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
Hanna leaned on the doorway, her eyes shining in the porchlight. "It's okay, Rowan. Pete can do it. You've… it's been a rough week.""Yeah, it has been." The ring was burning a hole through the palm of my hand. I wanted nothing more than to toss it to her without a word and run then try to continue
"How long is the flight in this thing?" Gemma's voice cut through my headset, and I turned to look at her, adjusting my mic over my mouth."Roughly four hours, but we're going with the wind, not against it. We're landing on the strip near the castle so that cuts our trip short." And that was the tru
MaeveCleo and Myla were sitting in awe in front of the hearth in the library, looking down at infants in their hands. Alison, Robbie's mate, was holding Will, who was surprisingly well behaved as he peered up at the perfect stranger in whose arms he rested."I don't know how I missed him," Cleo whi
"My mother wouldn't leave with us. She just wouldn't go. Nor would my two eldest sisters… and their children. I was able to convince my other sisters and their families to leave, but the men… their husbands, and my brothers, they...." She swallowed against her grief. She didn't need to elaborate, a
TroyThe University of Mirage had sustained major damage during the invasion. Scaffolding snaked up the outer walls of the university's event center, which was one of the oldest buildings in Valoria. The last time I had been to the event center was the night I went to the social and eventually got a
"Oh, shit…" I whispered as I sunk into my seat. Aaron was staring right at me, his eyes narrowed."What?" Rowan whispered.I tilted my head in Aaron's direction."Oh, Aaron's here? I thought this meeting was only for Alphas and their Betas—""Keaton and I straight up kidnapped that guy, Rowan," I h
"Behar? Wasn't he the son of King Kal?" someone behind me said in a harsh whisper. I flushed, unable to move. Rowan nudged me hard with his elbow. "Get up!""Okay—" I stood, and the shocked murmuring abruptly ceased. Everyone was looking at me.I swallowed hard as I moved between the seats, murmur
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