The surprise that crossed Mary's face only lasted for a moment before she nodded her head in understanding. "Of course, miss. Please just let me know, and I will get something ready for you."I watched as the young woman turned from me and exited my room.I sat back on the bed, the weight of my sorr
"Will… will you come back to visit me again?" I stuttered. "I enjoy having you… having you here with me."He froze.For a moment, he just looked at me. Then he arched an eyebrow, as if he couldn't imagine that his company was pleasing."Please... I feel safer when you're around," I added.My confess
"I'll be there in a moment."With those words, Ethan closed the door, keeping his back to me. He hesitated before turning to face me.I knew what was coming. No matter how much I wished he could stay, it wasn't possible.Matters of the state would always come first to him, and that was something I w
**Ethan's POVI didn't like the fact that I had been interrupted.In fact, I was more than p*ssed off that Romero thought he could send a maid to tell me that he needed me right then and there. I was an Alpha, just as he was– and if Romero was going to keep acting like I had to jump at his word, he
But to be honest, from the way Romero acted, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't care. He was after an alliance— not happiness for his daughter."How could you do that to me!?" she screamed again in an annoying tone that spurred me to turn away from her and make my way towards the library door. "I
**Rosalie's POVNot long after Ethan left me, Vicky appeared in my suite. She was smiling.At my excited insistence, she began to tell me about a young man she had met while wandering the grounds."Rosalie," she said with a smile, "I'm telling you, he has to be my mate."She filled me in with great
After I had made my peace with my expected departure after the baby was born, I decided to focus on the bright side. After all, I would always have a place to look back to, people whom it warmed my heart to think of."Rosalie, it isn't that bad!" Georgia laughed as I stared at the green goop that ha
"Ethan!" I gasped."Good, you've gained some weight," he commented as he walked toward the bedroom."I–I did?" I was caught off guard.To make sure I didn't fall, in a panic, looped my arms around his neck, and I thought I saw his lips lifted up slightly.As the door closed, I immediately found my b
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