LOGINThe crowd continued to applaud as Thea took one final bow before exiting the stage. The moment she was out of sight, Elijah grabbed my hand.“Come on,” he said, already pulling me toward the aisle. “Let’s get backstage before everyone else.”We made our way through the crowd, accepting congratulatio
AgnesEight years had passed by.The concert hall was packed to capacity, not a single empty seat in sight. My spine ached like hell from sitting on the hard wooden chair for the past two hours, and my pregnant belly made it impossible to find a comfortable position. Elijah kept rubbing his neck and
“Mom?” Thea’s voice called. “Everyone’s waiting. Are you ready?”I took one last look in the mirror, adjusted the mask slightly, and turned toward the door.“Ready,” I said, opening it to find my daughter standing there in a midnight blue dress that she had designed herself. Her own mask, shaped lik
AgnesOne year later.I stood in front of my mirror, hardly recognizing the woman staring back at me. Two years. It had been two years since I met Elijah—not counting that foggy night we conceived Thea seven years before that, a night neither of us could fully remember thanks to whatever drugs had b
Initially, I resisted. The thought of sharing my pain with a stranger when I had spent so many years being treated like a madwoman for my trauma scared the hell out of me. But Elijah was persistent, reminding me that we all carried burdens that were too heavy to bear alone.And so, twice a week, we
AgnesThe weeks following the destruction of the Lunaris Stone passed in a blur.Elemental Enterprises, of course, was immediately shut down by the authorities. Every known international law enforcement agency descended on Richard’s territory, working alongside Richard and us to document the crimes
“Sweetheart, we were just—” Elijah started.“I also heard you say that other kids could… die,” Thea cut him off. “Just like how James died. I don’t want that. So I want to help.”I felt tears prick at my eyes. My eight-year-old daughter had been listening to us plan to use her as bait, and instead o
Even though I could tell that all three of us were itching to continue the search immediately, reason prevailed. We carefully tucked the letter safely inside my backpack, and began the long hike back to Richard’s estate.Sure enough, the sun was setting by the time we reached Richard’s estate, casti
Then, the mating mark on Olivia’s neck began to glow. It started as a faint shimmer, barely visible, but quickly intensified until it was almost too bright to look at. Elijah’s mark glowed too. I held my breath.The wind grew stronger, the glow more intense. James and I both had to shield our eyes f
Olivia almost rolled her eyes. “Who exactly would I tell, Elijah? It’s not like I have a packed social calendar these days.” She glanced between us. “Besides, I’d like to not spend my life in prison. So at least until I’m free, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”“Thank you,” I said softly.Olivia b







