“What happened with the witches was regrettable–”“It was barbaric!” she argues. “We were never any threat to vampires. We didn’t have the wealth or the organized strength of the shifters. We didn’t even have the numbers of the humans. We were the weakest, and King Michael hunted us for sport.”Fami
“No one tried to stop it.” She sounds distant. It makes me ache to touch her and be able to connect with her. “And now we expect Willow to fight in a war for the people that have wronged her most?”“None of it is fair. I wish I didn’t have to ask anything of her after what she’s been through,” I agr
EmoryA potted plant flies across the room and stops halfway before reaching me. It falls to the floor, scattering glass, dirt, and tulips everywhere. I stare in shock at Willow who is standing by the window. I hadn’t expected to have something thrown at me.“Sorry,” she says. “I thought you were Ra
“Gaius was like a father to me,” Willow continues. “He was kind and patient. He let me borrow as many books as I wanted from the library. He didn’t care that I wasn’t a noble, only that I needed the escapism found in those books.”“I’m sorry you lost him.”I never met the former librarian, but from
I manage to take a deep breath and return to reality. “That’s all very romantic, Kane. But we still have to be pragmatic about this. There’s no winning a war without allies. Bernard learned that the hard way, and look where he ended up.”I will be damned before Kane ends up imprisoned in someone’s d
Kane“Are you sure?” I ask Emory as I pull away from kissing her. Her green eyes are dazed like she’s lost in a daydream. Her scarlet hair looks like fire against the black sheets.It’s been months since we’ve had sex. I’ve missed sharing this intimacy with her, but I haven’t wanted to pressure her.
“Yes,” she replies, her voice breathy. “Don’t stop.”I bury my face in her neck as I move, rocking into her gradually. She moans, her back arching as I find the spot within her. I take her leg and position it to wrap around my waist so I can thrust deeper into her.“Kane,” she gasps. “Please.”I mov
“That is not true. I just never bothered with the idea of having kids. Kane was the one who had to have heirs. I was going to be the cool uncle.”She glares at me. Her icy blue eyes are sharper than a knife. “What do I have to do to make you leave me alone?”“Nothing, Princess. Like it or not, we’re
Emelda raises her perfectly shaped dark brows. “How come?”“The bride never showed up. My parents had to dismiss all the guests. Dad believes this was King Mattias’s plan all along–string us along, force our hand when it came to holding the wedding in Crescent Peak instead of Cole’s own territory in
Michael It’s early morning when I finally leave the castle for home, shifting into my wolf form and splitting the fog as I race across the castle grounds. I made sure my cousin was tucked into bed before making the rounds a final time, talking to my uncle Lex and Aunt Ivy, who were remarkably upset
I cross the threshold into the hallway, murmuring to the servant in passing, “Will you please have a decanter of wine spiced with blood sent up for him, for all of our sakes? I really don’t want to deal with him biting maids again.”The servant swallows hard as he nods and quickly shuts the door beh
MichaelBlood-red walls cloud my vision. I focus on the spiraling, floral velvet details of the wallpaper instead of the tall, dark-haired man pacing vigorously across the room, leaving tracks in the carpet. Roses. Mom has always loved roses, and this room is a testament to her love of daylight, su
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