(Valerie POV)“Bria’s confirmed that Adrienne boasted to her that she can slip into your mind at any time,” Raul tells Tyra. “For the safety of everyone here, I have to send you away so you don’t inadvertently let her know where and who we are. It’s nothing personal, whatever you may believe.”He turns to me, “I’d like you to go with Tyra please. Take her to the cottage and keep an eye on her. I need someone I can trust and there’s nobody I trust more than you.”The words are sweet, but I have a strong suspicion that Raul’s relieved to have an excuse to send me away. He’s been talking to Briana and I see how he struggles to hold my gaze when I look at him.I know exactly which cottage he means. It’s extremely remote and a pain to reach, but we’ve gone there a few times when we needed some time away from everyone and everything. It was the first place we ever made love. Now I feel like I’m being banished there.“I understand,” Tyra says tightly, “I don’t want to give Adrienne anything
(Bria POV) We pass Conner and some of Aiden’s guards in the hall and I call out to him excitedly. I want to make sure that Aiden didn’t punish him too severely. My mouth pops open when every single one of them turns on the spot and hurries in the opposite direction.Griselda touches my arm sympathetically, “Don’t take it personally. The king’s forbidden any of them to speak to you. He really seems to be taking your safety very seriously.” I smile at her serenely, keen not to let anyone know that Aiden and I are at odds. “He certainly seems to be,” I agree mildly.“Why are we going this way?” I ask with a frown once we get outside, looking back at the training yard which lies in the opposite direction. “We’ve been given our own space for training,” Griselda explains again. She’s starting to look a bit concerned at the fact that I’m apparently completely clueless.She’s a few years older than me, battle scarred and extremely competitive. I chose her because of her incredible fighting s
(Soren POV) “What the hell were you thinking sending my sister with that bitch?” Vesper roars when he finds out Valerie’s gone. “I couldn’t send Tyra alone. First off, she doesn’t know where the cottage is. Secondly, if Adrienne does take control of her mind, she could just come straight back here if there’s nobody to stop her.”Vesper bares his teeth at me and steps right into my personal space. “Valerie is a lady. She’s never so much as lifted a weapon in her life. She won’t be able to stop Tyra from doing anything. What if Adrienne takes control and murders my sister? Or is that what you’re hoping for? Get her out of the way so you can reel your little slut back to your side?”It takes a lot for me to completely lose my temper, but Vesper pushes all the right buttons and finds himself face down in the dirt between one breath and the next. I have my arm around his neck in a chokehold and my knees are trapping his arms. “You ever accuse me of something like that again and I’ll kill
(Bria POV)Griselda pops her head in to ask if I want to join them for training. If I don’t go, half of them don’t get to train because they have to stare at my door. So, despite being exhausted, I find myself agreeing. I’m grateful that none of them treat me any differently, or dart concerned glances my way after last night.James is back to being his flirtatious, outrageous self and shows me what it looks like when he takes it less easy on me. My chest wound pulls slightly when I swing my sword, but the tenderness is gone. It won’t be long before I can fully throw myself back into the ring.A few hours of exercise clears my stuffy head and wakes my appetite. When I get out of the shower I find Eleanor’s laid out a huge brunch for me and I eat an astounding amount of it. Clean, fed and still riding high on the endorphins from working out, I decide it’s time to formulate a plan of action.I can’t keep waiting for things to happen. If Aiden won’t come to me when he’s sober, then I’ll g
(Bria POV) Raul’s abrupt departure is a little odd, but I guess he really does have a lot to do. I have some things I need to take care of as well. Talking to my tight-lipped mate is right at the tippy top of that list. Once I’ve accomplished that, we have to find a way to draw Adrienne’s attention away from Abby.I’d do that first if there was any way to reach Adrienne without getting myself captured. I’m impetuous, not entirely short-sighted. I know I can do far more good if I wait for Aiden to help me. Working together, we stand an actual chance of freeing all the women and ridding the kingdom of Adrienne for good.It’s awful that Abby is unconscious again, but I don’t think Adrienne can do actual harm to her at the moment. She can cause her victims to panic and have hallucinations, but she can’t kill from a distance. If she was capable of that I’d be 6 feet under right now.I haven’t bothered dressing up today. I’m wearing a pair of comfortable, loosely flowing pants and a black
(Bria POV) Aiden must have been around 15 when this picture was taken. He’s all gangly limbs and wiry muscle, as skinny as a rake and still waiting for his growth spurt. Christopher is huge. Tall and powerful, dwarfing his younger brother. Even now, I’m sure he would have towered over Aiden, who’s not a small man.Christopher’s hair is a deep burgundy brown and his eyes the color of dark chocolate. His muscles appear to have muscles. He’s laughing, his arm not only slung across his younger brothers’ back, but pulling him closer in a one-armed hug. The bond between them is obvious.Aiden looks shy, but proud to be by his brother’s side. Chris seems immensely strong and very confident. Not arrogant, just certain of his place in the world. He looks like the type of Alpha the packs would have followed without a second thought.My gaze keeps going back to Aiden, seeing hints in the boy’s body of the man he would become. The high cheekbones and long lashes. Those startling green eyes, brig
