Fauna POVI feel like I might be sick. When I realized Morgan and Alaric were no longer at the ball, I decided that I needed liquid courage to get through the night. Now, I am deeply regretting that decision. The heat of the sun is beating down on me, and I might vomit in the bushes. “Where are your siblings?” Mom mutters under her breath.I sway uncomfortably on my feet. We are supposed to part ways this morning, but I am the only one here. This was supposed to be our chance to say goodbye to one another, but I guess they have better things to do. They have always been stronger than me. The only reason I had friends growing up is because my siblings had friends. I was the tagalong triplet, but I always got the feeling they didn’t want me around. “Are you okay?” Mom whispers in my ear. I choke back the tears that threaten to fall from my eyes, but I don’t dare to speak. If I open my mouth, the sobs building in my chest are sure to escape. So, I nod. Keeping my eyes o
Alaric POVThis ball is boring. Just as they always are. I just need to wait until the exact moment when I can slip away without being noticed. Luckily for me, everyone is focused on Fauna. I can’t blame them. With her milky white skin and jet black hair, she is a vision. Every man wants to be her mate, and every girl wants to be her friend. She is too kind. Too kind for her own good. Others take advantage of her kindness. That’s why she needs Morgan and me. We keep the riff raff away. I scan the ballroom looking for Morgan, but she is nowhere to be seen. I guess she found her moment to escape just like I am about to. If she has disappeared, then I am sure I can too.Leaning in close to my best friend, Ryder, I elbow him in the side to get his attention. “What?” I roll my eyes at his blatant love for my sister. “Don’t take your eyes off her.” “Not a problem,” he smirks. I jab him in the side again. “I fucking mean it. If anything happens to her, I will gut you.” H
Morgan POVEighteen Years Later Fauna is sitting in the corner of my room sobbing. I am trying my best not to be annoyed with her, but she is so sensitive, and she is ruining her makeup. The makeup that I spent hours doing. It isn’t like she needs it, her Fae features make her lovely without it, but that isn’t the point. “Fauna,” I sigh in exasperation. “This isn’t the last birthday we will spend together. It is just the last one here at the Veil Castle.” “I know,” she sobs louder. “But I don’t want to go to the Fae Realm. It is so far from the both of you.” Alaric looks up from the book he is reading. “Stop being dramatic.” His harsh words only make her cry louder. I glare in his direction, but he shrugs and turns back to his reading. Fauna’s tears aren’t entirely dramatic. The three of us have been inseparable since birth, but tonight is our eighteenth birthday. Tomorrow we will embark on our on adventures, alone. Fauna is going to the Fae Realm, Alaric to the L
Leonidas POVThe light witch is bouncing one of the girls in her arms while she walks around the nursery. She is doing her best to calm the child, but that one is spirited. If that is the right word for it. She may have been the last born, but she came out fighting. I don’t think she has given her lungs a rest since she entered this world a week ago. “You have to name them eventually,” the light witch hisses at me. “We can’t keep calling them Girl one and Girl two.” I glare in her direction. We have been over this every day for the past week. “I will not name them without Alora.” “She still sleeps,” the light witch whines. “They need names.” “No,” I growl. “Not without Alora.” She doesn’t frighten as easily as she did when she first arrived, and I worry I am losing my touch. The red witch has always had a smart mouth and a deadly stare, but the light one used to cower under my gaze. But as the days have gone on, she is starting to call me on my shit. “Surely, you two s
Kaia POVI was not prepared for what I saw when I entered the bedroom. Elaine is holding Alora down by her shoulders, telling her to breathe. She doesn’t look up when I enter the room, but there is no doubt who she is talking to when she speaks. “It took you long enough.” I scoff loudly. “I got here just after you.” She finally looks in my direction. “Where is the bitch?” I swallow hard. “Gone.” Her eyes narrow. She has questions, but they will have to wait for another day. “Good. Now, you have to help me.” My eye graze over the bed. There is so much blood. I do not know much about bringing babies into this world, but what I do know is that there shouldn’t be that much blood. “Elaine,” I gasp. “Don’t,” she shakes her head. “We are saving them all.” “No,” Alora cries out. “Save the babies. My life does not matter.” She grinds her teeth together and screams. Tears roll down her beautiful cheeks, and I am afraid. I know it is written all over my face, but I don’t
Leonidas POVIt has been five months since we found out she was pregnant, and five months since I sent Evanora to find the red witch. She has not returned, and I am beginning to get irritated. It isn’t often that people defy me. Alora’s stomach is growing by the day. She can barely get out of bed in the mornings, and I worry that she won’t be here in time. Alora waddles into my office with her arms full of papers and books. Bruno is behind her with his head hung low. He is defeated. We both have given up trying to get her to do what she is told. The larger she gets, the more scary she gets. Alora has turned into a fair but formidable queen. After many weeks of meetings and deliberations, the three realms have decided to remain separate. It was a disappointing decision, to say the least, but I understood. We have been enemies for so long, it will take more than a young queen and a baetyl stone to undo it. Alora was saddened, but appointed regents to rule in her stead. Ivy