“Exactly,” Jackson says, nodding solidly as he holds my gaze. “Trust your course, Ariel. An effective military needs people with many branches of expertise. Neumann is requiring you to learn your stuff because that’s what he believes you need to know – not military strategy like the rest of us. He w
The palace is quiet as Daphne slips out, stifling a yawn as she trots down the front steps, her bag slung over her shoulder and a portfolio clutched in her arms. She shivers a bit in the cold as she hails a cab from the busy street in front of her, sending one last wistful look at the sleeping palac
“Come here, Fifs, you disaster, let poor Daphne go,” Jesse calls, holding his arms out for the baby in Daphne’s arms. He’s sitting on the floor in front of the couch now, a puzzle spread out before him, both Chase and Bella on either side of it, sorting through the pieces. Seraphina – called Fifi by
“They’re beautiful,” Rosie whispers, her voice reverent as she sorts through the pages of Daphne’s designs.“I can make you one too,” Daphne says, peeling her eyes from Jesse and leaning forward to smile at the girl before her, just on the cusp of her teenage years.Rosie squeaks with pleasure and h
“Don’t beg,” Daphne murmurs, taking a deep breath and staring at him, unblinking.“You’re not in charge, Daphne,” he whispers. “I’ll beg if I want to.”“Not proper, for a Duke to beg.”He smirks. “Depends on what he’s begging for. And whether it’s worth falling to his knees.”She laughs a little. “S
“What, you snuck out? Didn’t…tell him?” Jesse asks, his frown deepening in his confusion.“What did you want me to do,” Daphne asks, giving him a genuine grin, “go knocking on bedroom doors and wake everyone up just to tell them I’m leaving? It is very early, Jesse, even if you keep psychotic child
I gasp a little, pretending to be more scandalized than I am at his evesdropping. But then my shoulders slump and I glance over to where my parents are sitting, mom finishing up wrapping some of the presents that we’ll open tomorrow.“Luca kind of got in trouble with my dad yesterday,” I whisper, an
Dad, of course, just sits with his arms crossed, waiting for me. Everyone continues to sit quietly, idly working on making decorations or wrapping gifts, pretending they’re not listening as intently as they are. I scowl at all of them – even Jackson, who is pretending to be very interested in the