I wait for a second, grimacing a bit, watching Jackson’s face for a reaction. But he just stares at me, completely blank. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, shaking my head, reaching for him. “I’m sorry, Jacks – I didn’t mean anything bad by it –“ “No, Ariel…” he replies, blinking out of his frozen state a
My head falls back as my mate kisses his way steadily down my neck, my chest… And my eyes drift shut as I think – just to myself - that I’m really, really going to enjoy the rest of my life with this man. “Okay, little baby,” Pippa whispers, pressing the fussing infant close to her chest as she
Mark watches Pippa carefully, still completely at a loss regarding what to do or say to calm her down, to let her know that it’s all right. Because she’s right – completely right. None of this is simple. She is, by all accounts, married to another man and newly the mother of his child. But despite
“You’re a boy, Mark,” Pippa says, soft and sad. He raises his head enough to see her looking down at her baby, tears clinging to her lashes, threatening to fall. “I – I already have one child, I don’t need another. I’m sorry – I’m being cruel but…” she takes a deep breath and raises her eyes to his,
My eyes flash down to Jackson, still asleep beneath me, and grief floods me. My poor mate – he’s been so good to me, and we’ve been through so much, and it was finally, finally getting good. And now this! Another bond, another mate!? A fourth mate!? Who – who the hell needs four!? Jackson stirs
Mom’s magic sinks lower and so does my attention. My wolf begins to creep back in my soul, turning towards that new bond, prowling slowly, warily towards it, her ears pricked forward. “There now,” mom says on a happy sigh. “See? It’s not scary.” “It’s not the bond that’s scary mom,” I growl, sha
“Oh, baby,” mom says, cupping my cheek in her hand and looking at me sympathetically. “Sometimes…the Goddess has plans for us that go beyond our own.” “Damn right she does,” I say with a scowl, flumping back into mom’s pillows and shooting a little glare at the crescent moon, which I can see hover
A few minutes later, mom sits up, taking me with her and clucking over me as she wipes the tears from my face and pushes my hair back behind my ears. “There’s my beautiful Princess,” mom murmurs, stroking her hand over my hair and getting me all in order. “So strong and brave!” “Enemy armies I can
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