When he retreated, I released a breath I hadn't known I had been holding. I turned to find Madalynn glaring at me."Watch it, or my father may take you for himself. He wouldn't mind adding you to his collection."A sadistic smirk crossed her face, and she turned quickly to leave.Romero's Beta, howe
When Talon told me about going to the capital, I was worried.At least within Ethan's pack I was safe, and I had gotten used to my routine schedule. I didn't have much of an idea what would happen in the capital, but I had a feeling I would need to interact with the Poldesse pack, which really made
I knew that wasn't going to happen, though, and I was ashamed of myself for even thinking about it.Ethan didn't look happy about the current circumstances, and became cold and distant toward me as soon as the car started to move. He kept himself occupied, working through paperwork and going through
At last, the car slowed down and pulled along the stone driveway that circled around to the door.I watched men dressed in elegant and sophisticated attire exit the massive front door coming straight for us. The other black vehicles slowly pulled up behind us, but ours stuck out prominently over all
Another woman was angry about me being with Ethan…How many women did he have like this?"I am not a plaything." After dealing with Madalynn for a couple days, I was more comfortable handling invaders to my room. I was quite sure no one would hurt me in the capital, knowing I was with Ethan, so I de
"I don't know if this is a good idea." I glanced toward Vicky, unsure.Another dinner… Why did they keep forcing me to be in their presence? The last time I went to dinner, it was a disaster.She smiled, gripping my hand with hers. "It's going to be fine. Stop worrying so much.""You said that last
He looked around the table, but, for some reason, not at me. I had a feeling that although the king mentioned me, I wasn't going to be his topic."However," he continued, "we do need to talk about something."I watched as Ethan's fist clenched under the table, and then very quickly relaxed on his la
Waking the next morning, I found that Ethan had not returned to the room the entire night.Of course not. He was getting engaged to Madalynn, so what was the point of being with me any more?The idea turned my stomach.I didn't think it was possible to get sick as much as I was, but then again, the
The entire family had gathered in the dining room and was chatting amiably over a very impressive spread that had been laid out by the kitchen–two prime rib roasts, a honeyed ham, and three roast ducks were the centerpieces of the table, all of which were being enjoyed liberally by everyone.George
RowanMom ran her fingers across Selene's head, admiring her fine white hair. She looked every ounce the doting grandmother instead of a ball of uncertainty, like Maeve. Maeve was pacing back and forth near the fall wall of my bedroom, her arms folded across her chest and her head bent as she tried
Kacidra joined in the conversation. "Maeve is right, Rowan. We need to know what's happening with you and Hanna, or else we'll never be able to help."Rosalie's voice was calm and supportive as she asked, "Is it Hanna that's troubling you, son? Is she doing all right?My first instinct was to tell t
Gemma and Ernest had flown down with my parents and their son George, who was just two months older than Maeve's sons.A moment later, the library door opened and more of our family members poured in, as if they were fully aware of the thoughts I'd just had and I'd summoned them. I pushed aside my n
RowanThe castle was abuzz with its usual day-to-day activities. Servants and maids passed me in the hallway carrying baskets of laundry and trays of tea. I could hear the clattering of cookware as I left my office and walked toward the grand staircase off the foyer, seeing the door to the servants'
"Who? What happens?""There's so much more out there," Mara said dreamily. "So, so much more.""Maeve!" Troy called from down the beach.I turned to look at him, and when I turned back to Mara, she had taken off. "Wait!" I called after her, but she had already made it out of earshot, her footsteps l
Best of all, Troy was happy. He was at peace and at home. But there was still much work to be done.We were spending several weeks jumping from island to island, taking stock of the wellbeing of the inhabitants, and making a list of what was needed. Most of the islands were in need of medicine, inf
Maeve–Four Months LaterSuntra was not what I was expecting. I had become accustomed to the seemingly endless white-sand beaches of Avondale, where the sand grit was so fine it felt like powdered sugar as you walked barefoot in the surf. Suntra's sand was coarse and golden and dappled with tidepool
I straightened up a bit, shifting Oliver's weight in my arms as I narrowed my eyes back at him, sizing him up. A man roughly my father's age came bounding out of their house, waving at me apologetically as he leaned to whisper harshly in the ear of the man I assumed was his father.Whatever his son