LOGINHe loved those boys like they were carved from his own chest.But this.This was different in a way he hadn't prepared for.And it was terrifying."Hey." Reigh's voice came quieter this time.Taide slowed."Come sit down.""I can't.""Then stop walking and stand still for a minute. You're making me
The waiting room on the ground floor of the palace had never felt smaller.Taide had been pacing it for forty-seven minutes. He knew, because he'd checked his watch every three of them."Taide.""I'm fine.""I didn't say anything," Reigh said flatly, from the cushioned bench by the window. He had on
BONUS CHAPTER 4.CHARLOTTEDinner was chaotic, fun, and full of joy.The exact way I loved it.The table stretched full with food, plates being passed back and forth, voices overlapping. Ethaniel was in the middle of telling one of his ridiculous stories about trying to fix a fence on his property.
BONUS CHAPTER 3.CHARLOTTECaeson and I were sprawled out in bed, both of us catching our breath.His skin was hot against mine, his chest damp with sweat. I trailed my fingers down the lines of his stomach, letting them settle against the dip of his abs. Just touching him made me feel warm again.I
That’s when I felt it—a small, stiff shape tucked into his breast pocket. I frowned, sliding my hand in and pulling it free.Out came a tiny blue bib.My lips parted in a gasp. “You went to see Nato before me?”Caeson’s grin widened. He snatched the bib from my fingers and shoved it back into his po
BONUS CHAPTER 2.CHARLOTTE“Who else is coming?” I asked Taide over the phone.“Ethan, Tris,” he said. “I’m not sure when they’ll arrive, but I'll come in with Dot and Sean.”“Vance isn’t coming?”“Oh yeah, he is,” Taide replied.“Is he bringing his mom? And Eric?”Taide was silent.I rolled my eyes
My eyes shifted to Vance weakly.His eyes were hard, but that was it.I couldn’t read anything else.I blinked slowly, heavily.Reigh’s voice was low, steady. “Get her out of here.”He was talking to his brother.Caeson didn’t hesitate. He lifted me into his arms, cradling me carefully as he carried
CHARLOTTE“Sitting by his bedside isn’t going to make him heal any quicker.”Reigh’s words slammed into my head softly as I closed Taide’s bedroom door.I glanced to my left, seeing him leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest as he watched me.“You don’t know that,” I muttered
CHARLOTTEThe council had given us a listening ear.Who knew things after that would be more than what we asked for?For the first time since the nightmare of graduation, since the yacht, since the truth had torn its way through my world like an unforgiving storm—someone had listened.A whole bunch
Now none of them were looking at me.Except Caeson.His eyes bore right into mine.“I still have all those feelings,” I whispered.Taide slowly lifted his head, then asked tentatively, “All what feelings?”“Before Graduation.”His eyes softened, and his jaw tightened, like he was restraining himself







