My wolf howls with happiness and pride even as pain arcs through me – but I don’t experience it as pain – I don’t know how to explain the delicious, sharp rush of sensation as my skin breaks, as Jackson claims me, as his magic floods my body and makes me feel rich and vivid and real.His teeth press
Just past midnight, Rafe stands with his adult family on the roof of the palace, everyone’s face turned up to the sky and towards the steady pounding of chopper blades they can barely hear in the distance. A steady hum of excitement runs between them all. Roger and Cora in particular stand with thei
Rafe’s eyes fly wide as he stares at his cousin, shocked.What…what the fuck is this?“Hey, guys!” Jesse says, his voice tight and falsely cheerful as he strides over to his family, all of them staring at him, agape. Jesse keeps his smile fixed on his face even as he glares around at his parents, hi
“Good, you should blush more often,” Cora says on a laugh, bumping her shoulder against her son’s. “You’ve lived far too much of your life without shame.”“My profligate youth!” Jesse sighs, mock nostalgic.Ella gracefully stands, taking Midnight’s finished bowl of ice cream and putting a sack of sw
“You can talk to me about it,” he says, smiling up at me, tucking my messy hair back behind my ear. “I might like that. A lot.”“Yeah, but you’re more of a learn-by-doing type,” I say, grinning down at him. “I think I need more girlfriends.”Jackson hums consideringly, nodding as he runs his hands s
Today, since I’m feeling a bit better, I ride in front of Jackson on the ATV, leaning back against his chest as he steers the vehicle with an arm on either side of me. Well, not that there’s much steering to do – it’s mostly a straight shot across the desert and prairie that creates a border between
What the hell!?“Tell me.” I command.A single growl rumbling in his chest signals Jackson’s refusal.I take a different tack, pressing my ass backwards against him, arching my back a little. “Please tell me, Jackson,” I beg, my voice softer now.He goes still behind me and I smile, pleased.“Please
The gas station clerk pages languidly through the magazine he’s read a hundred times already this month, bored as hell. He sighs, lifting his head to look around the tiny room of this little desert outpost – the room that serves not only as a convenience store, but also a bar, and a tiny casino. The
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