Mag-log in“You look beautiful,” he said.I glanced down at my clothes. “I look like someone who’s about to faint.”“Then you look like someone who’s about to take an important examination.”I let out a shaky laugh, and he reached for my hands.“Lucia, look at me.”I did, though it took a conscious effort to s
Lucia’s POVI had memorized the symptoms of six different fevers before I realized I was reciting them aloud.“Elevated temperature, chills, muscle pain, dehydration…”I stopped, pressed my hands against my cheeks, and stared at my reflection in the mirror.“Stop it, Lucia.”My reflection looked as
I glanced up. “And if something goes wrong?”“Then we adapt.” She held my gaze. “Marcus has survived too much already. We cannot rely on a simple distraction, and we cannot give him time to understand what is happening. Whatever happens tomorrow must leave him unable to proceed with the ceremony.”T
She had made her choice, and there was nothing left for her to say.I remained beside the fountain long after she disappeared around the bend. The water continued to spill into the basin, catching the sunlight in bright, careless flashes. Somewhere behind me, servants moved through the gardens, spea
“I was thinking,” I said, “that we haven't had a proper chance to talk lately. Perhaps we could go out together sometime. There's a new tea room in the capital, and I remember you mentioning that you liked their pastries.”She slowed her steps.I kept my expression easy, as though the invitation mea
Griffin’s POVI had always thought that wanting something was the easy part.As a child, I'd wanted the same things Marcus had: my father's attention, the respect of the court, the chance to prove that I was more than a sickly boy who needed to sit down after walking too far. I had wanted to stand b
Lucia's POVBy the second night, I’d stopped expecting the hut to be empty.I came up the path with my arms full and my back aching, and the warm glow of my own window startled me all over again. Marty was still there. Healing. Eating my food. Taking up my floor.And for the first time in my life, s
Lucia's POVI scrambled backward so fast my elbow cracked against the floorboards.The man didn't move. He just opened his eyes, slow and unbothered, and looked at me like I was the one who'd done something strange.Gray morning light leaked through the gaps in my cabin wall. I was still in last nig
Lucia's POVThe wolf's eyes held mine.I knew I should back away from the huge, broken thing in the dirt. I should run back to my pack and tell a gamma leader what I found.But something deep inside of me drove me to get closer to the wolf.I crouched closer, and the first thing I did was breathe in
Lucia's POVThe whole pack was celebrating, and I hadn't eaten in two days.I was Lucia. Wolfless and orphaned — I was not welcome to celebrate with the others.I struggled to push my way to the table, just trying to reach a ham sandwich.A hand slapped mine away."Did I say you could touch that?"O







