[Reggie]
I focused on the room. Ford was looking at me strangely. I realized I’d just been sitting there, making faces.
“Sorry, she got chatty.” I laughed.
“You can talk to her?” Ford asked.
“Sure. You can talk to Conric. I can talk to Reika.” I smiled.
“Most shifters can’t talk to their animal. Maybe it’s because of how you got her.” He wondered.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Most wolves are an animalisti
[Reggie]The fever broke after four days. I was relieved when Marnie told me I could switch to daily feedings. I would need to change to a male and female partner for each feeding, but it meant I could participate in training as long as I stayed in human form.That limited my options to one of the shifter training groups or the human training group. I picked the humans. It was a good starting point after not fighting in my human form for so long. I dressed in yoga pants and a tight exercise top. Excited about being able to get out my physical aggression.At breakfast, I was allowed to serve myself instead of having Ford serve me portions the same size as his. I preferred eating after, but training sessions were several hours long. I knew I’d need something.
[Reggie]When the second fight started, Gavin turned to me. He had some mischief in his eye and a little smirk. I wondered what was going on in his head.“Want to make this interesting?” Gavin asked.“What do you have in mind?”“If I win the match, you give me a kiss.”“And if I win?” I inquired.“I’ll feed you.” He grinned.“Wait, so if you win you get a kiss and if you lose you get sex? Where exactly is my prize?” I scoffed.
[Reggie]An hour later, I woke up. Dennis had been watching over me as I healed. He was a good man and I thought he would fit the parameters of one of my ingredients perfectly.I groaned and reached for the cup of water on the stand next to the cot I was laying on. Taking a big drink, I felt my throat soothe. I pulled the blanket off and swung my legs over the edge of the cot.“Ready for lunch?” I asked.“I didn’t realize I was invited.” Dennis chuckled.“You saved me twice, I think the least I can do is lunch.” I smiled.
[Rafe]I was a little excited about possibly seeing someone I’d lost. Both of my parents and one of my brothers had died in the camps. I wanted to talk to one of them about what had happened since they passed and my plan to take Landry as my chosen mate.Will and Winston were great to talk to, but I wanted to talk to someone who knew me well. My sisters and other brother loved Landry, but I didn’t want to say something to one of them and get their hopes up. If she said no, it would devastate all of us.“The only things that could cause an issue now, are the wolves who are dedicated to Ford and Rafe’s injury.” Reggie smiled and nodded. “So we just have to have Ford let the wolves go and get Rafe healed.”
[Will]One day, I would get over being jealous of Rafe. First, he was selected to feed the succubae when we were living at the Vasili’s house, now he’d found his mate and it was the girl he was in love with. I’d met every single female who came on to our land and still hadn’t found my mate.Either way, I was happy for him. I couldn’t imagine what he must have been going through all this time with his other half being locked away from him. I knew he was powerful, but I’d never thought he was a ruler.“Let’s go check in with the wolves. Darrin just linked me. Apparently there is something going on with your sister, Douglass.” Rao said.“Why didn’t some
Ford led me into the living room. Rao and Serena were looking on with grins as Will and Rafe were sitting in the armchairs with their mates in their laps. Aria and Moran were getting ready for the announcement.They would use Aria’s ability to make sure no one interrupted the message they were putting out. All scouting and search parties had been recalled for the announcement as well. This was important for everyone.Rao wanted to make sure the wolves in the state knew they had a second option for a pack once everything was over. He said would dissolve the Helvegr Pack and create a new pack altogether, with himself as Alpha and another of Ford’s cousins, Douglass, as his Beta. Rao thought Bryant would be an excellent workmate for Serena. The Beta’s spouse was often the right hand to the Luna.
[Ford]When Thursday came, I had trouble keeping Conric under control. I could feel the wolf dancing inside of me. It almost made me laugh. We’d never been able to entice a female wolf. We were large and scared most of them away.Werewolves tended to stay away in wolf form, too. Not wanting to get Conric attached and have to hurt him by leaving when they found their mates. We understood. It still meant that he was lonely and I wasn’t the type of comfort he needed.Conric knew it was just for the three nights of the full moon, but he was excited for it all the same. I was happy for him. I’d been able to have women other than my mate before, sometimes we’d do it in half wolf form, but Conric hadn’t gotten to have the full experience.
