LOGINChris shook his head, rolling his eyes. “Unbelievable,” he hissed as I smirked with satisfaction.The trip to the clinic went by a lot faster on wheels than on foot. Chris remained glued to my side, his hair falling into his eyes as he repeatedly checked on me. I simply smiled in the backseat, and w
Epilogue — Part IIAvaAs the balloon hit me square in the face, I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance. Chris’s strong arm caught me, steadying me as a chorus of “Surprise!” filled the air.Our living room had been transformed, covered with balloons and streamers in shades of blue and silver. A
Her imprisonment in New Moon was coming to an end, and soon she would be returning to Moonstone on parole. The thought filled me with a mixture of apprehension and hope, as it did all of us.But that was not coming for another month.As the Elders filed out, I leaned back in my chair, unable to keep
Before I could comment, the Elders finally filed in, their usual robes swishing around them as they moved. Fatima was now the Eldest since Elise was gone, and so she took the end of the table opposite Chris.Claire hobbled in after her; she had been leaning on a cane lately due to a sudden onset of
Epilogue — Part IAvaMy hand rested on my belly as I waddled through the doors, half-ignoring Chris’s presence. He sighed, letting the door fall shut behind me.“What’s wrong?” he asked, following me to the circular council table in the center of the room.“Nothing.”That was a lie.It was my 40th
For a moment, Chris was silent, his gaze intense as he searched my face. Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees, burying his face in my skirt. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close.“Goddess, I can’t wait to marry you,” he murmured, his voice muffled by the fabric.I smiled, run
AvaI dabbed the powder puff in one last spot above my nose and patted it in before snapping the little makeup compact shut. In the dim light surrounding my vanity mirror, my emerald green skirt and top combination caught the light in a way that made the silky fabric seem to ripple like water.“You
I saw a flicker of interest cross Fatima’s face at that.Chris seized the moment. “I urge you all to keep an open mind. Ophelia will be attending Paul’s welcoming ceremony tonight. I encourage you to speak with her, get to know her. Perhaps you’ll enjoy her company as much as we do.”Bradley nodded
AvaThe silence that followed Chris’s announcement was deafening. I could practically hear the gears turning in each of the Elders’ heads as they processed his words. Bradley characteristically mussed up his red hair, Fatima and Claire exchanged wary glances, and Elise ground her jaw repeatedly.Fin
He let out a weary sigh, his head dropping forward for a moment before he reached up to cradle one of my hands against his chest, right over his pounding heart.“It’s just that… I just got you after all this time, Ava,” he said softly. “I don’t want to lose you now. Or ever.”His words made my arms