(Bria POV) It takes Aiden a few more minutes to wake up. Enough time for me to sit and twist myself back into knots beside him on the couch. Do I even know the real Aiden if he’s mimicking his brother? Am I falling for him, or him pretending to be Christopher?Not that I believe I would have been romantically attracted to Christopher. I’m just concerned that I may not have seen the real Aiden. Or maybe I’m just trying to find ways to spare my heart. I don’t know.Aiden looked so happy in that picture. More relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. If Christopher was still alive, I have no doubt that Aiden would be a far happier person. With one less reason to try and drown his sorrows.I don’t care about being a King’s Luna. I’ve never dreamt of titles and aristocracy. I don’t even care about being the Luna. It wouldn’t bother me in the least if Aiden wants to abdicate, provided there’s another strong leader to take his place.Should I say something to him about that, or will he think I’m try
(Aiden POV) Bria insists that we go to my quarters. “You can have a shower, I’ll even wash your back if you’d like me to,” she says suggestively, pausing as if she’s waiting for me to grab the low-hanging fruit she’s offering.I badly want to leap on her and the easy set-up she gives me, but I can’t forget the way she flinched away from me last night. I deserved that reaction and I’m terrified of ever seeing her do that again.I’m grateful that the cut on her face healed while we were sleeping. It hasn’t disappeared, but it’s not as obvious. Not that I deserve to have the proof of my stupidity erased that easily. I pushed her. I’m guilty of putting that mark there and I should be forced to remember and regret my actions.She’s my mate, the woman I love fiercely, and I shoved her away from me, letting her fall into a shard of glass I shattered because I can’t control my temper. I’m the beast to her Beauty. A far less deserving one than the enchanted prince in the fairytale.I am curse
(Bria POV) “Stand down,” I shriek, dropping my bow and sliding down the tree so I can reach the ground faster. I don’t feel the bark biting into my skin, or the cuts opening along my arms and cheek.Aiden. I have to get to Aiden. If I thought there was any possibility of her turning on him, I never would have allowed him to set foot in there. He’s my heart. My life. He’s her fuckin son, how can she do this?“Don’t hurt him! Please, Adrienne, I’m begging you. Take me, put me in your tree, just don’t hurt him.” Aiden roars at my words, the wicked knife slicing deeper into his throat. “No! Run Bria. Run away right now. I won’t live without you!”Adrienne laughs cruelly, but her face is distorted in anger. “You turned my son against me,” she hisses. “You won’t be leaving here alive. Don’t worry darling,” she jeers when Aiden struggles against her grip, “You won’t miss her. Most of you will be erased and replaced with what I’ve always wanted you to be. I kept clinging to the hope that you
(Bria POV)She’s gone! Adrienne has her. I’m on my way there. I’m going to tear her apart! Raul bellows into my head. He’s in a blind panic, something I’ve never witnessed before.Did Tyra take her? I ask. There’s a beat of silence and then a roar so full of misery and pain follows that I sink to my knees as it overwhelms me. No. She was with me. I was there and I failed to protect her. It’s all my fault, Raul keens.There’s no time to find out details right now. I need to get to Adrienne’s garden and stop her before she does anything irreversible. She’ll have a full complement of 12 again now. I’m going there right away, I tell Raul, who hesitates only a moment before agreeing.The knowledge that he’s fully let go of me is bittersweet for only an instant, before it melts into pure, creamy milk chocolate from a master Swiss chocolatier. No guilt or uncertainty holds either of us back anymore. The memories will always be beautiful, but not as enticing as the future.I’m going to do eve
(Aiden POV)Mother seems less than thrilled to see me. It appears I’ve interrupted something. She’s doing her best to hide her irritation, but pretending to be patient has never been a strength of hers.“Now that you’ve come to see the garden for the first time it seems like you can’t keep away,” she comments with barely masked annoyance.She keeps glancing at where I know that horrific tree stump is and that worries me. Has she found a new victim? If so, the girl’s absence hasn’t been noted yet. I’m keeping a very close eye on missing persons in the kingdom.I’m back to not being able to see the tree, but I can feel her in my mind, willing me to see what’s not actually there. She’ll never be able to root around in my brain without my knowledge again. Bria’s love, and our mating bond, is making me stronger than I would have believed I could ever be.For the sake of Bria’s safety I keep every trace of mistrust and hatred from showing on my face and I bury my emotions deep. Projecting o
(Adrienne POV)“I have the woman here my lady,” Niall tells me in his annoying, nasally voice. He was my first little experiment with mind control and things had gone very awry. I squashed his faculties like an overripe grape in my eagerness. I’ve learned to exert self-control since those days.At the time I’d been furious at my failure, but it turned out to be very fortuitous indeed. Niall’s single-mindedly devoted to me and follows my every command without thought or complaint. The perfect weapon when I need a more physical approach to solving my problems.If Aiden doesn’t give up his ridiculous infatuation with Briana soon, Niall will be dispatched to take care of her. I’ve attempted to ride her mind, but while I could plant concepts of blindness and fear, I’m stymied when it comes to taking over her thoughts. I suspect the mating bond she shares with my son has something to do with that. The sooner I break it the better.One side of the wispy little blonde’s face is a bloody mess.
