Mag-log inARIEL ARIEL The estate came into view like a promise.I pressed my forehead against the car window, watching the familiar stone walls rise out of the darkness. The windows were lit with warm golden light. Smoke curled from the chimneys. Somewhere inside, Evie was waiting for me.I hadn't let myself think about her during the drive. Hadn't let myself imagine what it would be like to hold her again, to hear her voice, to feel her small arms around my neck. I couldn't. It was all too much to think about. But now we were here. And she was inside.The car had barely stopped before I was out of the door.I heard her before I saw her, that small, delighted shriek that always made my heart ache. Then she was running across the foyer, her hair flying behind her, her arms outstretched."Mama!"I dropped to my knees. She crashed into me, her small body colliding with mine, her arms wrapping around my neck. I held her so tight I was probably hurting her, but I couldn't let go."Baby. My baby."
KAZIMIR I kissed her again.This time, there was no hesitation. Her hands found the buttons of my shirt, fumbling with them, her breath hot against my neck. I reached behind her, finding the zipper of her dress, and pulled it down slowly.She shivered as the fabric loosened. I pushed it off her shoulders, watching it fall, watching her emerge from it like a goddess from the sea.She stood before me in nothing but a thin slip of silk, her seductive curves and the swell of her breasts were hard to miss, especially when her nipples stood erect, her skin flushed, her eyes bright with wanting."Your turn," she whispered.She pulled my shirt over my head, her hands exploring my chest, my shoulders, my back. Her touch was electric, leaving trails of fire wherever she went.I lifted her, carried her to the bed. She wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me closer, her mouth finding my neck, my collarbone, my chest.I laid her down on the sheets.She looked up at me, her raven black hair s
KAZIMIR KAZIMIR The day ahead was full of politics, the final ceremony, the closing remarks, the endless handshakes and empty promises. But there was one thing I needed to do first.Marcus Volk had requested a private meeting after the breakfast ceremony.I found him in the library, standing by the fire, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked up when I entered, his face unreadable."Kazimir. Thank you for coming.""You said it was urgent.""It is." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."I sat.Marcus didn't immediately speak. He swirled his whiskey, stared into the flames, and seemed to be choosing his words carefully."I have a proposition for you," he said finally. "A business proposition. From an interested party.""Who?""I'm not at liberty to say that yet.” "Then I'm not interested."Marcus smiled. "I thought you might say that. Which is why I'm going to tell you enough to pique your interest, but not enough to satisfy your curiosity."I leaned back in my chair. "
ARIEL I woke to warmth.Not the cold of the mountain estate. Not the chill of the stone walls or the draft from the window. Something else. Something that pressed against my back and wrapped around my waist and breathed slow and even against my hair.I opened my eyes.The room was still dark, gray light filtering through the curtains, the fire burned down to embers. I was in the bed. The massive, canopied bed that I'd refused to share with him.But I was sharing it now.Kazimir's arm was draped across my waist, his body curved around mine, his chest pressed against my back. His face was buried in my hair, his breathing deep and steady. He was still asleep.I should have pulled away.I should have shoved him off, reminded him of all the reasons this was wrong, retreated to my side of the bed and built my walls back up.I didn't move.I lay there, frozen, feeling the rise and fall of his chest against my back. Feeling the weight of his arm, the warmth of his breath, the steady thrum of
ARIEL My heart stopped. "What?""The suppressants, they won't last forever. They were always meant to be a temporary solution. Without proper treatment, she won't live to see her next birthday. That is the simple fact.” "You're lying.""I'm not. And you know I'm not." He reached into his jacket, pulled out a small case. Opened it. Vials. Pale blue liquid. Dozens of them, lying there like they weren’t the one thing I needed to save my daughter. "I can help her. I have everything she needs. The medication, the research, the doctors. All you have to do is come back." "Never.""Ariel..." "I said never."He closed the case. Slipped it back into his jacket."You're making a huge mistake.""I'm not making anything. I'm surviving. The way I've always survived. Without you."Malhorn looked at me for a long moment. His eyes were sad. Almost."We still have your eggs," he said. "We never really stopped. Your presence isn't really needed. We can always find another wolf to be the surrogate.
ARIEL Every muscle in my body went rigid. Kazimir's hand was iron on my back."No," he said."I assure you, my intentions are purely social. It's kind of rude to have one dance partner for the rest of the night." "I said no."Malhorn's smile didn't waver. "Surely you can spare her for one dance. I promise I'll return her in one piece.""You can't even touch her, why would you want to dance with her?" The words hung in the air. Malhorn's smile flickered, just for a moment, just a crack in the mask.Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of gloves. Black silk. He pulled them on slowly, deliberately, one finger at a time."Now I can," he said.Kazimir stepped in front of me, blocking Malhorn from view. "You need to leave.""I'm not finished with my conversation.""You're finished.""Ariel." Malhorn's voice came from behind Kazimir's shoulder. "Tell your Alpha to behave. We wouldn't want to cause a scene."I found my voice. "Go away.""Ariel..." "I said go away."Malhor
ARIEL The drive back was silent. Not the comfortable kind of silent, it was the kind of silence that choked you. I stared out the window, watching the trees blur past, the pink diamond necklace still warm in its box on my lap. He'd bought me diamonds. Real Diamonds. As if that could undo wha
KAZIMIR "I can. Since you’d be living under my roof and doing my bidding you might as well dress the part.” "I'm not going to be doing your bidding, I’m not a possession." "I never said you were." "Then why are we here?" I didn't answer. I motioned to the saleswoman, who approached with
KAZIMIR "I can. Since you’d be living under my roof and doing my bidding you might as well dress the part.” "I'm not going to be doing your bidding, I’m not a possession." "I never said you were." "Then why are we here?" I didn't answer. I motioned to the saleswoman, who approached with
KAZIMIR KAZIMIR I stood outside her door for a long time. My hand was raised to knock. My blood was hot. The bug was with Dimitri, and the evidence was undeniable, she had broken into my study, violated my space, spied on me in my own home. I had every right to confront her. Every right to d







