To my utter surprise, everyone starts to scream and cheer for this like he just announced the next coming of their Jesus. Heather taps my shoulder, taking me away from the front just for a moment while Mayor Fox prattles on about this big business taking up all this big unnecessary space. It doesn’
Valeria’s POV“Where’s Madison?” Juliet asks me as soon as I come inside the emergency room. She’s flashing me a very concerned look, and I can’t help but feel like it’s somehow my fault even though it’s not. “I swear, I have not seen her all morning. This is outrageous!”I want to be the one to say
She starts to cry again, and all I can do is watch her. I know why he did that.I know why he doesn’t want her.And it’s because of me.It would be unfair for her to keep going through this. It’s time she hears a bit of the truth. I pull Madison down, making her face me. “Hey, listen to me.”“What?
Valeria’s POVAres wraps his arms around me, all the way, like he doesn’t want me to leave, like he’s determined to keep me there with him. I lose myself in the moment for a while, closing my eyes and savoring the taste of his lips….But then, Ares breaks off the kiss.I blink rapidly, wondering why
Not a proposal exactly, since I know that that would be too much too soon, but a formal arrangement. Something that will assure me that we have a mutual understanding going on.The kiss this morning was a good sign. I kept riding that high throughout the whole day, and it’s definitely giving me a lo
Valeria’s POVI stare at Ares as he finishes his statement, smiling at me with a calm expression that just doesn’t sit right. I can almost feel his pain from across the table, and guilt is washing over me in strong waves.“Ares,” I say again, but my voice sounds much too feeble this time. “Ares, ple
I nod. “You’re right.”Josie caresses my face. “I know you don’t want to lose him, and it’s not just because of the kids. Now make this right, and allow yourself to be happy.”* * *Allow myself to be happy. Maybe that’s what I have been doing wrong all this time.I thought about this all night, and
Ares’s POVThe moment those words leave Valeria’s lips, it’s almost over for me. I can almost feel the air around me shifting, taking on a darker tone, succumbing to the desire that I have long held back since I saw her again.I look into her eyes, expecting to see her silently pleading for me to ta
“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