Twenty minutes later, when we’re fully ensconced in the dreamscape and sitting quietly on the side of the cliff, Jackson looks at me with raised eyebrows. “Well?”I sigh, letting my exhaustion take me as I look up into Jackson’s sapphire eyes. “Rafe got dumped. At least, I think he did. I mean, I’m
“No, Jackson,” I say, pulling away a second. “What?”“Nothing,” he whispers, his face suddenly a little said. “I was…going to ask you for a promise you couldn’t keep. So. I won’t ask it.”I tighten my hands in his shirt, desperate to know what it is that he wants, desperate to give it to him –But h
“Ariel!” The word bursts from Jackson even as he grins, I think swept away by my laughter even as he’s confused by the direction of my thoughts. “Seriously, what are you talking about? What on earth makes you want to do that?”“I was jealous!” I say, throwing my hands out, my laughter subsiding. “Wh
He laughs, tightening his arms, pulling me a bit closer.“But Jacks,” I say on a sigh, looking up at him. “If you can pass me energy in the morning after our runs and that keeps me going all day…shouldn’t I take advantage of it? I mean, not forever, but right now our time is limited and I want to le
My eyes fly open in the real world and I’m instantly in action, as is Jackson – because the shouts here?God, they’re even louder and more panicked than those we heard dreaming.I leap out of bed, ripping the curtain open, already starting across the room when I stumble over my own feet, my jaw drop
“I do,” Jackson replies, nodding once. “Not important right now. Just…let’s get these shadows tucked away, all right? I want you to imagine like…a fishing rod, with all the shadows attached to the line. And now slowly, mentally, just…start to reel that fish in, okay?”A moment passes as Jesse stares
When the bottle comes around to me I’m ready for it, taking my own long drink, but the boys have already moved on.“Wait so,” Jesse asks, eyes on Jackson, “how did you know how to do that?”Jackson sighs and gives a brief summary of his magic for Jesse’s sake, and then elaborates for all of us. “Whe
He looks up at us and shrugs, his expression wary, like he thinks he might sound crazy.“That’s…scary, man,” Rafe says, his voice breathy. “But also really cool.”Slowly, Jesse breaks out into a smile. “Yeah, I…I think it kind of is.”“Fire goddess, shadow lord,” Jackson murmurs, looking around at u
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