ArloShe wants to breed with me. In spite of Tara and her doom prophesying, Hilda still wants me to fertilize her eggs with my sperm and see if her belly will swell with our child. I can already picture it. How ripe and lovely she would look. How unbearably protective I’ll be of her. I want it so much. To raise a family with her. To have as many offspring as I can manage to put inside her.But not if it means flipping a coin and the other side is her life. “I can’t lose you,” I tell her huskily, my throat swollen with emotion. “You won’t,” she says with more certainty than she has any right to feel. “I’m yours, Arlo. Death can’t have me, I belong to one man only.”She’s so bloody infuriatingly stubborn. “Yet you refuse to listen to that man,” I argue back. “Belong as in give myself freely to, not as in a slave,” she tells me patiently. “You know I have the strength to do this. I need you to believe in me.”“That’s not fair, Hilda. This has nothing to do with me doubting how tough you
HildaI didn’t mean to tell Arlo about my desire to get pregnant while we were arguing in Soren’s attic and I feel awful about everything that happened in the past hour. He’s holding my hand, but he hasn’t said a word since we left Soren’s pack behind.Cerelia and Soren are staying well behind us, probably terrified that I’ll start spewing more intimate secrets and arguing with my mate in front of them. I’ve felt more comfortable during battles than I do right now.“Baby, I’m sorry,” I finally say, unable to stand the silence any longer. “I should have talked to you about wanting to try and have a baby regardless of Tara’s prediction. I planned to discuss it with you once things quieted down slightly. You get to have a say about that, I didn’t mean to decide on behalf of both of us.”Arlo looks at me askance, sighing from the depths of his soul. “Dammit Hilda, do you really think I’m upset that you want to have my child? I’ll gladly have 20 kids with you if that’s possible. What I can
CereliaHilda barely touches the tree when an opening appears at the base of the trunk. She reaches inside and pulls out a piece of gossamer-thin silver fabric which seems to be woven from the threads of moonlight and starlit mist.We’re all gathered around her as she unfolds the fabric and reveals a ring resting inside. It’s carved from almost translucent white bone and etched with swirling patterns that seem to shift when looked at directly.Hilda looks up at King Arlo before slipping the ring on to her finger. I doubt the others see it, but the air around her distorts briefly, as if a thin veil of reality is being peeled back. It’s the most powerful object I’ve ever been around.“If you feel it draining you, take it off immediately,” King Arlo begs her. The stark terror in his eyes breaks my heart and I wish I can tell him Veilbreaker won’t harm Hilda. Ironically, it won’t kill anyone who doesn’t offer their life freely. It will take the life essence it needs in order to nullify ev
HildaMy heart is thudding so hard in my chest, I’m worried that Cerelia or Tara can actually hear it.Tara looks at me expectantly once we’re seated in her small lounge. “I have…” my voice disappears and I swallow twice in an attempt to coax it back. “I have some questions about the prophecy you made.”Tara sighs and nods, “I figured as much. I’m sorry Hilda, but nothing’s changed. I still see that you won’t carry the Alpha King’s child to term. He will have descendants, but they will not be born from your womb. The one currently resting there will not survive.”Tara’s mouth is still moving, but I can’t hear anything. I glance at the ring on my finger, willing it to do something, anything, to let me know that she’s lying, but nothing happens. Blood is rushing through my head and I feel dizzy.From the corner of my eye I can see Cerelia shouting at Tara, but all I can think about is the tiny life she says I have inside of me. My hands clasp my flat abdomen protectively and tears start
CereliaI don’t know how Hilda makes it through the next few days without showing any outward signs of strain. She’s also the one who comes up with the plan for our trap."He won't come unless he believes we're vulnerable," she tells King Arlo. "And he won't believe we're vulnerable unless we give him a reason to." King Arlo’s jaw clenches, "You expect me to let you—""Let me?" Hilda cuts in, her voice as sharp as steel. "This is not a request, Arlo. Maelor knows we'd never turn our backs on you, that we’d never leave. So we make him believe that’s exactly what we’ve done, in order to save you all."I nod my agreement, stepping closer to Soren. "We leave at dawn, making it clear we’re severing all ties. Maelor will suspect it’s a trap, until I cast the message to let him know where we’ll be and that we’re offering ourselves in exchange for safety for everyone else.”“’What makes you think he’ll fall for that? He knows I won’t let you go,” King Arlo asks Hilda plaintively. “Tara’s prop
HildaThe weight of Veilbreaker on my finger is unbearable now, the bone ring keeps pulsing continuously as it nullifies the magic surrounding us, leeching the essence from my body in order to do what it was made for.I can barely keep standing. Every breath is an effort, every heartbeat a struggle. But I do not waver. I refuse to. Beside me, Cerelia is still, but I can feel her tension, the sharpness of her resolve. I hope she knows how proud I am of her and how grateful I am for her friendship.I barely listen to Maelor’s smug musings. I just need to keep him talking long enough for the others to arrive. Arlo knew the moment I sensed Maelor and I know they’ll be running flat-out to reach us.This time the warriors had to be far enough away so they wouldn’t be detected if searched for. Maelor is over-confident, but not entirely stupid, he’d send a scout or 2 ahead to die in his stead if there’s a trap.He’s droning on about how he has us trapped and only my avid anticipation of the e
