When it gets to be nighttime, I take the kids up to their rooms, where after changing into their pajamas and brushing their teeth, settle into their beds for sleep. I tuck them in and read them a bedtime story one at a time, starting with Mia and then heading into Ethan’s room.Ethan, on the cusp of
Cara’s POVNoel continues to look at me with confusion and growing concern. “Cara, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?”“Was anyone at the door when you started to come up the sidewalk?” I ask him.“I don’t know, I’m sorry,” he says. “The flowers are kind of in the way.” He smiles a lit
What am I going to do? Invite Alaric in? After what happened last time, I don’t trust myself near Alaric, alone, at night. Especially when I’m so nervous. It would be so easy for him to offer me an embrace. It would be even easier for me to fall into it and not want to leave.No. Right now, I need s
Alaric’s POVColin just stares at me, which only adds to my worry, which makes me frustrated as well.“If I need to protect Cara, I’d like to know what from,” I say, pressing.Colin presses his lips hard together. Then, finally, he speaks, “We don’t know. I’ve conferred with Eamon on this already th
Alaric’s POVIn my rush to save Cara, I didn’t see the attacker, only the knife. That is my greatest regret in this situation, especially as I lean up to give Cara a once-over, making sure she is unharmed. She’s healthy, but trembling, likely afraid.Who wouldn’t be, when they just had a knife flyin
The wound needs tending anyway. I can’t deny the thought of Cara being the one to nurse me fills me with warmth.“Okay,” I tell her, and let her lead me to the bathroom.Eamon’s POVHearing the report of my sister’s attack, I jump to my feet. How could this be? How could security be so lax around he
Cara’s POVI’m going to kiss Alaric. Out of relief, out of gratitude, and because I want to. I’m almost entranced, in a daze with how much I want to press my lips to his.Yet, with only a sliver between us, my phone starts to ring and I pause.The ringer is loud from my pocket, and it works as somet
Together, Alaric and I head back to the living room. I feel useless again, and rub my hands together in agitation and worry.Maybe I should make some coffee? But I already feel like I could buzz right out of my skin. I don’t think adding caffeine to the mix would help anything. In fact, it would pro
Cara’s POVBack under the pavilion for another break before the next contest, I sat at one of the picnic tables with my arms stretched out and ice packs over my aching muscles.“There’s no reason for you to participate in the final event,” Charlotte said to me, echoing previous warnings made by both
Cara’s POVThe day was filled with contests with very little time to break in between. As such, I wasn’t able to talk with Alaric, my brothers, or Noel. Instead, though, I filled in the Claw Sisters and Georgie on what occurred.“A secret stabbing is so cowardly,” Charlotte said. “If she had any hon
Cara’s POVAt once, I moved my arm up to shield myself, desperate to protect my vital organs.Yet, when the knife stabbed into me, I surprised to find that the blade pushed back, harmlessly, into the handle. I’d seen such a thing happen in the past, during stage shows. Her knife was nothing more tha
Alaric’s POVWith Colin watching the kids, Ryan, Aidan, and I went to spectate the cooking event. The event itself was being held in a large gymnasium, with special mats set up to protect the typical gym floor. Atop the mats, each contender was given their own section, with their own counters, appli
Cara’s POVThe next day I was somewhat exhausted from the event on the night before. The organizers of the event must have taken that into consideration because today was the last day of rest before the contests started the next day.The cooking showcase was my first event, and I was already nervous
Alaric’s POVI was ready to start throwing hands a minute ago, but now, seeing how quickly and resolutely the BloodyMoon pack came to Cara’s defense, I allowed myself to calm down, at least enough to sit back down and contain myself.My fury at those that had spoken against Cara remained, however, a
Cara’s POVAs we started to move about the stage, following the steps of our routine, I kept an eye on Lilia and her can of paint. I had my suspicions that it was intended for me. At a crucial moment, when we were at the front of the stage, the routine would bring us directly side by side.Perhaps t
Cara’s POVGeorgie asked me to return to my dressing room, where she arrived shortly after carrying the gown that she was supposed to be wearing that evening. On herself, she was wearing a robe.Looking at my own dress still filled me with a sense of mourning. It had been such a beautiful thing, des
None of them seemed even remotely guilty. They were all entirely confident, I could see it in their eyes.Only Lilia wore a different expression. When no one else could see her but me, she seemed smug, smirking. She pointed to a nearby camera.“I’ve been on camera this entire time, too, if you don’t