"I DID NOT expect this much," Enrique said. He and Lorna were sitting on the sand a few distance from where the tents were erected."To be honest, neither did I," Lorna said, leaning into Enrique's frame."We didn't bring a tent," Enrique grunted. "We should have.""It is not needed," Lorna said. "Look at the sky. It's so beautiful."Enrique looked up and nodded, but he said, "You can't lie on the sand," he said. "It would be uncomfortable to sleep on."Lorna chuckled dryly. "Who said anything about sleeping?" She asked. "We are all keeping a watch vigil.""You people have a lot of rituals," Enrique muttered under his breath. She nodded. "We are not shapeshifters like werewolves and Lycans; we are not monsters of the night or water like Vampires or Sirens... but what we do have, is our tradition. And it's something we will always relish and follow."Enrique remained silent for a moment, then he scoffed and said, "Sirens." He chuckled. "Those things are not real.""Oh is that so?" Lor
SHE DIDN'T KNOW. Her mind could not imagine the sheer strength of a Lycan, especially one as aged as Enrique. She was overwhelmed by his power and beaten out of her senses.Enrique did not like the thought of hitting a woman, but to protect another whom he loved? Yes, he would.She was a sire vampire, but a new one and she was feeling overconfident, which was what he used to his advantage. "Is everything alright? I felt a slight change in the energy flow a few minutes ago." Lorna's voice floated into his head.He easily parried a strike from the vampire and slashed with his claws. His beast was enjoying this too much. "We had a visitor, but I'm handling it." He replied Lorna.He could still hear the worry in her voice as she said, "We are almost done here.""Take your time, Lorna." He grunted."That's your beast talking, Enrique, are you okay?" She asked."Splendid," He slammed his knee into the ribcage of the woman vamp."Do not kill anyone out there, Enrique," Lorna added. "This is
ONCE THE NECROMANCERS were done doing their business with the ghosts of the departed sisters, the witches dispersed and had time to assess the damage Alice had dealt on them before Enrique intervened. None of the sisters were dead, but many were badly injured. Luckily some of the witches were skilled healers, so they got to working on the injured ones while Lorna, furious, made her way to Enrique. "Who was that?" She snarled. "Who caused all these?""A vampire," Enrique answered. "A high-ranking vampire. She could move with the night shadows.""So that means she was created by Vladimir himself," Lorna said, and Enrique nodded. "You didn't kill her.""I didn't. You told me not to." Enrique said. "But I left her very beaten up.""I would like to have a word with her," Lorna said, frowning as she walked past Enrique. "It was a stupid attempt by Vladimir to try and attack us. He would not stoop so low to attack the witches during burial rites. He wouldn't."Enrique led her to the scene o
MITCH CHESTER MITCH GRUNTED AWAKE and looked down at his arm. Anna was cuddled against his side, her face was resting softly against the crook of his arm. He eased her off and stood up. She was going to wake up with a crick in her neck. He stretched and went to the window. He pulled the curtain aside slightly and looked out, it was still dark out, but he could tell that it was almost dawn.He washed his mouth and grabbed a thick shawl and overcoat, putting them on as he went out of the palace."Mornin', Your Highness," The two guards manning the front doors greeted as soon as Mitch stepped out.He nodded in response. "Cold night, huh," he said."Yes, sir," One of them said. "But it's not anything that we can't handle." He said with slight pride in his voice."I'm sure of that," Mitch commented. "See anything out of usual?" He asked.The second guard shook his head. "No, sir." He said. "We also didn't get any news from the patrol scouts. It was a very peaceful night."Mitch nodded and
AFTER THIS SECOND meeting and close contact with the Baby Lycan, Vorenus knew that he was right since the first time he saw the Lycan. This was no "baby" lycan. He might be young, but there was nothing weak about him. He carried himself with someone who knew what he was doing, and his beast had a type of ferocity seen in age-old beasts.Vorenus's mind was calm now that he was certain that the girl, Paige, was alive. She had been saved before the cold got to her. Vorenus landed on the upper balcony of the mansion. He knew he would be alone now. Vladimir would most likely be in a club, and Bartholomew would be taking care of the boat in the port.Vorenus walked in and went to the bar. He poured himself a bottle of whiskey and took a sip as he headed to the porch. He patted his breast pocket, feeling the hard fangs poke his chest. He wondered how Vladimir was going to react. Even though he had been with Vladimir for over 1,000 years, Vladimir still remained unpredictable. Vorenus took a
MITCH CHESTERCAN THE DAY get any weirder? Mitch asked himself as he made his way back to the palace. It was dawn and the early wakers of the kingdom were up and about already."Nice morning Your Highness," greeted called out randomly as he walked past. He smiled and nodded to each person as he walked, enjoying the feeling of the snow crunching underneath his feet and the warm, bright sun on his neck.When he entered the palace, he checked in the lounge room and saw that Anna was still asleep. Then he went upstairs to wash up before coming down for breakfast."Early morning, Your Highness," Patty greeted from the kitchen.He grunted as he sat at the table. "I had troubled sleep.""Coffee will clear your head," she said, placing a steaming hot jug on the table. "Breakfast will be out soon." Mitch nodded. He poured himself a glass of black coffee and took a sip as he went to his office. "Might as well check on business while I wait for breakfast," he muttered to himself. He glanced th
ANNA KYLIN CHESTER I WOKE UP slowly, destabilized for a minute until I realized that I was being cradled in Mitch's arms and he was carrying me up the stairs. "Hey there, beautiful," He said.I could both hear his deep, baritone voice and feel it coming from his chest."What's the time?" I asked softly."Too far gone," He replied, chuckling slightly."I didn't mean to sleep this late," I said, trying to work myself from his arms, but he held me steadfast. "Mitch. You can drop me now. I'm awake.""I can see that," he muttered, but made no move to release me. So I resigned myself to my situation, and it was not a bad one. I looked at his underprofile, his dark stubble, strong chin, and dominant jaw."You have a scar," I said, noting the white line. "On your neck."He grunted an inaudible reply. I reached up and touched the line gently. He shouldered the door open and finally dropped me on the bed. "Thank you," I said as he went to the bathroom and turned on the taps. Then he came bac
ANNA KYLIN CHESTERWE WALKED DOWN together, hand and fingers entwined. I could feel Mitch's beats purring happily, and to be honest, my wolf, Ava, was also giddy with excitement. Avas last words in the bedroom resounded in my head again. She had said, “We three.” That could mean me the human, her the wolf, and a potential baby in my stomach. A pup. A younger siblings for Aiden and Addison, and even most importantly, maybe the first ever werewolf-Lycan hybrid. I did not have enough time to think about it as we approached the dining room. Draco had a knowing smile on his lips as he looked at Mitch and me.He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, “good morning, Luna.”I nodded in response and asked, “How are Hilda and Paige?”“I left them very fine, thank you.” He said. The table remained silently awkward. Draco cleared his throat again and added, “The children sound very happy for the sleep over tonight.”“Ah, yes,” I nodded. “They do.”Mitch snorted as he added some food to my plate,