LOGINThe 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
"The boys are just fine upstairs. Master William had a bit of a fuss but settled down once he was placed in bed with the others," she told me softly, clasping my dress and reaching up to adjust my immaculate updo."He doesn't like being alone," I said with a somber smile, a wave of guilt washing ove
I decided to go upstairs, grabbing an armful of cardboard boxes that Gretchen had rested against the stairs. We only had a day to prepare Rowan and Maeve for their new lives, after all. ***The color of the walls in Maeve's room was a deep violet, of course. She loved the color purple. It matched
"Why would you trust me, given my background?" It was the question I had been asking myself for months, ever since the moment Maeve had forgiven me for tricking her, for lying. Ethan and his family had supported me with very few questions on the matter, and now the entirety of our kind seemed to be
MaeveOur bedroom felt exceedingly quiet, but the silence was broken by the swell of chatter and music coming from the castle's grounds, where the gala was still taking place. It was late now, the sky dappled with stars until a half-quarter moon.Troy was helping me out of my dress in our spacious b







