Gilgamesh came trotting over, waving his hand. “Thank the Goddess.”Candido turned to him. “How are things looking?”“They’re headed towards the forest. People are chasing them, but we’re trying to get the citizens out of the way. They attacked out of nowhere.”“And they’re not done. We’ll cut them off before they leave the city. The more we get rid of now the better.”“At least the rain will help put out the fires.”I followed Candido as he jogged through the city toward where the battle had picked up. Gilgamesh turned, aiming to punch, but the figure twisted out of the way and dropped down beside us.“Stop!” I said. “It’s Claire.”She was covered in blood. It was smeared across her mouth and running down her neck as the rain drenched her.“She’s a vampire, and—” He stepped back. “You’re that girl from the news!”“Long story,” Claire said and looked at me. “Francium’s keeping an ear out for more intel, but they aren’t leaving the city it looks like.”“Well, what are they doing?”“Reg
I was rocking. No. Maybe I was bumping or something. I heard an engine and the road, but I didn’t remember getting into one. I groaned as the vehicle came to a stop. The floor of it smelled clean and new as if it had never been used for anything else.“She seems a bit fragile, are you sure?” I went still. I didn’t recognize that voice.“Did you look at her?”“Could be a coincidence. What do you think… Hedy?”I sat up, swooning at the pain in my head and scrambled back and away from the voices. My back hit the cold metal of a van door and my stomach lurched. I was in a van. Who knew how long I had been in it and where we had gone. And Candido, had they reached him in time? Was he okay or had he exhausted himself?Was he looking for me right now? Would he find me?They tutted. The two men who had been talking turned to me at the same time. They were brothers at least if not twins. Both of them had the same curly hair though one of them had longer hair than the other. Their eyes were the
Shiloh seemed almost amused as we listened to the fight outside. Messiah was grunting and cursing outside. Something bumped into the side of the van when Shiloh pulled out a cigarette.He lit it with a flicker of flame on his finger and I gasped.“You…You can make fire.”“I can do a lot of things,” he said and took a deep breath, breathing out a puff of smoke.The smoke was sweet rather than bitter like I thought it would be. It didn’t even smell like tobacco, but sort of floral. He huffed as the van rocked again.“He must be pissed off,” Shiloh mused and glanced at me. “Makes since considering what we’re up against.”“Are you talking about me?” I asked, glaring at him.“What was your first clue?” He huffed.“You can’t talk to me like that!”“Oh? What are you going to do, princess?” Shiloh asked. “Call for your king? Him that pipe are going to have a hard time dealing with Messiah, let alone me.”I grit my teeth. “Just because you can make fire doesn’t mean anything. Candido—”“Is an
I woke up slowly to the smell of burning trees and smoke. I felt the heat of it on my back and still tasted sweetness in my mouth. I choked and tried to cover my mouth, searching for the source of the fire. I felt the heat, but it wasn’t so close that I couldn’t get away. I felt terrible, dizzy, and nauseous. I dragged my body away from the fires, trying to get further into the forest and away from the fire.I heard something roar and the ground began to shake as if something was coming toward me. Was it another beast? Had the fire been set by Shiloh? Maybe one of the vampires that had been attacking the van? Where were they? Were they still nearby waiting to grab me and drag me to Damian?Who was the person who pulled me out of the van? What had he done to me? My stomach lurched. I didn’t feel any odd pains. My head ached, but the rest of me didn’t hurt any more than it had when I’d been pulled out of the van. I looked down and felt a shudder of relief go through me as I realized I w
I felt the cave drawing closer, but I couldn’t say how I felt it. It was like a weird cold that was drawing closer. Goosebumps raised on my arms and my head started to pound.I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t have to see everything go dark when we entered, but I felt it like a dark blanket over my senses. It was oppressive like someone had dropped a weight on my mind and it was crushing it to mush. My ears were ringing and I could feel some sort of warning at the back of my mind. I just didn’t have a word for it. I just knew that something was about to happen and it would only get worse the longer I was in the caves.I was about to tell Candido that I didn’t feel good. I knew if I did, he’d make it better somehow. He was always making me feel better.Then, the jeep rocked like something had slammed into it and sent us into a tailspin. I felt Candido tighten his grip on me and tense as he tried to keep us in place. Something hissed nearby and I heard someone scream in pain.“Shit!” The je
I don’t know how long I was asleep. I felt myself moving like I was sliding across the ground and being handed off and around. It was so strange. I was cold and hot at the same time. I felt nothing yet I was in pure agony. I thought I was opening my eyes, but I saw nothing.I don’t know where I was or how I got to be where I was now, but I stopped moving and everything went dark and silent. The next time I heard or felt anything, I was moving, slowly, jostled a little. Someone was panting above me like they were tired. Everything in me ached, and I smelled something familiar. There was blood and fire, but there was also a musky scent I recognized as Candido’s cologne.“Candido?”I frowned, slowly opening my eyes as I looked up. It was dark, but there was the faintest light hovering above that let me make out Candido’s face. The golden light illuminated his eyes beneath his mask which looked like it had been ripped a little, but his face hadn’t been revealed. His eyes were blood-shot a
