- Kate It feels like electricity is shooting up and down my spine. He’s kissing me with so much want, so much need, that I feel like I might disappear into him completely. As my lips move against his, my mind is still tugging me toward thoughts of what the pack leaders might think. They probably saw him walk into my cabin. If he’s in here for too long, then they might start to talk about separating us. I pull back and I soak in the look in his eyes, the longing that he’s making no effort to hide. Riven is as tough as nails, but in this moment, he needs me to want him back. He needs me to forget that we’re looking for Marcel, or that we captured someone, or that we’re still trying to avenge Rico’s murder. He’s kissing me like he needs me. I let my tongue tangle with his, and something surges through me, racing all the way down to my fingers and toes. What is this feeling? I’m bracing myself for more thoughts about the pack, about what people will say, but they won’t come. I g
- Kate I’ve seen Marcel from afar, but I have to admit, Riven was right. Marcel is a sight to be seen. His hulking wolf sends chills down my spine as I push my legs apart and dig my heels into the ground. His wide, dark eyes focus on me, and I can practically picture the smirk that he’d be wearing if he was in his human form. “Fuck...” Riven groans from beside me. His hand flies to his side, where one of the bullets struck him. My heart pounds against my ribcage as I look past Marcel. My pack mates are exploding into their wolf forms and sinking their teeth into some human werewolf hunters, along with the battered forms of some of Marcel’s pack mates. My pack is fighting for its life, and right now, I have a chance to defend us, to show the pack leaders that I have always been here, and I have always been ready to be seen as a real part of this pack. As I bend my knees, and prepare to transform, heat spreads throughout my body. My limbs are tingling as if I just pressed my
- Kate “You don’t know how to control your power yet, but I bet it will be useful.” A groan escapes me as my eyes flutter open. The aged wood of the cabin’s ceiling rests above me. I blink, and inhale, fully expanding my lungs. What the hell? I shake my head and gnash my teeth together as I pull myself into a sitting position. I relax the muscles in my jaw, and my mouth hangs open as the bitter taste of medicinal herbs settles on my tongue. Memories sail into the front of my mind. Riven, the silver tipped blade, and Payna’s soft smile as she blotted a towel against the sweat-slicked, cold skin on my forehead. Marcel. “Power…” I glance at the fingernails on my right hand. They’re perfectly normal, deceptively human-looking fingers. There are no remnants of the long claws that rested there before. I open my mouth and slip a finger against my canines. The sharp points are gone. What’s happening to me? My head snaps toward the door as it creaks open. Payna steps inside
Kate Why is it that every time I see him, I’m reminded of exactly how much I want him? It’s especially bad because I can’t want him. The pack leaders have pretty much made it clear that I am not to be treated like a true member of this pack. Because I’m dangerous. But what’s more dangerous is what I’m capable of when I’m left alone with Riven. Riven grins and steps to the side. “You’re okay.” I nod and step inside the cabin. I press my back against the door, and I say, “I’m fine.” “I haven’t seen you all day.” He frowns. “I thought that you might still be with Payna.” “I’m fine.” He steps toward me and sets his hand on my shoulder. “Kate, what’s wrong?” The tears from earlier start to sting my eyes again, and I know that I can’t let him really see what’s wrong. But I also can’t let this go, I can’t leave without talking to him about it. “How much have the pack leaders shared with you?” Riven frowns and says, “What do you mean? They’ve shared just about everything
- Kate “What the fuck was that?” My head snaps toward the sound of a branch being crushed under a heavy boot. I picture a solid, black boot attached to someone that’s been watching me from the darkness. My heartbeat quickens and my muscles tighten as I narrow my eyes and scan the darkness. A doe looks at me curiously, her round, black eyes are also searching for threats as we look at each other. She cautiously lifts one leg, waiting for me to move, then she takes off. I exhale and shake my head. If I had been thinking straight, I could have gotten dinner for the night. Riven wouldn’t have hesitated to kill that deer and have it served. Him being so proactive is part of why they made him a pack leader for now. I let a long sigh that I’d been holding onto since I left squeeze past my lips. Riven. Every time I stop moving my feet, an image of him rises to the front of my mind. I picture the set way his jaw sits, and his eyes as he soaks me in. When will someone look at me like
- Kate As people walk past me, giving me the occasional curious glance, I start to feel like I’m going to be swallowed up by the night. My eyes fly around before they land on the brightly lit windows of Joe’s bar. I wonder if Joe will let me stay there again. I don’t have any money, but I’m still a “friend” of Arnold’s. As I walk across the street to the bar, I’m reminded of how desperate Arnold was when we spoke to him a few weeks ago. He’d been looking for Marcel for weeks, and we were his last glimmer of hope. I think that any human that’s pursuing him is in over their head. This is between wolves, and even if my pack doesn’t think I’m the wolf that can handle it, we’re going to take Marcel down. And figure out what to do with all of those women. Country music floats out of the bar, and a group of women stumble out. They’re teetering in high heels and falling against each other. “Oh my God, Cynthia, I have to get out of here.” One of the women turns her hazy eyed ga
