**Soren's POVWhy the hell did I agree to do this?I had no idea how I'd gotten myself mixed up in a situation where my jack*ss brother was likely to get himself killed. As I led Madalynn and Behar to a remote cave near their current position, I found it ironic that after all of these years of want
My jack*ss brother was being beaten up–something I wanted to do myself for years–I should be glad to see it. After all, he killed my father. I guessed I felt some satisfaction like I got some revenge, especially since this was something Ethan brought upon himself. Yet, for some reason, I didn't fee
I didn't know why he had that… but I knew what he was going to do with it.Ethan was barely able to stand. He was leaning against the tree, supported by the ropes.At the first blow of the whip, however, Ethan jerked back to life. A sliver of scarlet appeared on his back where the skin was removed.
For the next two days, Madalynn and Behar pulled Ethan out several times, every few hours, beat, whipped, or otherwise tortured him, and then put him back in the cage and went off to have their fun.In that time, Ethan didn't get a single bite to eat or a drop of water to drink, though his flesh was
As their forces moved out, I stayed in my human form, as did Thomas, so that we could better manage the situation with Ethan.Wolves do not have thumbs, after all.With Ethan captured, Behar and Madalynn rushed all of their troops in with boosted confidence. Howls, growls, grunts, and barks erupted
My job wasn't over yet.Quickly, I ran over to the cage where Ethan was now standing, holding onto the bars. He was still a mess, but at least his shifter genes had allowed him to pull himself up off of the ground.Two of the wolves were still there, guarding the cage.I pulled a knife from my waist
**Ethan's POVThe moment Talon saw me, his eyes filled with terror. "Goddess! Ethan, what happened to you?!"I didn't answer him, "Talon, send some guys over there to bring Soren back, now!""Yes, Alpha!""Also, Behar's troops are down by half. Ask Landon and Vandough to go after them. Their morale
She lay so perfectly still on the bed, her white hair framing her lovely face, it almost seemed like she had already passed away, like her beautiful soul had already left us behind and flown off to join the Moon Goddess and her mother.But I could faintly hear her pulse, the soft thumping of her hea
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