Sweat broke out all over my body, but I felt cold and clammy as I tried to brush my hair away from my face with my free hand. It felt like I was moving in slow motion, like my body was underwater.Even when I had doubts and suspicions towards Soren, I still believed that he had his burden and he did
**Georgia's POVThe frozen dim light of day caused small puffs of white clouds to escape my lips as I ran. There was no stopping now. The tracks I had made through the forest towards the small village ahead were for a purpose. Cuts and scrapes from the branches and fallen trees lined my skin, but i
Our numbers were great, and they had all fallen into my trap.One by one, they fell to the earth, their blood soaking the ground beneath them just as the blood of their victims had once done.The rogue leader was going to quickly learn that no matter how hard he tried, the north would always prevail
"Is that real?!" James's voice was filled with relief. "How did that happen?""Your Majesty! The villagers seemed to work together and set up traps using secret pathways to lure the rogues in! I don't know the details, but whatever they are doing has been working!""Thank the Moon Goddess!" James le
**Otto's POVIt seemed a bit strange to step outside in the morning and not see a dead body.Every day since I'd first started hearing the fighting nearby, I'd come out to find their bodies littering the ground.It's nearly impossible to tell a friendly dead wolf from an enemy dead wolf.I would spe
Then I caught a glimpse of someone. A stranger. His moves held power and strength. He should be intimidating, but I knew he wouldn't hurt me.He noticed that I was watching him, and he started to walk towards me. I froze, and the moment I met his gaze, I found myself lowering my head uncontrollably
With that, she withdrew her hand, gasping for air, her shoulders shaking violently, and her arms dancing like twigs in a violent storm."Gayla!" the women shouted. Two of them ran to stand on either side of her to make sure she was steady on her feet, their hands at the ready."I am unharmed," she s
**Rosalie's POVThe revelations that Seraphine had shared with me were unsettling, to say the least. I had no idea what to do now.It would be one thing for me to try to confront Soren if I was by myself. If I only had myself to think of, perhaps one of the nights that he came to visit shortly after
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