CereliaI imagine this is what being a tick feels like. Instead of blood, I’m a skin sac bloated with magic, right on the edge of bursting at the seams. Soren, Hilda, King Arlo and Percy are working on the pillar, handing the tatters of material they’re tearing loose to the soldiers waiting below.It’s taking a while, but lives are at stake and everyone’s being extra careful. The pods are very slowly getting closer to the ground around the perimeter of the chamber and I’m looking forward to the moment when I can release the power I’m hoarding.The relief of letting go is profound and I watch in relief as the magic races back to where it came from. The power is more than the weakened structure can contain and everyone scatters when it crumbles to dust, sending molecules of magic draining into the earthen floor.“It’s like walking on a carpet made exclusively from static electricity,” Hilda says, grinning at the way everyone’s hair is standing up and floating around their heads. I hope
Soren“Thank you for guarding me so fiercely today,” Cerelia says, leaning her back against the wide trunk of a tree. “Are you kidding?” I hope she hears every ounce of disbelief in my voice. “Cerelia, what you did was extraordinary. Protecting you will never be something you need to thank me for. I love you and keeping you safe is as important to me as breathing.”Her soft smile makes my chest ache with unspoken emotions. “I love you too,” she admits and I work at tamping down the joy her words bring me. She’s admitted before that she still cares about me, but can’t forget what happened with Hilda. I shouldn’t get carried away.“And I’ve realized how unfair I’ve been to blame you for events you had no control over. You’re the most decent man I’ve ever known and I adore you. I don’t want anything to divide us anymore. You’re my mate and I’m proud to be your Luna.”My heart is thundering so loudly, I can barely hear myself think. Which is fine, because the next thing she says completel
HildaI can’t tear myself away from the hall where cots have been set up for the women. All of them have woken for short periods and we’ve managed to get them to ingest a little bit of broth and water, but they seem oblivious to their surroundings. Obediently doing what they’re told before lying back down again.“Do you think they’re minds have been destroyed?” Arlo asks, looking haggard next to me. “You need to go and get some sleep,” I tell him gently, but he shakes his head obstinately. “I need to know they’re truly saved and not just in a new environment. Besides, you haven’t left here yet either.” I frown at him, “I slept for several hours in your arms. If you’d like to come and sit in my lap I’m happy to oblige.”He rolls his eyes at me, “I’ll squash you like a little lady bug. I need those legs to be able to wrap around my waist later.” He’s quiet for a while, before admitting uncomfortably, “I’ve been trying to remember who the ones are that I took to their doom, but only 5 of
HildaWe spent hours with the women, listening to their stories and helping to feed them. They were all deathly pale from the years without sunlight, weak as kittens and still struggling to comprehend that they’re really free.Despite all of that, I don’t doubt we’ll eventually restore them to full health. Their will to survive is inspiring. The mental shock will probably take longer to heal than their physical impairment. The sharing of life energy kept those who’d been there longest from atrophying. I suspect that has more to do with the difficulty of separating them than any kindness on the part of the mages.“I told you it wasn’t your fault,” is the first thing I say to Arlo when we’re alone in our cottage. Neither of us wanted to leave until the women were settled down again and resting, but I’ve been dying to be alone with him.“Honestly woman, is this what our married life will be like? You’ll be throwing I told you so’s at me, at every opportunity? I was hoping there’d be far
ArloI don’t deserve the sheer amount of grace that’s been heaped upon my plate. Absolution from the women I’d thought of as my victims, as well as the gorgeous creature smiling at me invitingly from our bed. Right now she’s lifting the covers to show me her nakedness and patting the bed invitingly. “I’ve kept it warm for you,” she purrs, biting her lip and staring at my cock ardently. “I didn’t want to wake you up. You looked so peaceful and I know how tired you must be,” I tell her, struggling, and failing, to keep my eyes from fixing on her breasts. “Some things are way more important than sleep,” she informs me. “Get that sexy ass of yours over here.”“Careful what you wish for my queen, you may just get it,” I warn, stalking over to her predatorily. She stills and stares at me, her eyes suddenly full of uncertainty. “Hilda, what’s wrong?” I ask, fear nibbling at my insides. “If you’re not ready, or don’t want such a serious commitment, you can tell me. I’d rather know now.” I
HildaArlo’s kiss has all my synapses firing at once. I’m lost in him, clinging to his neck as his tongue drives me mad with desire. My mate. My king. My husband. My everything. I want him so much right now. Everywhere. I don’t want him to stop kissing me, but I also want my lips wrapped around his shaft, while he thrusts into me at the same time. I will always be a glutton when it comes to him.“I need you,” is all I manage to whimper when his hands skim up and down my sides, his thumbs brushing across the sides of my breasts. I’m burning up with lust and his touch is driving me wild. “You have me,” he growls into my ear before nipping the lobe hard.His palms slide along my inner thighs and I moan expectantly, confused when he veers away from the area craving his touch the most. His fingers curl around my buttocks and then he’s lifting me above his head, with my back still against the wall, until my sex is right in front of his mouth.The world dissolves into colors and lightning wh
