MasukThe violet blaze that danced through her fur flared slightly at the contact. It did not burn. It did not sear. Instead, the light folded into him. Threads of violet slipped seamlessly into the black of his coat, blending rather than clashing. The energy softened against him, wrapping around him
Then Kaelani suddenly pulled back and without explanation, she grabbed his hand and started leading him across the hillside toward a massive tree rooted near the edge of the slope. Kaelani glanced around once, then reached for the hem of her shirt. Julian’s brows shot up. “You know damn well I’d
Her voice softened. “It’s beautiful.” There was a brief pause. “And I would like to see it again,” she added carefully, meeting his eyes. “With you.” Julian grew quiet, the tension rolling off him in a steady wave, and Kaelani felt every ounce of it through the bond. After a moment, he asked qu
Kaelani and Julian walked hand in hand through the grand promenade that led toward the Seelie palace, its marble pathways winding between cascading fountains and archways woven with living vines. Sunlight poured over the city in soft gold, catching in crystalline spires and dancing across balconies
When they returned to the Blackthorn packhouse, Julian expected to find his mother in one of her usual places—the sunroom overlooking the gardens, or the small sitting alcove near the east corridor where she liked to read. She wasn’t there. He checked the parlor. The dining hall. Nothing. A fai
Julian sat at the kitchen table, tension still visible in the tight line of his shoulders as Kaelani moved at the counter, finishing the last touches on their breakfast. “I would have ripped his head clean off his shoulders,” he said quietly, though there was nothing casual about the way he said it
The way Draevyn approached Lyressa had been… disarming. Not arrogant. Not swaggering the way some Unseelie warriors carried themselves when they stepped into Seelie territory. Draevyn moved with quiet confidence—measured, deliberate steps across the throne room floor. His storm-gray eyes lifted t
“What you’re wearing is fine,” he said simply. “It’s only fabric.” He stepped closer and extended his hand toward her. For a moment Kaelani hesitated—not out of reluctance, but out of the strange flutter building in her chest. Then she slipped off her sandals and placed her hand in his. His finge
They bolted. Branches whipped at Julian’s face as they tore through the undergrowth, boots pounding over roots and stone. The forest exploded into motion behind them. The sentinel charged. Fast—far too fast. Its footsteps weren’t heavy; they were wrong, a rapid skittering thud that gained ground
A shape shifted behind the leaves. Tall. Too tall. Its outline warped as it moved, stretching unnaturally, as if the shadows themselves were trying to stand upright. The whispers spiked, overlapping into something almost gleeful. Julian took a step forward. “Jace—wait—” The shape lunged. Jace







