After mom, Cora, and Tony leave, I send an experimental shout down my bond to Luca telling him to come up for dinner. I mean, we’re too far apart right now for us to pass emotions, but Jackson heard my wolf all the way from his room before – can Luca do the same?As I begin to clear the plates from
“Oh, I just had a little feeling, like a voice on the wind,” Luca says with a happy sigh, gathering me up into his arms for a hug and beaming down at me. “That was cool, by the way. I didn’t know we could talk that far.”“Well apparently we can!” I say, laughing a little, likewise pleased. Subtly, i
I’m panting as Jesse follows me up the final hill of our run, keeping close on my heels and basically herding me like a sheepdog to ensure that I don’t slacken my pace and fall behind.“Jesse!” I gasp, swatting at him as he gets even closer when we reach the top of the hill, the door to the Castle o
“Yes,” he says with a sigh, “and you know me, always searching for the bigger and better responsibility. Always looking for another weight on my shoulders, like the obligation to defy the God of Darkness…just because I can.”“You don’t fool me, Jess,” I say quietly, making him look at me. “Given the
“You’re the only sniper, Ariel,” Rafe says, dry. “And your specialization was noted on the form, which I wasn’t happy about. I had hoped you would be a low-level candidate for picking as your specialization was a secret. We had to make…serious concessions to ensure that we got you.”“So you got me?”
And despite the fact that that’s supposed to be comforting, I pale because…Well, I think because I forgot, a bit, that this is all practice for real life.And that, one day, we could be doing this for real. And the consequences…Suddenly, I want nothing more than to pay a great deal of attention to
There’s a happy buzz in the magic classroom for perhaps the first time ever, with mom swinging her legs as she sits on the desk and Cora leaning against it next to her.We all turn when our final student arrives at the door.“Hello, enemies,” Tony says, laughing as he leans against the door frame, h
Jackson growls a little, not very pleased at the idea, but then turns to Tony with his hand out.“Sorry,” Tony says, looking cheerfully down at Jackson’s hand. “As nice as it would be to hold your hand, Jacks, what’s…what’s happening?”“I can give Ariel my energy,” Jackson says, bland. “Through our
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