Tony
As I stepped into the sterile confines of the meeting room, I felt every cell in my body go on alert. It was like I was seeing Oren and Cline, truly, for the first time. Threats. Danger. Kin.How had I never noticed how similar Cline looked to Oren? They could have been brothers. Were they? I had no idea. Oren had never talked about having family beyond us.A wolf howled at the pack of my head, a warning and a battle cry. War had been an apt way to describe this, and Oren looked like he had already won.The bastard wouldn't be winning a damn thing if I had anything to say about it. I didn't bother to shake either of their hands. I took a seat across from Cline, leaving the seat across from Oren for Mr. D'Amico. His eye twitched, and then his eyes narrowed. Cline shifted, looking oddly stuffed in his suit. Both of them looked like the suits were wearing them like they were just pretending to be civil, but that was because they were. I glared at Cline, who didn'TonySunlight glinted off the hood of my car as I cut the engine and looked up at the edifice of the daycare building. I took a deep breath and slipped out. There was no putting off anything any longer. Oren wasn't going to back down easily. Maybe with Nora here, I could leave them both at the penthouse. At the least, it was more secure than the daycare.Hopefully.I headed inside. The foyer was even more of a riot of color and excited chatter than the last time I'd been there. I headed down the hall to where Quillan would be. It took no time to see him rushing around with a group of kids, seemingly overly concentrated, building a tower of plastic blocks, his tongue peeking out in concentration. He looked adorable. I could see that same expression on Ginevra's face from a memory I only had a piece of.I waited until he placed his last block before calling to him. He spun around, and his face, smudged with a bit of paint, erupted into a grin that could melt glaciers.
TonyMy breath hitched in my throat, in disbelief and a hope I couldn’t deny. My heart pounded against my chest. Her eyelashes trembled. Her brow twitched. Quillan went still, leaning closer, holding his breath.Then, her eyes fluttered open. They were different now, pools of molten starlight, shimmering with a bright green, like fresh grass. I caught the scent of something like spring in a deep ancient forest rising from her. Time seemed to warp, the air buzzing with a tangible energy. Our gazes locked, a bridge of unseen threads snapping taut between us. Emotions rushed and tumbled through me, a torrent of electricity and magnetism pulling me closer, drowning out the world in a dizzying kaleidoscope of sensation. I could hear, feel, and see everything around me. I felt like if I just reached out a little with my mind, I could feel her, hear her thoughts.Anthony?I shuddered at the way her mind felt against mine. My heart hammered against my ribs. This pull, this u
TonyI stood and walked toward the room."Sorry to interrupt, but we've got you… scheduled for some lab work. It should only take an hour or so.""I'll see you soon, sweetheart," Ginevra said softly, stroking Quillan’s head. “Then, I want to hear all about this Christmas party, hm?”"Okay!" Nora scooped him up and stepped out into the hallway. Another group of nurses came in. I heard the click of the bed being made ready to move."Come with me," Matt said and looked at Nora. "You'll be alright here? There's food inside."Nora nodded. "I think I can totally get behind some of those snacks you packed. Aurora over there—""Hey!"Quillan burst into giggles. "But you are like Princess Aurora now!"Nora laughed. Ginevra laughed, and they wheeled her away. I followed Matt away from the room to another section of the hospital. It looked less surgical. I guess it was the section away from the ICU."What is it?" I asked.Something pricked at the bac
LucyI shuddered again, huddled in my jacket as the rest of the class settled in. Sunlight painted lazy stripes across the desk. I could still feel the hum of the spell in my veins, winding through my thoughts. Lethal. The spells were lethal, and that was terrifying, yet a strange calm had settled within me, a tentative truce between fear and fascination.A different professor walked in. "Greetings. I'll be your substitute today as today's lecture is a specialty one. We'll be talking about the Awakening."I sat up as people started to murmur. He started with a basic overview of what the Awakening was. Apparently, it was a predictable event that didn't always coincide with the Crescent Moon Festival's date."Professor," a girl a few rows below piped up, her voice small yet insistent, "I've heard stories. Myths, almost, about the Awakening. Great tragedies and great miracles have all happened during the Awakening… Knowing that and all the hunters that have come, is it
Lucy By the time class was over, I was shaking. Duke was pale and panting, hunched over. His instructor crouched beside him, patting his back and speaking softly to him. Renfield looked down at me. His eyes narrowed.“There are people who are not meant to kill,” he said. “And that is alright.”He crouched beside me, looking into my eyes. “But everyone is meant to defend themselves.”I swallowed. “You said to aim for lethal spots.”“Because a dead threat is no longer a threat.” I shuddered and nodded. “And even a half-dead threat is better than a fully functioning one.”I met his gaze. His eyes softened. “You did well. You have a courageous heart. Give yourself more credit.”I nodded, and he pat my shoulder. “I look forward to seeing you enter the Enforcer Academy.”My eyes bulged as he stood. I watched him walk toward Lucian as he was wrapping up the rest of class. Lucian looked at Renfield, then over to me and Duke.“Stay behind, you two,”
