Violet’s POV“Render.”The word echoed all around me in a red room I didn’t recognize.“Render, render, render.”The word grew louder, the red haze around me clearing until my father’s face came into view, young and healthy, decades before he became ill.And I realized it was a dream.“Render her ma
Kincaid burst through my bedroom door, recognizing the urgency in my call for him enough to not bother knocking first. He surveyed me, scanning me for injuries, before his gaze fell over the flowers. “What the…?”“I’m unharmed, but I don’t know how all these flowers got here, or if the person who pu
Theodore’s POVIt was a little pathetic. I was a little pathetic. But if I was being honest, I was more than willing to be even more pathetic for Violet.For now, I was staring at the paper in the kitchen, not reading at all while I pathetically listened for the doorbell. Bennett’s grocery deliverie
I shut down that thought as I reached for the aloof asshole I had played so well all my life.“Maybe these deliveries need to be packed in sturdier boxes,” I accused loudly enough to cover my ass.Thankfully, Bennett played along. “Of course, Alpha Nightshade. That’s my fault.”I calmed my tone. “It
Theodore’s POVThey knew.Somehow Owen’s spies had made it all the way out here, had found my one place where I could be truly at peace, and had come here to ambush me.I had just seen Riley open the door for Bennett, but what about the other three? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen them, a
Violet’s POVFor the first time in my life, I’m frozen in fear.I’ve always been adaptable, an expert even in navigating change. It’s a part of life no one can avoid, so I learned very young that the quickest path forward was to accept change. In the werewolf world, dwelling on the reality before a
Theo soothed small circles over my back. “Well, at least one of you has magic because…”…this is the bond, right? He finished in my mind.Still a little uncomfortable with the bond I somehow created, I only nodded my head instead of responding in his. I clenched his shirt in my hands at another wave
Theodore’s POVI’m not leaving until I know you’re safe.Violet’s voice in my head kept me calm as I hid the sound of her door closing with the opening of the one in my hand.Keep your eyes peeled back there. There could be more of them out back.The door swung open before me, and my Beta came into
I dropped the trowel and frying pan next to the baseball and bat, shaking my head at this makeshift arsenal. “My baby is already too smart for its own good.”Bennett opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted when we were distracted by Theo suddenly vanishing into thin air. My cousin and I
Violet’s POV“Just try.”It didn’t matter how many times I explained to Bennett that Auntie had said the baby’s magic would sway my magic toward more innocent manifestations. He wasn’t convinced.Theo was on the other side of Marcy’s backyard, fists clenched, gaze unfocused, as he tried to complete
Theodore’s POVI was searching the archives’ computer for anything related to forehead bands when my phone rang. My phone screen showed, “Aunt Lillith”. Adding her to my contacts with the title of “aunt” was partially an affectionate and respectful decision, but mostly it was to avoid Eva’s wrath in
Violet’s POVPart of me wondered it not worrying Theo was an excuse. If the years with Lucas not being the partner I needed had subconsciously trained me to stay independent. To never lean on anyone, even temporarily, because they couldn’t be trusted to hold me up. Even still, Theo was right. So I
We pulled out of our kiss, my head dizzy with love and hope. We would find the answers we needed. We would find a future together.“You said there were answers to four questions.” I looked between the two of them, tallying the three they’d already shared. “What’s the fourth?”Violet thought for a mo
Theodore’s POV“Alari, please wake up!”I held Violet’s head in my lap, her jaw terrifyingly slack. I dared a glance at the High Priestess who had collapsed in a heap at the same time that Violet’s body had gone completely limp. “High Priestess?!”This wasn’t happening.I reached for my phone, thank
Theodore’s POVIn one breath, the love of my life laying still in the grass let out a gut-wrenching scream and the High Priestess dropped to her knees. I lunged for my wife but was thrown back by an invisible force. When I pulled myself upright, the High Priestess had a hand outstretched, clearly us
Auntie folded her hands in front of her. “Altrosis is an attempt to control magic enough to pin it down and examine it. One could more easily pin down the wind.”As if to illustrate her point, a cool breeze swept through the clearing, though not a hair on Auntie’s head swayed in its drift.“Magic is
Violet’s POVThe jungle outside the village my family lived in was beautiful. It was lush and alive, humming with magic like the air itself was breathing. I had only visited this village and its surrounding area a few times in my life, but I’d always made time to come stand among the ferns and frond