“Oh, hi!” I gasp, delighted, stepping forward towards him. “You’re one of ours! I know you! Yes, I’m so sorry – I forget your name –““Princess,” the man breathes, his eyes wide and unblinking. And then he scrambles to his feet, reaching for me. “Oh my god, Princess –““Hi!” I say again, laughing, r
“Please,” I say, stepping away from Ben and smoothing my hands over my dressing gown. “I don’t have a long time and they certainly can’t find me here. What are you ambassadors doing here? How can I help?”“We came under the veil of peace talks, or at least a ceasefire,” Ben says, stepping forward to
I make it about a mile around the perimeter when suddenly I hear my name shouted angrily in the air.I spin immediately towards Gabriel, knowing that it’s him – that it can only be him. I was expecting him eventually, after all. For a second I consider flitting back to the Castle and evading him mor
Mark stays close at Rafe’s heels as he storms through the palace. Rafe glances back over his shoulder with a frown.“You can go, Mark,” Rafe snaps, annoyed. “You’ve got your stupid protection necklace. No one’s going to snatch you away.”“I can’t go, Rafe,” Mark snaps back, surprising Rafe by how mu
“All right,” Rafe snaps, nodding to Mark. “Anything else, Luca?”“Um, just this missive,” Luca says, reaching for a pink scrap of paper on the desk. “From that Hank guy – letting your mom know that he’s coming in via helicopter tomorrow with a report on The Community – that place Jackson is from. He
Pippa and Elias argue quietly for a few moments at the center of the room as I quietly work my jaw back and forth, attempting to ease the pain as I go over my options in my mind. I pick up on about half of their words – Pippa’s insistence that I absolutely cannot go to anything tonight since my conf
“Sorry,” I murmur, untying my robe and letting it slip from my shoulders. “I got…distracted.” Pippa turns slightly to give me some privacy I don’t need – Moon Valley wolves don’t tend to be shy about nakeness, even if Atalaxian ones do – as I slip into the bath.When I slip under the water, opaque w
I turn to her suddenly, shocked. Because…“Yes, Ariel,” Pippa says quietly, taking the towel back from me. “I know. I’ve known…for a very long time. I notice everything about my Alpha’s life, and the way he loves me, and the way he…looks at others. And I noticed when he came home from his trip to Mo
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