Masuk“Grieving.”Ivy blinked. “What does that mean?”“It’s… What I did for your mom.” His throat tightened. “What I did for you for a while, too.”“That doesn’t really make sense.”“It won’t,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. This time, she didn’t flinch away, which came as a relief. “Not until
Kade’s POVKade, Tyler, and the others didn’t return to Nightshade for two days after they left Elena behind.Each step of the way, Kade considered turning back for her. Multiple times, he had considered marching back there and scooping her up into his arms and forcing her to return with him, even k
Eventually, the floor was as clean as it would get given the circumstances. I dumped the muddy-looking water out into the pond, then scrubbed my hands, arms, and face in the sink.Exhaustion took over me by then. I flopped onto the rickety cot without thinking twice and slept.When I woke the next m
Elena’s POVI must have sat in that spot on the porch for hours. Hell, it could have been days, and I might not have even noticed.The passage of time lost all meaning. The sun rose, turning the swamp hot and fetid with the scents of still water and rotting wood. The sun reached its zenith and the f
Kade walked up to her. He didn’t sit. He got the sense that she didn’t want that. Instead, he just let her stare at Ivy. Then down at her hands. Then at Ivy again.“It’s not your fault,” he said after a long moment.Elena didn’t answer. She just blinked, then looked back out over the swamp.Just the
Kade’s POVThe shack was quiet except for Nellie, who was making a small, whimpering sound from her chair. Kade looked at her once, then looked away.Wordlessly, Elena crossed the room and dropped to her knees beside Lana. She gathered her up, both arms pulling her close, and rocked her friend back
Serena’s POVThe moment Serena realized who “Elena” truly was, everything snapped into place like a twisted puzzle. All of the moments of uncertainty, the resemblances, the obvious bitterness in “Elena’s” eyes… It all made sense now. How couldn’t Serena have realized it sooner?Samantha, Serena’s de
Elena’s POVI managed to catch Kade coming out of Ivy’s nursery later that day. He looked pale and drawn and more tired than I had last seen him, and he was so out of it that he nearly walked right into me.“Kade!” I said, grabbing his arm. “I heard about Ivy. Can I see her—”“Not right now.” Kade p
Tyler’s POV“Focus, Tyler! Guard your left!”The morning sun hadn’t even come up yet when the slam of the wooden training sword sent Tyler sprawling across the ground. The sand of the sparring ring filled his mouth, forcing him to cough and sputter as he pushed himself to his knees.Melvin stood ov
Tyler’s POVElena was rushed straight to the healers. The rest was a blur—people rushing around, bloody bandages thrown into piles on the floor, and all the while, Elena’s face remained pale and still.Samson paced the infirmary, refusing to sit still. Tyler was so exhausted that he couldn’t stay st







