The chicken walks into the kitchen and pecks at random crumbs on the floor. 'This place is incredible. Do you think I could get a tour?' I ask Yiselda. 'Of course, as a Midnight Coven member, this is also your home now,' she says proudly. She leads us down a lengthy corridor. I'm perplexed because even though the Covenstead appeared to be quite significant from the outside, this hall seems to be at least still twice the outside length. As we proceed down the corridor, I notice that there are no doors, only old picture paintings of witches who were members of the midnight coven until they died or were killed. I come to a halt in front of one to observe its beauty more thoroughly. I take a step back. As the artwork moves, I leap back and scream. The witch in the portrait briefly bends her head and smiles before returning to her previous stance. 'Luna, what is it?' Lilac asks, concerned, as she places a hand on my shoulder. I point to the portrait. 'She moved,' I said. 'Oh, ye
A strange but warm sense overcomes me. I look to the darkness ahead, noticing crimson eyes staring right at me, flickering like a flame. My body feels drawn toward him, and my mind feels like it’s going a hundred miles per hour. My wand glows brightly enough to see two hands grasping the bars as I approach, his eyes still fixed on me. Strangely, I hear a husky whisper in my mind. ‘This way, come closer. It’s okay, so beautiful,’ the voice says. Without realising it, my hand stretches out to touch him. He grips my wrist gently, and I feel a slight burn on my wrist. Yiselda grabs my arm and pulls me back. ‘Be careful dear, that is the Vampire King, Alec,’ she warns. Then, raising her wand, his cell lights up. I glimpse his dark hair and light brown eyes before he flourishes his cloak over his face and retreats to the far corner. I examine my wrist and notice a peculiar mark. A strange sensation runs through my body. I shake it off and turn to face Alec. He lowers his cloak s
Reaper caws and taps his beak on the window. ‘Next time, you need to take me with you, Luna. You can’t just leave your familiar behind. It’s dangerous,’ Reaper mind-links. ‘The other witches didn’t take their familiars with them. So, I don’t see what the big deal is?’ ‘It’s a big deal, now let me inside… please,’ I open the window, and he flies toward me. He calms the moment he lands on my shoulder. His beak is pressed against my nose as I turn my face, and his eyes stare into mine. ‘Reaper, what the heck?’ I say. ‘There is something different about you. Did something happen at Pandora’s Box?’ ‘No Reaper, nothing happened,’ I frown. ‘I thought I sensed something odd whilst you were in Pandora’s Box. I was worried something had happened to you?’ 'Reaper, nothing happened. Let's take a walk outside.’ Ela's toad leaps down the front steps as I open the front door, 'I need some fresh air.' The witches are conversing beneath Reaper's moon tree. Ria's snake is dangling from
I'm wrapped in Magnus's arms when I wake up. 'Please tell me today isn't today?' he murmurs. 'All right, Magnus, today isn't today,' I grin. ‘Er, it’s really today, isn’t it?’ 'The day the wolf council's three-boofhead alphas return to tell us whether they support or oppose the witches staying here and what they plan to do if they oppose it?' I say. ‘Yeah… that day.’ 'Look, I'm sure they've come to their senses and realised that allowing witches into our pack is wonderful now that they've had some time to think about it,’ I reassure him. 'I guess I'll spend the day with your father to see if our warriors are prepared as a precautionary measure,' he says. ‘Sure, I’ll spend the day in the basement with the other witches until the wolf council arrives.’ Immediately after breakfast, the witches head downstairs. ‘Can I come to watch you all make potions?’ Josie asks. ‘Sure,’ I smile. May and Josie walk with me down to the basement. ‘So, have we figured out what poti
'Let's see what the wolf council has to say. I'm sure they'll be here in a minute.' A knock comes at the door. We proceed to answer it, expecting to be confronted by the Wolf Council. 'Yiselda,' I draw her in for a hug. 'Did I make it to the meeting on time?' she asks. 'You have,' I say. 'The wolf council hasn't come yet, but they'll be here soon,' Magnus says. 'The others are in the basement. I'll bring them up for the meeting,' I say as I dash downstairs. 'Yiselda has arrived, and the wolf council is on its way,' I notify the witches. They nod and walk upstairs to the dining room, where they hug Yiselda and take their seats. Reaper warns me that the wolf council is approaching just as Ryker, Astrid, and Leon enter and join us at the table. We all appear nervous. My mind manifests into Reapers, allowing me to see through his eyes and hear anything he hears. He is perched in the moon tree, looking off towards the distance, where we see the wolf Council approach. ‘
As she stands, Yiselda adds, 'I shall return tomorrow to lead Alpha Bennet to Pandora's Box,' 'We'll accompany you, Yiselda, and return to Shadow Crest later,' I say. 'Very well,' she says with a smile. I need to see Alec, not just because I can't stop thinking about him, but also because I'm curious about this mark. I want to ask him why I keep thinking of him in a sensual light, but I can't acknowledge that I find him appealing. It just wouldn't be proper. ‘May you should come with us this time?’ I say. 'Yes!' May exclaims as she dashes over to join us. 'I'll be back soon,' I kiss Magnus, 'Don't keep me waiting too long,' he smiles. 'I won't,' I respond as I kiss him once more. We port through the circle, following the witches and appear outside Pandora’s Box. Upon entering, May squeals in delight at the broom sweeping the floor. ‘Does it ever stop sweeping?’ I ask out of curiosity. Yiselda laughs, ‘No dear. It doesn’t,’ ‘Hmm, very good,’ I say, intrigued a
‘Not just any vampire’s blood flame, Reaper, the vampire king, Alec’s blood flame,’ I say. ‘The vampire king, Alec! The first time you came here, I sensed something happened to you. Alec marked you, didn’t he?’ I nod my head. 'I had no idea what he had done at the time.' He grasped my wrist and left a mark, and I couldn't stop thinking about him in the same way I couldn't stop thinking about Magnus. My body was drawn to him, and I desired to be near him. What am I supposed to do, Reaper? How will Magnus react when he learns that Alec is my second mate?' ‘I wish I had the answer for you, Luna.’ May enters the enchanted garden along with the other witches. ‘Wow! so beautiful. Look at that gnome!’ May says and pokes its belly. The gnome doesn’t move, but when no one is looking, his expression shifts to one of irritation. ‘You weren’t joking when you said there was a unicorn,’ May says, approaching us. ‘Nina, are you okay you look like you’ve been crying?’ May adds. ‘Oh, no
I'm having trouble sleeping. I slip out of Magnus's embrace and sit on the balcony. I can't get my mind off seeing Alec tomorrow. I should be more concerned about Alpha Bennet and the witches' fate. My inner wolf is crying to be let out. Perhaps going for a run will help. Shifting, I try not to wake Reaper. I leap from the balcony and course my way through the woods of Shadow Crest. My mind thinks of both Magnus and Alec. The notion of them both sends warm sparks through my body. Damn mate and blood flame bond! I can't get them out of my head. I can see the lake ahead of me. At this hour of the night, it would be terribly cold. I rush up the slope at lightning speed and plunge into the lake. The ice-cold water overpowers me, but in a good way, as it cleanses my mind of the two men I want to be with. The sun is slowly rising. I've been in the water for almost two hours. I'm semi-conscious and have become hypothermic. I don't want to get out of the water, though. I don't want to fe