Sarah
“It really wasn’t that bad,” I explain, seated next to Hadley at the kitchen table. For the past half hour, I’ve been telling her about the dinner party and how Sydney announced our mate bond. Hadley’s been listening while picking at her food, nodding along and smiling when I explain the juicer bits.
“Well, look at you, getting to explore the castle. One day, I want to see it.”
“It sounds like we’re going to have a big wedding after all. I suppose the reception will be held there.”
Hadley smiles and pushes her plate away. “How are you feeling?”
“In general? A little overwhelmed, honestly–”
“No, right now.”
I look down at my plate. I’ve barely touched my food. In fact, my head hurts a little bit, and my stomach is in knots. “It’s been a busy week. I think I’m just tired.”
I
MaeveThree kings sit before me at a large circular table in a simple, but bright, room within the temple in Crescent Falls. Sweat prickles along my brow line, but my magic keeps my nerves under wraps as King Lucius of Lunaria smiles at me, pleased, I think, with how the summit went. King Evan of Celestoria, however, keeps his expression cool and collected, while Sydney sits somewhat smugly nearby, glancing at his watch. We’ve been here for hours, covering everything from trade to the relationships between the territories under our separate control. With so much migration and tourism between our four kingdoms these days, not to mention a massive boom in population that followed the War of Tarsian twenty years ago, the agenda was long and tightly managed, but long nonetheless. I’m tired, hungry, and ready to leave. I smooth the fabric of my neat, perfectly tailored black and gold suit jacket. My hair is tightly woven into a bun at the nape of my neck, and Brie did my makeup this mor
Maeve“Maeve–”“I can explain–”“You’re pregnant?” Brie’s voice cracks, her dark brown eyes wide with shock and then a sudden, choking grief. “What? How? When?”I raise my hands in surrender, trembling, wondering how to even begin, but Brie steps toward me, her brows furrowed in confusion. “Maeve, you’re massive!”“Uh, thanks,” I snarl, but tears begin to prickle along my eyelashes. “You’re–you have to be nearing the end of the pregnancy, aren’t you? Why haven’t you told anyone? I didn’t know. Mom doesn’t know–”“I wanted it that way.”“You didn’t tell the family? You’ve been pregnant this whole time, on the tour.” Her eyes widen as she thinks out loud. “You were pregnant during the coronation, weren’t you?”“I didn’t know yet, not at that point, but a few days later–”“You found out when the family was gathered, and you didn’t say anything?” Tears stain her cheeks like ribbons of silver. “You didn’t tell me?”“What the fuck was I supposed to say?” I bite out, the room around me blur
MaeveIt’s snowing in Crescent Falls. I watch the landscape rush by as I ride in the back of a blacked out SUV, resting my hands on the swell of my growing belly. I’m nearly eight months pregnant now. The reality of my situation hasn’t set in yet. I think back on that day when I’d sat on the bathroom floor with Jane, spilling my heart out, often. Everything since that moment has been a blur. Within days of confirming the pregnancy, I started my grand tour of Eastonia. First, I traveled through Moonrise and the towns and villages surrounding the main city, formally introducing myself as their queen. Then, I spent a few weeks in Veiled Valley with my family while navigating my royal duties and guarding my secret. I didn’t tell my mom I was pregnant. She still doesn’t know. I don’t know how to say it. I left Veiled Valley and traveled through the Roguelands, with many dozens of stops, meeting face to face with every Alpha, Beta, and Luna. I sat in on pack meetings, listening to the tr
SorenFive months have passed since the coronation. Time has been a blur, to say the least. I’ve been all over the place lately, working my fingers to the bone to move over fifty people into hiding, and now, I’m nearly done. The man standing in the corner of the foyer of a large, well-built stone house in the plains outside of Moorn stares at the file in his hands, his face gray and washed in confusion, then startles in understanding as I watch the column of his throat bob when he swallows, his eyes flicking to mine. “Are they in danger?”“Yes,” I reply steadily, but I don’t look in the direction of his mate, a woman of maybe thirty currently sitting in the other room with their three young children. This man, a commander in King Sydney’s royal forces, was the one I knew I’d have the most trouble with. Moving the Betas was easy. The Alpha, not so much, but he eventually folded. I don’t know what's in those files the Architect supplied, but it’s enough to change their minds, that’s
MaeveMy family has gathered for a final supper before everyone goes back to their usual lives. I sit at the head of the table, picking at my food, my stomach still in knots. I feel hot and cold at the same time, which is unnerving. I don’t get sick. Not unless I exhaust my powers, but the last few days have been… a real test of my limits, I suppose. This isn’t a formal dinner by any means. Everyone is dressed comfortably and moving around, mingling in small groups. Kieran is asleep in Logan’s arms while he and Brie talk in quiet tones to my parents, while Sydney, my grandpa, and my father talk to Ryan on the far side of the room, glasses of whiskey in their hands as they stand near one of the windows overlooking the city below. I had the meal setup in one of the upstairs rooms–the pink room, we call it. It’s wide and deep, with enough room to fit the entire family comfortably. It used to be a playroom. I remember being here as a kid with Maddy watching over all of us while the othe
MaeveIt’s the middle of the night when I finally slide into my private apartment. Boxes of my things are stacked precariously around the foyer, all labeled to be delivered to specific rooms in the massive royal suite that takes up an entire floor two stories above me. My head pounds from wearing the crown and all the jewels that dangled from my forehead for hours even though I undressed immediately after coming off the balcony. That was hours ago.Now, I’m wearing the white ceremonial gown from when I blessed the couple performing the Rite and a dark navy blue cloak. It smells like the smoke that drifted off the lake where dozens of bonfires were burning. After the Rite, I was escorted back to the castle where a party for my grandparents was being held. It had a very select guest list, but party goers still filled the formal ballroom, and even now, in the dead of night, I can still hear the music drifting through the castle. I assume everyone else is asleep by now. It’s been the lo