LOGIN“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
And then it happened.It started as hiccups. Ivy spit up a mouthful of her milk, and Elena gently lifted her over her shoulder, patting her little back and whispering soothing words.Then the diarrhea began. It stank up the whole room like a dead animal, making Serena’s nose wrinkle with disgust, bu
Serena’s POVThe nerve of that woman!Serena was so furious she saw red as she stormed out of the house. The morning grass was cool and wet with dew, dampening the hem of her skirt, but she hardly noticed. She needed to get out.She needed to think.Serena had spent so many years planning for her fu
Elena’s POVMy heart lurched painfully at the healer’s words.“Illness?” I whispered.Ivy was ill? My daughter was sick? With what?Kade didn’t seem to hear me speak, and if he did, he ignored me outright. Lips pressed into a thin line, he quickly followed the healer into the hallway, leaving me mom
Elena’s POV“Wake up!”The sound of voices and a baby crying jolted me out of my stupor. The pounding in my head was incredible. I felt like I’d taken six shots of vodka before I passed out and eaten a mouthful of dirt from the cellar floor in my sleep. The last thing I recalled was… What happened?







