"I'm not worried about my mom, Troy. I'm worried about my dad.""Your dad?""He'll go to Valoria to try and find me. I'm worried about what will happen when he gets there. He won't stop looking for me, and he'll put himself in danger doing so. He's still strong and clever, but he's not the man he wa
MylaVanilla, but not the essence Mom used when she baked those chocolate chip cookies I liked. It was sharp, fresh, like the long strings of vanilla beans sometimes sold in the market. I sniffed. There was something else with it, floral, like the heavy scent of the magnolia trees when they were ful
"I'm going to be sick!" I cried as I sat up straight, my vision blurring as Mom held my face between her hands."Breathe, sweetheart. That's it. In through your nose."It smelled like salt. The room was clammy and cold. I looked around, watching as the old man stood in the corner, taking apart the s
Mom took my hand and squeezed it, and then I heard the sound of footsteps as everyone began to leave. I opened my eyes to Keaton, a sober smile on his lips."I think you'll be more comfortable resting in our quarters," he said casually, glancing over at the doctor."Our quarters?""Well, yes. You're
TroyHer hair was tumbling over the side of the bed as I rose onto my knees, climbing from the bed I had made myself on the floor for a second night. She was sideways on the mattress, her head closest to me, with one arm dangling over the side of the bed as she slept.And, for the second night in a
"She's completely ignorant of anything related to Damian, I assure you." I understood Keaton's wariness. Alpha Damian was not a man to be crossed. He had been Romero's Beta at one point, taking over for the old fool before I was born. Keaton and I had been too young, too far removed from the pack of
Keaton was staring at me, his face blank of all expression. He shrugged, sighing deeply as he finally surrendered and continued his journey down the stairs. "I'll go on your treasure hunt because I wouldn't be a pirate if I didn't," he said dramatically, "but the second this gets out of hand, I'm to
TroyShe was seated with her legs crossed in the bed, her hair piled in that messy bun she always wore. She had Romero's map in her hands, pointing to one of the faded pictures on the margin. There was a look of sheer excitement in her eyes, something almost rabid and unrecognizable."A gem?" I shru
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