Mag-log in“They just moved here last week.”“Wow, you didn’t waste anytime,” Erika laughs. “At least give us local girls a chance. There’s not many single men our age around here, and you’ve somehow managed to bag four of them. You have to tell me your secret.”“Actually, I knew Leo and Jake before I came her
** Poppy’s POV **“All four?” Erika tries to whisper, but it comes out more like a hiss.“Keep your voice down,” I say, glancing over my shoulder to check we haven’t gained the attention of the entire shop before turning back to her.She stares at me, blinking slowly. “Poppy. Four?”I blow out a bre
“Are you okay?” he asks.“Yeah.” She nods. “It’s strange being back.”Alaric peers through the window. “Crazy coffee girl has returned.”Poppy snorts a laugh.“Are we going inside? Or just standing here, drawing attention to ourselves?” Mason asks, his eyes scanning the street.Poppy nods and pushes
** Leo’s POV **The village is quiet. The sun shines over the street, reflecting off the windows, leaving patches of gold on the cobbled road. It’s very similar to the one on the edge of Phoenix, actually. Maybe slightly more modern, with a mix of old and new shopfronts. People walk slowly, stopping
“Nope, that’s why I was coming here. I was going to ask to borrow a quad.” I narrow my eyes at her. I don’t believe her for a second.Poppy shuffles closer to me, keeping a small distance between us. I look down at her. She’s smiling that smile again. The one that makes me agree to things that I’d
** Bastian’s POV **The mind-link is silent for a moment. Then Leo speaks.“Who the hell are you, and what have you done with Bastian?”“Very funny.”“I’m being serious. Is she holding you hostage up there? Blink twice if you need help.”“Leo, shut up,” Alaric says. “We can’t even see him, so how wo
“Paige,” he whispers, voice cracking. “If this is true… if the Moon or the Dawn or whatever piece of divinity lives in you has given us a child… then I will protect you both with my life. Without hesitation.”Parker leans his head against my shoulder, his breathing uneven. “I never thought I’d get t
** Paige’s POV **Morning comes too fast and slow at once. I don’t think I ever actually fell asleep, not fully. I drifted, floated, hovered somewhere between exhaustion and adrenaline. Between fear and hope. Between the things I lost… and the things I might be gaining.A child, a possibility.My ha
“Paige…” I groan against her lips. “You’re… goddess; you’re killing me.”“Good,” she breathes, kissing me again, needy, hungry, almost reckless. “I want to.”I pin her against the door with my hips, both hands braced beside her head. I kiss down her throat, slow at first… then harder when she tilts
Loaded question, too loaded. I sit anyway. The cushions dip under my weight, and her body leans subtly closer to mine. I shouldn’t be affected by something as small as that… but I am. Every inhale is her. Every exhale feels too hot in my lungs. My hand twitches with the urge to touch her, to anchor







