He pulls me into a hug, and I let him comfort me. Even with my cheek pressed against his shoulder, the seed of dread within me continues to grow. I have a baby coming a lot earlier than expected. No one can give me answers about why.There’s nothing I can do–and I am terrified.***KaneEver since t
“You never wanted this power, so that makes you perfect to wield it. You want to serve your people rather than to fuel your own desires. You’re noble.” She smiles, pleased. I continue, “You choose to see the good in people, and you trust easily. I love those things about you, but it has caused you p
KaneI’m having lunch with my mother at the gazebo. She insists that we spend more time together. Now that I’m about to become a father, she wants to make sure I’m ready for the responsibility as if I have not been taking care of an entire kingdom for over a century. I don’t tell her this and just s
“What better statement is there to make than giving my son a shifter name because he is part of that world? He’ll be of both worlds, the first half-shifter to become king of Crimson Peak.”She grimaces. “I see your point, darling. But must we name him Connor?”“What’s wrong with Connor?”“It doesn’t
There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask my mother, but I’ve been too scared in the past to voice it out loud. Things are different now, and I want to know.“Why did you stay with Bernard for all those years?” I ask. “He was unfaithful and cruel. He only cared about himself and his own ambitions
LolaI knock on the door of Willow’s room before entering. She is never in the library anymore, so I have to come visit her. She used to have a bedroom by the library until Rainer decided these rooms would be better. Her new rooms are larger and more comfortable so I guess that’s why Willow never go
I wrinkle my nose. “Ugly?”“When they come out, babies are kind of squished,” she tells me. “Being born is hard work.”That makes sense to me. I know where babies come from. Emory explained it to me last year when the stork story was becoming less and less believable. I’ve never even seen a stork at
“I like you better naked,” he says. “You’re the one that’s distracting.”“Because I’m the size of the moon and hard to miss. I practically have my own gravitational force at this point.”He laughs. “You’re not big. You’re pregnant.”“I’m still big. Does it matter why?”He pushes the fabric of my shi
“We were held up,” Matilda replies in a low, sensuous drawl that betrays her looks. I would have assumed her voice would be pitched and sharp. She’s very thin and hard–all bone and muscle. Most vampire females are like that, I suppose, with some exceptions. One being the woman curled up in a guest r
MichaelThere’s a hum of excitement in the castle as I pass through the main entrance, rain sliding off my black leather jacket and onto the dark stone floor. The bridge behind me is socked-in by fog as the doors close, and a couple of guards step back in place, standing stoically at attention while
MichaelI carry her upstairs, my manor passing by in a blur of stone and dark finishes. Emelda hurries behind me, followed by a handful of maids who peek their heads out of the various rooms off the main second floor hallway. It’s such a large house for one person, but right now, it feels crowded an
FayeHe’s tall and handsome, with eyes the color of polished jade. His eyes sparkle as he steps into the overhead light, but his expression is dire–serious with a hint of concern, maybe even skepticism, as he keeps his gaze honed to my face. I’m trembling from pain and also the feeling like this ma
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