MasukPaige inhales sharply. “That doesn't mean…”“I know,” I move toward her. “I’m your sister.”Tears spill down her cheeks. I reach for her hand, then stop myself.“I know this is my family, and that Phoenix will always be home.”My own tears fall again.“But maybe it isn't the only one.”Paige looks a
** Poppy’s POV **A horrible choking gasp tears from Leo, and Jake quickly rolls him onto his side as he coughs.“Leo.”I reach for him, but Jake catches my wrist.“No.”I look at him and fear flashes across his face.“You've done enough,” he says quietly.I stare at Leo. His eyes are closed. But th
“He wouldn’t want to be a Twiceborn,” Jake says between chest compressions.Jake pauses to check Leo’s pulse again. I hold my breath. His shoulders sag and his eyes meet mine. I shake my head before he can say anything because, no, he’s not saying those words. I won’t allow it. He can’t give up on h
The gold around her wrist brightens, and my darkness answers.“Stop your power,” Ronnie orders.“I'm trying,” I say between clenched teeth.Paige's face tightens. Heat suddenly rushes into my palm, and I gasp as something pours into me. Life. Paige’s life.“No.”I pull backward, but our hands remain
“It’s not saying anything.”“I still don’t like it,” Leo shakes his head. “Let’s not mess with things we don’t understand.”I understand his fear. Yesterday, I'd wanted exactly the same thing. But the problem with being afraid of something inside yourself is that you can't actually get away from it.
** Poppy’s POV **Jake is running an antenatal clinic this morning, and Alaric and Bastian are meeting with Callen and Ryder to discuss some alpha stuff that doesn’t interest me, not with everything going on in my life at the moment.I think everyone assumed I’d be going with them so I could see Pai
“Paige,” I murmur against her skin. “I can feel your power; it’s reacting to this. To us.”“Then don’t stop,” she whispers the command, and everything in me wants to obey.I lift her top slowly, giving her time to stop me if she wants. She doesn’t. Instead, she lifts her arms for me, letting me pull
And then there’s Jaxon. He runs straight at me the second he sees me.“Mummy!”I kneel just in time to catch him, lifting him into my arms. He squeezes my neck so tight I nearly lose my breath.“You look shiny again!” he announces proudly.I blush. “Do I?”“Uh-huh! Like a Christmas fairy.”Ryder lau
I do not understand it, but I guess I don’t have to. I just know that whatever instinct is guiding her… it is stronger than all of us combined.Ronnie nods slightly, completely ignoring the standoff between Ryder and me. “Paige isn’t losing her strength. She’s gaining clarity. Gods don’t see the wor
** Paige’s POV **I move toward the kitchen, not waiting for anyone to guide me or usher me. I want to get this over with, to feel like we are actively taking steps to put an end to this rather than waiting for the hunters to make their next move.As we enter, Ronnie steps through the back door. Beh







