It took at least two weeks to settle in. As I and Umber moved things around our new apartment, I find myself looking into a mirror. I turn my face this way and that, recoiling at the hollowness of my cheeks, the circles beneath my eyes, the protruding collarbones.
"Hey. Move ass. We've got a king to kidnap."With the reminder, a surge of emotions fill me, anger being the most potent. I am going to get my revenge.Like it was yesterday, images of us dancing under the moonlight on the deck passes across my mind, eliciting a stab of pain. I blink back the burn in my eyes, shucking the furnitures around harder than I intended. I guess this is one of the perks of being immortal. Crazy strength.It also came with a side of alienation.When we'd landed in Manhattan--we didn't even need passports (crazy the things money could do!), I couldn't stop a rush of panick as we were pulled into a flow of bodies. People were returning en masse for ChristMALCOLM __I wake to throbbing at the back of my head. Pain lances through my skull and I groan loudly, trying to think. After the stint with Elenora, I was heading back to my office and then--"Thought you were going to sleep forever," a female voice says.Female?I try to move. I'm bound!I struggle against the chains around my wrists. No! Gwen, I need to find her before it's too late."Rise and shine. Sorry, bad joke. Seeing as you can't stand. But you will shine when Gwen lights you up."My eyes snap open. Gwen?"Do you know her?" I stumble out to the brown-haired woman. "Please, is she who I think you're talking about? R-red hair, green eyes, about five feet four inches. Please," I breathe past a tightening chest. "I will do anything. Is it money you want?"The strange woman tilts her head at me, appearing almost confused."Please." My voice cracks. "Where is she?"
GWEN __"This might sound weird, but I think he's telling the truth."I spin to face Umber, hardly believing my ears. "What?""Look. His eyes... Gwen, he looks at you like you're his next breath. It's scary. How can someone want a person that much?""You forget he's a liar. It's all he's good at. Pretending."I turn, about to go, when her voice stops me. "What if he's right? What then?"My stomach knots. Not wanting to answer that, I continue down to the basement. Perks of staying in a house of five thousand acres means you have privacy. No one could hear a roar within several miles. When I open the door to the dark room, I see Malcolm's hunched figure. His neck is slumped and the heavy rise and fall of his chest tells me he's sleeping. I draw level with him, ransacking his pockets.I know the moment he wakes. I'm aware also of him bending forward to sniff my hair surreptitiously. When I find his phone I s
MALCOLM ___I don't know how long we stay wrapped in each other, but I feel a lightness in every pore of my being. Gwen is here. In my arms. How many nights have I stayed dreaming of this moment?She moves in my hold and I lower us to the floor. We lie on our sides, eyes locked. We don't say anything, our eyes expressing ourselves in a way our mouths can't. I reach out tenderly, slowly running a finger down her smooth skin. She lays her palm over mine and her eyes grow dewy. "Malc--""Shh," I say softly. "It's okay. I'm sorry I couldn't get to you." The moment will haunt me for the rest of my life."No. I understand now. It's just, I spent weeks...hating you. In a way, you were what kept me going, enduring."Anger expands my chest. "You shouldn't have had to endure. Shouldn't have suffe--""It's fine." She reaches out a thin arm and my wolf purrs when she runs her fingers through my hair. "It happened. I can only m
GWEN__We spend a full day lounging around the house. Before night fell, Malcolm showed me around the pack. The werewolves were all lovely. The children--pups--were so energetic. More so than Rylan when he was little. Malcom explained it was due to their wolves.Sitting before the mirror in his mother's room, I wonder if my own son will be just as hyperactive. My son...Rylan would have a brother, or a sister. Or brothers. Or sisters. I crack a smile, the possibilities leaving me giddy. He won't be alone... Like I was.I pick up the brush again, passing it through my hair. In the mirror, the jewel encrusted in the handle glints in the moonlight.Then once we'd come home, he'd kissed me like a man starved. He told me it was his first time coming back here, since his parent's death. To say I was surprised is an understatement.I'd asked what changed.Looking at me with that burning intensity, he'd rasped one
My back slams against the shelf. Books rain down, the sound hardly registering with Malcolm's lips moving fiercely over mine.It's the eight time today.My hands go to his chest and I push. It's like trying to move a wall. "Malcolm," I pant when his lips transfer to my neck.He hums against my skin. "Malcolm," I say louder. "We have to--oh," I gasp. He slides a hand under my gown, fingering the edge of my panties . I go to grab his wrist but stop when he cups me fully. "Wet," he rasps.I suck in a breath. "Malcolm. We have to head back. Rylan and Umber are still at the house. Without protection.""Protection," he breathes, kissing across my jaw. "We don't need that.""No!" I giggle. Then I get a grip. "Malcolm, wait."At my somber tone, he stops. "What is it?" He asks softly, tucking my hair behind my ear.I sigh internally. The way he looks at me..."Rylan," I say, trying
GWEN___I smile. Again. It's all I've been doing since arriving the castle. It's just so...surreal.To go from scraping by as a single mom to getting my neck bitten by a monster to... becoming queen. It's almost impossible. The stuff of daydreams. The kind that's almost too good to be true.My walk through the royal gardens come to an end and I turn to the housekeeper, Brienne. "Do you have any idea where the king is?" I ask."His office, Luna." She offers to come with me but I decline, knowing she must have a lot of things doing in this insanely large castle. She gives me the directions and after a quick thanks, I'm going up the marble front steps. As soon as I step in, I feel it. Multitudes of eyes. A few werewolves engage me in conversation and many smile as I walk past. And their joy is so infectious I cannot help returning their good humor."I thought this day would never come."I turn, meeting an old pair of eyes. "Hello," I say, offering a smile. "Gwen." I outstretch an arm.
The rest go to stand around a large crescent table a few feet away from the throne. They are all shaken, I can feel it, but they don't show it. The ease at which they do it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This is a regular occurrence.The king looks around the room. "Anyone else think I'm being... Rash?""No, Your Highness," a man with shrewd green eyes says. "It's brilliant. The barbarian will be left with no choice than to honour our offer. He might rave and roar, but all that is inconsequential so long as we hold her life in our hands."When they all start to turn in my direction, I close my eyes.I have my first moment of terror. The girl that'd brought me here didn't realize I am not human, which leaves me to believe they don't either. But, his men had attacked I and Umber at Croatia. If they recognize me...The green-eyed man continues, "How long do you think it'll be before he notices she's missing, your majesty?""Perhaps, D
GWEN___For the umpteenth time, I let out a frustrated breath. Night has fallen over the building and despite my stomach nipping at me, I fight to direct fire through the tight ropes around my arms. All that comes out is a tendril if smoke. And with my arms bound, I have no hope of being able to control water.Herra Eunice's voice chooses at that moment to float into my mind. To weild fire, you have to become one yourself...Think, Astrid, what is the most furious you've been...Anxiety grips me. In Mount Ilya, Malcolm had been my sole reason for anger. Now that I've found I had no reason to hate him, I don't feel that dark thrill anymore, the one capable of summoning wings of fire, or even a paltry fireball.The doors open and in the moonlight, I make out long, white hair. I tense.Elenora's steps draw closer. When she stands before me, I have only a moment to take in the fresh leather of her boot before it comes flying into my face