The next morning I can barely run, I’m laughing so hard.“Jesse!” I shout, tripping over my own feet as I try to keep a bead on him with my paintball rifle. “Quit doing that!”“No way, you’re getting too good!” He shouts back, laughing himself and disappearing again into a cloud of shadows before da
However, my intentions are thwarted when Rafe goes rigid and looks towards the head of the room.All of our heads turn then, the hall going even more quiet. Beneath the table, Jackson slips a hand onto my thigh, anxious and wanting my touch as much as he wants to give me comfort.“Cadets,” the Capta
Jackson hesitates when he and Rafe turn the corner on the upper floor where the Captain’s office is. He looks both ways, trying to decide which direction to go.“What’s wrong?” Rafe asks, turning towards him with a frown.“I’m supposed to meet Hank this morning,” Jackson murmurs, looking down the ha
Hank waits for Jackson to raise his eyes to his, but when he does, Hank nods and leans forward towards his laptop, searching for a particular file and pulling it up. He puts his hands on the keys, ready to type. “Again, it’s incomplete,” he says quietly. “But we have something like that. Who are you
My mouth turns down in a desperate frown, because even if he’s relieved…God, but I love being an Espionage Cadet. I don’t want to be reassigned – I want to study it all.“I’ll talk with the Captain,” I say, giving an assured nod. “I’ll…I’ll do both tracks.”Neumann smirks at me and nods. “We’ll see
“And it was stupid of them to ever think we’d let you go across enemy lines alone as a spy,” Luca says as a frown. Jackson nods in agreement.I hold my tongue on that one, not knowing how to respond.“Wait, what else did you find out?” I ask, looking around at them.“A lot,” Rafe says, sitting on my
“They’re positioning all of our year of Academy Cadets here,” Rafe says, tapping the map again with his finger. We all lean forward, studying it – even Jackson, who I know was in on the meeting with Rafe and saw this all before. “With our little group in the center of it.”“Wolf pack,” I murmur, nod
“Just bring yourself home,” she murmurs, resting her forehead on his chest. He lifts his chin, resting it on her head, holding her close and silently memorizing the way she feels against him.“Don’t doubt it for a second, Daph,” he murmurs, earnest in a way that he’s usually not. “You’d be too prett
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