Hilda“You did what?” Arlo asks, looking like he’s about to explode. “I didn’t go alone!” I defend myself against the torrent of reprimands that I’m sure is about to follow. His eyes rake over me anxiously, as if he’s afraid there may be some damage he missed before.“There’s no part of me you haven’t inspected minutely in the past 24 hours Arlo, I’m fine. Kestrel was with me and we turned around when I sensed danger.” He doesn’t seem mollified, “I told you to stay here so you could be safe, not so you’d go boldly traipsing into danger without a second thought! And don’t think for a moment that I believe you invited Kestrel to go with you. I’m willing to bet my life on it that you were told by the guards to take an escort!”I’m trying not to pout, or show him how thrilled I am by the fact that he knows me so well. “What else was I supposed to do while you were gone? Stay inside and read a book?” Arlo throws his hands into the air dramatically, “Yes! That’s exactly what you were suppos
CereliaI can’t see him, but I sense his presence immediately. Soren didn’t leave and he knows I’m here. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’m angry about the things he said. His outrageous assumption that either Hilda or I would be happy to share him.But. He genuinely seemed concerned about me and frantic to save me from my supposed captors. He also said he loves me and I believed him.I barely slept last night because I feel so guilty about allowing him to leave without showing myself. And my doubts about Maelor’s true nature have resurfaced with a vengeance. Arista showing up was bad enough, but the way he lied to Soren, without a flicker of guilt to be observed, stirred up all of my misgivings again.I still don’t want to talk to Soren, but I’m not a child and running back inside and hiding under the bed isn’t an option. Sadly.“Fine Soren, you’ve found me. Come out and we’ll talk,” I call out, sure he’s close enough to hear me. I’m hoping Maelor will sleep through the noise. H
Arlo She never stops amazing me. I know she has to be frightened of going back to the area where the cabal practices their evil magic. None of us knows what to expect and she told me all about the sense of dread she felt when she and Kestrel stumbled across the place.Yet she never wavers. Her steps are strong and sure, hurrying toward the danger to face it head-on. Not that I’ve had a moment’s doubt, but she keeps proving every day, in every way, what an incredible Luna she’s going to be.“We’re very close now. I really hope we’ll be able to save the women,” Hilda says quietly, so only I can hear her. I share that wish, but I doubt it’ll come to pass. Why would they have needed so many women if the previous ones weren’t dead? Women I brought to them, probably kicking and screaming. I still have no memory of it.“Stop it,” Hilda whispers fiercely. “Even your warriors believe in your innocence. I know I’m biased. I love you and I’m addicted to your incredible body,” she adds with a sl
Arlo“Find her!” I roar, rushing forward blindly, not even feeling the impact as I bounce off the trees. I can’t smell her, I can’t feel her and the cold, quiet desolation I suffer in the absence of her bright warmth is making me crazy. It’s impossible to stop and think. I have to keep moving. I have to find her.I’m not going back without her. We don’t know what they use the women they take for, but I know none of them have ever come back. Without Hilda I have no life. Nothing has any meaning. I can’t lose her.“Arlo, slow down,” Percy says quietly, his voice heavy with heartache. “We’re not going to make any headway like this. Put your hand on my shoulder and follow me. We’re pushing on, getting past their damn barrier, no matter what they throw at us. I also love her. We all do, in our hearts she’s already our Luna, but you know she’s my friend as well and I’m determined to find her.”Under different circumstances his words would have sent my spirits soaring. To know my most truste
CereliaThere’s so much for me to process. Soren didn’t cheat on me of his own free will. Maelor’s misdirection won’t work on me. The fact that he couldn’t fight off the spell he was under has nothing to do with how much he loves me. It was put directly on him, while passed to Hilda secondhand when she touched the book.“I intend to be the greatest mage that ever lived, Maelor,” I tell him with a confidence I don’t really feel. “But not as your puppet. I will be a force for good, not evil. I will stand against you, not by your side.”Maelor laughs derisively, before sneering at me, “You have potential Cerelia, not power. Without anyone to unlock it, you will remain a stunted little tree. You can perform parlor tricks and basic spells, nothing that could harm me. Join us or die, the choice is yours.”Soren changes in the blink of an eye, leaping for Maelor’s throat with his jaws stretched wide. I don’t waste the opening he gives me, sprinting around Maelor in an effort to get to Soren’
