RyattMaddox rises from his chair, casually sipping coffee from a mug. He sets it down, checks his watch, then fixes me with an annoyed look. “Is there a reason you’re in here?”I glance around the room. It’s a wood paneled and slightly dated office with incredible views of the water. My gaze settles on Isaac, who’s left eye is nearly swollen shut, and I give him a cocky smirk before looking back at his father. I slightly bow my head before meeting Maddox’s eyes again. “Your wife brought me here.”He stares at me unblinking for several seconds before blowing out his breath and sitting back down. Isaac looks from Maddox to me. “You’re a prisoner. You’re not allowed in the main house.”I shrug, crossing my arms over my aching chest. “This is where I was told to go.”Isaac sits on the edge of a solid wood desk and glances behind him at the old maps scattered across it. I get a brief view of the mountains and the names of small pack territories before he roughly turns them over, glaring
Ella“Go,” Ryatt says as I back out of his arms. “I’ll come find you in a little while,” I tell him, my heart racing. Something’s wrong with Maddy. She was fine this morning. Ryatt gives me a tight smile, but behind his eyes is a great deal of pain I can’t quite decipher. There’s so much unsaid between us. Hell, before all of this madness happened, before we went our separate ways so he could fight and I could bring Cassian to the Coven, he’d essentially accused me of working for the enemy and tried to force me to come here, back to my family. And then he’d died in my arms, the last words on his lips that he loved me. We haven’t had a single moment to mend what’s been broken between us. My chest aches as I watch him turn and walk away. There’s so much distance between us now without the mate bond. I can’t feel that tug in my heart anymore. Will anything ever be the same? Will we ever get past this? Is it even possible?He disappears into the small house built on the bluff. I sta
EllaIt’s odd seeing Ryatt in plain clothes. He doesn’t fit here, I realize, as I watch him turn his gaze from the strangers seated nearby back to the water all around us. He’s been silent since we walked onto the ferry that runs between the isles and Maatua. I wish I could take a peek into his mind, just for a moment, just long enough to know what he’s thinking. He’s dressed in navy blue athletic shorts that are a smidge too short for him, resting midthigh and showing off his insanely built muscular legs. His tan skin gleams in the sunlight poking through the somewhat shredded canopy above us, which is supposed to block out not only the sun, but the rain. He’s wearing a plain gray shirt–again, a little too tight–that shows off every muscle. He looks… hot. Hot as hell, honestly. But also so unfamiliar without his black leathers and belt loaded with daggers. His night-black hair curls around his ears as he slowly turns to me, expressionless, looking past me at the massive island now
Amanda“You better have good news for me, Nytos,” Granger growls somewhere behind me. His words whisper over a spring wind carrying ash and decay. “The only news I have is that there’s still no sign of Alpha Ryatt or his Luna.”My stomach clenches. I roll a smooth, white rock in the palm of my hand as the conversation continues without me. “And Westfall?”I look over my shoulder in time to catch Commander Nytos shake his head, his eyes downcast and solemn. Granger chews the inside of his cheek, his green eyes sliding to mine. I give my mate a tight smile, praying to the Goddess he can see the love behind my eyes–and the sorrow there. “I’ve spoken to the other commanders,” Nytos continues. “The Alphas need answers, Beta. Are you the King of the Roguelands now?”My heart skips a beat as I watch fury and grief darken his eyes. “No,” he rasps. “Not until we find their bodies.”I close my eyes and turn back to the cairn situated in the center of an area of scorched earth. This is whe
EllaWe don’t linger long at the falls. The sunset fades to a rich, velvety purple by the time I pull the car I borrowed into the massive garage behind the castle. Ryatt didn’t say a word the entire drive back. I glanced at him a few times, noticing the absent look in his eyes as he hung his arm out the window, his fingers splayed in the wind. Now we’re seated at a long table made of glass. Platters of food cover the surface. It’s an informal setting in the informal dining room in Poppy’s massive castle. “Here,” Poppy says, standing to lean over the table and place two huge steaks on Ryatt’s plate. “Eat up.”Ryatt meets her eyes with a soft nod of thanks. She’s already laden his plate twice now, and he’s eaten every morsel of food she’s offered. Still, watching Poppy’s motherly attentiveness to his unspoken needs curls in my heart and threatens to shatter it. She doesn’t really know him, and what she does know about him can’t be good. Yet, she exudes nothing but kindness and love.
