MasukThe entire family had gathered in the dining room and was chatting amiably over a very impressive spread that had been laid out by the kitchen–two prime rib roasts, a honeyed ham, and three roast ducks were the centerpieces of the table, all of which were being enjoyed liberally by everyone.George
RowanMom ran her fingers across Selene's head, admiring her fine white hair. She looked every ounce the doting grandmother instead of a ball of uncertainty, like Maeve. Maeve was pacing back and forth near the fall wall of my bedroom, her arms folded across her chest and her head bent as she tried
Kacidra joined in the conversation. "Maeve is right, Rowan. We need to know what's happening with you and Hanna, or else we'll never be able to help."Rosalie's voice was calm and supportive as she asked, "Is it Hanna that's troubling you, son? Is she doing all right?My first instinct was to tell t
Gemma and Ernest had flown down with my parents and their son George, who was just two months older than Maeve's sons.A moment later, the library door opened and more of our family members poured in, as if they were fully aware of the thoughts I'd just had and I'd summoned them. I pushed aside my n
RowanThe castle was abuzz with its usual day-to-day activities. Servants and maids passed me in the hallway carrying baskets of laundry and trays of tea. I could hear the clattering of cookware as I left my office and walked toward the grand staircase off the foyer, seeing the door to the servants'
"Who? What happens?""There's so much more out there," Mara said dreamily. "So, so much more.""Maeve!" Troy called from down the beach.I turned to look at him, and when I turned back to Mara, she had taken off. "Wait!" I called after her, but she had already made it out of earshot, her footsteps l
"Why were you there? Tell me the truth!" I bellowed, which caused him to wince and tilt his head toward the door."Keep your voice down, okay?" He stepped closer to me, his hands outstretched in surrender, "Like I said before, I needed to get word to my ship—""What are you talking about--""I'm try
Olly looked up, his eyebrow arched. "Didn't eat breakfast?""I—I slept late. There was only oatmeal left.""Well, that'll need to change if you're going to be working in the kitchen. I need you here at six every morning, on the dot. Breakfast starts at seven, and then we clean up and lay out dried g
"Anyway, he said he had just come from the port of Valoria. Apparently, there was a kidnapping near the Isles of Denali.""A kidnapping?" Cleo looked concerned but Myla waved her hand in dismissal, her brown-sugar skin stained a deep gold on her fingertips from the herbs."I don't think anyone died,
"I—""Go back to sleep," he demanded, pulling on a faded denim jacket that had been draped over one of the high-back yellow armchairs near the empty hearth."Where are you going?""To make sure everyone's alright."I nodded, shaken, and sat down on the edge of his bed. He went to the door to the hal