My heart was hammering. I was injured. If this was Candido, then he was too weak to do anything. We were going to die. And if this wasn’t Candido, I’d never see him again. I couldn’t help but cry more. I knew in my heart that this wasn’t Candido. This wasn’t my Candido. I didn’t know and I didn’t care who this was, but I didn’t want to die with a stranger.“When I give the signal and let you go,” he said. “Run. Do you understand me?”I sniffled. “Candido… I want Candido…”One of the vampires in the front lifted their hand. The imposter tightened his grip on me a little. A little flicker of light swirled in the air and the ceiling of the cave pulled apart, letting the moonlight spill over us. The humid, cold air of the cave lifted and I could breathe deeply. I held still as every movement seemed to just make the pain worse.A staircase grew out of the wall between us and the group of vampires. The group didn’t move any closer. Several of them began to disappear into the darkness as if
Candido shook his head. “Them smelling different to you could mean any number of things. Smelling something isn’t part of your job. Being level-headed, obeying orders, and acting in the best interest of the werewolf world is your job.”I pouted. “You’re just being mean to me.”“Whatever you want to believe.” Candido walked past me. “It’s not that far.”I stomped after him, grumbling. I couldn’t believe Candido was being like this. I’d show him that I was Pandora for a reason. None of this was my fault. None of this had anything to do with me. I shouldn’t be blamed just because I wanted to be at his side. If anyone should be blamed, it should be him not looking into the vampire situation more thoroughly.I made all those discoveries. I found Claire. I’m the reason that Francium and Francia are even somewhat on our side.“You should be thanking me for everything I’ve done for you.”He stopped and turned to me, staring down at me. “As Pandora?”“As me!”He hummed. “Hedy is a nineteen-yea
She cocked an eyebrow. “They might be related, but there’s no way to know if they’re compatible.”“They’re both golden wolves. That should be enough.” I swallowed. “I don’t care what you have to do, you have to keep him alive.”Her eyes drifted down to Candido with an odd expression on her face. “I’ll see what I can do,” she looked up at me. “But… there will be a hefty cost.”“I don’t care,” I said. If Candido was really being used to stabilize Solare, whatever that meant, then I had make sure that he had enough life force, that his body still remained, after that was done to wake up. “I developed a drug that strengthened wolves,” she said. “I have a feeling that it would at least help.”My eyes bulged. “You’re… You’re the one who made the drug for the vampires.”She smiled. “I am. And?”I growled at her. “You’re a traitor.”Her smile turned cold. “And you aren’t the alpha king’s mate.”She cocked an eyebrow. “Given the state of the world, do you think they’ll care?”“Of course, the
“It was unsure if my Beloved King would have ever risen again and to what world,” she said. “It was for the best that I changed the path.”“We’re mates,” I said again. “We’re mates. Nothing you say can change that.”“Mates,” she scoffed. “A tool for conquest. Were you not listening? The vampiric power you inherited from your mother was the only reason you could fake the moon mark. The white fur you inherited from your father turned platinum because of it. When you were no longer a vampire, after Cillian had drained the last of that power out of you, you were just a plain werewolf…”“I don’t believe you,” I said. “I won’t believe you. You’re just trying to trick me.”“Your real moon mark vanished the night that your mate died trying to protect you.”I saw the senior diving in front of me and jerking as the bullets hit him in the chest. “Him?” I growled. “No. I can’t believe that.”“Neither could your mother,” she laughed. “By the time you met your grandfather, I had already been makin
I pushed at the wall, trying to get over there and drag Estella away from Candido. Then, Vanessa appeared dressed in a wispy gauzy red dress. She looked younger than the last time I had seen her. Two younger men followed her, chatting with her though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. They were dressed in red tunics. Then, I saw Claire and Francium striding towards them in red. They were holding hands. Her hair was gathered up in a flower wreath as they smiled together. They looked so happy together as they sat beside Candido and Estella. Soon, I saw other people. I saw Claire’s parents and the people I remember dying over the course of the war. They sat together in a circle around Candido and Estella, chatting happily. “Don’t be happy!” I yelled, banging on the wall. “Claire! You’re supposed to be my friend! Get her away from my mate!”No one even noticed I was there. They laughed and chatted, welcoming other people as they came to join them. Everyone else was wearing red,
