MasukTraci’s POV I was still standing near the vehicles when I felt Raiden reach for me through the mind link. I focused on him immediately. “What is it?” His voice came through calm, but I could tell from the way he spoke that something had changed. “We found out who the warrior is.” I glanced toward the group around me. “Who?” “Edward LeMasters.” I looked toward Edward. He was standing a short distance away with several of the other warriors. Corbin had Kieran in his arms, and Marge was still holding Theron. Sarah was standing beside us, watching the boys with a smile on her face. “What did you find?” I hated to ask. I was afraid of what he found out. Raiden hesitated. “He competed in last year’s tournament. Kael found his records. Ryker recognized him from one of the matches.” I kept my eyes on Edward. “What happened?” I asked hesitantly. I already knew this wasn’t going to be good. Raiden told me about the match. About the powder. My stomach tightened. The same powder? He mus
Raiden’s POV I was sitting behind my desk with Zayden across from me while Kael and Ryker stood near the other side of the office. We had been going over the last few things that needed to be handled before the tournament, making sure everything was in place. Kael had a list in his hand, and Ryker was going over the security details with him when I suddenly felt Traci reach for me through the mind link. “Raiden.” I immediately focused on her. “What’s wrong?” The answer came almost instantly. “The boys just did something.” My entire body tensed. “What did they do?” She took a deep breath. “They were walking back toward the vehicles with Corbin and Marge. Corbin has Kieran, and Marge has Theron. One of the warriors stepped out of one of the SUVs, and both boys turned toward him. Then both of them raised their little hands.” I exchanged a quick look with Zayden. “What happened after that?” Traci hesitated for a second before answering. They both twinkled their fingers and said, “
Traci’s POV The morning had started out quiet. Sarah, Helen, Samantha, and I were walking through the garden, enjoying the fresh air before the day really got going. The palace was busy with people coming and going as preparations continued, but out here, everything felt peaceful. I was listening to Sarah complain about something when the sound of an engine caught my attention. I turned toward the palace entrance. A dark SUV was pulling through the gates. I slowed my steps. “Is somebody arriving?” Helen asked. Sarah looked toward the vehicle. “Maybe.” The first SUV continued toward the palace, and another one came through the gates behind it. I frowned. Then a third followed. Samantha stopped walking. “Is that another one?” I nodded my head. Another SUV came through the gates. Then another. We all stood there watching as the vehicles made their way through the gates. “Already?” Sarah asked. “They’re showing up two days early?” I shrugged my shoulders. “I guess some people cou
Zayden’s POV We’d been back home in the palace for six months now. It was hard to believe how quickly those months had passed. It seemed like only yesterday we had been carrying our newborn sons through the palace doors, terrified that spiders may return and bite one of them. Or the curse would return. Now there wasn’t a trace of it. Raiden’s marks never returned, and neither did Kieran’s or Theron’s. The boys had grown faster than any babies I had ever seen, but then again, they weren’t ordinary babies. They were White Wolf babies, and they were already showing just how different they were. At six months old, they were toddling around the palace. They still fell every once in a while, because their little legs hadn’t quite caught up with how quickly they wanted to move, but they were far more advanced than any six-month-old should have been. And we had learned that their abilities were developing just as quickly. Kieran had fire. Theron had ice. We had discovered their healing a
Zayden’s POV I was still staring down at Theron when he let out another tiny whimper. I rubbed my hand gently over his back. “What’s wrong, little man?” He squirmed against my chest, his little face turning toward his brother. I followed his gaze. Kieran was still in Raiden’s arms, staring at the fireplace like he had no idea he had just caused the flames to jump. Then Kieran made a tiny sound. The fire flickered. I looked at Raiden. Then back to the fireplace. The flames jumped a little higher. Traci covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Kieran’s eyes stayed fixed on the fireplace, and his little mouth curled into that same innocent smile. “Well,” I said slowly, “I think your brother wants to show off.” Theron let out another whimper. I looked down at him. “Are you jealous?” He stopped moving. Then he balled both of his little fists. I watched as he raised his hands slightly. A chill swept through the room. Before I could say anything, frost began spreading across the hearth.
Raiden’s POV A couple of days had passed since the night everything changed, and nothing had happened. My marks hadn’t returned. Neither had Kieran’s or Theron’s. We had watched the boys constantly, waiting for some sign that something was wrong, but they had given us nothing to worry about. They ate, they slept, they cried when they were hungry, and they seemed perfectly content with everything around them. I couldn’t actually believe it. After living with the curse for so long I was used to pain and my anger flaring. But now… I wasn’t waiting for the curse to strike again. I still found myself checking my arms sometimes, almost expecting to see those marks appear against my skin. But every time I looked, there was nothing there. Traci had spent much of the last two days going through the old journals. She had been determined to find out whether the curse could return or if what happened to me was permanent. Tonight, she was sitting across from me near the fireplace with one of







