LOGINAiden's POVWe skid to a halt at the bottom of the castle steps and kick off our shoes and trousers. Dad and Greyson are there already. Baxter’s still not here, but I assume he’s on his way, or already wherever we’re heading.“Patrols identified rogues at the northern border, close to the last breach location. The Task Force have sent their Alpha unit to secure Thor’s cabin. Beta unit are heading to secure the castle.”Interesting. They’re sending their best to keep Thor safe, which is technically breaking protocol when the Crown Prince and the King are inside the castle, but I’m not going to point it out. Not when I’d do exactly the same.“We’re to go and hold the front line.”Dad looks us all in the eye, then turns and shifts into Neo. We all launch after him, skin ripping into fur, bones snapping, the last of our clothing shredding.Ajax races through the trees, Jace and Milo on our flank. To our left, Neo is flanked by Gus. We run hard, heading up the slope through the trees and s
Aiden's POVI try really hard to keep my sigh and eye roll internal, but I’m not sure I’m successful. Ajax sniggers in the back of my mind as we watch Kirsten damn near coerce Felix into giving her own way again.Felix wanted to keep the whole ceremony low-key, sophisticated, and elegant, fitting with his mother’s style. The understated opulence of old money and… well, taste. Kirsten, it seems, wouldn’t know tasteful if it smacked her in the fucking ass.She wants gaudy, flashy, and in your face. Queen Sophie abandoned helping before she screamed in her new daughter-in-law’s face, so Kirsten and her mother have been left with free rein, and it’s terrifying. Apart from anything else, no one seems to be reminding them of the budget. They seem to think the crown’s pockets are limitless, never mind that we’re in the middle of a kingdom-wide war with the rogues and dealing with riots and unrest breaking out left, right, and centre.No, Kirsten wants a grand ball with every Alpha and unit f
Tobias's POVEverything hurts.The light. The fabric against my skin. The hard press of the gurney beneath my back.I struggled not to cry out just now, when Edwardo and Henry lift me out of the helicopter. The blades are still cutting through the air behind us, the wind whipping across the roof, and the sound is deafening. It grates through my skull, sharp enough to make my teeth ache.I keep my eyes closed because even the cloudy daylight is too bright to tolerate.I have no idea what’s going on.Linc said it’s been six months, but that doesn’t feel right. It feels like weeks. Maybe only days. I remember seeing Lincoln in a cabin, watching him work from time to time, but not months. Not six whole months.A flash of memory dredges us from my brain, Claws clacking against wooden floorboards. The scent of wood smoke and coffee. Lincoln’s voice, low and tired, muttering to himself then another, flash, Lincoln murmuring in his sleep as he tossed and turned on the bed. And I remember, jas
Edwardo's POVWhatever he sees on my face has him nodding instantly, his eyes glazing over.'Henry, meet me outside the front of the manor. Now. Bring two sets of warrior clothes.'I cut the link before he can reply.'Sampson and Hillier, report to the front of the manor immediately.'I link the two warriors who have been assisting on the recovery project. They were part of the team, when we found Thor and the girls, so keeping them involved in the recovery process was easier than bringing anyone else in.Then I head out.Henry is waiting for me by the front doors of the manor, holding a pile of neatly folded clothes he’s clearly swiped from the laundry cupboard on the way. He doesn’t question me, just waits patiently.“Get in,” I say, indicating one of the RTVs parked at the front of the manor.Sampson and Hillier arrive a moment later, saluting as they reach me.“In,” I bark.They pile into the rear-facing seats as I slide into the driver’s side next to Henry. I turn around and spee
Edwardo's POVBaxter stiffens, his eyes clouding over in a mind link. I wait for him to finish before we continue our inspection, and I’m about to comment to Blake on the slight build of one of the warriors disembarking from the truck when Baxter grabs my arm.“Possible rogue sighting in the woods north of the cabin.”“Shit,” I grit out.Baxter is linking again, and I notice several warriors on the field stiffen as they receive communications.'Alpha team, rogue sightings in the woods north of the castle. Establish a secure perimeter around the cabin. Warriors inbound to search and destroy,' I send through the link.'Beta team, set up a perimeter around the castle. More warriors inbound.'I start running, Baxter and Blake at my side. We reach the truck as the last recruit unloads, and Baxter practically pulls the driver from his seat before jumping in behind the wheel.“The castle is in lockdown, but we have to secure Thor. They seem to be after him.”“I’ve sent the Alpha unit to secu
Edwardo's POVIt’s ten miles over to the new base. My feet pound and my lungs burn, and I become very quickly aware of how much I’ve neglected my training over the last few months.Goddess, this is hard.Blake snickers from time to time beside me, and if I wasn’t so out of breath, I’d absolutely try to trip him.As we approach, the scent of new paint and freshly cut pine is strong in the air.The new compound opens up ahead of us, the large, U-shaped barracks buildings stretching out in a line, each with a central courtyard in the middle. Three of them so far. The training ground sits in front of them, and a high fence spans the entire perimeter, watchtowers spaced evenly around it.'It looks like a damn prison,' Metis remarks, and I have to admit, he’s right.“Fucking hell, it’s austere,” I comment, my breath seesawing as we stop in front of the gates.“Secure is what we went for.”Yes, I can see that.“Are we more worried about them getting out, or rogues getting in?” I quip, my eye
Zahra's POVWe’re up next, and we step into the sparring circle together.I watch the group observing turn away from us and over to the other two rings, where the men are sparring. Of course, they do. Like we’re background noise.Morgan chuckles. “Ignorant bastards don’t know what’s about to hit th
Lincoln's POVI try very hard to keep my mouth closed as the royal butler leads me through the castle. I’ve been here before, but never to the private residences upstairs. The opulence is staggering. The luxurious rug I’m walking on is so plush, and exquisitely embroidered. The tapestries on the wal
Lincoln's POVWe chatter some more, keeping things light, drinking more beer. The tension in my chest eases bit by bit. The warmth isn’t just the alcohol. It’s being here. With him. The quiet. The lack of expectation.There’s a knock on the door I entered through, and Tobias calls for them to come
Edwardo's POV“We have eleven warriors who have been unable to complete stage one, and the captains feel they won’t this time round, if ever,” Blake says as we run through the early morning mist rising off the ground through the woods.I grunt in reply. The course results have been mixed this year.