EllaMusic thrums through the air, sending steady vibrations over every surface in the crowded, cozy bar. For being such an old dive, it’s always busy, and always full of a young crowd. A mix of lively pop and sensual, drumming house music plays on a loop. The lights are dimmed, and all around us people dance and sway to the music. It’s unlike any tavern or pub Ryatt’s ever been to, I’m sure. He looks skeptical as I clutch his hand and wade through the crowd to the bar. I order three drinks. A sparkling water for me, of course. “These are my favorite,” I tell him as I whirl around holding two identical mixed drinks. I thrust them into his hands. He lifts one and sniffs, then grimaces. “What is it?”“It’s called Sex on the Beach,” I purr, giving his arm a little nudge as I bring my water to my lips.“Why am I holding two drinks?”“Because you’re drinking for two tonight, since I can’t.”Another scowl. He takes a careful sip and narrows his eyes at me. “This doesn’t taste like whi
EllaI can feel his hesitation as he lays me down on the bed. It’ss soft and cool to the touch from the gentle tropical breeze drifting through the open doors leading to a starlit balcony. A shiver snakes over my skin–whether from the chill in the air or the fact Ryatt’s hands are trailing down my sides, I’m not sure. Time is hazy. How long has it been since we’ve been together like this? All of the events leading up to our final, and only, stand against Kane are a blur. And here, in Maatua? I feel like the minutes and hours either crawl or flash by before my eyes, making it hard to determine just how long we’ve been here. But I know it’s been a while since his hands have slid down my thighs, cupping my ass as he scoots me to the very center of the large bed. Unlike before, when the lust and tension had been a burning flame between us, this feels different. Softer. Gentler. I realize he’s worried about me, worried about touching me, and my heart threatens to crumble when I involun
RyattThe main house in the isles echoes with screams. Ella runs ahead of me, her face flushed and colorless as she darts up the stairs and out of sight, leaving me standing in the foyer. All around me, archways lead out onto a wide circular terrace that surrounds the house in its entirety, the view nothing short of peaceful and serene. But the screams… gods, Maddy’s shouts of pain pierce my ears and send shivers down my spine, settling in my gut. Two women dressed in white rush past me, murmuring to each other as they carry handfuls of towels up the stairs. They pass another woman–another healer–carrying a basket of soiled linen in her arms. Blood stains the once white fabric as she runs down another corridor. My stomach twists at the sight, and I turn toward the terrace, unsure of what to do, where to go, or what to even think. I step out into the sunlight and close my eyes for a moment, trying to catch my breath. But a scraping sound catches my attention. I open my eyes and tu
BrieI open my eyes as I’m falling through thin air. I don’t even have time to scream before my body drops into water. Deep, rough water that drags me under the second I suck in a salty breath. I flail against the waves, trying to find the surface, but the undercurrent drags me down again, pulling me by my dress and tossing me upside down. My head hits something hard, and I screech, but the sound is empty. I suck in water, choking, and realize quite suddenly that I’m drowning. I go as still as possible, using the last of my energy to start moving with the current instead of against it, which turns out to be the best idea I’ve ever had, especially under duress. I open my eyes underwater, staring down at the shallows. It’s sunny. Daytime. And below, seaweed waves between large, gray rocks. Pockets of sunshine dance through the water, illuminating seashells in shades I’ve never seen before. Another wave crashes over the top of me, sending me rolling into even shallower water, and fina
MaeveCole and Misty have a beautiful suburban home in Shadowcrest. It’s always the same–always smells like freshly baked cookies and the flowers she keeps in vases all over the house. Tonight, as my toes brush the ground, and my powers funnel back into my body, it smells like… popcorn. “You pig! You’re not going to eat all of that.” Josie’s voice, so similar to her mother’s, drifts down the hallway. I landed in the foyer, which is dark, soft moonlight drifting in through the windows and casting the stairs and framed photos of the family in silver shadows. “If you wanted more, you should have added it to the order,” Adrian argues then yelps after a smacking sound reverberates toward me in the gloom. “Give me one of your tacos–”“Or what?”“I’ll tell Mom.”“She’s in Eastonia, dumbass. Hey!” A scuffle ensures. I have two seconds to jump into the shadow of Misty’s study just off the foyer when Cole walks down the stairs, still wearing his hospital scrubs. The sound of a shower running
LoganRyatt and Evander walk out of sight across the bridge connecting the barracks to the main streets of the city. I look out of my old bedroom window at the sunny glare casting shadows over the valley. The shadows move as the clouds dart across the sky toward the castle, toward my wife, who I’d much rather be with right now than here. I… I don’t have anything to pack. Anything that meant anything to me–my laptop, my fucking glasses–were lost in the shipwreck. I have the clothes on my back, and even those were borrowed from who-knows-where, left on the dresser in Brie’s bedroom by the ghost that haunts her house. She’s all I have, and it’s not like I can pack her in my duffle bag and take her with me. I crank open the window to let in some fresh air to cut through the overwhelmingly male smell of the barracks. I turn to my empty duffle bag with a sigh, bracing my hands on either side of it on the bed, and hang my head, but a whoosh of air rushes out behind me, and I turn in time