Weeks passed, and in that time, I made the remaining people do what needed to be done. They fixed up the building Candido and I were in. While they couldn’t get the water or electricity working, there was a roof and the floors were cleaned. They brought me food when they came to check on Candido and busied themselves with trying to contact whoever else might be alive. “Miss Hedy.”I looked up, glaring at them. “How many times have I told you to call me luna?”The man lifted his head. “Until the king confirms it, I would never disgrace the position that way.”I glared at him. “Then, I suppose you’ll be tried for treason, then.”His eyes narrowed as two people entered the room. “You’re supposed to be regent, right?” The woman asked. “You have some authority.”I lifted my head. “I’m luna.”She pointed at the man beside her. “Then tell this man that I want nothing to do with him and he should leave me alone.”“We’re mates!” He growled. “You’re not going to leave me.”“There is no mark,”
When I opened my eyes, I knew I wasn’t awake. Candido wasn’t there with me. I was seated across a long table that I had never seen before. The windows were all made of stained glass. Moonlight filtered through the colorful glass and sent the colors splashing everywhere. At the other end of the table was the vampire king. He was darker than I remember, but his hair glowed the way it had in that castle. The crown on his brow twinkled with light. To his left, like an odd reflection, was Marius. His blonde hair didn’t glow, and he didn’t wear a crown, but looking at the two of them it was so obvious that he was related to the thing. Their eyes glowed the same. I clenched my jaw and glared at them both. “Where am I?” I asked. “If you think you can change my mind about—”“The time to change your mind has long since passed, Hedy,” the vampire king said softly. His lips twitched into a small smile. “The time to make different decisions is long since over.”He took a deep breath and shook h
I shook my head. “You’re lying. You have to be lying. How would you know if the door was closed?”He laughed. “It was closed to her and all the other traitors. No child of Lunae who still walks in the Goddess’ grace would be turned away from returning home.”I swallowed and shook my head. “She never got Candido’s grandfather or father… I imagine she’s burning with jealousy that you’re so close to what she wanted,” he smiled. “Or maybe she’s proud that you share the same tastes.”“None of that matters,” I said. “I’m not a vampire. I never was. I’m a werewolf. I’m Candido’s mate. Tell me what you plan is. What are trying to do? If you’re trying to hurt Candido, I’ll never forgive you.”He laughed, throwing his head back. “Why would I give a fuck about your forgiveness, traitor?”“I— ““You’re even worse than Hedwig in some ways,” He laughed. “At least Hedwig mourned Candido’s father and grandfather. At least she was faithful in her pursuit. You jumped at the chance to get as close to f
I fell to the ground, choking. For a moment, I imagined Candido stroking my hair like we were in one of the parlors at the Estate before the war. I could almost hear him reading a book to me, some book that I was supposed to read for class but didn’t want to. I didn’t remember the words. I wasn’t even paying attention to his words or the book. I didn’t care. I just loved that he was spending time with me. It was all that I wanted. It was all that I had ever wanted. I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the memory. Slowly, the darkness faded. I felt his lips on my forehead then he was gone. It was so cold. I shivered in the wind that picked up over the mountaintop. I opened my eyes. Dawn was coming over the mountain. I shook and rolled over and tried to get up. I could see Candido there. His fur was still golden. He hadn’t turned back. He didn’t move. I crawled toward him. “Candido?” I whispered. “Candido? You can’t be gone… She promised me. I… You promised.”I got to him and we
“Fuck!”I rolled over and tried to see what was happening as I sucked in breath after breath. I choked, trying to catch my breath as I saw a glint of silver cut through the air. The man barely choked as his head tumbled through the air. His body went up in flames. Then, I saw Raven’s face. Her eyes were filled with blood-red light.She walked toward me. A flash of silver went by me and the gag loosened. I spat it out and my hands fell apart like the cuffs were broken. Her sword was aimed at me. Her expression was cold as she looked at me. Her hand trembled. Tears streamed down her face. Her jaw trembled. Then, she lowered her blade. I couldn’t believe it. I looked around, searching for someone else, but there was no one. It was just the two of us behind the barrier. Then, the wall of light shimmered and started to fade.I heard a stroke of thunder and turned as lightning fell from the sky and slammed into the side of the mountain. I smiled. Candido was using his power and winning. W
The fury simmered behind the tears in her eyes before she turned back to the group. They talked a little longer When they broke apart, none of them came my way. Most of them went with Wren, but the man with bandages headed toward a different truck. I eyed him suspiciously. What was he doing separate from the rest of them? Were the rest of them going to Candido and leaving him behind? Where were they going?I looked across the way as Harper and Wren and the others looked at me, glaring. Their eyes were filled with red light. They drove away, never taking their eyes off me. One of the women was crying. I looked over at the bandaged man as he hauled himself onto the back of the truck, still leaning to one side. Then, the truck I was in started to drive away. I turned back to see where were going and knew we were headed toward the mountain from my vision. My heart started to race. It seemed like we were heading to the end of the war now.“Black Team,” someone said. “En route to Gold Tea