A small whimper escaped his lips, and it pleased me to hear his soft seduct
CILLIAN “Are we ready?” I asked as I walked into the Las Lobos Cantina where Torque and Blue were chilling at the bar. It seemed as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Of course, I knew where they stood when it came to Colleen’s safety, but I’d figured they’d be more excited now that we were so close to finally getting rid of the Raze. “Easy there, tiger,” Torque said as he patted the empty chair next to him. “Have a drink. We can’t do anything until we get word from Hatchett. He’s doing recon for us and will be back any minute.” I exhaled sharply, trying to ignore the itching in my limbs. It seemed as if a storm was coming with how much electricity was coursing through my veins. Sitting around and waiting had never been my strong suit. Frustration bubbled and brewed within me, but I wasn’t on my turf anymore; I couldn’t call the shots. “Fine, I’ll have a drink,” I conceded and marched over to join Blue and Torque. “What’s your poison?” the woman behind the bar asked. I tilt
Ilet out a heavy sigh as I stepped into my old office. It seemed as if it been forever since I was last here, yet everything was exactly as I remembered it. There were papers stacked on the desk that I hadn’t looked at in months, and a thin layer of dust covered the bookshelves. I moved around the office, reminiscing about all the things I had collected here. My heart drummed in my chest as I caught a glimpse of the picture I had of Cyrus. The pain nearly crippled me as I plucked the picture off my desk and stared at it. It was like it was another life. Everything from who I dated to what I did had changed. I was no longer Sia—that girl had died the second I decided to go back to Moon Valley. I just hadn’t realized it until this very moment. I moved around the desk and sat down. Running my fingers over the mahogany wood, I couldn’t help but think of all the times I had given orders here. How many lives had been saved because I had created this company? It was a noble cause, and some
CILLIAN The tension in my shoulders that had only just vanished returned in an instant, bringing with it a hellish headache. Just when I thought we were in the clear… I should have known something was going to happen. The echo in my bones rattled my consciousness. Ciara and I couldn’t get a moment’s respite. “What’s going on, Sam?” I asked into the walkie. “It’d be best if you came to the Crescent Falls Motel,” Sam said in a grave voice. “We’ll be there in five,” I answered and clicked the button three times before setting it down. “Well? How do you feel about checking this out?” All the color had drained out of Ciara’s face. The worry etched on her brow filled me with a murderous rage, but it was the devastation in her gaze that really ripped me to shreds. “I promised Colleen nothing would happen to her. I put her in the most secure room we have,” Ciara said. “How did this happen?” “The only way to get answers to that question is by going to the motel,” I answered as I grabbe