LOGINFor one long second, Eugene didn't move. Kaelyn's lips were still against his, his mind had gone completely blank then reality crashed back into him.He immediately remembered Becca, the healer's chambers, the blood, their newborn son, and the fear that had been eating at him since the moment Becca's body had begun convulsing.And now Kaelyn was kissing him.Eugene's expression hardened. He immediately caught Kaelyn by the shoulders and pulled her away."What are you doing?"Kaelyn stumbled backward then her eyes widened."I..."Eugene stared at her in disbelief, his breathing was heavy."Why did you just kiss me?"Kaelyn's lips parted."Yes. I—""I didn't give you permission to do that" he cut her off.The words were sharp and Kaelyn's expression changed. She looked almost offended."You kissed me on the night we were together" she said."That doesn't give you the right to do it now" he replied. "But we—""That doesn't matter" he cut her off again. "It matters to me!" She replied a
Jack had officially reached the point where he was tired of everything, the shouting, the secrets, the arguments, the constant feeling that something terrible was about to happen.He sat against the stone wall outside the healer's chambers, his arms folded across his chest as he stared at the closed doors.Nobody had come out, just silence and that was beginning to make everyone nervous.Jack glanced around. Mira was standing a few feet away, repeatedly looking toward the healer's chambers, Tyler was pacing, Ava was sitting on a nearby bench and Seraphina stood beside her with her arms folded.Everyone seemed to be waiting for the same thing which was news about Becca.Was she alive? Was she stable? Had the bleeding stopped?Nobody knew.Jack dragged a hand down his face."How long has it been?" He asked.Tyler stopped pacing."Too long" he said.Jack sighed then Mira turned toward them."Don't say things like that" she warned. Tyler looked at her."I'm not trying to frighten you" he
Eugene walked into his chambers without saying a word and the heavy doors closed behind him with a soft thud.For the first time since Becca had been rushed to the healer's chambers, he was completely alone and somehow, that was worse.The silence pressed against him from every direction.Eugene stood in the middle of his chambers, staring at nothing. His shoulders were tense, his hands were still clenched. His mind, however, was anything but quiet.His thoughts immediately returned to Becca. Her pale face, her closed eyes, the blood, her body convulsing beneath the sheets made him almost unable to breathe. He loosened the collar of his shirt and walked toward the balcony. When he pushed the doors open, the cool night air immediately brushed against his face.Eugene's chest tightened."What if..."He stopped and his jaw clenched."No."He shook his head. He refused to finish the thought but his mind was already doing it for him.What if Becca dies tonight?The question was unbearable
Greta pushed open the storage-room door and she heard a muffled, desperate sound from somewhere inside the dark room.Greta froze and her heart immediately dropped into her stomach."No..."She slowly stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind her.The storage room was dim, illuminated only by the weak light that slipped through a narrow window near the ceiling.The maid was awake and her eyes immediately locked onto Greta as she twisted desperately against the ropes binding her wrists. Her face was pale and exhausted, but the anger in her eyes was stronger than ever.The gag had slipped slightly from her mouth."You sick woman" her voice was hoarse.Greta's expression tightened. For several seconds, neither woman moved then the maid began struggling harder."Untie me!" She demanded.Greta quickly shut the door more firmly."Stop moving.""Untie me!""I said stop!" She yelled at her."You think tying me up will make this disappear? You think nobody will find me?" The maid's voice
Becca's body continued to convulse. Even after Eugene and Tyler had pulled their auras back, the trembling refused to stop."Becca!" Eugene's voice cracked with panic.Her fingers curled tightly against the sheets and her breathing came in short, broken gasps."What's happening?"Mira stood beside the bed, tears streaming down her face."Please...make her stop" she begged.The head healer ignored the panic surrounding her."Everyone stay calm!"She immediately rushed toward a cabinet and began searching through several small jars."Where is it?"One of the younger healers pointed toward a shelf and she hurried over. The head healer crushed several leaves between her fingers before dropping them into a cup of steaming water."Hold her head carefully" she instructed. Another healer supported Becca while the head healer stirred the mixture."Open her mouth."Eugene stepped forward."Let me help."The healer's answer was immediate."No, please step back" she implored.Eugene hesitated th
Greta stood frozen before the iron bars as Desmond's last words continued to echo inside her head.She swallowed hard. She knew it was the only solution to this kind if situation she had found herself in but hearing it out loud caused her chest to ache.Her palms were damp and she tried to find the right words."I can't do it" she said.Desmond's eyes narrowed."What did you say?" He demanded. Greta forced herself to meet his gaze."I said, I can't do that" she repeated as her voice trembled.For several seconds, Desmond simply stared at her then his expression darkened."You can't?"Greta shook her head."I can keep her hidden, I can make sure she doesn't speak, or I can move her somewhere no one will find her" she said.Desmond's jaw tightened."That isn't what I told you to do."Greta nodded."I know.""Then why are we still having this conversation?" He asked.Greta swallowed."Because she's innocent" she replied. A bitter laugh escaped Desmond."Innocent? She's a witness" he re
Max and Eugene’s hearts pounded in unison, their muscles coiled like springs, as the man on the ground stubbornly tried one last desperate attempt to free himself. “Not today,” Eugene growled, pressing the man flat against the forest floor. Max pinned the man’s legs, feeling his strength push aga
The cabin sat quietly among the thick talls trees, nestled deep in the forest where the wind whispered through the branches and the only sounds were the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional sounds of a bird. Smoke drifted lazily from Garran’s house which was still in flames, the smoke curling
Dinner sat heavily on the wooden table, warm and steaming, but the air around it felt thick and suffocating. Mira had tried, nervously at first, to make conversation, but now, the silence pressed down on her like a physical weight.Max sat rigid, his shoulders tight, staring at the plate in front
Mira stood at the counter, her hands moving automatically as she chopped vegetables for dinner. Through the open window of the training field, she could see Eugene demonstrating a maneuver to Max, who was sweating under the bright afternoon sun, his muscles straining as he tried to match every mov







