*Emory*Rainer is pissed. Still. And it’s been a couple of hours since he returned to the castle and I sheepishly told him what was going on.He’d yelled at me. A lot. Everything from how dangerous this was, to do I not remember that I was almost dead a few days ago to how could I not send for him o
“Alpha Bernard, I order you to halt where you are, right now, by the authority of King Kane Alexander of Crimson Peak, whose territory you are currently invading.” I use the mind-link, and I am clear, precise, and as authoritative as possible.Before my father can respond, Rainer asks me, “Did you d
I turn and glare at him. “Just give me a moment.”He mumbles under his breath, but his feet don’t move.I close about half the distance as I continue. None of them move.“That’s right. I was sold. But not because my father wanted the king to have me. No, I was able to step in. To spare the life of m
*Kane* I was almost there. I had almost made it to where Emory was confronting her father. I could see her in the distance as I sprinted across the grass, not even slowing as I passed the line of my own troops that had been standing back, watching. “What is she doing?” I’d screamed aloud to no on
I look down the line and see many of them heavily affected by my words. The ones that are not members of her pack are already backing away. This isn’t their fight. Ordinarily, I would punish them just for being here, but I don’t have any desire to fuck with that at the moment. “Make your choice, an
He takes two swift steps backward before I release Emory to Rainer, knowing he is right there to take her, and grab him by the throat. “You don’t get to run away, Bernard,” I tell him. He makes gurgling noises, and I decide not to squeeze so hard, not for his sake but for his daughter’s. As much as
The door creaks open and Kane sticks his head in. I smile at him, but the smile he gives me back is forced. “How are you feeling?” he asks me. “Better, thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just thought you’d be busy, and I could handle it.” He comes to stand next to me, but his hands are fold
Beginning of Book 2EmoryI close my bedroom door gingerly, trying to make the least amount of noise possible. I do think it’s ridiculous that I have to sneak around the castle which I have come to see as my new home. Even when I was a prisoner here, I hadn’t had to be this careful with how I moved
MichaelThe emissary to Red River–the real one–isn’t anyone I recognize. He’s tall and pale blond, his red eyes gleaming in the brightly lit ballroom where he and his posse of royal Red River guards have gathered. He scans the group before him–myself, my father, and my uncle, and smiles faintly, hi
I listen intently, watching a myriad of emotion play over her face as she knits her fingers together. “We spent an entire summer sneaking around,” she says softly, closing her eyes. “He’d find me in the garden, in the library, sometimes going as far as to sneak into my room at night. We couldn’t st
FayeStill in the library, I listen intently as Emelda discloses far more than I expected her to.There was a point in Emelda’s life as a vampire that she’d accepted she’d always be alone. Her bed would always be cold, her skin unblemished by a loving touch. She’d never know love again, and for deca
Faye“It really is gorgeous,” Emelda says the next morning while walking with me to the library. She runs her thumb over the massive sapphire ring and smiles faintly, raising her brows. “I think it’s a family heirloom, too. You should expect a load of fine jewelry to follow.”“You know I don’t care
FayeKing Kane is a slightly terrifying man. His presence is all consuming–like he sucks the light out of the room. He doesn’t look his age, like all vampires. The only indication that he’s a senior vampire compared to his son is the faint gray glow around his temples where his dark hair is starting
MichaelI watch Faye run a comb through her hair, over and over. The golden strands shine like golden silk in the pockets of sunlight shimmering through the curtains. Beyond the glass, knee-deep snow covers the castle grounds in a blanket of pure, untouched white. Deep inside, I feel a flicker of m
I shake my head, sniffling, trying to pull my tears back into my eyes but fail miserably. They trickle down my cheeks, freezing to my face. “We would have been caught.”“I wouldn’t have cared. I still don’t!”“You were getting married–”“I’ve been betrothed since I was a child,” he says hotly, gritt
Emelda“Why are you out here?” Cole asks, his hand moving up my back as he presses me closer. “You’re freezing.”“I wanted to check on Ravenfell–”“I was on my way–”“It’s not your responsibility–”“I was on my way to find you,” he cuts in, taking a breath. I open my eyes, breaking out of the haze
Finn leans against the fireplace while Cassidy stokes the fire, but everyone is waiting for me to start talking. That’s why I came here, after all. To share news from the castle about our duke and our friends. “Lowe is likely going to survive,” I say to the group, ignoring the shuffle of feet as pe