MasukChris 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
I snorted. “No. Never.”I was about to catch up to him when my foot caught on a hidden root. I stumbled, crying out as my ankle twisted painfully beneath me. Chris was at my side in an instant, crouching down to where I had fallen to my knees in the dirt.No, not dirt—mud. My pack, heavy, tipped me
AvaAfter hours of driving with no end in sight, the caravan finally pulled into a small roadside shop for a much-needed rest. I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from the long drive. Chris opened the door for me, and I stepped out, breathing in the fresh air.“We’ll take a short break
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I remembered my mother’s illness, how quickly it had taken her. Just two weeks after she had been diagnosed, she was gone. “I didn’t know... I had no idea it was because of that spirit.”Zara placed a weathered hand on my shoulder. “Your mother was a h
AvaI blinked, my vision slowly coming back into focus. I was no longer in my childhood bedroom, but rather in Moonshine Manor; the parlor ceiling swam above me, and I realized I was lying on the floor. No fog anywhere to be found—just Chris’s face appearing in my line of sight, his brow furrowed wi







