Hugh stands beside me, gazing at me with heated curiosity from behind a mask of black feathers. He’s wearing a sharp black tuxedo, the lapels covered in matching feathers that though black, shimmer with color under the light. A broach of a golden crow is pinned to his breast.“There you are,” he say
Ollie’s POVSeeing my phone, Hugh makes a grab for it. Just as his fingers brush the plastic case, I snatch it back, holding it against my bosom with both hands.Hugh chuckles lightly, his chest rumbling against my back, as his breath warms the shell of my ear. “You like your little games, don’t you
Ollie’s POVFortunately Ella and I had the presence of mind to change into our school clothes after leaving the forest. Our gowns are still in the trunk of the car.That’s my only solace as Diana and the four brothers step into the hallway. My heart skips a beat when I see Hugh, but unlike earlier t
“You will volunteer at the quarry,” Conrad says.The stone quarry sits on the outskirts of town. It’s a place of hard labor, where prisoners and others being punished chip away at the rocks. The rocks are then gathered and sold to various landscapers. It’s fruitless work, only really designed to pun
Ollie’s POVMy heart jumps into his throat. The scent of Declan is all around me. As cold as he has been to me, his body is surprisingly warm, and oh so strong. Gods, the way he holds me in place like I’m nothing makes me hot under the collar.I’m humiliated by my own reaction, but I imagine him pin
Before I can walk back out again, the four block my path.Sylvia’s face is twisted with hate, a side of her the brothers never see. “I should be the one planning the coronation. Not you.”“Diana chose –” I try to say.“You should have never stuck your nose in it!” she snaps.“The diamonds were a ter
Ollie’s POVWhen I blink my eyes open again, I’m staring up at the drop ceiling of the school doctor’s office. The bed I’m in is uncomfortable but familiar, and there’s a scratchy blanket draped over me, pulled up to my chin.“Ollie, you’re awake,” Ella says with clear relief. She gets up from a nea
“Can you really not tell them the truth?” Ella asks. I could hide my feelings from the doctor, but not from my best friend, who could see through my charade in an instant.In my heart, I wish I could tell them, just as I wish they would accept me, love me, and keep me safe and happy as proper fated
I swallow thickly.If he had actually licked my skin I probably would have caught fire.Focus, I command myself. What am I thinking? Conrad has been cruel to me. I can’t start feeling soft for him, not for any reason.Hugh, I allow myself to have sex with, but even that is probably too far. I don’t
Ollie’s POV“Sit, Ollie. I won’t repeat myself.”I don’t know what he has in mind but he seems mad enough to try to punish any disobedience. For my own sanity and for my stomach’s sake, I move toward him and then sit on the stool beside his where he’s gesturing.As soon as I sit, he grabs the base o
Conrad sets aside his coffee and takes the paperwork from me. Immediately, his disposition sours. He glares at the papers like they personally offended him.I know the feeling.“You saw her leave this?” Conrad asks.“Yes. There’s no mistake.”“What?” Hugh asks, leaning forward. “What is it?”“Ollie
Declan’s POVI prefer working in the early morning hours when the rest of the world is asleep. There’s something soothing about the world around 3 and 4 am. Nothing is due that early. All the bars are closed, the coffee shops not yet open. It feels like a stolen, frozen moment.I also enjoy how very
“Ah. That’s it. So good…” Hugh hums. “Mark me up, baby.”Encouraged by the lust in his voice, as well as the rock hard dick I feel jumping insistently against my thigh and backside, I move onto the next mark and then the next. I cover each of the marks I see on him with one of my own.As I do, his h
Ollie’s POVI can tell Hugh is angry, but since I don’t know why exactly, I can only brace myself as he steps into the room and slams closed the door behind him. Immediately, I push myself up to my feet, not wanting to be sitting down for what I’m sure is an argument about to ensue.He turns on me,
“Omegas can be emotional,” Wes says. “You will want to quickly learn how to get control of that, Ollie, before it gets you into trouble. You will not be speaking to me that way again.”Unlike Conrad, who loves to dole out the orders here and there, Wes generally has a gentler touch. At least, he did
Ollie’s POVWes’s eyes narrow as he looks between Ella and me. He’s clearly suspicious, and in all fairness, we aren’t giving him much reason not to be. Ella and I both have wild-eyed looks while we sit up ramrod straight, her on the chair, me on the bed. For all the world, we look like we were up t
If he shows, he shows. If he doesn’t, I’ll just have to find some other way to deal with this cursed mating bond.Ella sees what I type and send, and though her face is somewhat pinched with concern, she doesn’t voice any of it out loud.“I brought my laptop down,” she says and gestures to it sittin