ArloI watch as Cerelia and Hilda work together to take Maelor down. I can feel my beloved’s agony and pride surges in me at her incredible strength. She was right and I should never have doubted her. She is strong enough to do this.Maelor’s horrified expression when he realizes who will be responsible for his death tastes like ambrosia. The moment is sheer perfection until I feel the mating bond I share with Hilda disappear.One moment it’s there, a golden light suffusing my soul, the next there’s only darkness. “Hilda!” I hear Cerelia scream and I’m at my mate’s side in 2 bounds. Her eyes are closed and her body’s ice cold. She seems to have lost half her bodyweight in a single night. Her always slight frame is skeletal and her skin is pale as death.“Fix her!” I demand from Cerelia, losing all interest in the battle surrounding us. Most of the mages have fallen and my warriors are more than capable of dealing with them now that they have no way to defend themselves. Now that Hilda
Cerelia“Soren!” His name tears from my throat like a roll of razor wire, cutting me to ribbons. Why did he jump? My magic would have been faster than Arista once he warned me of her approach.If only I’d gone to find someone who could teach me about the healing side of my magic I’d be worth something right now. Hilda saved us, there wasn’t even any need for my defensive magic. Now she’s hovering on the other side of the veil and Soren’s life force is seeping into the earth and there’s nothing I can do for either of them.“Stop,” Soren whispers, his eyes fixed on my face. I’m pushing as much of my own vitality into his body as I can, but it’s not enough. The sword pierced his lungs and without a way to heal the internal damage, I’m only delaying the inevitable.“No. You won’t leave me Soren, not now.” I can feel my power weakening with each beat of my heart, but I refuse to give up. Surely my magic has to be good for more than undoing spells? I know I have some healing ability, even i
HildaCerelia and Soren sit across from us, their expressions grim. I hadn’t wanted to ruin the mood of their visit, but with humans encroaching on our borders, there was no delaying this conversation.They have to know. All the Alphas will need to be told once we know what these men want."This isn’t the first time a human has wandered close to pack lands," Cerelia says slowly. "But you’re saying this feels different?""It is different," Arlo confirms, stopping mid-stride. "They aren’t just stumbling into the vicinity. They’re moving in a careful pattern, testing our defences and borders. And the only way they’d get across the border is if someone leads them.""That’s what worries me most," I admit. "A werewolf had to have brought them close enough to get past the confusion spells." Soren frowns, “Do you have any idea who?”Before I can answer, there’s a rush of movement outside, and the door swings open to reveal Percy, his breath slightly uneven from running."Arlo," he says, stra
ArloThe fire crackles softly in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the walls of our room. The warmth should be comforting, but it does nothing to ease the weight pressing down on my chest.Hilda sits on the bed, cross-legged, brushing out her hair, the glossy strands catching the firelight. She looks up at me, knowing something’s wrong before I even speak.“Alright,” she says, setting the brush aside. “What’s wrong?” I exhale slowly, rubbing a hand over my face. “Scouts have reported increased human activity near our borders.”Hilda’s expression sharpens, her body going still. “Hunters?” I shake my head. “No. This feels different. It’s too…organized and there are too many of them. Not like travelers getting lost or the occasional fool wandering too close. They move like men with purpose. And they’re getting closer.”Her lips press into a thin line. “But they haven’t crossed into our lands?” I shake my head, “Not yet.” She frowns, pulling her legs up beneath her. “Then the
HildaThe moment I see Cerelia shift, I don’t hesitate. I rush forward, wrapping my arms around her before she can say a word. She laughs into my shoulder, squeezing me just as tightly, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the familiarity of her presence.“I missed you,” I murmur, pulling back just enough to look at her face. She looks the same, stunningly beautiful, smart and amazing, but there’s a softness in her eyes when she meets my gaze.“I missed you too,” she says. “I swear, every time I turn around, another letter from you is demanding I come visit.”I scoff. “Because you don’t take the hint the first time. If I didn’t harass you, you’d never make your way here and I’d be left lonely and bereft. I can’t come and see you at the moment, it’s too difficult to travel so far with Scarlett and the warriors would all insist on coming along.”A low chuckle reminds me that we aren’t alone. Soren stands behind her, watching us with amusement. “Are you two done, or should I come bac
