I brush hard at the tears on my cheeks, raising my chin, my canines elongating inside my mouth even as my lip trembles.“Juniper,” Blythe snaps, pointing authoritatively down at the ground like a master calling his dog to heel. “You need to be more reasonable about this. Just because you have money
A beautiful smile crests over my lips as I again wave a hand towards him, stealing his voice. “Oh, Blythy,” I murmur, like a lover desperately pleased lover over a pretty gift. “I’m so glad you asked.”My eyes snap to his knees, which crumple beneath him, slamming him to the ground. His head bends b
Orion and Laila just continue to stare at me, open-mouthed and horrified.Anton grins and slowly begins to walk over to me, shaking his head at me like I’m the greatest thing he’s ever seen. A tiny, tremulous smile begins to shape my lips as he slips an arm around my shoulders, even as tears again s
“It was cruel,” I sigh.“It was just,” she returns, soft. “You were right – those big Alpha boys…they get away with far more than they should. I’m glad to have a vengeful spirit of justice on our side.”I raise my eyes to hers, feeling a bit better even if guilt still runs through me. “Orion’s still
“What do you think,” Anton says, laughing and turning in a circle so that I can admire. I do, rather liberally, my wolf pouncing around in my soul.“I mean you’re always dashing, Tony boy,” I say, crossing my arms and smiling at him. “But you look very fancy tonight. Dressed up suits you!”“Who knew
“Choker,” Anton says, turning and slowly walking over to me.I lift my eyes to him, a little surprised. “What?”“This outfit needs a choker,” he says, brushing a single starlit finger across my throat and then around my neck.I smile a little and make one appear – just a long strip of velvet ribbon
I turn back to the room, screwing my mouth to the side as I snap my fingers twice, dropping the lighting in the room and then calling up an elaborate dancefloor that’s lit from below with bright and vibrant colors, constantly shifting.My girl friends shriek with delight as I call up a sound system
And I had loved him. Loved him so much that I was willing to chase him here, to risk my life just for the bare chance to bring him back.And the whole time, he was just…using me. For money and fame. For connections and a leg up in the world.I had loved him and he just…used me. He hadn’t loved me at
“No!” she sputters out, stumbling a few steps towards me, shaking her head so hard her pretty blue-green hair flutters out all around her. “No, Junie, don’t make me go! I want…I want to stay here! And help! I mean…” she bites her lip. “It will be nice to be able to visit home. But I want to stay wit
“I’m sending you home too,” I say quietly, doing my best to look each in the eyes. “I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed that you didn’t get the wish.” They murmur a variety of responses back to me, most of them relieved. One by one they step forward and I take their ha
“Does…” I whisper, my eyes still fastened to Orion as my eyes move over him, feeling the powers that radiate from him now. “Does that mean you have all of the powers of Darkness too? From…from the wish?” “No,” Orion murmurs, looking down at his hands and flexing them, experimenting with the feel o
Beatrice is the last to go, staring at me in shock, realizing finally that she bet everything on the wrong horse. I bare my teeth at her, fangs extended, and Beatrice’s eyes go wider as she trembles and finally submits, going to her knees and bowing her head. “Good,” I say, my voice returning to n
Laila’s knife sinks deep between Death’s shoulder blades and the final scream of a God fills the air as Death falls to his knees. The magic stops mid-stream, like a tap being suddenly turned off. I groan and tilt forward against Anton, who catches me and holds me against his chest. “Shit, June,”
“Just a little longer, June. She’ll do it.” But what if she doesn’t? What if…what if I’m inches from oblivion, and this is it? My heart strains in my chest, my wolf shaking like a leaf from snout to tail. But still, I will myself to hope. To trust in my friend. “I know,” I reply, letting my ey
I gasp, my shoulders trembling under the sheer weight of Death’s magic that flows over and around us, my shield barrier straining and buckling under its might. “June,” Anton breathes, eyes wide as he looks up at the magic streaming over us in an unending torrent. “Shit – are you –“ I crouch besi
The wish presses against Death for a moment and then sinks into him, dissolving into his chest. He sighs with happiness and what looks like ecstasy, tilting his head back to the sky as the magic disappears into him. Beatrice steps away, tucking her hands behind her back, beaming at the God she jus
Before I can get more than three steps after Laila, Anton lunges forward, his paws landing on either side of me as he snatches at the back of my gown with his teeth, holding me back. His fierce growl reminds me that I need to stay here – that Death took Laila because he wants me to come rushing onto