StitchesThat same night, Elinor tucked Cressida and Emory to sleep. As much as she wanted to keep them awake so she could watch them move, and hear them telling her their stories, she knew they needed rest the most.The door of her bedroom creaked, she turned her head over, and there, she saw Colin, leaning against the door frame.His long black hair is free, cascading down to his shoulder. A few locks covered his eyes. There is a sash wrapped around his waist, arrows were hooked to it. He looked very regal in her eyes, despite the apparent dirt spread around his kilt."You should rest, too," he said. There was a golden glow in his face from the lamp. It made the scar on his cheek more noticeable.Elinor wanted to trace his scar with her hand."I cannot sleep," she said, turning her attention back to the twins who were in deep slumber. "May I come in?"Elinor stopped and contemplated letting him inside. There is still this wary inside her whenever he's near.After some awkward sile
A BridgeThe moment the news that her son arrived safely with the twins alive reached the ears of Tatiana, the lady immediately fled to Colin's estate.It was the perfect timing for her husband, Conrad, who had just arrived as well from his hunt in the eastern part of the map."A lot has happened while you are gone, really."Her husband sinks in the bath, while she sits on the floor, telling him about the things he missed.Smokes were rising from the water, and Tatiana helped her husband to quicken his bath so they could go to their son's estate instantly. Tatiana was babbling on and on, from Elinor's return down to the current situation at the estate."Honey," Conrad called her attention, cutting her short. His eyes were gentle as he looked at her.Tatiana raised he eyebrows, "What?" she asked."Have you forgotten that you have sent me letters talking about the things that happened?" Conrad said, gently touching his wife's hand on the railing of the tub."I do read them, dear." He s
In less than a month, a tradition known to every single pack that populates Ashmore will take place. It is the day a new Alpha would take over in its pack.The La Muerte. It means death. Death of the werewolves that had tried to fight but were overpowered and conquered by one worthy werewolf. To be an Alpha, one would compete in a ruthless battle among the other werewolves who wished to claim the title. There seems to be one and only goal in that battle: To prove your strength, willpower, and capability to lead, and above all, your ability to attack to kill.But that depends entirely on the pack's current Alpha and Luna.They could choose either that, a one-day battle will ensue among potential, hand-picked participants, or someone that is a descendant of a current Alpha, favorably, male werewolf.The Bloody Immortals Pack, one that is led by Conrad and Tatiana for ninety-nine years, is not really fond of battles.Since they had Colin as their only son, he can very well rise to the
Lost SparkThe sound of ceramic cups clinking as it is being placed down on its saucer. A gentle breeze passed them by, ruffling the leaves of the tree that provides them shades in their usual afternoon tea.Elinor, Bonnie, Yves, and Tatiana were sitting down at a small round table with tea cups that are as fancy as the kettle and the dress they wore. Except for Elinor and Bonnie who had a very dull-looking dress."Is Suzanne coming? Does one of you girls tell her that we're having tea at this hour?" Tatiana asked them, her eyes darting toward Elinor.Her eyebrows slightly raised. "I'm sure she's gone to do something important, I don't know what is it though," she said."Five days left before La Muerte, she better be spending time with Colin." Said Tatiana.Yves dropped her teacup gently. Her eyes flickered to her mother. "Do you intend for my brother and Suzanne to marry on that day?" she sound so dumbfounded.Bonnie threw Elinor a glance. She cleared her throat and picked up her tea
Stealing Glances The stone rolled over down the cobbled path as he kicked it. Suddenly, it reminds him of Elinor's pearl in their first meeting behind the local pub."I haven't been here before," said Suzanne to Elinor.He was walking behind them, but his eyes were all over Elinor's back. Her slender neck, and her red hair in a tiny bun with some curls poking out and dangling around.God, he wished he was near her. He wished he still had the luxury of just touching her anywhere else and anytime he wanted to.But in their status right now, he no longer had that kind of access. He knew Elinor was one raging woman. But he is ready to ride all her raging waves because he knows that she will become calm again. His love for her stayed the same."Neither am I," Elinor said to Suzanne.Not long after, they reached the boutique where a local modiste sews clothing and dresses."I lived very far away, so I brought almost half of my dresses to the estate. But I surely would not mind if I bought
The WagerHis hooded, hollow eyes darted on the half-full moon. His pale white fingers tapped on the window's glass.Behind him stood Aurora, her skin in a deathly pale glow, her frizzy hair kemp to the side of her face.In a moment now, she will scream, as he would expect her to since she can get very easily irritated. Little things get under her skin, and the veins in her neck would look as if they will immediately pop out from screaming out loud.Whatever he has to say now will not only have her screaming at the top of her lungs. He bet she would drop to the floor, or she would dig her long nails at him. Either way, he would have to deal with her anger."I have decided that we should bend the rules now, you know." He turned around, and instantly he was met with Aurora's hollowed eyes burning with rage.She slowly tilted her head, her bones cracking as she did so."Whatever do you mean?" she asked, her voice eerie. She was asking, but he knows that is not a question but more of a th
Clandestine Meetings Elinor's eyes widened. Her breath got stuck in her throat. Just seconds ago, sleep was calling her whole, but it left her body almost in an instant when she spotted Colin acting very strangely and cautiously around the hall.He kept on looking behind him, and on all sides but he cannot see her because of the wall.Her mind is awakened now, disturbed by Colin's behavior. She popped her head a little bit, just enough for her to take a sneaky peak at him.He walked away, and Elinor did not let him get away from her eyesight. She followed closely behind, her footsteps light. She did not even bother to wear her shoes to further silence her movements.Colin took a turn to the left side of the wing. Elinor waited for some time before she turned.What are you up to, Colin? She silently asked herself.She knew to herself that the only way for her to find that out is to follow him.As she made a turn, all that was left for her to see was Colin's foot disappearing in the st
Truth and Lies"Do you trust my love?"The question really struck Elinor. It is how he said those words with heavy emotions in his eyes and tone. Not once did Colin's eyes left her green ones as they stood face-to-face inside her chamber. Of all places, they are having this conversation again where there is a bed nearby.But what struck Elinor the most was not because of how he said those words, but the way her mind and heart whispered the answer that only she could hear."Yes, yes, I do." However, she kept that to herself.Despite what she witnessed last night. Despite crying herself to sleep because of it. She still finds in herself the love and trust she has for him. It never truly, fully went away, she realized that now. Even if there are countless times already when she felt like her love for him died in some ways. And even if she had tried to convince herself that she had long buried it deep in the ground, and nothing he can do or say will make it come to the surface again.I w