LOGINEvelynAs Alexander and I finally take one step after another down the hallway toward our Luna Ceremony, I’m overcome with emotion.This isn’t my first Luna Ceremony. That one was interrupted by Lucas leaving me for my best friend who he believed at the time was carrying his pup. That day ended with
“What?” he asks.I glance over my shoulder at my mom and Emma. They nod me on encouragingly.“We had an idea,” I tell him.He cocks his head playfully. “I thought it was David’s idea.”I smile. “Not the werewolf residence in the Royal City,” I clarify. Alexander responded quite neutrally to the conc
Evelyn“I think it’s a marvelous idea,” I say, only half-examining myself in the mirror. Mostly, I’m watching Emma’s face as she applies my makeup.“It’s a bold one,” she concedes.“I like it, too,” Mom says from behind me where she’s putting wildflowers in my braided hair.“Really?” Emma and I say
Evelyn“I want to talk about something embarrassing and traumatic,” I say when I find David in the archives.He doesn’t look up from his book. “Your sense of humor?” he teases.His joke does its job, and I smile. He looks up then, making sure his words had their intended effect. Our gazes meet, and
EvelynWhen I wake up the next morning, I want to cry at the sight of Alexander sleeping peacefully next to me. Any amount of time spent thinking I might never see him again is too much, and I’m still just so relieved I didn’t die falling off that cliff.That Lucas didn’t kill me for trying to escap
“A brace!” I cheer enthusiastically. “That’s so much better than the cast.”I turn toward Alexander, grinning. He looks equally as happy for me. Then his look turns reverent.“This is what we do,” he tells me. “Our mate bond heals us, and I know it will heal our kingdom, too. That’s why we should ha
EvelynEmma gives me one of the four spare bedrooms on her floor, one of the rooms I didn’t have time to explore when she was with Alexander. It has a balcony that opens up to the gardens. With some sort of rope, I could climb down it without anyone knowing.Except that the King’s palace is encircle
AlexanderI straighten the cuff of my suit as I scan the crowded hall. I’ve barely had the patience to chat with a few ministers tonight. More recently, people have begun to approach me only to not-so-discreetly change course upon noticing my grave demeanor.I’m not actively trying to scare people o
Before I can badger her about what that’s supposed to mean, she adds, “Let her stay on my floor for a while. Let her feel like she has somewhere to go and someone to go to other than you in this room so that when she does come back to you, there is some semblance of it feeling like a choice for her.
Alexander“Your Highness!” Minister Coltain greets me cheerily as I approach him and Sophia, but both his eyes and his thoughts betray his worry. “My daughter says you were looking for us?”“Indeed. Please follow me.” I lead them discreetly to the side-door nearby, using the master key in my pocket







