WillowI receive a letter from Rainer asking for help about a spell or potion that could make someone appear dead without actually killing them. This is beyond my level of magical expertise, so I take the matter to my niece. Ivy has a nearly encyclopedic knowledge for spells and potions. When I tell
LexIvy snorts, looking at me like I'm nothing more than a pitiful street urchin that has just asked her for spare change. “Seriously?” She shakes her head, and I know in that moment, she doesn't think I'm capable of doing anything important, anything that takes intelligence or courage.“Lex current
LexKing Matthias informs me of a small party King Myenas is throwing for the royals he’s in business with. Due to my recent alliance with Red River, I’ve secured an invite to Castle Pestera for the event. The invitation comes with restrictions but it’s our only way to get the potion to Rainer so I
The guard leads us to a ballroom filled with people. There’s a string quartet playing music in the background as royals and courtiers drink glasses of blood, talking amongst each other.King Myenas is at the center of it all, holding the attention of all the vampires in the room. I’m reminded of the
RainerWillow tells me that Lex and Ivy will be in the castle for the little party King Myenas is throwing. I stay close to the ballroom and am able to watch as the two appear and follow Igor into the ballroom. I wait by the open doors for one of them to come out, trying to act like I’m just doing m
IvyOnce we know the potion is effective, Rainer and I go to the ballroom. He has to inform King Myenas of Lydia’s unexpected death while I get Lex and use the commotion to disappear unnoticed. Lex is in conversation with King Myenas and King Matthias. He’s managed to look like he belongs with them,
RainerI know that King Myenas might be upset with the news of Lydia’s death since he’s been using her as a bargaining chip with Kane. The fury he unleashed at the sight of Lydia’s unmoving body on the bed is a sight to behold. He has every servant and courtier within near distance running away in f
LexIvy’s hazel eyes stare at me in shock. Her gaze bores into me as she tries to decipher if I’m serious or not. A younger me would have laughed and made a whole production out of this situation. I don’t have the same need to turn everything into a joke anymore.“What?”“I need a love potion,” I ex
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