"Maybe it's not the same Soren, Dad. Surely… surely there's more than one—" Maeve stuttered, adjusting William against her chest."I've only met the one," Troy said, shrugging. I inhaled deeply. "What did he look like, exactly?" I asked, already knowing the answer. Troy went on to describe my brot
MaeveI didn't even feel the long, horizontal wound below my navel. The doctors and nurses who had tended to me were shocked as they removed the sutures that should have been in for two weeks but were taken out after only three days.There had been a discussion about discharging me, but I wouldn't h
"It's my birthright, Maeve, and I have an opportunity to change things in the Isles. It was my home, I guess, at least home base. I don't want another generation of kids growing up packless. Something's gotta be done.""But… I'll be White Queen one day. What happens then?""One of the boys will take
"Well… do you want more kids?" He motioned toward our bed, which was covered in babies. I laughed, shaking my head. "I never want to be pregnant again, thank you very much. I feel like there was a war inside my body.""Good, because I never—" Troy flushed, his cheeks burning with heat. "I can't los
MaeveThe gardens at the castle were very much changed with the season. Winter had yellowed and dried the leaves to a chilled crisp, and the garden was littered with foliage debris. It was cold, but not like the bitter, dry cold of Winter Forest. Here, the air still seemed thick with moisture, and t
To my surprise, it was Dad who replied, telling Keaton in detail what had happened in Winter Forest. Keaton listened in shock, especially when Dad began to explain how we combined the moonstones."Well, we're all going to die," Keaton deadpanned. Dad stared at him, his brow arched. But Troy chuckle
"I won't force anyone to pledge their loyalty. I won't be collecting tribute. I'll just be there; that's what's important. And Keaton, look, I need you there too.""Where?"I drew in my breath, unsure if I wanted to hear his answer. "I want you to live in Avondale, with us. As my Beta.""No," Keaton
Rowan"It wasn't easy," said the metalsmith as he wiped his grimy hands on a rag. He spun around in his car, plopping a small, smooth ring in the palm of my hand. "You were right about the stone; it was jade–a sizable, practically flawless hunk of it. Say, where did you find it?""On the beach," I s
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