Sandra Linの小説

Haylee's POVThe trees become a blur as we run through undergrowth, my triggers catching on my clothes, in my hair. My heart hammers against my chest as if it’s a trapped animal desperate to be set free, each pounding rhythm a cacophony of the fear that scratches at my insides. I grasp Lior\'s trembling hand, his tiny fingers icy against mine, so tiny I\'m scared if I hold on hard, I\'ll break them.At my side, Aiden is holding and carrying Kael, with the same hurried purpose that reflects my own fear. His face is a mask of total panic, jaw clenched so hard I can see the muscle twitching under his skin. Beads of sweat form on his forehead even in the cool forest air and his breathing is comprised in short sharp bursts that alert me to the fact that he's battling with the wolf instinct to bound wildly through the trees."How much further?" I pant, my breaths coming in painful gasps that sear my chest. I feel the bounce of wolfsbane extract against my hip in its protective pouch, and ca

Aiden's POVAll tension, Marcus spreads aerial satellite detail images across the large oak table, his face ominous under the bright fluorescent light. From above it looks like a confusing network of corrugated metal and shattered concrete, but I can already tell why Xavier picked this place. Multiple points of entry, a million places to set up an ambush, and according to our intelligence, it's built right on top of what used to be an old ritual site.“This,” he says, motioning to a large building with smaller buildings surrounding it. Synopsis: This is the battlefield where Xavier wants the fight to go down. But check out these heat readings from last night.”In the infrared images, dozens of heat signatures are scattered throughout the complex, well beyond what would be necessary for a ceremonial duel between two Alphas. The others would do as well." I grit my teeth, shelving my anger as I take in at least thirty people posted in calculated locations.“He’s not even pretending about

Haylee's POVMorning sunlight peeping through the curtains of the twins’ bedroom casts long shadows over the wooden floor as I visit my sleeping boys. Kael sleeps like a log in his bed, his dark hair ruffled and splayed across the pillow, although Lior’s bed looks to have catalogued its occupant’s departure – the sheets are laying in a heap, lumps and bumps betraying the absence. The panic rushes through me, and my heart jumps up to my throat."Lior?" I say softly, wishing like hell he’s only gone to the bathroom or out in the kitchen for an early breakfast. The silence that answers me turns my blood to ice."Have you seen Lior?" Not at the entrance, I beg my way into the home of one of the guards at the entrance, my voice strained with the effort to control my fear."He went to the garden twenty minutes ago, Luna," the guard replies, gesturing toward the side of the house. “He looked fine, just said he needed a breath of fresh air.”It is a huge relief, but short-lived as I walk out

Aiden's POVThis morning the pre-dawn workout has a different feel. And with every punch I throw into my heavy bag, with every defense move I make, I am burdened with what I witnessed last night. Xaver is speaking dirty through Lior's innocent face, employing my child as a vessel for what he's saying - it's a violation that would have my wolf out for blood.Your form is very poor,” says Marcus as he watches from where he’s holding the training pads. “You’re letting anger get in the way of your technique.“My anger is righteous,” I growl, throwing a series that damn near makes him stumble. “That motherfucker is using our child as his own message boy.“You can’t do anything with that justified anger if you’re dead,” Marcus answers frankly. "Xavier's betting on you being too emotional and rattled all over the battle. Don’t hand him that edge.”I make myself relax, to center with my breathing, to concentrate on finesse, not force. Marcus is correct — I must not allow my anger to become my

Haylee's POVThere is no sleep after Xavier's gnawing revelation. I walk the length of the guest bedroom, back and forth, a caged animal, my thoughts careening between rage and fright. Every couple of minutes I go in to see Kael and Lior, pleasantly asleep, in the other room, blissfully unaware that one of the two of them is now magically linked to the creature that slaughtered our family and everything we ever knew."We have to test them," I instruct Dr. Sarah for the third time, just as dawn is rising over Aiden’s territory. “Hey, there’s got to be a way to figure out which child is ill.”“Haylee, I’ve already told you,” Dr. Sarah says with patience, but I can also see exhaustion in her eyes. "Magic blood tests, especially in children are really dangerous. And if Xavier has locator spells cast into the bond, testing could inform him of our point of origin.”"So we do nothing?" I snap, my snarling with that of the wolf beneath my skin. “We just sit here, waiting for one of my childre

Haylee's POVThe atmosphere in Aiden’s living room is so tense one could cut it with a knife and by the time we see Xavier’s convoy approaching through the front windows, I’m beyond antsy. Three black SUVs pull into the driveway, their engines growling like metal wolves, and I discern before they emerge from the autos — at least a dozen enforcers, who step out of them in step.“He brought an army,” Marcus murmurs, his hand going to the weapon that rests on his hip.He is sending a message,” Aiden responds darkly. “Symbolic flexing to scare off us.”Xavier gets out of the front car, and he looks so… different. That composed, charming front I have known for five years is gone. He moves like a predator, his face is hard, cold, and calculating, and there's something in his eyes I don't like; something that frightens my wolf on sheer instinct.‘Haylee,’ he shouts; you can hear him from a long ways off. "Come out here. We need to talk."“Like hell,” Aiden snarls, standing as a shield in fro