[Reggie]--Three days later --It was finally time! I was excited. I woke up feeling my full strength for the first time in weeks! Anders told me to wait until training to bring out my demon form. He wanted to have all of the demons there to help, in case it was actually too early.I practically floated through breakfast and assertively pulled Ford into his apartment to feed me. He commented that he’d never seen me as aggressive as I was that morning. It led to a vigorous and potent feeding.-In the barn for training, Anders reiterated what would need to be done if I felt the bloodlus
[Heather]I was a little surprised when I got an invitation to go to the private tenth anniversary celebration of the end of the Helvegr War. In the end, it had been a three-day fight between the resistance and the False Elites. There had been some coverage on the second and third day, once we found out where the battle was being fought.It had been a shock to the world when Indira and Madison Coto were seen in footage. They’d later explained that a massive spell had brought both sisters back to life, one that was nearly impossible to work. Scientists had asked to meet with them, but both sisters declined citing their history with the camps as why they weren’t comfortable.In the years after the fight, humans had grown more accepting of supernaturals. They lived just like we did, had families like we did, and only wanted the same things we did. All of the distress in the different communities died down after a while.I was the main media conta
“You thought you could distract me? What a waste of an opening to use it on your precious mate, instead of on getting away or attacking me.” Devere snarled.“It’s not a waste if the person I love lives. You were never going to get what you wanted because you’re self-involved and self-interested. How disappointed must your sire have been to have created such a useless vampire. Your ambition is lacking talent and follow through. You don’t take risks.” I snorted as I flipped him over me.I rolled his body and locked his arm behind him. My foot was in the middle of his back.“This is a great position from this side.” I laughed.He started calling me names. In the end, he’d weakened himself. No one was really eager to feed a vampire. The blood he fed on was weak from food rationing, lack of sunlight, and general poor health that comes with living underground for so long.Pulling as hard as I co
We soon had everyone set. It was about four in the afternoon, that would give us three hours until the sun started setting, and another hour after until any vampires made their way out. It would work in our favor.There were several advantages to attacking so early in the day. The first was the lack of vampires, the second was that the enemy wouldn’t expect us since they were all on the vampires’ schedule and slept during the day. Our demons were all recently fed and theirs were on rationed energy because of a lack of partners.If everyone was out fighting, the vampires wouldn’t have a chance to feed before joining which would make them weaker. We didn’t need a fair fight. The only advantage we ever gave them was letting them know when the fight would happen. If they chose not to be ready for it, that was their problem.I was dressed in traditional demon garb and standing next to my nude mate as our witches stepped forward. Ford shifted t
It was the day after my birthday. For the second year in a row, I was preparing for a battle. This time, I knew what I was truly up against and the fight ahead of me. It wasn’t a last minute preparation, but one a year in the making.The feeling in the compound was a mix of excitement and fear. A lot of the omega level and non-dominant shifters elected to stay and protect the families, children, and weaker species that couldn’t join the fight. No one faulted them for it.We dominant members were made for this. Battle was in our blood. The demons were all chomping at the bit to get out there and do some damage.I saw Garrett and Celia in the gathering area where people were saying goodbye to their loved ones. Tony and Gail were holding each other tightly. I knew she wasn’t going, even being a full demon, Gail was not a fighter.Rena was kissing Rao and Indie goodbye. They each put a hand on her slightly bulging belly. Dennis gave her a bi
[Madison]I was curled in Ford’s arms when I heard shouting from the living room. Aria and Jeremiah were having a disagreement. They had been for a few days.Though both tried to get me involved, I refused. He wanted her to stay here with Val and Serena instead of fighting. Aria wanted to be in the battle with us, supporting as much as she could, even though she wasn’t much of a fighter.That was his main argument. She never excelled in the fighting strategies that were being taught to demons. In the special classes that Indie was running, she was falling behind.My Aria may be a strong woman and a fighter of sorts, just not the kind that you look to in battle. I knew she would be a lot of help with her abilities as a Eulalia and a siren. I wasn’t going with one side or the other.If I did that, Ford would start trying to get me to stay behind as well. He would site the fact that the vampire already killed me once. T
[Serena]Rao, Indie, and Dennis came with me to see the glimmer dragons for a check up on the baby. Everyone was excited. They wanted to hear the heartbeat.Because I was mixed siren and demon, it was assumed that my pregnancy would be as long as Aria’s had been. We wouldn’t be able to tell until it was safe for us to leave and see a doctor with an ultrasound machine. I knew it was soon.The clinic was set up in the old pack clinic, but we had a field clinic that was used for training. Neither one was fully equipped, but this was better for taking care of people in a set up that they were familiar with.We all waited in the exam room for Marnie to be free. She was taking care of my prenatal stuff. One of the other dragons came and drew a vial of blood for testing.I was nervous. I hadn’t planned on a baby so soon and I had no idea how this even happened. We were being safe. I was going to fight alongside my mate. Now
I was laying out in the sun chairs on the deck with Indie, Aria, and Serena. After having my picnic with Ford a week and a half ago, I’d instituted mate bonding times for me and Indie. She wanted to be planning things with Rao, but I got her to understand.When I pointed out that our mates were feeling like they were only important when we fed, she stopped fighting against it. We set aside an hour a day to just sit with our mates or play with them and talk. It was the best idea.Serena stopped wearing a fake smile and was practically glowing. It added more to my relationship with Aria and Ford. There was time the three of us spent together, time we spent with Jeremiah and Yvonna, and time that was just one on one.Other demons saw this and followed suit. Soon the whole camp would probably be having time with their mates where they would just bond. I thought it would increase morale exponentially.Rao and Indie impressed me. They grew closer and real
[Madison]I cleaned up after training and started heading out to the main dining room to have lunch. Ford was standing in the entry with a large basket. I raised an eyebrow and wandered toward him.“What’s going on, honey?” I asked.“I’m takin’ you on a picnic, baby.” He replied with a slight smile.“A sexy picnic?”Ford laughed. “Not this time, baby. There are too many kids around here and I don’t want to go to the in-between. We’ve been spendin’ so much time workin’ on battle plans, trainin’, and keepin’ you full of energy after all the extra trainin’ you’re puttin’ yourself through. I just wanna be with you without all that junk. And without… Aria. I miss the time we were alone.”There was a strain in my eyes like I was going to cry. I’d been so obsessed with getting everything over with in the
We went downstairs and I said goodbye to Jeremiah as Madison approached. She was smiling so brightly. I knew she was happy that we were finally going to mark each other. I was too.“Take care of our girl.” Jeremiah said to her.She hugged him. It didn’t seem forced. I was glad that they were friends. It would make our relationship easier. I knew it was what Madison wanted from me and Ford.The time he and I had to bond over the last few months really helped. I don’t know that I would have gotten over my jealousy as quickly if Madison had been around. Seeing them together since she’d come back had brought some of those tinges back, but I’d been able to fight back.“Of course I will. Just like you did.” She replied. “Well, not exactly.”They let each other go and she reached out for my hand. I grasped her hand and she pulled me to her. She placed a gentle kiss on my lips.“Are y