Suddenly, tears start to shine in Valeria’s eyes. She blinks them back as though she doesn’t want me to see them, and she smiles. “I want that too. I want them to know you. I want them to trust again.” She sighs. “Take them with you this afternoon. I’m sure they would love to share ice cream with yo
Ares’s POV“What’s happening to him?” Edith yells, her shrill voice filling the air and mixing with the loud growls that are coming from Emmett.She makes a move to go towards him, not really understanding what is going on, but I wrap my arm around her and pull her back against me. “Stay back with m
“She was trying to protect you,” I tell her gently, and I face Emmett again, deciding to contact him through mind-link like how my mentor did to me. “Emmett, can you hear me?”His ears perk up and he looks at me. Suddenly, he doesn’t seem to uncomfortable in his form anymore. He seems smoother and m
Ares’s POVI take a step back, almost stumbling right on the grass. Emmett continues to stare at me like he’s challenging me to say something, and I try my best to meet his eyes. I search his face, trying to look for any sign of anger.I don’t think I can forgive myself if they are angry with me. It
Unfortunately for them, I’m back and I’m not leaving.I find myself smiling as food gets served to us. The kids start to eat, and I find that Edith is staring at me like she can’t believe I’m here. Emmett, on the other hand, is whispering to her, probably telling her not to stare like that.I smile
Valeria’s POVI quickly withdraw my hand, the tingles on my skin getting too intense for me to bear. For some reason, that small contact leaving my pulse racing inside my body. Wild thoughts churn in my mind, growing louder and louder until I meet Ares’s eyes.He smiles at me, but I can’t bring myse
I look away. “Thank you for doing that for Emmett and Edith. I’m sure they are happy that you were there, especially Emmett. You did well guiding him.”“It was my pleasure,” he whispers.Something about the way his tone dipped is making me feel all sorts of things. Dirty things. Swallowing hard bec
Ares’s POVI’m unstoppable, and it’s not just because everything is going well in my world of business, but also because my personal life is about to make an upward sweep that will never go down again.When I arrive at the hospital, I’m all smiles. All the nurses and the other staff who greet me are
“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