OpheliaThe morning after the dinner from hell I showered, dressed, and ran from the villa to make it to the Moonlight Lounge on time.I’d wasted precious minutes puffing on the last shred of Dark Matter I had, hiding behind the detached garage in a corner where the cameras couldn’t reach. Now, with my head swimming blissfully, I waltzed down the sidewalk pointedly ignoring the baby pink Corvette that trailed after me, driving at a whopping three miles per hour.“You’re being ridiculous!” Nova shouted, her voice carrying through the passenger window.I lifted my chin even higher. Goddess, she was a stubborn one.She let out a loud, overly dramatic sigh. “Fine! I’ll just keep following you. Our overlord has commanded me to train you today, so I have nowhere else to be.”I rolled my eyes, which was a bad idea because the entire world shifted, nearly causing me to stumble.“Well, our overlord needs to remember that unlike his royal self, some people have to work. And by some people, I me
OpheliaWe drove in silence to Nova’s house, which turned out to be a cream-colored villa just a few neighborhoods over.A sand-stone driveway, lined with neatly trimmed shrubs, circled the place. Pillars that gleamed beneath the setting sun stood in clusters around the patio, and within the villa itself. Gaping windows trimmed with gold showed a perfect view inside.Where Lucille’s place was cold and sterile, this one was brimming with warmth.Nova led me into her bedroom, which was easily the size of a modest apartment, and to a closet large enough to fit a pack of wolves.From the canopied bed that sat against the far wall to the throw pillows on top, each one shaped like a little candy heart, everything in Nova’s room was pink.“I know my style isn’t for everyone.” She said, her voice muffled since she’d vanished into her closet.Slowly spinning in a circle to drink it all in, I shook my head.“No, it’s nice.”I’d never been one of those girls who hated all thinks pink or girly. I
Ophelia“Well, this party went from fun to lame. Who let you in?”“It’s a beach.” I said flatly.The bartender slid a drink Kimberly’s way. It was a bright shade of violet, shimmering with flecks of swirling silver. As I looked closer, I noticed streaks of lightning within the liquid. They crackled against the rim of the glass, lighting up her drink from within.She smiled coyly at the guy. The snake tattoo slithering up his cheek rippled as he smiled back.I was too busy glaring at Kimberly to pay attention to the bottle of water he slid my way. Sneering, Kimberly plucked it up and shoved it at me. She stepped close, her scent—which consisted of expensive perfume and sunblock—invading my nostrils.“Listen good and well you attention seeking bitch. There isn’t a single person on this island who wants you here. Yes, our darling little coven needs you, but that’s it.” She snarled, “That is the full extent of your usefulness.”Her words were shards of glass digging into my flesh, but I w
OpheliaI blinked the tears from my eyes to find Ryker standing a few feet away. His eyes were molten silver, latched on my heaving chest and the sweat that speckled my breasts.He stormed up to me, his hair blown back from the wind.We were concealed by the darkness, far enough away from the torches for this moment to feel private.“What do you think you’re doing?” Slowly, his eyes trailed down my body, sliding over my flesh like cold water. If his stare felt this good—this euphoric—I couldn’t imagine how his touch would feel.I hadn’t realized my hand had been slowly climbing up my dress, veering towards the source of that painful heat. I forced my lips to move, forced the words to tumble free regardless of how embarrassing they were because I needed—Oh Goddess, I needed it.“Please, Ryker—” I gasped as my fingers brushed against the hem of my underwear. “I’m burning up. I’m burning up! It’s—It’s too much.”I could think of nothing else. Nothing but his hands on my body and his fing
JudeI walked away from Ophelia and my brother without so much as a glance back.The urge to murder had crawled beneath my skin and was now worming it’s way through my veins like a hoard of maggots. I pulled out my hunter’s knife and ran my thumb along the blade until it drew blood.So, Ophelia had seen Ryker. What did that matter to me?It didn’t.What caused the sudden onslaught of murderous inclinations must’ve been her treatment of poor Jameson. Watching his bones snap and twist had been the best fucking foreplay I’d ever experienced.A thing like that would get any guy worked up.That still didn’t explain why I felt so—so—annoyed? Aggravated? Irritable? I wasn’t sure what this particular emotion was called, but I didn’t like it.Too bad I couldn’t go back and finish the job. Believe me, I was severely fucking tempted, but Ryker would never (and I mean never) let me hear the end of it. With Jameson a member of his own coven, doing such a thing would start an all-out war.The only
OpheliaI stared out the window of Nova’s car, firmly trapped within my own mind.She was talking to me. I could feel her words ripple across my sensitive skin, but they faded long before they could reach my ears.Was this shock?I could feel every inch of my body, and yet I was neither hot nor cold. My mind floated in and out of oblivion, forcing me to relive the conversation I’d had with Ryker back on the beach.Jameson’s other coven members, which included Diana, Gemma, and Chloe, came to drag his writhing body away. I was horrified at the disappointment that surged through me as Ryker told me he would live.One of the males in Jameson’s coven was the bartender that had given me the bottle of water. I noticed the snake tattoo crawling up his throat, it’s beady eyes focused on my face.“They’ll retaliate for what you’ve done.” Ryker had said, his expression grim. “Joining our coven is now the only protection you’ll have. They won’t be able to hurt you once you join us. Now tell me e
OpheliaThe first thing Nova did as we entered the restaurant was plop a gargantuan binder in my hands.“This,” She tapped the cover, “has all the herbs and spell ingredients in a witches arsenal, along with their properties. Study it because I’ll be testing you on Friday.”I set the binder on one of the tables and quickly put the two of them to work.The food truck was coming today to drop off meat and fresh produce, which meant I had a long day ahead. Everything needed to be measured out, labeled, and dated for opening day. Come tomorrow the chefs would arrive expecting a fully stocked, functional kitchen to begin their prep.While we worked, Nova and Sterling plied me with lecture after lecture on magic.“Spells are a specific application of magic. They usually require some form of incantation and ingredients. The outcome can also depend on the time of day it’s performed. I’ll get you some more worksheets on the lunar cycles and how they affect magic.” Nova explained as she carted
OpheliaNot that it mattered, but I half expected Ryker to tell me to turn my ass around and get back to my lessons. The last thing I anticipated was hearing his smoky, accented voice roll through my mind.“The door is unlocked.”So lost in my anger, I hadn’t bothered to check my phone to see how long of a walk it was to his place. Half an hour later I was dripping in sweat.I had just reached the end of the gated neighborhood where his villa sat, looming over the town like a palace comprised of pale stone, sharp balconies, and reflective windows. A gentle breeze kicked up, and as I basked in it a trickle of tart cherries hit my nose, faint yet noticeable.I froze, cursing myself because I hadn’t thought to bring the scent blocker with me when I left the restaurant.Setting my jaw, I decided I had no choice but to go inside and hope my scent was too weak for the bond to solidify. If I turned back now, I’d lose hold of the anger that drove me here in the first place.The inside of Ryke