The connection between us feels like home, and I didn't know how much I missed it until now.Ares looks down at me and I subconsciously lean closer too. His gaze flickers down to my lips and I know what he's thinking. He wants to kiss me.And I want to kiss him too.Closer and closer we lean towards
Valeria's POV When I finally doze off, i expect the usual darkness that precedes a dream, the gentle transition into deep sleep that relaxes me. But for some reason, that doesn't come. Instead of darkness, the only thing that comes is a bright zap of color and shape that immediately takes form. I
"You are a rare jewel," he whispers, leaning closer to me. "You are intoxicating...." With that, he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close to him. My hands fly to his chest, feeling his firm muscles. I swallow hard, and he smiles wider. This time, I see his teeth. And I see that his mola
Valeria’s POVAres’s words send a warm feeling down my back, like a soft assuring caress. Suddenly, the images from my dream and the things I saw at the hospital seem so far away. I feel much calmer now, more at peace.The traffic in front of us begin to ease a little. The car we’re in moves forward
“I do understand,” Ares says again. This time, the melancholia in his voice is apparent. “I really do. I just… it hurts to be this close to you and the kids and still be nothing in your lives. I know a big part of it is my fault, but I really want to make it up to them and to you. I want to be a fat
Ares’s POVThe moment I see tears flowing down Valeria’s cheeks, all my walls crumble. All the self pity that I felt for myself during the car ride just vanishes. All I can think about now is why she’s crying, and if I had anything to do with it.I have done my best to keep myself controlled the ent
Silence spreads inside the room. I feel like I just dropped a bomb. I look at Valeria for some backup and maybe so she can take her friend and talk things out with her, but she’s just staring at me wide-eyed.Why is she looking at me like she wants to strangle me? I don’t quite understand.Deciding
Valeria’s POVI wring my hands nervously as I sit by the window, staring at the street below, which is alight with the rays of the morning sun. My phone is pressed against my ear, listening to the rings on the other side of the line. I’m calling the twins’ teacher Miss Duncan, hoping that she could
“We’ll see,” is all I manage to say, then I promptly end the mind-link with Heather.Before I can even tell Frank to go, he already takes initiative. He starts to drive into the neighborhood, stopping in front of the lab and getting out of the car at the same time that I climb out. His fists are cle
“You don’t have to come forward and be public about your existence like we are,” I declare. I have to admit, I had no idea about that clause in the treaty. But then again, Nikolai and Ares should have known. If we were indeed doing something we shouldn’t then they should have spoken up about it. “We
Valeria’s POVI’m rooted in my spot, staring at the man in front of me. But at this point I suppose I should stop calling him a man, because he’s so far from that.Everything about him screams something else. Even though my heart rate has slowed down I still feel like I can’t move. I just watch as h
“No, mommy.” Edith shakes her head. “He just looked at me. And when I stopped playing, he left. I’m just scared that he’s there watching me again. I really want to play but I’m worried about him. What if I go out there and he’s watching me again? What do I do?”I can’t stand to see her this scared w
Valeria’s POV“Mommy, can I stay with you for a while?” Edith asks as I drop her and Emmett back to school. She holds my hand as we approach the building, and even though I hold her back reassuringly, I have to admit that I’m curious about this sudden shy behavior.“What’s going on?” Emmett asks. “D
My vice mayor has conducted some meetings with the delegates of important groups in the city while I was gone, and he compiled everything into papers. I read the papers all morning and finally come up with laws that bind the Lycan and Human world together.The new laws are similar to the initial one
Ares’s POV“I don't know what happened,” Vincent says as soon as we're gathered in my study, including Heather and Valeria. “I don't know how he managed to do it. But his hearing is next week and I heard that the judge is considering setting him free on a bail.”I stare at the back wall, still tryin
“It’s not like that, Ares,” I say, but he just turns away from me. I feel guilty for shooting down his feelings but I have no choice. It just feels too absurd for me. I recognize that I might be in denial, but I don’t think Gianna has enough power to sway the Vampire Kingdom into doing her bidding.
Valeria’s POVI whip around to face Lavinia. But of course, she just rolls her eyes like this is some senseless babble. “You better keep your mate in check. I can’t have him wreaking havoc like this.”“What did you do?” I demand at her, but she just waves her hand airily.“You should ask him what he