TaraThe knock at my door is soft but certain. I know who it is before I even get up, because there’s only one person who visits without hesitation, without waiting for an invitation. Scarlett.I open the door, and there she is, standing on my porch with her hands on her hips like she owns the place. In a way, she does. The pack would move mountains for her, and she knows it.She’s not bratty in a ‘I’m a princess’ kind of way, acting like she’s better than anyone else. She’s just Scarlett, unapologetically curious, unnervingly perceptive for someone who’s only been 2 for a couple of months, and my favorite visitor by far.“Hi, Tara!” she chirps, strolling past me before I can say anything, “I came to see you. Mommy says she thinks you’re lonely, but I told her that’s silly, because I’m your friend and I come to see you all the time.”“That’s very kind of you,” I say dryly, closing the door behind her. “You’re getting taller.” She grins, “I know! Daddy says I’m growing too fast and Mom
CereliaThe letter arrives in the late afternoon, the familiar scrawl on the envelope immediately making my heart ache. I open it carefully, running my fingers over the parchment before I begin to read.My dearest Cerelia,I miss you.It feels ridiculous to start with that when there’s so much to tell you, but it’s the truth. I miss you fiercely, and it’s been far too long since we last saw each other. Which is why you and Soren need to visit soon. I mean it. No excuses. Pack up your bags, drag that stubborn mate of yours along, and come stay for a while. Please.Now that my demand is out of the way, let me fill you in on everything happening here.First things first, I’m pregnant. I know, it’s a miracle, given how difficult it is for werewolves to conceive, but Arlo is very pleased with himself. I’m about 3 months along. We didn’t want to say anything until the end of the first trimester and Scarlett was the first one we told. She promptly informed us that it’s a boy.Speaking of our
NixieI take a deep breath before knocking on the heavy wooden door. My hand lingers in the air for a second longer than necessary. It’s not that I’m nervous, exactly. It’s just that this is big. Huge, actually. And saying it out loud makes it real in a way I haven’t quite wrapped my head around yet.The door swings open before I can knock again, revealing Hilda, looking as radiant as ever. Her hair is loose around her shoulders, catching the morning light, and she’s wearing a soft cream dress that drapes over her form in a way that should have been my first clue.“Nixie!” she says warmly, pulling me into a quick hug before stepping back and giving me a once-over. “You look happy, but you were lurking on my doorstep, what’s going on?”“I am,” I admit with a grin, stepping inside. “And you’re right, I do have news.”“Tell me everything,” she says, leading me into the sitting room. She settles onto the couch with a satisfied sigh, tucking her legs up beneath her.I sit beside her, run
HildaThe sun is warm against my skin, the scent of fresh grass and wildflowers thick in the air as we sit beneath the sprawling oak tree next to the creek. A checkered blanket is spread beneath us, weighed down with a picnic basket, filled with an assortment of sandwiches, and a sticky-fingered toddler who’s currently smearing honey across her chubby cheeks.Scarlett giggles as she waves her piece of bread in the air, utterly unconcerned with the mess she’s making. Of course, she’s not the one who’ll be cleaning it up, so why worry? “Mama, the bees are gonna love me,” she declares proudly, looking at her honey-covered hands.Arlo chuckles, reaching over to wipe her hands with a damp cloth before she can rub it all over her dress. “They already do my sweet princess, just like everybody else.” She beams up at him, “You too daddy?”Arlo picks her up and swings her in a wide circle, to her shrieking delight. “Especially me,” he assures her. The little minx already knows she has her daddy
AshThe morning light casts a warm golden glow over the tangle of limbs sprawled across my bed. The sheets are a mess, bodies lazily draped over each other, the scent of perfume and sex lingering in the air.The brunette to my right stirs, nuzzling into my shoulder with a satisfied sigh. The redhead to my left mutters something unintelligible in her sleep and shifts, her fingers skimming over my chest.Yes, life as a human has its compensations. It didn’t take me very long to find that out and indulge prodigiously in every single one of them.I eventually extract myself from the tangle, stepping over discarded clothing as I make my way to the bathroom. I glance at my reflection in the mirror, rubbing a hand over my jaw. Not a single flaw, I’m absolutely fucking gorgeous.I can’t detect any changes in my features. Still not aging it seems. Perhaps 2 years isn’t long enough to make such a determination, but I suspect I’m still immortal, even without my powers.I smirk, “Guess that makes
AshI tilt my head, inspecting my reflection in the mirror with a critical eye. Still devastatingly handsome. Still possessing a jawline sharp enough to cut glass. Still absolutely irresistible to anyone with functioning eyesight and a pulse.I smirk. Honestly, the world should thank its lucky stars it got me.I run a hand through my dark hair, the thick waves tousled just enough to look effortless but not unkempt.I may have lost my power, but the body I was blessed with nearly makes up for it. I occasionally miss others cowering in fear at my approach and my name being whispered in terror, but in truth, I far prefer being idolized and adored.Instead of making them shriek in fear, I have them screaming my name in passion. Instead of relying on demonic power to get what I want, I have to use charm. Fortunately, I have that in abundance.“Ash, you’re up in five.” I turn away from the mirror, flashing my most rakish grin at the harried stagehand peeking into my dressing room. “Darling,