Lucy My face was on fire. I couldn’t believe him. He chuckled, coming toward me. He kissed me briefly. My toes curled, and I wanted to press closer to him. He was so warm, and there was something else about him that wanted to be nearer to him.Resonance, something whispered to me.“Are you staying the night?” He asked, wrapping an arm around my waist.I bit my lip and nodded. He pressed his forehead to mine and brushed our noses together. A low, contented rumble escaped him. I smiled at the sound.“Long day?”I closed my eyes. “Yeah.”“Cuddles?”I smiled and nodded. “Yeah.”“Deal.” He kissed my forehead. “I’ll throw in a few kisses for free, and I’ll see you soon for dinner… Dressed.”I laughed and nodded.“Not too dressed,” Duke teased. “She deserves access to the full package.”“Duke!”He cackled. David stroked my cheek and headed upstairs. “Leave Lucy alone, or I’m inviting Tom over and sticking him in the room next to you
Tony It had been a hell of a week after Eliza’s attack, and while Ginevra and I had talked about a lot of things, I didn’t think we’d talked nearly enough. It had been her demanding to go to the Crescent Moon Festival with me rather than letting me go alone. I had no idea why, but her flashing eyes and the glow of her hair told me she wasn’t going to back down, even though her cowlick was worse than ever, no matter how long she kept her head under a hat.Between a regimen of potions and more rest, she had regained most of her strength and started to put on a bit more weight. Nora was going to leave the day after Ginevra’s birthday so she could be the pink ranger to Quillan’s red. Matt had been made the white ranger for some reason, and I was green at Ginevra’s insistence. I knew nothing about the Power Rangers, but seeing how happy Quillan was made it inconsequential, honestly.I checked my watch, wondering when they were going to get back. Matt was gone, though he
Tony “You’re actually a psycho?” She asked. Then, tilted her head. “Or you’re running from the supernatural mafia.”I snorted. “Not quite… though Matt might argue that our father is more of a mafioso than an alpha.”“I stand by my statements: he’s a psycho, and he should have been left to rot in jail for the rest of his unnatural life.”She turned off the blow dryer and hummed, looking into the mirror. “Well, don’t hold back. What is it that’s got you looking like the world is going to end?”The confession churned in my gut like lave."Ginevra," I choked out, the word a rough rasp against my dry throat. "About Lucy…"Her head snapped towards me, eyes wide with surprise. "Tony, don't. Not now."My eyes widened. “You’ve… heard about Lucy? From Matt?”“What does Matt have to…” She frowned. “Never mind. Why don’t you just get it off your chest before you combust.”I winced. “I…”“Don’t back out now,” she said, her gaze searching my face.
LucyThe morning sun, a mischievous wink through the blinds, painted golden stripes across our bed. I snuggled deeper into the warmth of David's embrace, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest a soothing lullaby. He slipped his hand across my lower back. The warmth of his bare skin against mine set a spark of pleasure through me. He rumbled low and content into my hair. “Wake up,” David rumbled. He kissed my head and twined a curl around his finger. “We have things to do.”“You shouldn’t have kept me up all night.”He chuckled. “You didn’t say that last night.”I nudged him. He dipped his head to nip my lips. “You know, if it’s too much, you can always tell me to slow down.”He’d been saying that for five years now, and I never found a reason to tell him to. He knew that. His eyes flickered between colors. I nipped his lower lip. “Give me a reason.”He smirked and rolled me onto my back. “To slow down or…”“To get up,” I said as he kissed
LucyI sat on the cold stone, watching her, but she didn’t move another muscle. I didn’t know how long it had been, but it didn’t matter. The spectral glow around her was starting to dim, and my mind was just too stressed to do too much thinking. The light of the ritual, the spell I’d used, the blood on my hands all flashed through my mind, and part of me wondered if it was all just a dream. I looked down at the stained and ruined gown. The armor was as pristine as ever, but most of the embroidered roses were torn or stained. This dress would never be white again, let alone whole. I flicked a piece of the long, gossamer fabric and shook my head. I really liked this dress.“Lucy!”I turned my head toward the sound of David’s voice, wrung out and relieved to hear him. He was rushing through the air towards me. He dropped down a few feet from me, looking so worried I could cry.I smiled at him as he dropped to his knees beside me and threw his arms around me,
LucyI sailed through the air, landing with a jarring thud within the ritual circle. With a trembling hand, I pushed myself up, my senses on high alert. A figure, cloaked in darkness, appeared in front of me. My blood ran cold. Selene."Well, well, Lucy," her voice, honeyed yet laced with venom, slithered into the darkness. "Thank you ever so much for making this easy at last.”I grit my teeth. I wouldn't go down without a fight. Straightening my shoulders, I met her gaze, my voice shaking but resolute. "You underestimate me.” “No, Lucy,” her voice dropped, and a cruel smile twisted her lips. "You underestimate me.” The chanting grew louder around me. I lunged for the necklace, my fingers grazing its cold surface before Selene snatched it away, a triumphant gleam in her eyes. But that touch, fleeting as it was, ignited something. I felt her pushing at my mind. I felt her shoving me back until I could see the forest from before, and we were fighting in a ci
