“We’re here,” dad says, pulling a chic pair of reading glasses out of his pocket and slipping them onto his nose, “to talk about Ariel’s finances.” Mom and I both smirk and send each other a glance, because dad looks so cute in his reading glasses. Not that we’d ever say that to him – he’s far too
My eyes go wide. “But I don’t want that!” “You should,” dad says, and I whip my head back to see him studying me with a raised eyebrow. “I didn’t raise my children to simply hand out millions of dollars without knowing precisely where it went, Ariel.” “It’s going to Luca, dad,” I say, narrowing
I sit for a moment, my hand in Luca’s, considering my options. Part of me wants to push back – to just tell my parents to spend the money for me as they’ve always done. But still another part accepts that what they’re saying is right – that I’ve been insisting for months now that I’m not a little
“With my mind,” I say, raising my hands to my temple and narrowing my eyes, working hard for a joke that doesn’t land. Luca just stares at me and goes a little pale. “And I can light things on fire,” I say, giving a shrug as I sigh. “With your mind?” he whispers, still staring at me, his pace
“Well,” Rafe says, glancing between Luca and I and clearly intuiting that a little distraction might be necessary, “leave it to the Academy to get Ari out of bed, through a run, and then through a royal meeting before seven in the morning.” I turn my attention gratefully to my brother, and he gives
“The committee met,” Ben says, casting a hand out towards Alan as he moves towards the door followed by the man in brown, apparently wanting to get to his first class earlier than the rest of us. “They decided that the case was too inconclusive to kick Wright out completely – that there was no real
The woman raises her chin at me and jerks it towards the door, placing her hands solidly on her hips. “Let’s go, kiddo.” “Excuse me,” Rafe says, his shoulders lowered in aggression as he slowly gets to his feet. “Would you like to explain who the hell you are?” “Oh,” the woman says, giving a slo
“It’s legit,” I say to my brother, turning so that I address the rest of the table too. “It’s his signature and handwriting – I recognize it from his book and all the damning things he writes on my tests and essays.” Rafe’s shoulders slump a little as he turns back to the woman, as the focus of al
Ariel bursts out laughing and gestures out to the rest of the roof. “Of all the interference to our plans, you’re going to point out this tiny, adorable, sleeping infant pup as the problem!?” Both boys look down at the little dark-haired baby, whose amber eyes flicker open to betray her mother’s w
Jesse sighs, glancing at his watch and then looking to the door, an undrunk glass of champagne in his hand. “Where the hell is your damn sister?” “Your damn cousin,” Rafe murmurs, draining his glass and then pouring himself another. “You’d better stop that,” Jesse says, turning his head to Rafe
She goes still for a moment and then laces her fingers with his, squeezes his hand. “We’re not dating or anything,” she snaps. “Just…because you got all rejected and stuff. I didn’t come running up here just because you’re single – I thought you were going to die –“ “Sure, you didn’t,” Jesse says,
“I love you, Jesse,” Midnight whispers, watching him, her little mouth trembling, her entire body feeling weak. “I love you too, Mids,” he replies. “Always.” She nods once. And then disappears. Midnight fights hard against her emotions as she flits through the castle, moving back and forth bet
“I’m saying,” Midnight says, freely crying now, cupping Jesse’s face in her tiny hands. “That I – I don’t want to have your pups, Jesse. Ever. Ever. I don’t want them.” She shakes her head, vehement. “I think I’d be a bad mom. I’d leave them at the grocery store and forget they were there. I – I jus
She has to admit though…the stars are a pleasant addition. Midnight’s wolf gives a little worried howl, sprawled out in her soul, her little legs too weak to carry her much or far these days. But Midnight smiles a little and strokes a mental hand over her wolf’s fur, pleased to see her free and cl
“What,” Jackson asks, frowning down at the little rectangular stone in his hands. “Is it like, special?” “Jackson!” Midnight hisses, standing on her toes to smack him on the chest. “They’re invaluable! This is only the second I’ve ever seen in the world! And I only know of one besides that other o
I laugh, pointing at the big plate of apple pie on the table. “Well, I’m glad to see that you’re feeling cheerful,” I say, grinning at her. “I am!” she says, happily plopping down next to Jesse and reaching for the pie, pulling it all onto her lap and digging in with a fork. “I don’t think that an
Jesse’s eyes open first, and then Midnight’s, slow and sleepy. “How do you feel?” I ask quietly, leaning towards her, able to see her better now in the dawn light that streams through the windows. “What happened?” Jackson asks. I turn to see him standing at the door and I smile, reaching out a h