BrieThe moment my bedroom door closes behind us, Logan’s mouth is on mine. The lock slides into place with a soft click, and an even softer groan leaves his mouth when I reach up to run my fingers through his damp curls. He smells like rain and leather. Like the promise of warmth and comfort through another stormy night. And now this man–this loud, obnoxious, opinionated man… he’s mine. He presses a kiss to the ring he bought today on a whim. It’s a simple band of gold–that’s it. “I'll give you a better one when I return,” he promises, kissing the palm of my hand before his lips find mine again. “A ring with a diamond the old gods can see from the heavens.”“I don’t care about that.” I giggle as his hands glide down my sides, pulling me close. Outside, thunder booms, the room lighting in ribbons of blue as lightning splits the clouds, but in here, it’s warm. It’s private. It’s just us. He removes my cloak. It falls to the ground in a heap at my feet. He’s careful with the dress,
MaeveBrie is… radiant. She glows in her simple white dress of lace and satin, her hair falling loose over her back and shoulders as Logan slowly, tenderly, lowers the hood of her dark blue cloak. The temple is quiet and dim, moonlight flooding the altar. Logan knits his fingers in Brie’s and brings her knuckles to his lips, pressing a kiss against them. They’re bathed in silver, the windows behind them dancing in starlight. It’s beautiful, really. It’s what I envisioned for her, one day, what I thought would be… years from now. I watch my sister–the person I love the most in all of the world–intertwine her soul with someone else, forcing myself to unravel the ribbons binding my heart to hers. She doesn’t belong to me anymore. Logan looks at her as they kneel before the priestess in her silver robes. They lean into each other like being inches away is too far apart. And the look on his face as he brushes his lips over her temple… he loves her. He’s devoted–body, and soul. My heart
Brie“Tonight?”“Yes, tonight.”“How?” I laugh, taking a step away from him. “We-we can’t.”“We can,” he says breathlessly, shaking his head. “The temple stays open all night. We’d just need to find a priestess.”“We’d need a witness,” I whisper as the cogs in my mind start turning. “I’d need a dress–”“I’d marry you like this,” he says, taking my hands. “But please, for the love of the Goddess, marry me before I go.”I blink up at Logan, my heart swelling and squeezing simultaneously. There’s still a whisper in my mind that warns me that he could change his mind, that he can’t really want me, but I… banish it, giving myself to him fully. “Are you sure?” I ask, scanning his eyes. “I’ve never been more sure of anything. I want you to be my wife, Brie.”“I’m already your mate.”“It’s not enough.” He brushes my hair out of my face and kisses me, but a rush of air alerts us to a visitor making their way up the stairs to the tower. I pull away as a soft knock sounds on the door. Neither
BrieLogan steps into my dad’s office. All eyes turn to him as he scans the men–Sydney, Grandpa Ryatt, my father, a few others that serve both my father and grandfather as generals, captains, and commanders. Logan’s eyes are like polished, imperfect emeralds as he eyes my grandpa wearily, like he’s not entirely sure he understands what Ryatt just said to everyone in the room. “Brie, you don’t need to be here for this,” Aviva whispers behind me, knitting her fingers in mine. But Logan growls, “She stays.”A silent, heavy, creeping hint of tension scatters around the room. The entire castle would explode if someone lit a match right now, I’m sure. My spine tingles as Logan turns to Ryatt and says, calmly despite the bite in his voice, “There’s nothing in Emberfyll.”“Quite the contrary,” my grandfather replies immediately, rounding my father’s desk, his shadow powers simmering and coiling around his fingers, “Debris has been washing up on the southern shore of Tarsian for decades now.
LoganBrie looks exhausted, but otherwise… happy, thank the Goddess, as she sits between her mother and Misty, listening to their conversation and picking at a sandwich. I lean my elbows on the table across the room where I’m sitting in silence, alone, still waiting for my mind to catch up with my body after Maeve jumped with us from the middle of the ocean to Veiled Valley. A shadow moves into view, crossing through the doorway before a shadow breaches the informal living area. Ryan looks around before turning the corner, beelining for me, waving away several rushed questions coming from the group of women on the couches nearby. He braces his hands on the table beside me, leaning down to whisper into my ear, “I need to speak to you in private before Ryatt returns. Can you come with me?”I glance at Brie, who’s watching us with her brows furrowed in worry. I suck my teeth before nodding, and Ryan moves back a step so I can stand. Brie and I have been using the mind-link as much as
BrieI pull the stool out from under my vanity, sinking down and facing Blake. I’m older than him by a few months. We’ve always been close, even when we were younger, and he tended to want to play rowdy boy games with Aris. He always sat quietly and played tea-party with me, though, without fail. He’s also the pariah of the family and knows it. His powers rival Ryatt’s, which is a terrifying thought. In fact, I often question who’s more powerful–him or Maeve? But that’s not a fair question at the moment, given that Maeve’s powers aren’t even fully developed yet. Blake, however… he exudes energy that makes my skin tingle as he sits in my desk chair, resting his elbows on his knees. “You found us, didn’t you?” He nods, a flash of guilt darkening his irises. “I admit I didn’t even look until Maeve cornered me. She felt you, she said. Sensed your arrival back in our waters.”I wonder how much Logan told the family. Probably everything, I’m sure. That man can talk, and I love that abou