- Kate His smell is strong here. I’ve been walking for a while, but the smell of Marcel’s scent comes and goes. Ever since the sun rose higher in the sky, my sense of smell has waned to what it normally was. Damn it. I can’t help but feel a little discouraged as I make my way through the woods. I’ve never been here before, and as I get swallowed up by all of the green around me, I can’t help but feel a sense of dread that has glued itself to my skin. The hairs on the back of my neck practically stand up as I walk further into the woods. My eyes fall on a family of rabbits. My stomach trembles. The bagel that I had earlier feels like a lifetime ago, because I’m starving. I sigh as I slowly lower myself to the ground. I snatch one rabbit off the ground, careful and quick like Riven would have, and I snap its neck. The other rabbits scatter, and I go to a fallen tree trunk. “I just need something to skin this with,” I mumble. “Do you need a knife?” “What?!” I jump n
- Kate Her wolf is quick, and she’s obviously had time to heal since our first run in. She doesn’t limp, or waver as I slam my body into hers. She jumps up onto her feet and snarls as she snaps her jaws at me. The feeling, the feeling that I now know is the great wolf, returns and I feel like I’m floating on air. Her blood is calling out to me, and I want nothing more than to taste it as I rip her open. I duck underneath her, which confuses her as she steps back. I swing back around and sink my canines into her back leg. She squeals and rips her leg out from between my teeth. Her blood covers my tongue, and its just like before. Everything feels brighter, faster, stronger. Better. Brea limps around me, her eyes trained on me as I stand in the center. She’s already lost this fight, and she’s just trying to buy herself some time so that she doesn’t get killed. I almost want to transform and tell her that she can go, but Marcel needs to know that I’m coming for him. I can’t
"Very well done, ma'am," said Sir Grant. "Can I convince you to answer a few more questions?""Tomorrow" Kai said gruffly. "She's been through a lot today. She needs a break.""I feel very pleased to tell you all the relevant details," Torcia replied to Sir Grant. "If you will bring a doctor to take care of Lord Sydney's hand, as well as take care of our servant."The judge's blue eyes narrowed. "We'll send Dr. Linley right away.""I'll go find him." Sayer volunteered and quickly left the office."Wonderful," Morgan commented, his eyes returning to Kai. "And while we wait for Linley, sir, perhaps you could explain to me the circumstances that led to your wound... and why you look and smell like you've just wandered around. via Fleet Ditch."Much later, as they lay in bed in their home and talked for what seemed like an hour, Kai told Torcia of his thoughts in the moment of distress, when he thought he was going to die in the barn. there. As Torcia listened, she snuggled into his folde
Torcia didn't really regain her senses until she found herself being half-pulled and half-carried to Lord Warren's London home. Her head was smashed maliciously, and her throat ached as she struggled against his merciless grip. Somewhere beneath her fear and anger, she was acutely aware that Ellie had been released. Her sister was safe, and now all the boiling anger would pour down her head, which was what Lotiie had always known would happen, between her and the man who had dominated most of her life. her life. Although Lotiie was aware of several screams from nearby servants, none of them dared to stop them. They were all afraid of Warren, and they wouldn't lift a finger to get in the way of what he wanted to do. She had foreseen what he was going to do when he brought her here. His London home was the first to be investigated when it was discovered that she was missing. She was sure that he had taken her to another place where it would be difficult for anyone to find her.Warren dr
He stomped again, the destructive power of his foot sending a blinding explosion of pain through Kai's arm. Follard's shoe was once again raised for the boon shot."Daddy," Kai panted and grabbed Follard by the ankle, pulling hard.With a shrill scream, Follard tumbled off the beams, his body falling over two floors and landing with fatal force.Kai didn't dare look down. He focused his whole mind on climbing the beam. Unfortunately, his strength was drained, and his left hand was crippled. Writhing like a worm caught in a hook, he leaned forward helplessly from the fatal fall.Doubtful, he realized he was about to die.*****The paper trembled in Torcia's hand as she read it again.TorciaPlease save me. Mama says Lord Warren is coming to take me away. I didn't want to go anywhere with him, but Mom and Papa made me do. They locked me in my room until he arrived. I beg you not to let that happen, Torcia, because you are my only hope.My dear sisterEllieA boy from the village brought
