She nods. “It’s a beautiful day outside. We could go for a walk in the garden.” “Am I allowed to do that?” I ask her. She giggles. “Of course. And you’re dressed for it.” I glance down at my red sundress and strappy sandals. “All right,” I say. “As long as you’re sure the king won’t mind.” “No,
Emory “This is her?” a blonde woman with a pointy nose asks, her raised finger barely sharper than her beak. “This is the fucking breeder?” I take a deep breath, not wanting any trouble. I am obviously outnumbered, and while I have no problem kicking Opal’s ass and her friends’ asses, I have a fee
“Shift, stupid bitch!” Opal says, kicking me again, this time in the shin, harder. Her foot is like a piece of stone, and I wince as I feel myself instantly bruising. I may have to run with one shoe on and hope that it falls off. Maybe I can use this shifting bit to my advantage. “It’s against the
“Get back here, fucking bitch breeder!” Opal is shouting, and I can feel the reverberation of their footsteps off of the sidewalk as they fly toward me. I am fast. I am not that fast. I see the castle in front of me and know it will take me a moment to get up the steps and through that door. Even
Emory My head is aching, and my shin is throbbing, but when I look up to see King Kane standing near the side of my bed, it’s like all of the aches dissipate, and the only thing that matters now is him. I start to sit up, but he stops me with a motion of his hand. Helga and Nellie are gone, and it
“Emory?” The sound of my name on his lips does nothing to dislodge the distraction I am caught in. He lifts his other hand so that one finger is beneath my chin, and he pulls my eyes back to meet his face. When his hand leaves my skin, I can breathe again, and my hand slips away from his arm. “Actua
Emory Kane’s mouth is smooth and warm as his lips move against mine. Once again, I’m surprised that they’re not cold, but the longer he holds himself against me, the more those thoughts fade from my mind, and all I can think about is how badly I want this man who is touching me in a more intimate w
And he didn’t have to. “What about that man from the meeting yesterday?” he asks, changing the subject on me so abruptly, I’m not sure who he’s speaking of. I stare at him, unblinking. “The tall one who was standing behind you.” “Oh. Darius,” I say with a nod. “He’s my Beta. Will be my Beta. Was s
MichaelI pace the foyer, running my fingers through my hair over and over again as I listen to the voices of Emelda and Alma drifting down the staircase. Lowe walks in from the kitchen with an armful of firewood, his face drawn with fatigue. I nod at him in greeting as he walks past me toward the
“What did they do to you?” I press. I wave my hand at the mess of jars, herbs, and healing… potions, not just tonics. Actual potions. Potions made by a witch.“What didn’t they do is a better question,” she murmurs, turning away. “Emelda–”“I was a girl,” she whispers over the simmering water and c
MichaelThree hours later, in the dead middle of the night, I stand in the doorway leading into the cozy guest room I brought Faye into what must have been weeks ago. I guess that much time has passed since then. It feels like seconds, honestly. I feel like I haven’t had a chance to catch my breath
MichaelAlma and Lowe speak in quiet tones in the foyer while he helps her into her thick coat. The usual, ceaseless sprinkle of rain has finally turned to sleet–a vicious mix of freezing rain and the first hints of snow that’s going to make the village an icy mess when day turns to night. Lowe pus
MichaelFaye’s room is chaotic. Nurses and the physician crowd her bed to the point I can’t see her through the fray. I push through them, seeing her pale and writhing, arching off the bed in pain. “What’s wrong with her?!” I shout. Faye murmurs, white foam tinted with blood bubbling from her lips
Six Weeks AgoFayeMy slippers pad across the pale marble tiles. I hike up my dress–pink, just like the slippers I spent hours upon hours embroidering with little stars and white flowers. My hair fans out around my shoulders and down my back in my haste to reach my father’s office. Cara, my lady’s m
MichaelI find my mom out in the garden. I had a feeling she’d be here, surrounded by petals and green plants–things that keep her grounded to the nature shifters crave. She’s kneeling, her fingers deftly pulling up weeds–or something. She straightens and lifts her head as I approach, reveling in he
Faye“What are you doing here? I thought you returned to Scarlett Thunder?” Michael gives Cole a skeptical look, but Cole rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His dark hair catches the light and gleams as he replies, “My mother thought it would be best to return a few days before
FayeThe next morning, I wake up alone in the little inn room. Soft gray daylight filters through the curtains, illuminating the rumpled sheets on the bed and my clothing from yesterday still hanging near the fireplace. I blink into the shadows, rubbing my eyes as a figure appears to my left, pulli