Aaron only nodded, trying his best to lift his mouth in a smile but he struggled, his gaze still fixed on Horace, who had just slipped back into the shadows as though he were a ghost."But—" I began to say in protest, interrupted as Aaron led me down the hallway past Ernest with a death grip on my h
Chapter 18: GuestsMaeveThe Alpha of Greenbriar was not what I was expecting.I was standing on the platform at the train station, a red cotton frock with puffy shoulder straps draped over my figure and my hair loose and tumbling down my back. It was the only thing I could find in my closet that wo
I stepped out, helping Opaline out of the car and holding her elbow as she steadied herself and smoothed the fabric of her dress.Lance pulled me aside as the strange couple started up the pathway into the front gardens."They have to be brother and sister—""Probably just… distant cousins, I hope.
"Anyway, he said he had just come from the port of Valoria. Apparently, there was a kidnapping near the Isles of Denali.""A kidnapping?" Cleo looked concerned but Myla waved her hand in dismissal, her brown-sugar skin stained a deep gold on her fingertips from the herbs."I don't think anyone died,
MaeveDinner with the Alpha and Luna of Greenbriar was a spectacular affair. The dining hall had been returned to its formal glory with the long wooden table returned to its rightful place and set with our finest china. The cook had outdone herself tonight; our usual roast meat and potatoes was repl
Aaron crawled into the nest and plopped the journal between us, grunting softly as he made himself comfortable. I had the sudden image of him as a wolf, imagining him with thick, dark brown fur and the same spectacular eyes. He'd be huge, I was sure, lurking in the dark of the night and pawing the g
Troy–Three Nights Ago"Troy. So, you came."As if I had a choice. Romero was the whole reason I was in this place, trying not to get struck by lightning or drown in the unrelenting humidity while Aaron was stranded on a beach in the Isles of Denali, enjoying a cool drink and tanning his nearly trans
But in the event I had to fulfill the duties of a breeder, I planned on doing everything I could to prevent a pregnancy from happening."Why?" I asked, stepping toward the bars. "What need do you have of an heir? Damien is the Alpha now.""Damien is only Alpha in name, you fool. Don't you see? Have
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