MasukKaelen POVI roared, crashing my fist into the fucker that Kevin and Aya were holding down. My punches broke bones and tore his flesh until he was unrecognizable, and I was coated in a new layer of blood. They released him and he remained still, his emotions long since vanished along with his life.One less 5th Circle asshole to deal with. I grunted with satisfaction, which was short-lived as I once again narrowed my eyes in suspicion. Someone had set us up. My first guess: this was the enchantress’s doing. We never should have trusted that bitch. Yet, I found her fighting between her men, Damian and Andre, her pink wings smattered with blood. My certainty that she was our traitor faltered.Which left me with my second suspect—Claire. She was born and raised among these fuckers, brainwashed from birth. I’d always found it doubtful she could have so easily betrayed all her family and friends. Sure, all the evidence pointed to her sacrificing everything for Elara’s sake, but what kind o
Elara'S POVThe sun rose higher in the sky on solstice morning, beaming down on us as we gathered in the courtyard. Attacking 5th Circle in broad daylight made me feel exposed, but it was our best chance of catching all the dark witch leaders in one place at one time.I spotted Claire in the crowd and made my way toward her.“Be careful today.”“You, too. And don’t worry about me. I made some sarcastic comment along the lines of if I survive today, I’d suck Ash’s dick. He believed me. Now he’s threatening to hold me to it.”She smirked and shrugged.I shook my head in amusement.“See you on the other side.”“Deal.”Claire wandered over to where the Sinful Saints were getting ready to ride into Seattle. They were supposed to surround the building and cut off the exits.After a whole lot of arguing yesterday in the boardroom, we’d slightly altered our entrance plans. The Sinful Saints would surround the building and wait to catch anyone who tried to drive out of there. Claire was going
Elara'S POVA light rap sounded on the bedroom door, and with an irritated groan, Lysander went to answer it. I peeked up from where I lay nestled between Kaelen and Xavier to find Jace in the doorway. He wouldn’t disturb us unless it was important.Lysander closed the door and came to stand beside the bed.“Vee’s here. She and her two men are waiting for us in the great hall. Get dressed.”“They’re going to have to wait a few minutes,” I said as I untangled myself from my lovers’ limbs and realized that I was sticky and reeked of sex. “I’m taking a shower.”I made it as far as turning on the water before three large bodies pushed into the huge, four-headed shower along with me. I let my gaze linger over their wet, glistening skin. Too bad we had company waiting on us.“If you keep looking at me like that, sweetness, we’ll be in here for a good hour.”Xavier’s eyes burned a trail of lust down my body. Fuck yeah—I meant, no, not right now.Rinsing off, I smirked.“Last one out is a rot
Elara'S POVGrey clapped Gunner on the shoulder.“You two finished with your wolf business?”“Yes, sir,” Gunner said.“Did you all fight each other?” I asked. “I mean, to determine who was more alpha than the other alphas?”A burly female who I recalled was a wolf and bear shifter piped up, “Of course we did. Still do at times. You can’t have a pack without knowing who the boss is among your own kind.”I guess that made sense.“Just for the record, I’m not part of your pack, and you don’t belong to me.”One of the other hybrids laughed.“That wasn’t a formal fight for leadership. The gunner here just can’t pass up a chance to tangle with another wolf.”Gunner growled at the guy who’d spoken. I remembered he was part Fae and vampire. The guy flipped off Gunner with a chuckle.“What the ever-loving fuck is going on here?”Lysander’s voice boomed across the courtyard.Ah shit.He took one look at my nakedness and Gunner’s blood-stained skin, and his eyes flashed with danger.I stepped in
Elara'S POV“How does that even work?” I asked Grey. “I mean, only extremely powerful and talented witches can use magic without a wand. And even then, it’s limited.”We stood out in the courtyard where Samuel used to teach me dark magic. All the Sinful Saints members were clustered in small groups, watching and listening. They were as curious about my hybrid abilities as I was about theirs, and I’d shown them my half-shift.“It takes practice, like anything you want to be good at.”Grey lifted his index finger.“This is as powerful as any wand. Hybrids, for some reason, are often more gifted than other supernaturals. I haven’t met one yet who was subpar. But you have to believe in yourself and practice your skills. Start small and build up.”He snapped his fingers and produced a flame, then he murmured and flicked his wrist. The flame grew into a fireball as it shot across the courtyard. Shadow stepped in front of it and the fire dissolved against his shimmery blue protective shield.
Kaelen POVElara’s expression held doubt, but the emotions coming from her were curiosity and excitement. I felt the same way. This was going to be interesting. We knew how much she liked to be watched; now we were going to give her what she wanted, in our own way.Xavier and I carried over two armchairs from the sitting area and placed them near the foot of the bed. Elara watched, a thread of apprehension thrumming into my chest. Her emotions spiked when Xavier plopped a black leather bag down beside his chair. For the tenth time, I wondered what was in it.“Who goes first?” I rumbled.Lysander shot a gaze at Xavier.“Rock, paper, scissors?”“Sure.”Elara laughed.“Seriously, you guys?”“Seriously.”Lysander held out his hands.“On the count of three. One, two, three.”He and Xavier were both paper, while I’d gone for rock. I was out. The two of them faced off. This time, Lysander chose paper again, and Xavier beat him with scissors.The vampire scooped up his bag. Lysander took the