CereliaThere’s no other way to describe me and Soren than loved-up. We’re worse than teenagers feeling the first flush of love and quite possibly randier too. For days we haven’t been able to keep our hands off each other and leaving him to attend to other duties feels like being punished.We never had this when we first met and realized we were mated. Soren’s heart was still heavy with the loss of Hilda, made worse by the guilt he carried. She sacrificed her life for his and he felt ashamed for moving on with his life so soon.I was too timid to fully open myself to our sexual relations, always feeling like I was his second choice. Inferior to his first mate in every way. Not to mention that I’d been brought up to believe that a lady acted demurely in the bedroom. Always aiming to please, but never to demand. How wrong they’d been. Soren seems to adore it when I’m demanding.We loved each other, but we never had the opportunity to fall in love. Our time apart is quite possibly the m
Hilda“I am a mage,” she admits freely when I approach her. “My name is Tara and I was an apprentice to Maelor. He promised my mother he’d teach me how to control my magic. At first he did just that, but after a few months he asked me to join the meetings he had with others who practice magic.”Cerelia is frowning at the young woman, distrust written all over her face. I’m not sure what to make of Tara yet and I have to give her an opportunity to explain. Mage or not, she was in a pod, connected to the others, her life force being drained.“Continue please,” I say as mildly as I can, surreptitiously elbowing Cerelia in the side lightly. She refuses to take the hint, her eyes like chips of ice. Tara glances at her and swallows nervously before starting to speak again.“I was so excited to meet others like me. In my village nobody else could practice magic and I was always shunned. People fear what they don’t understand.”“Are you human?” I ask in consternation and she nods. “I know you
CereliaIt’s still very early. Soren’s arm is slung lazily over my waist, his breath warm against the back of my neck, and for once everything is quiet. There are no spells humming through my bones. No humans to manipulate. No wolves to protect. Just warmth and peace in the arms of the man I love.And the deep, delicious ache in my muscles from a night spent in his arms. I close my eyes and sigh contentedly.And that’s when the knock comes. Three quick raps on the door. Then silence. Another two knocks, this time faster.Followed by, “I know you’re awake! I can hear you breathing!” Soren groans into my shoulder. “She’s back.”“I’m not going away,” Scarlett adds through the door. “And I’m very hungry.” I bite back a laugh and start to roll over, but Soren tightens his arm around me with a huff.“She’s our godchild, I have to let her in,” I tell him. “It’s too early,” he groans. I pat his hand before wriggling out of bed and pull on one of his shirts, which falls all the way to my knees
ArloI can’t keep my hands off her and I have no intention of trying to.The second we shut the door behind us, I pin her against it, mouth crashing down on hers with what feels like weeks of pent-up want. Hell, years of it. A lifetime of need. Even though I spent all night worshipping her just last night. I will never get enough of her.Hilda kisses me back like she’s starving.Her fingers dive into my hair, tugging just the way she knows drives me mad, and I groan, grinding against her, feeling her swell press into me. Our child, safe and warm in her body while I press her against the wall like a man possessed.“Arlo,” she pants, pulling back enough to look at me, her lips swollen, her cheeks flushed. “We should get to the bed-”“I’ll carry you,” I growl, already sweeping her into my arms before she finishes the sentence. She squeals and laughs, smacking my shoulder. “Caveman.”“My caveman charm worked on you, didn’t it?” I ask cockily. “It worked once,” she says with a giggle.I dr
HildaThe clearing is glowing with golden lantern light, strung from tree to tree like stars caught in the branches. Music floats through the air, lively and cheerful, and the scent of roasted meat, baked bread, and spiced cider wraps around everything like a warm embrace.Laughter, chatter, music, love, and everyone I care about safe and sound. It’s perfect.Scarlett darts past me, her curls bouncing, a sticky bun in each hand and powdered sugar smudged across her cheek. She’s already danced with half the warriors here, been given three new hair ribbons, and convinced Nixie to teach her the “grown-up” steps to a waltz. The child is utterly spoiled and utterly adored. Just as she should be.My gaze drifts across the party, a small smile tugging at my lips.Nixie and Percy are twirling in the open space near the fire, laughing as Percy dips her dramatically, nearly dropping her before catching her again. She swats him playfully and he leans in to kiss her shoulder. They’re so in love i
