Kenna
My heart is in shambles as I walk up the slight rise to the willow tree. The forest groans all around me in a stiff breeze that promises cooler weather and storms tonight. It would be a welcome relief from the heat and a distraction from the raw conversation I just had with my parents about everything that happened and will soon happen.
I’ve been blessed to have never experienced the torment of war. Sure, small tangles and skirmishes have occurred during my parents’ reign, but nothing like this. Nothing that promises what could be years of battle and bloodshed while Gabriel fights his way to my parents’ throne.
He’ll never take it. He’d have to overthrow the entire royal family in both kingdoms to succeed.
But he’ll lay waste and leave bodies in his wake.
I move the branches out of the way and step inside the cool sanctuary of the willow.
“Evander?&rd
KennaEvander’s mouth crashes against mine. The roar of the waterfall behind us fades to nothing but a gentle hum as the sound of his pleasure–a low, guttural growl–fills my ears and blur my senses.We’re both stark naked and slightly sweaty from shifting. There’s nothing between us now–nothing stopping us from just being with each other.He picks me up and kneels with me in his lap, his hands on my hips to hold me in place.“You’re so beautiful when you shift,” he whispers, nipping the shell of my ear. “Like a pure, moonless night.”His kisses dust over my jaw and neck, igniting a fire in my body I never want to stanch. I wiggle my hips, grinding against him, making mewling, desperate sounds of desire as his skin brushes over mine.I’m aching for him. Every touch and smooth, heat-filled word out of his mouth sends me into a fr
EvanderMy mind is a roaring, tangled mass of chaos as I tear through the castle with Kenna at my side. It’s full night–nearly 3:00 AM–but the castle is alight with activity as warriors canvass every inch of every room and winding hallway. Kenna’s tears have dried, but her eyes are wide and hollow as I guide her to my family’s wing, neither of us saying a word. Brie was taken last night, and so far, she hasn’t been found. A maid is dead–killed in my mate’s bedroom. Neither of us have eaten or slept. Worse yet, the prisoner I interviewed in the barracks is gone as well. All signs point to the Draven Coven for the kidnapping and murder. I yank Kenna into the foyer of my family’s quarters. It’s quiet–my parents are out, probably sitting in Ella's office or Ryatt’s war room deciding what needs to be done, but I’m sick of waiting. Kenna’s despair is like a blade in my chest. I take her upstairs into my bedroom which hasn’t changed at all since I was a young teenager and I left home
KennaI hold my breath as I run through the dark, my cloak billowing out behind me like a crimson curtain. The tunnel of gnarled, bent trees is longer and tighter than I anticipated, and I have to crawl on all fours toward the end.But the tunnel doesn’t drop into the inky dark underground as expected. I trip, falling down a shallow ledge and land hard on my knees.The tunnel entrance is a few feet above me, hidden in a tangle of heather and bramble bushes, but I’m still wholly in the forest.But it’s changed. The dense woods I’d just been in with Evander and Sydney give way to sparse trees and a rolling, hilly landscape of soft green grass.I’m past the wards.I can’t feel the strain of my dad’s magic on my shoulders any longer.I look up at the tunnel and can barely see the entrance through the glare of the morning sun.‘Ev
EvanderWater pours down the walls in steady, frigid streams. My head aches, and the smell of blood hangs thick in the air as I try to open my eyes for the fourth time in the last five minutes.I think my skull might be cracked. I reach up to rub my throbbing temples but wince when I flex my hands.My fingers are shattered.“Syd?” I croak into the darkness.“I’m still alive,” he replies groggily.I open my eyes to slits. Faint light fills my vision. It’s enough to cause a searing pain to ripple through my brain. “Where do you think we are?”“One-hundred-percent underground,” he answers shortly somewhere beside me.I reach for him, unsure how far away he is, but the manacles binding each wrist to heavy chains only allow me to stretch my arms so far.We’ve been here for a day at least. No food or drink
SydneyKenna’s anguished screams slows time to a halt the moment my powers finally break through the manacles on my ankles and wrists.It’s too late.I’m too late.Evander falls face first, unable to save himself from hitting the floor.I feel like everyone is moving in slow motion. Kenna sprints forward, her shadows billowing out around her as her face twists with despair. Guards move in, blades drawn in her direction.And Gabriel is grinning like a madman as he turns back to Brie.Fuck, no.My body screams in pain as I lurch forward, shouting in rage, agony, and desperation as I collide with the nearest guard. The man falls to the ground with a crunch. I leap off his body, his ribs cracking beneath my feet as I jump, begging the Goddess to help me gather enough power to shift.We’re all so weak right now. Gabriel knew exactly how to enact t
KennaA heat like no other spreads through our joined hands. I almost pull away from Sydney, surprised by the searing pain. My heart hammers against my ribs, but I stay focused, looking down at my mate and praying so hard the words jumble together.I barely notice how everyone but Amanda has backed away. Even Granger, who looks like he’s ready to flatten Eastonia to kill the rest of the Draven Rebels with his bare hands, is resting on his knees with his hand wrapped around Evander’s ankle.But Dad stays by my side. My dad, who wanted to send Evander away, now rests his hand on Evander’s shoulder and squeezes.“Come on, son.”“Evander,” Granger whispers, squeezing Evander’s ankle. “Don’t do this to your mother. Don’t do this to Kenna.”My heart wrenches. I let my tears flow freely, several of them dripping down onto Evander&rs
A month laterKennaA rush of cool air greets me as I step out on the balcony overlooking the city of Veiled Valley. The valley is a sea of green against the mist rising from the river far below–mist that swallows whole a dozen or so bridges connecting the city on either side of the pristine, near tropical mountains.I take a deep breath, my ribs aching as the corset I’m wearing cuts into my skin. Why do we bother wearing these anymore?I pinch the fabric of my silver-blue gown between my fingers. The fabric billows out around my waist, creating a ball-gown effect that’s honestly very beautiful, if not totally inefficient. I can barely walk in this gown–this gown of silver stars and fresh-water pearls that glimmer in the moonlight–but I guess that doesn’t matter. I won’t be doing much walking until the after-party tonight, after my ascension ceremony.The
Kenna“I’m going back to Crescent Falls at the end of the week,” Sydney says over the rim of his whiskey glass, his blue eyes a stark contrast to his all black suit. “To look for Sasha.”“Ah,” I say, giving him a hard look. “You sure?”“Am I sure I’m looking for her? Yes. It’s my mission.”Ryan crosses his arms, rolling his eyes to the ceiling.Evander leans against one of the enormous black marble columns in the ballroom, his eyes sliding to mine.There’s barely anyone in here at this point. The musicians are being fed copious amounts of champagne in thanks for their near ceaseless playing over the past four or five hours, and the once riotous crowd has dispersed.It’s 2:00 A.M. Everyone is going home. Even our family members have retreated to the numerous guest rooms.So, it’s just me, Evander,