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 woke up the next morning to the sensation of the warm sun hitting my cheek, although I was still blinking away the remnants of a strange dream. As my consciousness slowly returned, I remembered the events of last night—the banging cabinet, my brief moment of fear.Now, with the sun shining thr
AvaThe car rattled along the road, the only sound that of the wheels churning against the gravel. Chris, sitting beside me, gripped my hand tightly.“You okay?”I startled a bit at his touch, but nodded stiffly. Surrounding the car on all sides was a thick, oppressive fog that had rolled in not lon
Patricia nodded and shot me a knowing look. “Everything’s fine. I was just wishing Ava well.”Chris smiled. “I’m glad. And thank you, Patricia, for everything.”We said our final goodbyes, promising to keep each other updated on the blight, the infestation, and the growth of the seed. Just before we
AvaI woke up early the next morning, feeling refreshed despite the late night and what was perhaps a bit too much wine. Chris was already up, packing our bags and bustling around the room by the time I climbed out of bed.“Morning, sunshine,” he said with a grin, glancing over his shoulder as he st