MattMy vision pulsed and flickered, a strobe light of pain blurring the edges of reality. Tony rained blows down on me, slashing with claws. Each hit chipped away at my resolve and my control, leaving behind a raw desperation to end this quickly. My armor protected me from most of the damage, but still. He was always the stronger of the two of us. I thought it was just because he was the older of the two of us, but this was different. I thought for sure he was going to bite off my head. Then, a flash of golden light arced through the air, and a spear lanced past my shoulder, catching Tony square in the chest. I turned back to see Ginevra hovering in the air. Her golden dress glowed as she passed me with a glowing winge spreading from her back. What the absolute fuck?Tony staggered, falling to the ground, and Dad darted forward, encasing Tony in a shimmering web of light. The wave turned to chains. He thrashed and howled, straining against the magical bonds, but t
LucyPeter's breath hitched, rasping, and shallow, then deepened into a cough that wracked his battered body. His eyelids fluttered, eyelids so pale they were almost luminous in the dim torchlight. He struggled to get up, leaning on his Spear and on Michelle. The light pulsing through the Spear rippled over his skin. He let out a soft sigh and stumbled a little. “Peter?”“I... It’s gone.”“What?” Michelle gasped as his hair started to change, losing the gray color and growing dark. His face turned younger until I was sure that he was all of twenty-something. He grew a bit taller, too, bigger until his shirt strained against his chest and his buttons popped. He flushed. “Well… that’s not…” He cleared his throat as Michelle smiled up at him. “So this is what you looked like in your youth?”He scoffed. “I’m much younger than you think.”He grunted, pressing a hand to his side. “Wish the Spear would heal the wound, though.”I winced. “Sorry… it’s a
PeterMy feet pounded a frantic rhythm against the uneven earth, branches whipping at my face, thorns tearing at my clothes. How long had I been running? How much further did I have to go? I didn’t know, and it didn’t matter so long as I got there. My lungs burned, legs screaming in protest, but still I ran. The trail of blood behind me and the patchwork of wounds across my body, chunks of missing and regrowing flesh, weren’t my concern right now. The creature—the wolf was after me, and unlike before, it didn’t seem willing to back off or slow down. It was going to kill me, and what happened after that was anyone’s guess. Behind me, the guttural snarl of the wolf echoed through the trees. Too close to be comfortable. Too close to make sense. This was too much like that dream, but worse. So much worse. The sky was a kaleidoscope of images I could barely make out. They flashed in the sky and in my vision, making it hard to see. I saw Lucy. I saw Michelle. The long
LucyAdrenaline surging, I grabbed Michelle and pulled her after me deeper into the inky depths of the tunnel.“Quick!”She panted. “What’s going on? Peter—”“He’s possessed,” I said. “Just keep running for now!”I saw my Allison up ahead, leading me down another tunnel. Behind us, I heard Peter's guttural snarls, the rhythmic thud of his feet echoed eerily in the confined space. We had to lose him and the other one quickly, but we didn’t seem to be putting enough distance between us. Panic coiled in my gut, urging me to run faster and push my body beyond its limits. Michelle kept up relatively well. We twisted and turned, navigating the treacherous path by torchlight and the spectral murmurs of White Moon's fallen. But the passage seemed to twist back on itself. When we were back at the forked path, the faint light that had been illuminating the tunnel went out, plunging us into darkness.Michelle shuddered. She drew closer to me and tightened her grip on m
LucyI was back in that house with that couple that adopted me. I felt the floorboards creaking as I went downstairs. I saw the men in suits. I shrieked, turning. Not again. I couldn’t be back here. Where was David? How had I gotten back here? I looked down. I wasn’t… wearing the dress or the armor. I had no daggers. My hair was just as uncombed and dry as it had been then. When I looked in the mirror, the skinny young woman who had barely had anything more than ramen and school lunch stared back at me. My stomach lurched. The door opened, and I turned to run, knowing what was about to happen. I dug my heels in as dark shadows pulled me towards the door. I felt myself being lifted onto someone’s shoulders. I fought and kicked, but all my training and all my strength were gone. I saw the calendar on the wall, but the date was different. It wasn’t my birthday. It was the day of the Crescent Moon Festival. I screamed, grabbing anything I could manage. Then, Sele
DavidOren's head arced through the firelit air, landed, and rolled. His body dropped to the ground, still spurting blood. Then, all hell broke loose.The shimmering barrier around the Ball faltered, rippling like a pond, before collapsing entirely. Hunters poured into the arena, their snarls blending with everyone's shocked gasps. “Defensive measures, now!” I yelled, my voice carrying over the sound of the attack. A group of dragon shifters took to the sky as my blade clashed with the first hunter. How had they gotten through the barrier? I saw a flicker of a ghost and growled. “Selene!” I shoved the hunter back, slicing through him before sending out a shockwave of air. She’d been behind this, and maybe she’d been planning this for years, using the werewolf virus to spy on the preparations. It would make sense to try and get rid of me. I was the direct descendant of Fenris. More than that, it was their movements. Each and every one of them moved e