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
I have my own power.“Were you going to go outside alone?” he asks. “Where are Helga and Nellie?”“They’re busy, and they don’t know I snuck out.” I don’t want to get my maids into trouble so I add, “They wouldn’t have been able to stop me. I was ready to tie up the bed sheets into a rope and scale
He kisses my other wrist. “Emory, think of the baby.”I sigh, knowing I’m beaten. He has to use the baby card. I have only known I’m pregnant for a little over a week, and I’m already being treated with kid gloves. Ever since I told Kane I was carrying his child, he has been acting like I’m as delic
KaneThis isn’t how I imagined proposing to Emory. I have been thinking about the right way and the right time to ask her. This past week, she has been miserable, stuck on bed rest, and I had to run off and deal with an impending war with Scarlett Thunder. I haven’t had the time to compose what I wa
I’m conflicted, and I have to bite my tongue from saying a word as Helga and Nellie help me get dressed for the day. They don’t even know about the pregnancy. Kane and I both agreed not to tell anyone else until I’m past the first trimester. According to the doctor, I won’t even be showing until the
“How are things with the pack?” I ask.“Coit is doing his best, and I’m helping him as much as I can,” Darius answers. “Rebuilding our relationships with the packs around us is going to be a difficult road ahead but not impossible.”“We can’t blame them for being cautious after what my father did, s
KaneThere are times I wonder if I remember a time before I wasn’t constantly at war with a neighbor. I spent over ten years in conflict with Bernard Moonraker for his inability to repay his debts. Now that he is locked up in the dungeon of my castle, I’m dealing with King Peter of Scarlett Thunder
Fractured memories of the night I nearly drank myself to death careen to the forefront of my mind. There was a woman. I don’t remember her face or her name. I was so far gone with drink and self-loathing that I gave in to whatever kind of attention and stimulations she had to offer. It was consensua
ColeThe letter came in the dead of night, rain-soaked and smeared, but I’d know her handwriting anywhere, in any condition. She’d written that she needed to see me, urgently, that it couldn’t wait, and she couldn’t explain why, not in a letter, not at the risk of what she needed to tell me going pu
EmeldaIt’s a quiet night. A long, silent walk from the castle. I needed this quiet, this stillness in the late summer air. Ravenfell comes into view beyond the trees, twinkling in the darkness. I smile, shaking my head as I look down at my shoes. I can still feel the weight of the twins in my arms
MichaelI haven’t been to Scarlet Thunder in… years. I didn’t realize how long it’s been until I pulled up to the back of the castle, somewhat startled by how small it looks compared to my memories from my childhood. Not that it's a small castle, but I'm much bigger now. I step out of my car, my fac
Faye“Oh, Faye, this is beautiful,” Emory says as she walks around the wide room on the second floor of the newly constructed manor. She runs her fingers over the pale blue and pink floral wallpaper and white trim, her jade eyes sparkling as she takes in the lace curtains and soft cream carpet. “I l
EmeldaIn the week since the twins were born, I’ve been busy with the final touches on my cottage. I spent days this past spring digging in the front garden, planting herbs and vegetables, and fixing the front path. I hired a group of shifters to replace the roof and update the inside, installing ne
Emelda“Thank you,” I say, hurrying at a near run as a maid takes my cloak. The castle is buzzing with nervous energy but remains quiet with even the maids tiptoeing around, trying not to make a sound. I’d remained in Ravenfell for the birth. I spent all night and most of this morning at Alma’s hou
FayeSomething’s wrong. Something has to be wrong. “You’re doing great. Keep pushing, Faye. You’ve got this,” Alma says, her face glistening with sweat and determination while I roar in pain. Michael clutches my hand, his other hand bracing my inner thigh as I bear down with all the strength I hav
Michael“It could be hours–or a day,” Alma says quietly as she arranges her tonics on a table just outside the bedroom where Faye’s finally getting some rest. “It’s been hours already,” I tell her, motioning toward the window in my suite in the castle where moonlight drifts through the panes, casti