We run until the pounding of feet fades and the earth stops shuddering. At last, we stumble into a hidden cave, hastily smearing mud over the entrance to mask our scent. Collapsing against the clammy wall, I strain my ears, listening for any sign of pursuit. Silence. For now.Questions burn on my tongue, but as I turn to Uncle Leo, he lurches to his feet.“Where are you going?” I rasp, catching his sleeve.“They need warmth. Water. I’m going to find firewood.” He tries to pull away, but I tighten my grip.“I’m coming with you.”“No, you’re not.” He wrenches free of my grasp.“I wasn’t asking.” I push to my feet, swaying slightly as the cave tilts around me.“The venom is still in your system, Nickolas. We can’t risk it.” He plants himself firmly in my path, unmovable as a mountain.I suck in a shuddering breath, struggling for calm. “We

The night stretches endlessly before me, every minute an eternity of restless tossing and turning. No matter how I try, I can't escape the thoughts that plague me, the memories that claw at my mind with razor-sharp talons.Him. It always comes back to him.His scent, rich and earthy, surrounded me. The warmth of his lips trailing over my skin, raising gooseflesh in their wake. The iron bands of his arms pulling me flush against the hard planes of his body. The way his brow furrowed in that adorable frown whenever I tried to defend my books. The rugged beauty of his face that still haunts my dreams.With a strangled cry, I fling off the sweat-damp sheets and stumble outside, desperate for air, for space. I break into a run, pushing my body until my lungs burn and my muscles scream in protest. But it's not enough. Nothing is enough to outrun the ache in my soul.A ragged scream tears from my throat as I throw my head back to the uncaring stars.

“Please stand up. I am not...” I begin, but Beatrice clamps her hand over mine, silencing me midsentence. I turn to face her, brows furrowed in confusion as she shakes her head urgently.“They need it,” she rasps, desperation etched in the hollows of her cheeks.“Need what?” “Hope.”Understanding dawns as I glance around at the sea of haunted faces turned towards me with longing. “They think I’m Jane right now, don’t they? That’s why they called me their Queen.” I bear an uncanny resemblance to her, and in their malnourished state, they can barely detect my werewolf scent. Their supernatural senses are dulled.Beatrice gives a jerky nod. “After everything they’ve been through, they need that hope to cling to.”My gaze rakes over their emaciated forms - the protruding bones, cracked lips, and dull eyes reflecting a haunting mix of resignation

NICKOLAS I'm not sure which is more astonishing - the fact that I survived an arrow piercing my heart or seeing Amelia here before me, her angelic face peaceful in slumber. I owe my life to Ava and her niece. Ava's quick thinking to portal me to her estate, where her niece resided and tended to our wounds, is the only reason Eric and I still draw breath. But even that pales in comparison to the miracle of Amelia's presence. As I watch the gentle rise and fall of her chest, emotion swells within me, so intense it steals my breath. Tears prick my eyes, and a lump forms in my throat. I never thought I'd gaze upon her beauty again, resigned to a lifetime of yearning for what I'd lost. Yet here she is, her golden hair fanned across my pillow like rays of sunshine as the universe conspired to bring her back to me the very day I dared stroll around witch territory. The sheer improbability of it staggers me.A soft rustle of sheets pulls me from my r

The living room is as breathtakingly beautiful as the rest of the house, all plush fabrics and gleaming surfaces that speak of wealth and taste. I make my way to the nearest couch, ready to sink into its inviting cushions, but before I can even sit down, Nickolas sweeps me up into his arms and deposits me on his lap.“Whenever we’re together, this is where you sit,” he murmurs, adjusting me on his thighs, his arm wrapping securely around my waist, his hand splaying possessively over my belly.A soft smile tugs at my lips, warmth blooming in my chest at his casual display of affection. If someone had told me even a few short months ago that Nickolas would be this clingy, this openly demonstrative with his love, I would have laughed in their face. But now, feeling the solid strength of his body beneath me, the tender way he holds me close, I can’t imagine anything feeling more right.“Let’s hear it,” Eric prompts, settling into the armchair across from us, his eyes alight with curiosity