"I didn't mean that you're not taking this seriously—""I know. I know that's not what you meant.""I only meant—"He reached out, touching my cheek. His touch was hot against my skin, almost electrifying. I felt tears welling in the corners of my eyes and I blinked, looking away from him. This is e
AaronI could hear her quick footsteps behind me, her sandals tapping on the stone pavers as she struggled to keep up. "Aaron!""What?!" I rounded on her and she stopped short, skidding to a stop a few feet from where I stood. She had followed me out of the garden and across the wide stone walkway t
"Oh," she said softly, sniffing. "Gemma-- Gemma is going to be so mad. This is new.""Maeve, I'm sorry."She touched the black stain on her shirt and rubbed the charcoal between two of her fingers."Why weren't you like this before?" she said softly, not looking up at me."I—I was young…insecure, ma
MaeveMyla pulled the thin straps of her dress over her delicate shoulders, reaching down to smooth the fabric over her belly. "What do we think of this one?" she asked, doing a little twirl.Gemma looked over at her, a tube of lipstick in her hands. "Oh, I think that's the one. Green is definitely
"Oh jeez, I doubt we'll be able to find a seat—" Myla and Gemma walked ahead of me, their purses bouncing on their hips as they reached the counter and bought the train tickets. I stood back, looking around, admiring the stocky stone buildings of Old Town. The Wisteria vines were starting to bloom,
I pushed against him. "You're wasted, Aaron. What are you talking about?""Don't you feel it too?" he snapped, pulling away from me. His hair was wild, eyes shining in the pale glow of the flicking streetlamp across the alleyway. "Have you not felt it since we met in the market that day?""We can't!
MaeveThe library was cool and shrouded in darkness as I helped Aaron onto one of the couches. He groaned as he shifted his weight, the bruises from our battle in the alleyway already evident on his skin.He accepted my help, allowing me to peer into his mouth to check for broken teeth. His nose was
"Did you ever live here?" he asked, looking around the library as he lounged, his hands resting over his chest."No, I was born in the North. Rowan spent time here, but he was very young." "Strange, isn't it—" he said, looking at the ceiling's faded mural, "how old this place is, how many Alpha's h
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