"He didn't," Sayer said cheerfully. "He wants me to interrogate his old associates and send him a message. I'd rather go and arrest Follard in person."Kai couldn't help but laugh at that, knowing exactly how Morgan's reaction would be to the news. "If you succeed, Morgan will skin you for such a damn stupid show.""Yes...and then he'll kiss my bony ass for getting a fugitive back. And I'll be on the front page of the Times, with dozens of women begging for my attention."Kai's smile turned grim. "It's not as interesting as you think," he informs his friend."No? Well, I want to try anyway." Sayer raised an eyebrow expectantly. "Are you participating?"Kai nodded with a sigh. "Where do you want to start looking?""It is said that Follard was seen in the slum between Hanging Ax Alley and Dead Man's Lane. It was like an anthill with holes in the walls and interlaced tunnels -""Yes, I know the place." Kai kept his face impassive, though he was aware of a cold distaste curling up in his
The contours of his body changed, sagging in a kind of wretched patience. He leaned one shoulder against the wall, part of his face bent away from her, his gaze fixed on some distant spot on the floor."I was sent to prison because I was responsible for the death of a man. I was fourteen years old. I joined a gang of road robbers, and an old man died when we robbed the carriage. Soon after, the whole gang was tried and convicted. He was too embarrassed to tell anyone who he was - he simply called himself John Sidney. Four of the group were arrested. hanged quickly, but because he was young, the judge gave him a lighter sentence. Ten months on the Scarborough.""Sir Ross is the judge who sentenced you," Torcia whispered, remembering what Sophia had told her.A bitter smile squeezed his mouth. "None of us expected that one day you would become brothers-in-law." He slumped more heavily against the wall. "As soon as he set foot on the ship, he knew he wouldn't live a month there. A quick
"Yes," Torcia muttered, letting him take her hand. Sir Ross examined his bruised wrist with a frown. His face was hidden, and his gray eyes were so kind and worried that Torcia wondered how she could have ever thought of him as aloof. She remembered his compassion for women and children she had heard about—a highlight of his career as a judge, Sophia had told her.Sir Ross' mouth curled up in a gentle and reassuring smile. "This won't happen again - I can promise you that.""Great party," Kai sarcastically. "Can you tell us who the hell put Lord Warren on the guest list?""Kai," Torcia conciliated, "it's all right, I'm sure sir Ross doesn't—""Absolutely not okay," sir Ross protested quietly. "I'm in charge of this party, and I bow my head to your forgiveness, Torcia. Lord Warren is certainly not on the guest list I've approved, but I'll find out how. he won the invitation." His brow furrowed as he continued."Lord Warren's behavior tonight is absurd and reprehensible...it demonstrate
Samantha's face hardened with understanding. "They won't be mad at you forever, dear." She spoke with a realism that offered more consolation than sympathy. "If your husband is only half as rich as rumors reveal, the Sette family will end up being more than happy to announce him as son-in-law."The three talked for a while longer, eager to get to know each other again and planning to contact each other soon. Torcia didn't notice the passage of time until she heard the band start playing a recently popular waltz called. "Spring Flowers," a tune that immediately ignites the eager crowd to pair up to begin spinning through the room. Wondering if Kai would remember to dance the first waltz with her, Torcia decided to look for him across the room. Apologizing to her two friends, she walked along the downstairs balcony corridors, separated from the dance floor by carved wooden railings and pink and blue rose bushes. A few couples were engrossed in private stories, somewhat obscured by the d
“Something pale yellow, I think,” Sophia said grimly, sitting among the many fabrics spread out as if a rainbow had exploded in the room."Yellow," Torcia repeated, biting her lower lip. "I don't think it will flatter my skin tone."Since this was at least the tenth suggestion that Torcia had rejected, Sophia sighed and shook her head with a smile. She had specially used the room behind the tailor shop on Oxford Street to order Torcia's wedding dress."I'm sorry, Torcia said sincerely. "I don't mean to be difficult. You obviously have very little experience with these things." She was never allowed to choose the style or color of her dresses herself.At Lord Warren's orders, she always wore virtuous styles in colors. Unfortunately now it's hard to picture myself in vibrant colors like blue, or yellow, and, god help her, pink, and the thought of exposing most of my upper chest. The public was so terrified that she cringe at the stylish illustrations in the book Sophia held out to her.S
He smiled at that, bringing her fingers to his mouth. "I would like anyone but Warren as a husband - I've made that pretty clear."Torcia smiled, discreetly thinking that by marrying Kai, she had ended up with a husband far from her expectations. "What will you do tomorrow?" she asked, recalling this morning's confrontation with Sir Ross. She was sure that Kai would give up his post on Bow Street without a word of protest.Letting go of her hand, Kai frowned. "I'm going to visit Morgan.""Do you think he will side with you against Sir Ross?""There's no chance. But at least I'll have the satisfaction of telling Morgan what a rotten traitor he is."Torcia reached forward to touch the lapel of his robe. "Have you considered the possibility that those two are doing what they think is best for you? Could it be in your own interest to reinstate the title?""How can that be? God, I'm going to live in a cage painted with vermilion and gold.""I'll be in there with you."He stared at her, see