SarahSydney pulls a large book from a shelf in the massive, stately library. I leap back, muffling a shocked yelp with my hands covering my mouth as a trap door swings open, revealing a spiral staircase. “Come on,” he says jovially, excitement blooming behind his eyes. “Where are you taking me?” I let him take my hand and tug me into the cramped secret stairwell. He pulls a lever on the wall, and the door swings shut again in near silence. “My mom had this built for my dad when I was nine, for their wedding anniversary. It took nearly a decade to complete.”I follow him up the stairs. Up so high, my thighs are burning and my breath comes in rapid puffs. “Is this one of the towers?”“It is,” he says like this is nothing but a walk in the park. At the top of the stairs, he pushes open an old, wooden door, something I’m sure is original to the castle, and we’re met by total darkness. I follow his echoing footsteps, but I can’t see a damn thing in here. “Sydney?”A loud cranking soun
SarahWe’ve fallen into a normal routine at the manor. It’s been almost a week since the family reunion where Sydney announced our bond. While no formal announcement was made about Blake, it’s obvious who his father is.I run my knuckles over Blake’s chubby cheek, smiling down at him as he naps peacefully in my arms. His hair has grown thick and lightened up since our time in the manor, turning a soft chestnut brown. And his eyes?They’re just as rich and blue as Sydney’s. I often wonder what our next child will look like. Will they have eyes like mine? Like Sydney’s? A strange combination of both?I shouldn’t even be thinking about that right now. We’re still finding our footing, deciding the best course of action. Sydney is at his office right now, and to be honest, I’m starting to grow antsy about doing… something. Something outside of the house. Somethin
SydneyBlake babbles the entire late evening drive to Silverhide. He likes rock music, especially when it’s loud enough to send a tremor through the truck, and squeals with delight everytime I go over a bump or a corner too sharply.Sarah would kill me if she knew how loud the music was or how reckless I’m driving, but Blake notoriously hates his carseat, and he’s having the time of his life right now.I can’t lie. I really enjoy having a kid, especially a son. Lately, when my thoughts aren’t on his mother, I imagine what kind of life we’ll have together. What kind of sports he’ll want to play, whether he’ll go to Wellington to pursue academics or warrior training. I wonder whether he’ll continue to look like me or grow to resemble his mom. I wonder what our next baby will be like, especially since we’re not trying to stop that from happening.The idea of Sarah pregnant
Sarah“It really wasn’t that bad,” I explain, seated next to Hadley at the kitchen table. For the past half hour, I’ve been telling her about the dinner party and how Sydney announced our mate bond. Hadley’s been listening while picking at her food, nodding along and smiling when I explain the juicer bits.“Well, look at you, getting to explore the castle. One day, I want to see it.”“It sounds like we’re going to have a big wedding after all. I suppose the reception will be held there.”Hadley smiles and pushes her plate away. “How are you feeling?”“In general? A little overwhelmed, honestly–”“No, right now.”I look down at my plate. I’ve barely touched my food. In fact, my head hurts a little bit, and my stomach is in knots. “It’s been a busy week. I think I’m just tired.”I
Sarah“Where is he?” I pace around the kitchen table toward where James is sewing Cosette back together while Dalia sits at her side, her face colorless and eyes wide with shock. “Ryan, where is Sydney?”“I don’t know,” Ryan growls. He’s wearing one of Sydney’s T-shirts which is too small for him. It’s already ripping at the seams as Ryan takes a swig from the bottle of fine scotch I dug out of the bar in the dining room. Ryan is as drunk as a wolf shifter can be right now. His eyes are unfocused as he blankly watches James put another perfect stitch in Cosette’s side. She doesn’t even flinch as she stares at the ceiling. Her eyes are dry, and her expression is vengeful. “You told me he went after Gabriel. You need to take me to that den, right now!”“You’re not going anywhere, not until Evander–”“Where is my mate?” I grab his arm, shaking him violently. It’s been over an hour since… since Hadley died. My poison-addled brain is still trying to wrap itself around the cold, hard trut
SydneyI roll onto my back, unsure how much time has passed. One second, I was tackling Gabriel into the fog-soaked pavement, and the next, I’m here, in a lightless room that seems to stretch for miles. I’m not alone. Gabriel coughs nearby, followed by the sound of his leg dragging over what feels like tile.My eyes eventually adjust to the darkness, and the ceiling comes into view several hundred feet above my head, domed and intricate, with sweeping murals from an age long lost to time. “Where did you take us?” I ask, turning my head toward the slightly blurry figure resting his back against a shadowed wall. Gabriel looks at me, his light brown hair brushing over his shoulders, much longer than the last time I saw him. His eyes narrow, and his mouth parts in a firm scowl. “I didn’t take you anywhere. You shouldn’t be here. You’re not the one I needed, and I’m running out of time.” He groans softly, physically dragging his leg up so it’s bent at the knee. I watch his leg begin to
SarahI pull the crank that opens the ceiling in the tower, watching as the night sky comes into startling clarity. The stars are faint overhead, shielded by a layer of thin mist that moves across the sky like wisps of smoke. The moon, however, is full and painted a pale blue. It’s stunning, and even through the haze of poison still in my system, I can feel its pull.The voices that usually come from the orrery are silent as I move toward it, taking note of its gears and spiraling tangles of sleek steel and brass. The planets in our solar system circle around the moon in this version of the heavens instead of the sun like a direct line to the Goddess, and as I approach, my heart in my throat, the moonlight reaches the flat surface at the base of the orrery and sets the entire alight in dancing shadows.My heart rate quickens as the voices start up, whispering through the room like the mist hanging below the stars.&ld
*Isla*Rain pounds my back as I follow Alpha Ernest up the wide marble steps to a home I never expect to see in real life. I look around quickly, but he is walking fast, and I don’t have much time to see the outside of the mansion. I only know it resembles a castle. The dreary sky seems fitting, considering my bleak outlook.Likewise, this castle is fitting for an Alpha King.Under the wide porch, there is a bit of shelter from the wind. I pull my thin cloak around my shoulders. When Alpha Ernest’s fist pounds on the door, I jumped. Everything about this day is unexpected and has me on edge.The door opens a bit and a man with a thin, long nose gapes out at us. He is wearing a butler’s suit, and I relax only slightly.Not that I expected the cruel king to open his own door, but I am thankful not to be faced with him right away.“Greetings! Greetings!” Alpha Ernest says in his jovial, exceedingly loud voice. He laughs in the back of his throat, his gruff tone as raspy as the thunder in