MAEVE POVI felt warm.Uncharacteristically warm. It was nothing like the boiling heat of a fever, but rather the warmth of a new day, shining down on me.My body creaked and groaned like worn wood as I rolled flat onto my back. I didn’t recall going to sleep with such discomfort…I must’ve slept in
But… I saw nothing. Just blurred outlines of his features. I didn’t know if he had Xaden’s eyes or mine, if he had a button nose, or if he had his father’s charming smile.Still, in the end, none of that mattered right now.This was my little boy. I could feel it deep in my soul, even without seeing
“But… that can’t be right…” I said. “You gave me this ring last—I mean, when I was only a month pregnant.”Xaden was quiet for a long, drawn-out moment, apparently lost in thought. His gaze swept over me, taking in every detail he could amid the glowing gardens around us, before flickering over to t
MAEVE POVI slowly awoke to the sensation of fingertips tracing the length of my bare back. Slow. Gentle. Full of sweet, seductive, adoring intent.Huh…There’s something oddly familiar about all of this…Groggily, I stretched, enjoying the way the silk bed sheets wrinkled underneath my skin, the co
And, after a short sweet kiss to my forehead, he was gone. I was alone.Well… I thought, lifting my hand to take in the treasure I now wore. I supposed I wasn’t really all that alone. The blue-purple stone looked just as magnificent in the morning light, if not more stunning, making my heart soar.I
It was about time he found someone he could let loose with.With an eye-roll that poorly hid his amusement, Xaden held his hand out. “Hand me those reports from the border, will you?”Burke diligently gathered the requested stack and offered it to Xaden, but not before his eyes snagged on a peculiar
MAEVE POVModest violet dress befit for the royal palace?Check.Eyes wiped dry and blotch-free?I leaned closer to the gilded standing mirror, taking a closer look at my eyes. Any sign of redness was gone, but a slight puffiness remained in my lids.Um… check?Have all of Xaden’s love bites been co
I smiled a little, not knowing if he could see it or not.“That’s really too kind of you. It took no more than two hours, at best. It was no trouble and…” I slowed, letting out a short awkward laugh, “if I’m being honest, I’m embarrassed that I gave him something so subpar.”“Why’s that?”“I mean… h
I knelt beside him; we were in our own little bubble. Nothing could touch us as long as my shield was up and keeping us protected. Even as the world burned around us, it all faded away as I wrapped my arms around him, crying into his chest and begging for him to be okay. He looked so broken and vuln
Maeve’s POV“No…” I whispered, staring up at him. “H…how could you?”“It wasn’t personal, Maeve. You will never be in danger, as long as you are carrying that Enigma. But this is the reality of the situation. We didn’t start this war… but we are finishing it,” Eric said, his eyes narrowed as he star
“Miss Maeve!” I heard someone saying from nearby and telling from the tone, it wasn’t the first time they were trying to get my attention.I turned to see one of the Gamma warriors standing at the doorway of King Arlan’s office.“I need to round up all the women and children. You need to come with m
Maeve’s POV“That book has been locked away, there’s no way she has the book,” Arlan said, narrowing his eyes at me. “It’s not possible.”I nibbled on my lower lip.“It is if I was the one who gave it to her,” I admitted softly.“You did what??’ He asked, his tone rising and I could hear the death i
He was seated at his desk alone, typing something on his computer. He looked tired and his darkened expression remained on his face as I stepped into the office. He looked up at me, narrowing his eyes.“What can I do for you?” He asked.I kept my distance from him, still not trusting him.There was
Maeve’s POVHolding the spellbook in my hands, I could feel the power radiating off it. It was amazing that I couldn’t feel the power until the safe was open, but now I’m staring down at it, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. This spellbook once belonged to my mother and it was a book that only a
“Has he ever told you what was inside of it?” I asked.“Of course not; he had always been protective of that thing,” Char said, shaking her head. “I don’t know what could be inside that would give him such a reaction, but I barely stepped foot in the library since then.” She studied me for a long wh
Maeve’s POV2 weeks later. “And you haven’t spoken to him?” I asked, my eyes wide as I stared at Charlotte across the small table in the queen’s garden. She grabbed her teacup and brought it to her lips, taking a small sip. Her eyes were clouded with the emotions she was trying desperately to keep
“I don’t like the idea of you helping them, but I’m not going to stop you,” he finally said after a long pause.I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my lips to him and capturing him in a deep and penetrating kiss. I moaned against his lips as his tongue invaded my mouth and twirled around my tongu