I wrinkle my nose at her and lean forward, nodding. “It really is great, Pip. Especially…especially if you love them. I know that Elias is your best friend and he’s good to you. But…I want more for you than that.”She takes a deep breath and looks away, shaking her head slightly. “Oh, I don’t know i
She narrows her eyes at him, trying to figure out what about that could be funny, and he laughs.Midnight turns her head at Jesse, curious. “Why are you upset? We have so many nice new things – how could you be upset?”Jesse frowns at her. “How’d you know I was upset?”“You get a big line,” she murm
Pippa fusses over me when we leave the bathroom, chattering about my poor bruised jaw and how we’re going to cover that up with makeup. But I sit down on my bed and make a big show of yawning, wanting a minute alone to catch my proverbial breath and better hide my new weapon. As I lean back against
I shudder at the thought, every instinct in me screaming not to do it. My wolf is right – Gabriel’s bossy wolf will bully her, and corrupt her, and turn her to his will. The idea of my sweet rose-gold wolf all covered in oil, her eyes glowing in the darkness, her lungs heaving with her singular desi
An hour later I enter the banquet hall at Gabriel’s side, my hand perched quaintly atop his as the Prince escorts me forward. I’m again wearing the diamond collar that hides Luca’s mark, though I’ve got no crown today, which is fine by me. Pippa dressed me in acres of pink satin overtop another cors
Mostly, I let my mind wander, thinking of better things. Of my family at home, and how pleasant it is to sit around a lovely fire with them, joking and laughing. Of Jackson, and how honestly I wouldn’t mind rubbing his feet if it made him feel nice after a long day. How he would insist on returning
Gabriel pulls me through the halls behind him, heading for my rooms. A myriad of emotions fly through me as we go – fear, of course, at this man’s unpredictability and cruelness. But quickly chasing that comes anger, and rage, and the sheer determination not to follow the Prince’s fate.This jackass
We all stand quietly for a long few moments before Elias turns to me.“Ariel,” he says, his eyes meeting mine. “You need to run.”My eyes widen as I turn them to him. “What?”He shakes his head. “He wants your power, badly, and he’s making moves to take the throne, which means he thinks he can get i
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