EdwinAudrey trained relentlessly over the following weeks.Ever since it truly hit us that she was the Silver Star, she’d been filled with a new sense of determination that I couldn’t even begin to put into words. Her days would be stuffed to the brim with classes and thesis work and studying and f
“What about her first adoptive mother?” I asked, curious.Charles pulled out another sheet. “A woman named Meredith adopted Audrey just a few months after she was left at the orphanage.” He handed me the paper. “Meredith was actually one of the employees there. But she died when Audrey was around te
AudreyThe first few snowflakes of the year were finally beginning to fall as I stepped out of the lecture halls and into the cool evening air. Shivering, I pulled my scarf a bit closer around my face and began the walk to town.I had just finished turning in my last exam for the semester, which mea
She chuckled. “What’s that saying? The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb?”I nodded. “Something like that.”Tina sighed softly. We stayed like that for a few minutes, her head on my shoulder and my arms wound tightly around her, just looking out at the glittering winter sol
AudreyThe familiar facade of Claudia’s estate came into view, pebbled driveway crunching under the car’s tires as Edwin pulled in. The windows glowed with golden-yellow lights, music spilling out into the night air.The driveway was packed with expensive sports cars, elegantly-dressed guests mingli
I nodded, still uncertain. The idea of purposely drawing attention to the part of myself I’d hidden for so long felt terrifying, like a dragon exposing the soft flesh where one missing scale would normally be. “I’ve never embraced my silver like this before.”“I know, love.” Edwin pulled me close, h
AudreyFiona’s smile was even more saccharine than I remembered it being as she approached, her eyes gleaming with false warmth. I tensed, my hand instinctively tightening around Edwin’s arm. I felt him tense, too, a ripple of discomfort flickering across our mate bond.Edwin stepped slightly in fro
“You’re right.”We made our way to the bar, each grabbing a glass of champagne. We clinked our classes together and took a sip, the bubbles tickling the back of my throat. The warmth began to soothe my frayed nerves.As we sipped, I scanned the room for Fiona. She was flitting from group to group, n
“I think you’re going to change so many lives,” I said to Eliza. “Those kids are so lucky to have you.” Eliza looked down, her cheeks pink. “Thank you, Audrey. Really.” Tina piped up next. “And my LGBT counseling department is finally off the ground! ” She paused, leaning into my mother, who was
Audrey After a long flight, we finally touched down in Italy. The sunlight streaming in through the plane window was a promising golden hue, and just the sight of it made me feel like my heart was about to leap out of my chest. “I might need a nap when we get to the villa,” Edwin yawned, shaking
And as I watched, I felt a hand slip into mine. I glanced up, finding Edwin beside me, his gaze focused on the runway but his approval humming through the bond. My mother stood on my other side, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. A lump rose in my throat, and I couldn’t even speak. None of us c
Audrey Edwin and I emerged from the small room, his hand still resting protectively on my back. The hustle and bustle of last-minute preparations immediately hit us, assistants running back and forth, models being ushered into position, and the soft hum of the audience’s chatter drifting through t
“There’s always time,” I whispered, grabbing the wrist of his free hand and pulling it close to peer at his watch. The movement caused him to topple forward, and he caught himself on his other palm, caging me against the hard wood of the vanity. “But maybe not enough time to waste right now.” Edwi
Audrey Before I could even answer his question, Edwin rushed past me and locked the door. When he turned back to me, he was grinning from ear to ear. The sight of that mischievous look on his face made my breath hitch. Once, it had been like pulling teeth to get the man to smile. And now here he
He didn’t need to tell me twice. I tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a soft red scarf. I could tell immediately that it was handmade—there were more than a few uneven stitches, and the outline was lumpy. It was far from perfect. But I loved it all the more for that. “Goddess, Edwin,” I laugh
Audrey The morning of the show was a frenzy. No, more than a frenzy. It was complete and utter chaos. I spent the entire morning from sunup to noon running endlessly from one end of the venue to the other, desperately trying to make sure every last detail was perfect. The racks were lined with c
“Uh… Yeah,” Malakai said. “Coffee would be nice.” A few minutes later, the three of us sat around the table, steaming cups of pitch black coffee in our hands. I kept it bitter, just in case Malakai was here to stir up more shit. It burned a little going down, but I sipped it anyway. Malakai look