โIโm sorry,โ Jackson says, and I can tell by his devastated tone that he means it very much. โIโm so sorry, Ariel.โ โJackson,โ I sigh, frustrated โ because itโs very difficult to be angry with him when heโs being so sweet. โWhat are you even sorry for?โ He pauses and itโs instantly clear to me t
โIs that really what you want?โ Jackson asks, worried, his arms still tight around me like he doesnโt want to let me go. โTo have Luca here? Orโฆto spend some nights with him?โ โNo,โ I answer instantly, and as I say it I realize with a bit of surprise that itโs true โ thatโฆthat I really donโt want
Jackson blinks, clearly still working to clear the sleep away as Jesse and I peer at him from either side. โMcClintock isnโt a real name,โ he murmurs, looking between us. โWe donโtโฆhave last names in the Community โ they just assigned McClintock to me when they gave me my identity paperwork, which w
I scowl at my mate, and then glance down at myself as we move further into the cool darkness of the castle, making our way to the elevators that will take us back up to our rooms. โI hate that you work out with us now,โ I mutter. โBefore, I was able to be mysterious, to keep my weaknesses hidden โโ
Luca and I fly through the halls of the castle and I have to laugh a little, because thereโs something fun and exciting about rushing around with my hand warm in my mateโs. Luca, feeling it too, sends me a grin over his shoulder even as he moves fast, even as I can still feel his anxiety at facing m
โMom?โ I ask, my voice tense, moving immediately to her side. Dad, too, looks over at mom with concern. Mom blinks, coming back to herself, and holds out her arms to me as she stands, wrapping me in a warm hug when I come close enough. โHi, baby,โ mom murmurs, holding me tight. โAre you okay, mo
โWeโre here,โ dad says, pulling a chic pair of reading glasses out of his pocket and slipping them onto his nose, โto talk about Arielโs finances.โ Mom and I both smirk and send each other a glance, because dad looks so cute in his reading glasses. Not that weโd ever say that to him โ heโs far too
My eyes go wide. โBut I donโt want that!โ โYou should,โ dad says, and I whip my head back to see him studying me with a raised eyebrow. โI didnโt raise my children to simply hand out millions of dollars without knowing precisely where it went, Ariel.โ โItโs going to Luca, dad,โ I say, narrowing
Ariel bursts out laughing and gestures out to the rest of the roof. โOf all the interference to our plans, youโre going to point out this tiny, adorable, sleeping infant pup as the problem!?โ Both boys look down at the little dark-haired baby, whose amber eyes flicker open to betray her motherโs w
Jesse sighs, glancing at his watch and then looking to the door, an undrunk glass of champagne in his hand. โWhere the hell is your damn sister?โ โYour damn cousin,โ Rafe murmurs, draining his glass and then pouring himself another. โYouโd better stop that,โ Jesse says, turning his head to Rafe
She goes still for a moment and then laces her fingers with his, squeezes his hand. โWeโre not dating or anything,โ she snaps. โJustโฆbecause you got all rejected and stuff. I didnโt come running up here just because youโre single โ I thought you were going to die โโ โSure, you didnโt,โ Jesse says,
โI love you, Jesse,โ Midnight whispers, watching him, her little mouth trembling, her entire body feeling weak. โI love you too, Mids,โ he replies. โAlways.โ She nods once. And then disappears. Midnight fights hard against her emotions as she flits through the castle, moving back and forth bet
โIโm saying,โ Midnight says, freely crying now, cupping Jesseโs face in her tiny hands. โThat I โ I donโt want to have your pups, Jesse. Ever. Ever. I donโt want them.โ She shakes her head, vehement. โI think Iโd be a bad mom. Iโd leave them at the grocery store and forget they were there. I โ I jus
She has to admit thoughโฆthe stars are a pleasant addition. Midnightโs wolf gives a little worried howl, sprawled out in her soul, her little legs too weak to carry her much or far these days. But Midnight smiles a little and strokes a mental hand over her wolfโs fur, pleased to see her free and cl
โWhat,โ Jackson asks, frowning down at the little rectangular stone in his hands. โIs it like, special?โ โJackson!โ Midnight hisses, standing on her toes to smack him on the chest. โTheyโre invaluable! This is only the second Iโve ever seen in the world! And I only know of one besides that other o
I laugh, pointing at the big plate of apple pie on the table. โWell, Iโm glad to see that youโre feeling cheerful,โ I say, grinning at her. โI am!โ she says, happily plopping down next to Jesse and reaching for the pie, pulling it all onto her lap and digging in with a fork. โI donโt think that an
Jesseโs eyes open first, and then Midnightโs, slow and sleepy. โHow do you feel?โ I ask quietly, leaning towards her, able to see her better now in the dawn light that streams through the windows. โWhat happened?โ Jackson asks. I turn to see him standing at the door and I smile, reaching out a h