Kate The searing pain that climbs up my neck and my chest lets me know that my wound will most certainly leave a scar. I squeeze my eyes shut as I follow Killi around the cabin. Killi’s hands fly through all of my clothes, and she tosses me a loose-fitting, pale blue t-shirt and a pair of jean shorts. I press my hand on top of the open burn and try and will it to stop burning. If Riven didn’t need me, I’d definitely be feeling sorry for myself and thinking of pointless ways to get back at Reona for this. I peel my clothes off and put on the fresh clothes that Killi handed me. I slowly get dressed, then I make my way over to the door of the cabin. Killi calls after me, “Kate. Are you sure that you want to do this?” An image of Riven’s wolf bounding off into the woods slides into the front of my mind. I want to believe that he’d do the same for me, even if I pushed him away. I nod. “I need to go.” I open the door and step outside. The sunlight warms my back, and I stretc
Riven I don’t want my knees to tremble, but they are. I curse myself, thinking of how I must look in front of this massive, and admittedly terrifying, wolf. I’ve never been the kind of man to let another wolf intimidate me, but this isn’t an ordinary wolf. Evil radiates off of him in waves. I suck in a breath as Marcel’s predatory gaze gives me the once over. “Since we’re introducing ourselves, who are you?” “Riven. Since we’re asking questions, I have to ask you, what the hell are you doing with all of these women?” He looks down his nose at me. “I don’t give answers to pups. You stumbled into my camp, my operation, and decided to be nosy. Leave now and I won’t kill you.” I can tell that he means it. I think of the rattled human girl we saved, with her tattered clothes and pleading expression. He did that to her, and countless other women. The muscles in my jaw tighten. It doesn’t matter. I’m here for a reason, and I can’t leave not having done something about this assho
- Riven The healers make quick work of their assignment. The girl is laid out on the cot in front of me. Her short black hair sticks up in a million directions as her head lolls back and forth. If it wasn’t for the subtle rise and fall of her chest, I would have already thought that she was gone. The truth is that she would have slipped away if I hadn’t arrived when I did. I work my fingers into the stiff and sore muscles on my neck as I slip out of the cabin. I can hear the healers tittering behind me. “Such a shame. A beautiful wolf was just wasting away in that camp.” “I hope the leaders find the man responsible for this and toss him into the river.” I smirk as I make my way to the leaders’ cabin. Leaders or not, we still have to have a conversation. Niles is the first to see me. His eyes narrow as the friendly act that he put on in the woods seems to quickly melt away. “Riven. We need to have a chat.” “I agree.” He falls into step beside me. “I know that you’re n
- Riven I’m never going to stop wanting her. I glance over my shoulder and peer at Kate’s cabin before I walk forward. Before, the only thing standing between us was Kate’s own doubts, but now, we might have to contend with Niles being all over us. How can it be both of our problems if Kate doesn’t want to do this anymore? I shake my head. I wish it were as simple as letting her go, but I can’t do that now. She’s the only thing that’s felt anything like home since I left my last pack. I wouldn’t know for sure what home is like, but something feels right with her. The way that she makes me feel feels right for sure. My body reacts to her as if I’m still a young pup that’s never been with a woman. She lights my skin on fire, and I am dying to touch her again. I want to wrap my hands in her silky hair, and tug on it until she cries out for me. I want to feel her again. I’m pulled out of my reverie when I spy someone shuffling towards the old bonfire. The girl I rescued is sta
- Riven I press my fingernails so far into my palms that I can feel small trickles of blood spilling over my knuckles. I breathe deep and make a conscious effort to relax the muscles in my face. I smooth out my expression. I can’t let Niles see that he’s getting to me. More importantly, I can’t let Kate think that this will deter me from being with her. I don’t know what he’s got planned, but it’s not going to work. I clear my throat. “I’d heard that Kate had gone to the river. I came to discuss our hunt. I figured that she’s well enough now to join us.” I turn to Kate and bounce my eyebrows. I’m confident that she’ll want to get as far away from Niles as possible, especially if she can get back into our hunt. She cares about this too much to let Niles stop her from joining us again. Kate glances at Niles. Her expression is grateful as she takes a step back from him. She waves a hand toward me. “Riven is right. I’m feeling much better, a little bit of a sting still, but I don’
- Riven “I want you to fuck me.” Music to my fucking ears. I swat her hand away and lower my head until it’s between her legs. Her soft gasps make me even harder than I already was. I sink my teeth into the fabric of her pale blue underwear, and I tug it down. Once they’re around her thighs, I grab them and crumple them up into a ball and toss them to the floor. I settle between her thighs immediately. I pause, hovering just above her, breathing in her sweet scent. Then, I dive in, consuming her. My lips part hers and I devour her. Her hips buck, and her thighs practically crush either side of my face, but I love it. Heavy breaths rip through my chest and I sit back on my heels. I lick my lips as I take her in. Her cheeks are stained pink as she eyes me, completely vulnerable, and at my mercy. She breathes, “Don’t stop.” I reach down and unbuckle my pants. Her hands fly to my waist again, eager to assist me. I flick her fingers away and pull them down myself. “That’s not
- Kate We practically sprint to Willie Lake. I haven’t been anywhere near it in ages, and I wish I were returning under better circumstances. My feet slam against the dirt as we power through the woods. If we make it in time, we might be able to save some of the girls. We might be able to kill Marcel. I’ve never taken a life before, but he’s probably ended numerous lives since all of this started. We make it to Willie Lake, and sure enough, there’s an operation here. I don’t know if it’s anything like Riven described, but there are dozens of trucks like the ones that we saw back in the woods. Riven transforms, and so do I. He points at the trucks and says, “What’s our angle? We could go in on a rescue mission, or we could go straight for Marcel. What do you think?” “He’s going to have people keeping watch, maybe even some wolves. We can’t save all of those girls, we’re going to need the rest of the pack for that.” “Damn it,” Riven sighs as we look at the people shuffling b
Riven “He’s waking up.” “Well, go ahead and kick him awake, we don’t have all day. We have to get moving for that big bad son of a bitch.” Pain spreads throughout my body. I’ve been through a lot of shit, and I’ve gotten into some pretty bad scraps with some pretty big wolves, but whatever the hell they put in that werewolf stunner has completely incapacitated me. A groan falls out of my mouth, and I blink hard, trying to will the pain away. The pain is both annoying and persistent. I press my palms against the dirt and drag myself into a sitting position. Blurry, I can’t see. Is that sunlight? “Oh good, he’s waking up. Good, good.” Who the hell is that? I whip my head in the direction of the voice, but my ears are proving to be my strongest resource because my vision hasn’t come back yet. Don’t panic. They’re just humans with fancy tools. I shake my head back and forth, and blink, and I keep blinking until things start to clear. Something shuffles beside me. The so
"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