That explains Willow’s behavior at the picnic after I made that thoughtless joke about finding my own feeder. Even if it has been a century, some wounds don’t heal for the longest time. No wonder she looks so uncomfortable around me. She probably thinks Lex and I are friends. I need to apologize to
Shame makes me want to run away and hide, but I’m not a little boy. I’m a man who faces my mistakes head on. “I’m sorry,” I say sincerely. “I’m sorry for everything I did to you. I wish I could take it back-”“Don’t!” She turns away, and her whole body shudders as she does er best to contain her s
LexI had expected the court of Scarlett Thunder to be an unpleasant place to be trapped in, but I hadn’t counted on boredom. For all the whispers behind my back and the fake smiles, the courtiers do not have the gall to directly harm me. As often as King Peter likes to throw threats in my direction
I swallow as my heart is beating faster in my chest. I can’t show King Peter any fear. He will smell it on me and see it as a weakness. Perhaps I’ve taken the wrong path by pretending not to know. I try to backtrack.“I can assure you that my brother may have just been cautious before making a big a
“If you are lucky, Lex. You may come out of this with your head attached. Your brother just needs to make the right choice.”He dismisses me after that, and I leave the dining hall quickly. I need to talk to my brother. ***KaneCorrespondence with Lex is tense. We know that any letter or call will
LexOpal is having her first ultrasound today. She initially refuses to let me come with her to the appointment. I manage to sway her into letting me be there since she has no one else to accompany her. Her brother is in the dungeon of Castle Graystone, and her father is too busy to give her his tim
***EmoryKane has to leave Crimson Peak to meet up with his allies. Unfortunately, but not surprising, King Peter has found out about my pregnancy and has been threatening to tell the other vampire kingdoms about it. Kane tells me not to worry and that he is going to get ahead of this before things
“I’m going to be fine,” I reassure him. “We are going to be fine.”He cups my face in his hands, his blue eyes staring intently as if he’s trying to memorize my face. “I love you.”“I love you too.” Then I tease him, “Please don’t leave me for Queen Olga.”His dark eyebrows furrow. “She’s old enough
EmoryThe next few months are some of the busiest in my life. With King Myenas’s death, Kane had to negotiate a treaty with the heir to Carmine Falls. King Myenas’s son, Aiden, is a lot more agreeable than his predecessor. He and Kane may never be friends, but they won’t be enemies.The new system f
LexI don’t know how long I’ve been asleep. I wake up in the hospital wing with a bandage wrapped around my neck. The memory of Opal stabbing me with a ceramic shard has me gingerly touching the bandage. It doesn’t hurt anymore, but there is some stiffness.I blink against the harsh fluorescent ligh
KaneI expect the news of me sabotaging King Myenas’s feeder trafficking operation to reach him quickly. His business partners being present at the meeting means they have to warn him that he’s about to lose a fortune. The moment I arrive back at Castle Graystone, King Myenas is on the phone demandi
WillowI never like it when Rainer comes home injured. The gashes Opal left on him have healed by the time I see him, so there’s no reason to drag him to the clinic to get checked over by Dr. Martin. He tells me that Lex is in worse shape and is being treated by the doctor at Scarlett Thunder. Opal
LexRainer moves quickly, shielding Kane with his body. The sword slices into the dark fabric of his shirt and leaves a large cut on his shoulder. He hisses from the pain and pushes Opal away with his other arm, nearly knocking her off her feet. Blood drips down from the sword, onto the carpet.Opal
EmoryWith the Nightstones all refusing to leave Nightfall until Lydia is woken up from her magically-induced coma, I decide to hold the meeting with all the Alphas at Alpha Gerald’s home. His home is a fortress, and he has the room to accommodate all the Alphas and their entourages. I’ll also get t
Rainer“You son of a bitch, you did it,” I say, still reeling with how Kane has managed to convince the vampire monarchs to agree to his insane plan.“Hey. That’s my mother you’re talking about.” Kane is smiling so I know he doesn’t really take offense. “I’m surprised I got them to agree, too. I tho
KaneI don’t know how much King Myenas is looking into Lydia’s death. I know people have to be talking about seeing Lex flee Carmine Falls with a witch who throws fireballs at guards. Having the meeting with all the vampire monarchs at Scarlett Thunder is a way to deflect that this whole thing isn’t
LexI’m not looking forward to having guests again after Cole’s birthday party. It hasn’t been that long, and the expense troubles me. The royal coffers are still low on funds, but I couldn’t refuse my brother when he asked me if I could host the meeting between the vampire monarchs. I'm surprised K