HildaI wake up lost in a cloud of confusion, my head feeling heavy and unclear. I’m lying on my back on something hard and I blink groggily, my brain struggling to catch up with reality.I’m in a cave, the walls and roof visible due to the light cast by the red candles flickering all around me. I’m on a stone slab, dressed in a flimsy white nightgown, my arms and legs spread eagled and held by what appears to be manacles of flame. I’m not writhing in pain, so it’s obviously magic.It’s impossible to see anything beyond the ring of light surrounding me. The rest of the cave is dark as a pit of starless eternity. I can’t feel Arlo, but I hope he’s safe and free somewhere out there. His absence is dull, not empty, and I believe whoever caught me is blanketing our bond, hiding us from each other. If he was close by I don’t believe there’s magic strong enough to keep me from sensing him and I hang on to that thought desperately. As long as I believe he’s safe, I can remain calm.“Well, we
Hilda I know there’s no way that Arlo’s not trying to find and save me right now, but I hope he stays very far away. I can’t stand the thought of these people interfering with his life any more than they already have.“Why me?” I ask, hoping that something he says will help me find a way out of this nightmare. Maelor shrugs, “Arlo is in love with you and you seem strong enough to contain Morgana’s immense power. Through you we can continue controlling him, but far more successfully this time.”Oh, hell no. I would rather die than play into their hands. “I don’t understand why you need Arlo at all. What do you want from him? And why bring this Morgana back? Seems to me she outstrips you in power, won’t she just push you aside and take over the way Lilith did?”Maelor smiles again, looking at me like I’m his favorite pet, performing a trick for attention. “I worked on Morgana’s resurrection spell very carefully. If she makes any move against me, she’ll return from where she came immedi
CereliaWe ran for almost an hour before daring to stop. I don’t think Maelor’s following us, but he’s clearly a master manipulator, so who the heck knows.Soren’s unsteady on his legs and I’m worried about the deep gash running down his side. “Lie down,” I tell him, rubbing my hands together. He eyes the ball of light forming between my palms suspiciously, but finally does as he’s told, choosing to trust me.My proximity as his mate will speed up his natural werewolf healing abilities, but not as much as my magic can. I was looking forward to learning a lot more about restorative magic, excited at the prospect of being able to help others. I guess my ‘teacher’ was never going to expend too much energy on teaching me such inconsequential powers.It’s still difficult to accept that I’d been so thoroughly duped by Maelor. I was so grateful to him for taking me in and giving me something to focus on while my heart was in tatters. “It’s not your fault. I told you he could be trusted,” Sor
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,
HildaThe fire crackles low in the hearth, casting long shadows against the stone walls of our chamber. I press a hand to my belly. It’s still flat, but I know it will start rounding soon. I’m nearly at the 3 month mark. There’s life inside me again. Another piece of Arlo and me, growing.Scarlett sleeps soundly in the adjoining room, her soft breaths a gentle reassurance that all is well. She’s nearly 2 now and precocious beyond belief. She knows nothing about her bloodlines and being a nexus of power. For now her only job is to be a busy little girl, adored by everyone.Arlo watches me from where he stands near the fireplace, shirt unbuttoned, those deeply carved muscles making me long to touch him. His tawny eyes hold a hunger that hasn’t waned despite the years, despite the child we’ve made and the kingdom we rule. If anything, time has only made it more potent, more consuming.“I can hear your heart racing,” he murmurs, voice thick with that dark, commanding edge that unravels me
HildaI wake up feeling like a person again. A person who’s had sleep. A person who isn’t entirely on the verge of collapse. A person who now has to keep a promise to a demon.Dread coils in my stomach. The moment I remember what Astaroth said, it’s like I never rested at all. I glance at Arlo, who’s staring at the ceiling, jaw tight, eyes shadowed. He knows too. We have to go.Scarlett shifts in my arms, her tiny body warm against mine. I hold her closer, pressing my lips to the soft, dark curls on her head. She makes a small sound of contentment, utterly unaware of what we’re walking into.I murmur an apology to her as we walk. “I’m so sorry, my love.” She looks so content. So happy to be outside.My feet feel heavier with every step toward the temple ruins. Arlo’s hand rests protectively against my back. Whatever happens when the demon receives Scarlett’s blood, we’ll both fight to the death to protect her. Fear presses in on me, cold and suffocating, making it harder to breathe th