Kenna
Evander looks down at me and goes perfectly still.
“What was that?” I whisper. It could easily have been the fireworks the elder council in the coven ordered for the festivities.
Another Earth rattling boom shakes the underground temple to the point dust and bits of rocks tumble from the ceiling.
I don’t even have a second to take a breath before Evander rolls off me, pulls me to my feet, and grabs his shirt. He yanks it over my head and deftly buttons it, but his body is so still, and his head is cocked to the side as he listens to whatever is happening beyond the sanctuary of the cave.
His mark on my shoulder burns, and blood seeps into the white fabric of his shirt, which is large enough that it brushes over the top of my knees as he steps away and quickly puts on his pants. “Where is your cloak?”
“Evander, what is going on? It’s just the fireworks&ndash
EvanderI’m not sure what I expected Kenna’s wolf to look like. I hadn't expected this, however. Her night-black fur shines in the faint light cast from the windows where magic is whizzing through the air as a battle ensues outside. Her fur is so dark that it sucks the light from the room and turns it to diamond dust that falls from her as she moves toward me, her silver eyes blazing with mingled worry and surprise. She’s small–smaller than the average wolf, for sure. The top of her head barely reaches my shoulder as she brushes against me. I feel her power the second she touches me.Unmatched strength. Ungodly powers I’m sure even she doesn’t comprehend. She is a hybrid of several forces combined into one tiny wolf, and I have no idea what to do with her now. I have it in mind to find the nearest closet and lock her in it, preventing her from putting herself in danger, but we need to find her father. Sydney returns from surveying the castle for more threats, his golden wolf an i
KennaI arch my back and brush my mouth over Evander’s jaw. His proximity is overwhelming to every single sense, and I drown in him. He lowers himself to cover me wholly with his body, pushing the sheets down to the end of the bed with his feet. This feels different than it did in the cave. Despite our obvious desire for each other that has spanned weeks at this point, we were performing the ritual together. It was something we had to do.But this… this is just for us. Because we want to. Because, despite everything that happened last night and what’s happening now, we need this from each other. His touch is the perfect distraction. His hand roaming down my side is enough for my mind to go blissfully blank. Every other feeling is set aside for now, and that’s okay. For a few moments, we can just be mates. Soon, I’m sure every waking minute of my life will be consumed by worry for my parents and my kingdom. Falling back into the spiral of anxiety and grief, I clutch his face and dr
KennaI adjust my apron strings to stop my hands from trembling. The corridor outside my dad’s office is unusually quiet and empty. Normally, warriors and higher ranking wolves would be walking back and forth or waiting on the benches along the wall for a meeting with him. Commanders would be speaking in low tones outside the door, not sparing a passing glance to the others waiting in the wings. And beyond the windows behind me, the city of Moonrise would be loud, shiny, and glowing with activity, but now it’s gray and silent. The wound on our precious, sacred city festers with every passing second my mother, the queen, is gone. I chew my lip and rock on my heels. “You had an opportunity to tell me the truth and you chose to lie–”“She is my mate, and I will decide what is best for her!”I close my eyes and let out my breath. I’ve been listening to Dad argue with Evander for the last ten minutes. Dad promptly shut the door in my face when I tried to follow Evander inside, so… what
EvanderI look down at a pair of familiar black gloves. They feel heavy in my hands, but that might just be the crushing ache of what's to come and why these have been given back to me.The barracks in Moonrise suffered damage in the attack, but they’re still intact enough to house the unmarried and unmated warriors who reside in the city. I came here because I had to meet with Commander Artyom to get these fancy gloves back, and since every warrior is out in the city canvassing for hiding enemies, I’m alone.I sit down on a random cot and stretch out my legs, going over the conversation I just had with King Ryatt.I know this mission wasn’t given to me because I am the best in the field and the only chance of the Allied Kings finding this woman, whose name isn’t known. I am being forced away from Kenna while her father, the king, decides whether or not I’m worthy of her affection.I don
EllaDim lighting casts the space in a strange, unnerving glow.I pace along the wall, running my fingers over the strange carvings that seem lost to time and make little sense to me, despite over two decades of learning every custom and legend about Eastonia and its dark history.Even Amanda’s not sure what these murals and carvings mean or depict, but we’re in agreement that we’re deep underground in the ruins of some old temple to some lost god.Amanda rushes out a breath and slumps into a dusty armchair, which looks out of place in the sitting room where we’ve spent the last two days. Maybe it’s been two days. I haven’t seen the sun since before the eclipse began and everything absolutely unraveled.“I can’t shift,” she breathes, closing her eyes. “My powers are shot.”“Me neither,” I grumble, tucking my filthy, dust covere
KennaI wake up in the morning to hazy sunlight blaring through my windows. I blink, reaching up to rub my eyes but then pause and look over at the other side of the bed. Evander slept here last night, but he’s no longer here, and his side of the bed is cold and empty. He’s leaving today. Soon, I assume, given the fact I overslept, and it’s probably close to 9:00 AM. I roll over onto my side, lifting up on an elbow to peer over the edge of the bassinet beside my bed. Brie is snoozing with a peaceful expression on her perfect face. A soft creak alerts me to someone entering the room, and thinking it’s Evander, I sit up a little straighter, but it’s only Avery. “Hey,” I whisper, pushing the sheets down to free my legs as I swing them out of bed. “I didn’t expect to see you until later.”“It’s a quiet morning down in your makeshift infirmary,” she says with a soft smirk. She edges toward the bassinet and peeks inside, her smile growing. “Are they supposed to sleep this much?”“Yes.
KennaThe willow tree wasn’t touched during the battle. I’m not sure how I would have felt if we’d walked up and found it destroyed. Some of the tension in my chest eases as Evander parts the curtain of branches and ushers me inside the shaded haven of our youth.My gaze sweeps over the cool, shady clearing before I turn to my mate and finally let out a deep breath. It seems like I’ve been holding it since I woke up this morning.“What do we do?”Evander paces with his hands tucked in his pockets, his brow pinched in thought. “You and Brie will go to Veiled Valley, immediately.”“But–”“It’s the best option other than sending you both to Maatua,” he cuts in.I rest my back against the tree trunk, crossing my arms under my breasts. “I won’t just run away and let others fight my battles. I’ve spent my ent
EvanderRyatt only wanted to see me to tell me what I already know. I’m not leaving yet, but if it were up to him, I’d be on the next ship sailing out from Tarsian into the uncharted sea south of Eastonia with no return date. I’m needed. It’s the only reason I’m still in Moonrise. While Ryatt is the king, he has commanders to appease, and all of those commanders are currently fighting over who gets to use the Ghosts. “I’m not a fucking roofer,” Flynn groans, squinting against the sun as he drops another box of singles on the roof we’re currently patching. “You look the part,” Connor remarks from a few feet away, his brow damp with sweat and eyes shining in the setting sun. Flynn scowls and wipes his face with the back of his hand, smearing tar across his cheek. “This is absolute bullshit. Where the fuck is Commander Artyom? I know this wasn’t his idea.”Connor's eyes flicker to mine. He gives me a knowing smirk. “I take it your soon-to-be father-in-law didn’t take so kindly to th