LOGIN“Do you remember what he looked like?”“It’s all a blur. Sorry.”I nodded slowly, looking around again. I spotted Max on the other side of the yard, returning to his work with a group of other males.“What’s the labor for?” I asked. “Are we building something?”“We think it’s for an army. The stone
Natalia’s POVBy the end of the first hour, my shoulders were burning and my palms had gone from sore to numb. The rock I’d been assigned to break with a heavy pickaxe was dense and black, and I was expected to break it into small pieces, then place them on a large wagon. One of those awful gray thi
A pair of figures crossed our path as we walked across the roadway. We fell into step behind them naturally, matching their pace. Neither of them looked back.The water trough was near the center of the settlement. I spotted a short line of people standing in front of it. It wasn’t running water, bu
Natalia’s POVI jerked awake with a gasp.The red sky was the same as it always was. Max was curled on his side a few feet away, still asleep, his chest rising and falling slowly. Nothing had moved. Nothing had changed.I pressed my hand flat against the ground and steadied my breathing.The vision
Natalia’s POVThe report came back the following morning. I’d hardly slept that night, which was strange for me; usually, sleep came quickly and efficiently, serving purely as a means to regain my energy for another day of hard work.But last night, I kept tossing and turning. That pull in my chest
“It’s no use!” I heard her voice call after me. “He’s already gone, you stupid bitch! He’s not who you think he is anymore! You’ll all die here!”Her words struck me somewhere deep and painful, but I kept running. We didn’t stop until the hovel was well out of sight. Only then, once we were certain
Andrei and Lilith were already seated in the living room when I arrived. Andrei was wearing a crisp white button-down shirt that made his tan skin look even darker, while Lilith was dressed in a sleek golden slip dress that matched her eyes—eyes that followed me like a hawk as I entered the room.“S
“Brother,” Andrei greeted Damon with a nod. His eyes slid to me, lingering for just a moment too long. “Natalia.”I could see the memory of our night together in his gaze, but his face revealed nothing. Good. At least he was keeping his promise not to tell anyone.“No need for pleasantries,” Damon g
Natalia“Going for a run!” I called out.Damon barely glanced up from where he was hunched over paperwork at the kitchen table. “Be careful.”I nodded, slipping out the door before he could ask any questions. I hated lying to him, but what choice did I have? I couldn’t exactly tell him I was seeking
Natalia“Max? Jane? Can you come say hi to Mommy?”Grace’s hair filled my laptop screen as she turned away to call for the twins. I heard small voices in the background, but when Grace moved the camera, I saw only the back of Jane’s head as she disappeared around a corner.“They’re still upset,” Gra