(Raul POV)I’m going out of my mind with worry about Valerie. I cannot lose her. It seems there’s nothing quite like a bit of mortal danger to clear the mind and straighten out the heart. Bria will always be dear to me, but Valerie is my mate.I have to get to her before Adrienne tries anything. I know the pain of losing a mate, I never want to suffer that way again.Guilt churns in my chest, relentless and heavy. I know my long history with Bria makes it difficult to just put aside the feelings I held for her for so many years. She’s dazzling and exciting and a fantastic woman. I’m glad she didn’t die. I’m sorry we didn’t have time to say goodbye to each other properly. I don’t regret having my new mate.Valerie’s love is the warmth that fuels me now, she’s the place where my soul finds peace. I can’t be too late. I owe Bria for this. Anything she asks will be hers, as long as Valerie is safe.“Where the hell are you running to?” Vesper asks, sprinting after me. I have no time to sto
(Bria POV)To my chagrin I yelp and jump in fright. I’m immediately furious with myself for not hearing Adrienne’s approach. The amused smile on her face mocks me relentlessly. “What would my poor Aiden think if he saw you spying on his mother?”“I wouldn’t call it spying, Adrienne. I was out for a walk with my guards and decided to come in for a quick soak. Then I heard a voice speaking and wanted to make sure it was safe before I entered the chamber. You really shouldn’t be so quick to jump to conclusions.”“Oh, Briana. You think yourself witty and sharp as a whip, don’t you? I know you have my son pussy whipped right now, but it won’t last. I’m his mother. And your pathetic excuse holds no water. You were mind linked to someone when I came upon you and I’m willing to stake your life on it that it was your dearest Raul you were talking to. It won’t be long before Aiden sees through all your deceptions.”“Oh you’re one to talk! What did you do to Christopher? It must have killed you
(Bria POV) I wake up to hungry kisses in my neck and Aiden’s hands roaming all over me. My body is exhausted from the night before, but more than willing to push past its limits. “Good morning love,” Aiden says gruffly, taking my nipple into his mouth and grinning devilishly at my helpless moan.“Good morning baby,” I respond tenderly, pulling his head toward mine for a deep kiss. There is no more duality or uncertainty. I love Aiden and nobody else can ever make me happier. My love for Raul was very real and nothing will ever detract from that. It’s in the past though and I’m happy to be living my future.He must see something in my eyes, because he cradles my face between his hands and tells me emphatically, “I love you, Bria, with all my heart.” My eyes glisten with tears as I nod and choke out, “I love you too,” before burying my face in his neck.His joy is palpable, wrapping around us like a cocoon. He makes love to me slowly and thoroughly, before fetching us coffee and breakf
(Aiden POV)Bria’s golden gaze spears me to the bed as her tongue curls around my balls and her lips gently brush over my inflamed skin. She doesn’t look away from me when she sucks them into her mouth one by one, rubbing her tongue across the throbbing globe and suckling softly.I am on the verge of losing control. My fangs have started to come in and my nails have grown sharp as the beast roars inside of me, demanding to be let out to mate freely.I’m fighting to remember that this is the punishment I agreed to. Losing control would negate exactly what I’m trying to prove to Bria. But I’m a werewolf. An Alpha. A dominant male with extremely strong desires and she embodies all of them to me. The drive to claim, breed and protect her is stronger than anything else. Except my love and respect for her.Fuck. She’s moving that delectable mouth in a northerly direction now. Her tongue lapping firmly at the underside of my swollen cock. Long, slow licks running from base to tip repeatedly,
(Bria POV)I’m doing my best not to let Aiden see how shy it’s making me feel to masturbate in front of him. I’ve never done anything like this in my life. Embarrassment is quickly making space for an electrifying thrill as I watch his body and eyes reacting to me.I am Aphrodite in his mind. Goddess of love and sex. Ripe and delicious and out of his reach. He can look, but he can’t touch. One hand slips down to my vulva, my middle finger rubbing over my slick, swollen flesh. My hips arch into the touch spontaneously and a sigh bursts from me when my finger presses against my clit.“I’m so wet and needy, Aiden. Do you see?” I dip two fingers into my well of moisture and slowly drag them down the length of his cock, between his expanding testicles and down to his perineum. Aiden chokes on an awestruck gasp and his penis seems to be vibrating. It’s rock hard and fully erect, pressed against the soft skin of his abdomen.Soon I’ll indulge my desire to lick that gorgeous, velvety sheath.