LexThe sword hits the wood of the shovel, digging into the weathered wood. Jacob’s blue eyes glare into me. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone hate me this much before. The ferocity with his attacks tells me that he truly wants to kill me. This isn’t just a mean boy wanting to pick on someone. Ja
“What are odds, Rainer?” he asks.“They could be better but they’re not dire now that we have the shifters with us. We have the strategy with the witches which gives us an advantage.”“Hold the fort.”I nod. “Hold the fort.”I leave Kane to mount my steed. Porthos is calm and steady underneath me, b
Fuck. This is not how I want to die.I hear Kane’s voice through the madness and turn to see him, slightly bloodied. “Hold,” he says. “Hold your line. No one retreats.”A shout from behind us draws my attention. I turn to see King Cyrus on horseback with his bannermen behind him. Sardonia has come
KaneOur troops from both sides surround us with bated breath. The battle is mostly over. This duel between King Peter and I is what will determine the end of the war. It is the culmination of months of posturing and preparation.“Here are my terms, Kane Alexander of Crimson Peak” King Peter says. “
Kane is the conquering ruler. He can do what he wants. Him even putting this council together is his desire to be diplomatic. Kane believes in fairness and I love him for it.We sit at the war room of Crimson Peak at a long table. Kane sits at the head of my table and I’m at his right with Rainer at
When we reach the rose gardens, I let out a deep sigh and run a hand over my face. The heavy pressure of having to make a decision I don’t enjoy closes around me. Embry doesn’t let me go and rests her chin on my shoulder. Her emerald gaze doesn’t judge.“What are you thinking?” she asks.“I’m thinki
KaneDespite Emory’s urging that we get married as soon as possible, I want to do this right. I only plan on getting married once and I’m not going to have a rushed wedding. I’ve been asking her to marry me for months and I want us to have the wedding of her dreams. Besides, planning a wedding is le
“We don’t marry shifters either but here I am.”Lex snorts. “Enough about me. This is your big day.” He picks up the blazer off the chair and helps me into it and declares, “Let’s get you hitched.”We leave my suite and make our way to the ballroom where dozens of guests are waiting. Most of the va
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