Masuk“No!” she sputters out, stumbling a few steps towards me, shaking her head so hard her pretty blue-green hair flutters out all around her. “No, Junie, don’t make me go! I want…I want to stay here! And help! I mean…” she bites her lip. “It will be nice to be able to visit home. But I want to stay wit
“I’m sending you home too,” I say quietly, doing my best to look each in the eyes. “I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed that you didn’t get the wish.” They murmur a variety of responses back to me, most of them relieved. One by one they step forward and I take their ha
“Does…” I whisper, my eyes still fastened to Orion as my eyes move over him, feeling the powers that radiate from him now. “Does that mean you have all of the powers of Darkness too? From…from the wish?” “No,” Orion murmurs, looking down at his hands and flexing them, experimenting with the feel o
Beatrice is the last to go, staring at me in shock, realizing finally that she bet everything on the wrong horse. I bare my teeth at her, fangs extended, and Beatrice’s eyes go wider as she trembles and finally submits, going to her knees and bowing her head. “Good,” I say, my voice returning to n
Laila’s knife sinks deep between Death’s shoulder blades and the final scream of a God fills the air as Death falls to his knees. The magic stops mid-stream, like a tap being suddenly turned off. I groan and tilt forward against Anton, who catches me and holds me against his chest. “Shit, June,”
“Just a little longer, June. She’ll do it.” But what if she doesn’t? What if…what if I’m inches from oblivion, and this is it? My heart strains in my chest, my wolf shaking like a leaf from snout to tail. But still, I will myself to hope. To trust in my friend. “I know,” I reply, letting my ey
About two hours later – or at least, that’s how long I think it is, I’m not sure I fully understand how time works here yet – I bunch the folds of fabric in my hand to lift my skirts as I climb the stairs towards the palace entrance. Anton trots at my side in his ghostly wolf form, glancing up at me
“Um…why did you stop to speak with me?” I gesture around to all of the girls who are clearly avoiding each other. “Not that I mind, I just –“ “Oh, I really like your wolf!” she says, visibly brightening as she gestures towards Anton, who lifts his head, clearly proud and pleased to be acknowledged
“Eh,” Anton says, and I turn my head to see him shrugging and smirking a bit. “I’m not so sure about that.” “What?” I press myself up to a sitting position, intrigued. “What are you talking about? I was such a jerk to him – it’s a miracle that he didn’t kick me out of the competition – I mean, I r
I turn and stride away, tossing the goblet over my shoulder, terribly pleased at the clang it makes in the dead silence that I leave behind me. Glancing down at my side, though, I startle a little when I realize that Anton’s not there. “Hey!” I hiss, turning to see him a few steps behind, looking







