After a shower and some food, I collapsed on Dastien’s bed.
A towel was wrapped around his waist, but as water dripped down his abs, I found it hard to concentrate.
“Let me get dressed.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. We’d have time for us later. Now was not the moment. He opened and shut some drawers. “Dressed,” he said, and I opened my eyes.
You okay? He asked through the bond, and I felt his wave of concern.
The bond is back. I really like being able to do this creepy, silent-talking thing with you.
He leaned down, brushing a kiss against my forehead. “Now, tell me something.”
“What?”
“What did you know about the fight before it started? There was something—and now I feel your guilt through the bond. So, spill.”
I didn’t see what good it would do to spill, but it wasn’t like I could keep secrets anymore. “I dreamed that Mr. Hoel
After a shower and some food, I collapsed on Dastien’s bed.A towel was wrapped around his waist, but as water dripped down his abs, I found it hard to concentrate.“Let me get dressed.”I squeezed my eyes shut. We’d have time for us later. Now was not the moment. He opened and shut some drawers. “Dressed,” he said, and I opened my eyes.You okay? He asked through the bond, and I felt his wave of concern.The bond is back. I really like being able to do this creepy, silent-talking thing with you.He leaned down, brushing a kiss against my forehead. “Now, tell me something.”“What?”“What did you know about the fight before it started? There was something—and now I feel your guilt through the bond. So, spill.”I didn’t see what good it would do to spill, but it wasn’t like I could keep secrets anymore. “I dreamed that Mr. Hoel
Devlin Schaefer, the Duke of Westcliff, wasn’t in a very good mood. He had a headache—not a new occurrence ever since he’d woken up on Calluvia to find the previous two months of his life gone from his memory—but this morning it was particularly aggravating. For one very specific reason.“Your Grace, His Majesty is waiting for you.”Devlin gave a clipped nod before walking toward the king’s office. He paused for a moment, reinforcing the bland, neutral expression on his face, and then entered the room.The king wasn’t alone. Austin Cormack, the palace press officer, was there too. He bowed to Devlin, his gaze lowered.King Stefan regarded Devlin with a deep frown, a hint of displeasure in his scent. “Nephew,” he said coldly.Devlin briefly entertained the thought of calling the king Father. He almost laughed out loud.“Your Majesty,” he said instead, as coldly.&l
Fury studied the table. “Is that for me?” Ellie smiled. “Yes. I swear I’m a good cook. It’s safe to eat.” His dark gaze fixed on her. “That was nice. What is the reason?” “There isn’t one. I just wanted to do something nice for you. I love to cook. They delivered groceries yesterday. I cooked last night but you didn’t show up until late. Tonight you arrived on time.” He studied her closely. “You wish to do something nice for me?” “Yes.” “Why?” “I wanted to do something special for you. You have taken me into your home and you—” Fury moved so suddenly Ellie didn’t have time to react before he grabbed her. Strong arms lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the hallway before she realized where they headed. “Fury?” Alarm jolted through her and she clutched at him. He walked into his bedroom and dropped her onto his bed gently. Ellie gawked at him while he grabbed the front of his shirt, tearing it
Fury studied the table. “Is that for me?”Ellie smiled. “Yes. I swear I’m a good cook. It’s safe to eat.”His dark gaze fixed on her. “That was nice. What is the reason?”“There isn’t one. I just wanted to do something nice for you. I love to cook. They delivered groceries yesterday. I cooked last night but you didn’t show up until late. Tonight you arrived on time.”He studied her closely. “You wish to do something nice for me?”“Yes.”“Why?”“I wanted to do something special for you. You have taken me into your home and you—”Fury moved so suddenly Ellie didn’t have time to react before he grabbed her. Strong arms lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the hallway before she realized where they headed.“Fury?” Alarm jolted through her and she clutched at him.He
Ellie laughed. “Come on, Monarch. You can totally do this.” Monarch, a blonde-haired woman just under six feet tall, examined the vacuum with disgust. “It’s too loud and I’m afraid it’s going to suck up my toes.” Ellie lifted her hand to cover her mouth, trying to hide her amusement. “We all think that. Trust me. I promise you, though, if you point it away from you, that won’t happen. You’ve mastered the washing machine and your cooking skills with a microwave are wonderful. You can handle this beast.” Monarch sighed. “Fine, but it hurts my ears.” Destiny, a black-haired woman, cheered her on. Monarch flipped on the vacuum and pushed it around the living room carpet without causing injury. Ellie grinned. Whatever the cause, for the past three weeks the women had accepted her. They’d allowed her to talk to them, laugh with them, and teach them household education. “Ellie?” Ellie spun to face Breeze with a grin. The tall New Species had
Ellie laughed. “Come on, Monarch. You can totally do this.” Monarch, a blonde-haired woman just under six feet tall, examined the vacuum with disgust. “It’s too loud and I’m afraid it’s going to suck up my toes.” Ellie lifted her hand to cover her mouth, trying to hide her amusement. “We all think that. Trust me. I promise you, though, if you point it away from you, that won’t happen. You’ve mastered the washing machine and your cooking skills with a microwave are wonderful. You can handle this beast.” Monarch sighed. “Fine, but it hurts my ears.” Destiny, a black-haired woman, cheered her on. Monarch flipped on the vacuum and pushed it around the living room carpet without causing injury. Ellie grinned. Whatever the cause, for the past three weeks the women had accepted her. They’d allowed her to talk to them, laugh with them, and teach them household education. “Ellie?” Ellie spun to face Breeze with a grin. The tall New Species had
DO YOU WEEP for the battered, empty heart of the gumiho? You should. Though she has often yearned for love, she has always been denied it.There is a tale that takes place long after the first gumiho had become nothing but myth. And many more had risen to take her place as monsters of the night. Humankind traded stories of their existence like they were fables warning men against temptation. And only a few knew that there lay truth in the terrifying stories.During this time lived the son of a poor scholar, bright and precocious.Along the road to his private tutoring sat a Chinese Scholar tree.All were warned not to stand under the tree at night since the spirits liked to visit it when the moon was high.One night, the boy walked home long after the sun had set. He spotted a figure under the tree and app
Ellie laughed. “Come on, Monarch. You can totally do this.”Monarch, a blonde-haired woman just under six feet tall, examined the vacuum with disgust. “It’s too loud and I’m afraid it’s going to suck up my toes.”Ellie lifted her hand to cover her mouth, trying to hide her amusement. “We all think that. Trust me. I promise you, though, if you point it away from you, that won’t happen. You’ve mastered the washing machine and your cooking skills with a microwave are wonderful. You can handle this beast.”Monarch sighed. “Fine, but it hurts my ears.”Destiny, a black-haired woman, cheered her on. Monarch flipped on the vacuum and pushed it around the living room carpet without causing injury. Ellie grinned. Whatever the cause, for the past three weeks the women had accepted her. They’d allowed her to talk to them, laugh