TaraThe tea is barely warm, but I don’t care. It’s quiet in the cottage, and Ash is here, lounging on the couch like he owns the place, one long leg stretched out, the other bent so his arm can rest on his knee. He’s watching me sip my tea like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.And he keeps leaning closer. I give him a mock glare. “Ash.” He brushes his nose against my cheek, kissing the corner of my mouth. “What?”“You know what.” His grin is wicked. “I’m just admiring you,” he protests, his innocent tone completely at odds with the glint in his eyes. “I swear, if you kiss me again, we won’t make it back to the party-”He kisses me again and I lose myself in him for several minutes before gathering the strength of will to pull back.“Ash,” I laugh, pushing lightly at his shoulder. “I’m serious! Hilda will drag us out of here naked if she has to. And I will never recover.”“Neither will she,” he mutters. “Which is why I’m being very responsible right now.” I snort. “Your d
AshAfter two days in Tara’s bed, I honestly wasn’t sure my legs still worked. They do, but just barely.We’ve both managed to stumble out into the daylight today, blinking and dazed like creatures dragged from some romantic fairy tale.Sore, hungry, and maybe a little too pleased with ourselves. Tara’s gone off to help Cerelia with decorations, and I’ve been assigned the incredibly noble task of carrying boxes of cider to the main clearing where Hilda’s preparing to throw what I’ve been assured will be a “respectably rowdy” victory celebration.The werewolves are happy. Relaxed. They laugh louder. Touch more freely – which is saying a lot. The tension that used to hum just beneath the surface is gone for now.They survived. And they’re still free to live as they choose. The human world blissfully unaware of their existence.I’m halfway through hauling the second crate of bottles when I hear the unmistakable patter of quick little footsteps, followed by an even quicker voice.“There y
TaraI’ve never felt anything like this.Not just the physical sensation of Ash’s hands and mouth on my skin, though even that alone would be enough to steal my breath. It’s the bond. The raw, unfiltered tether between us. Every touch he gives me, I feel twice. My own response and his.His hunger. His awe. His aching, consuming need. It rushes through me like fire laced with starlight.Every pass of his lips over my skin, every brush of his fingers, echoes back into my body in waves, dizzying and electric. I arch beneath him with a soft cry, overwhelmed, and he moans into my throat like he feels it too.Because he does. I glance up at him, his hair falling loose around his face, his pupils blown wide with desire, and my heart stutters.“Ash,” I whisper. “It’s too much. I feel everything you do-”“I know,” he murmurs, voice wrecked. “Gods, Tara, I know. It’s driving me mad and I don’t want it to stop.”He kisses down my stomach, his hands holding my thighs open like I’m something sacre
AshFor a long, breathless moment, I can’t move. Tara’s lips are soft and warm against mine, trembling just slightly, like she’s not sure I’ll kiss her back.But I do. Gods, I do. My arms fold around her instinctively, drawing her closer, and everything else, everything dark and twisted and sharp, fades into nothing.The world narrows to her body pressed against mine. Her mouth, open and trusting. Her hands fisting gently into the front of my shirt.I kiss her slowly, reverently, afraid to shatter the fragile magic threading between us. Her lips taste like honey and forever. Like everything I’ve ever wanted and never dared to ask for. Every time I move to pull away, she tilts her face to follow me, like she can’t bear to stop.And gods, I think I might break.When we finally come up for air, we’re both breathless. She gazes up at me, cheeks flushed, eyes luminous in the low lamplight. “Close the door,” she whispers. “Come to bed with me.”My heart does something strange in my chest. L
TaraCerelia can barely keep her eyes open as Ash and I help her up the path toward her and Soren’s cabin.Her steps are slow and dragging, her head lolling against Ash’s shoulder more than once, but she’s still stubbornly mumbling that she’s fine even as she stumbles.I tighten my grip under her arm. “You're not fine. You're spent. Let us carry you.” Cerelia slow blinks at me, before shaking her head. “I’ll walk.” Clearly Hilda’s rubbed off on her.Ash says nothing, but his jaw is tight, and I can feel the way he braces her against him more firmly, almost carrying her by the time we reach the porch, but leaving her the illusion that her feet are nearly touching the ground.Soren comes sprinting over, “There you are! I ran over to look for you once we were sure the humans left our land, but you were gone!” He’s already scooping her up in his arms like she weighs nothing at all. She doesn’t complain this time, sighing happily as she turns her head into his chest.“You’re amazing,” he m
HildaCerelia is swaying on her feet, pale and drained, but when I step closer, she straightens with visible effort. I hesitate for a heartbeat. She’s already given more than enough today. She shouldn’t have to give more.I can’t ask her to restore Malcolm’s memories just so I can have my revenge. “Thank you for everything. You should go and rest,” I tell her.She looks back at me, exhausted but clear-eyed, a half-smile on her lips as she informs me, “He remembers everything.”I exhale slowly, tension bleeding out of me, hugging her for giving me this gift. I need him to remember. I need him to know why he’s being punished.I double check Malcolm for weapons. I’m not taking any chances with him. Even armed, I know I can take him, but I don’t want any interruptions or unnecessary struggles. He’s taken up too much of our time already.I grab a single leash from the pile the warriors dropped earlier and snap it to the heavy collar locked around his throat. “I’ll see you back at the pack