ErinaSitting next to the truck driver and watching the road go by, I thought of Magnus and wondered if he was searching for me. A part of me hoped he would. That he would find me and take me back. When the driver asked me where I was headed and I told him, home, it was Black Rock Castle I thought of. That was my home. Not my father’s house in Chaumont.“Are you alright, Miss?” the driver asked. He was a young man in his thirties, about the same age as Magnus, with a wild, unkempt blonde beard and striking gray-green eyes.“I will be,” I offered him a smile. “It has been a trying couple of days.”“I’ve had me a few of those,” he chuckled, and it was a pleasant sound. His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, unforced and genuine.Please don’t be a pervert. I wouldn’t want to hurt you too. But he kept his focus on the road, and I was relieved.He must have noticed my dry, chapped lips. “Thirsty?” He handed me a bottle of water, and I gratefully guzzled it, letting it soothe my a
MagnusThere was a manhunt out for Erina and the man who took her from me. My soldiers searched every pack, every village for her and found nothing. Erik stubbornly stuck to his story that he didn’t know where she could have gone. Even though I believed him, I tried to probe his mind but failed. I had lost that ability along with my immortality. The beast was dying. I was dying without my mate.I was planning to leave Black Rock in search of her, and I remembered Ignatius had an estate in France. When I asked Erik about it, he said his father owned several properties.“Then you will take me to them, Erik,” I told him. “Erina belongs here with me, and I won’t rest until I find her.”“She told me she didn’t want to be found.” Erik brushed my hand off. “I know what you did, Magnus. How could you be so selfish?”“Perhaps I am selfish. But I had her first. I couldn’t let her go, Erik.” I didn’t expect him to understand what I felt for Erina.He huffed. “I thought you were better. But I see
ErinaMadam insisted I sleep in her spare room, saying she would take me to my new apartment in the morning. I should have waited until she was asleep to sneak out. But the temptation of a night in a proper bed won, and I was out like a light before my head hit the soft pillows. I woke up to the sound of traffic coming from the streets below and a bladder that was about to burst. It was still silent in Madam’s apartment.Having slept in my clothes, I tiptoed to the bathroom to relieve myself before running away. I didn’t flush the toilet for fear of waking the woman and crept like a mouse to the front door, taking the bag with Magnus’ coat and the wolf pelt with me. The key turned in the lock with a loud click, which made me flinch. I waited. No one stirred in the apartment. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped into a solid mountain of flesh.“Leaving so soon?” a deep voice rumbled above my head.I looked up. A colossal man barred my way. My heart and my stomach switch
MagnusI will bring her back. Did she think she could escape me? I promised I would always find her. Even if I had to burn the world down.I strode down the bustling corridors to the throne room. There would be hell to pay for the person who helped her get away. I took my place on my throne of bones. Ignatius’ bones have yet to decorate my throne. He was still being picked clean by the ravens and other scavengers. Soon Anderson will join him. Although he claimed to have saved my life, he still needed to pay for his atrocities against my kind. It was only fair.They filled the throne room with their anxiety and hushed whispers. I didn’t waste time.“If any of you know who helped Erina Saul leave Black Rock, speak now.” I let my eyes scan the group, drivers, servants, cooks and Gisela. “Anyone?” A heavy silence descended over them. No one dared to speak up.“I will reward the person handsomely,” I added. They feared me, as they should, but I have always been fair. Whispered conversation
Hein“Did you hear what I said?” Daphne threw her shoe at my head. I ducked in time, and it crashed against the kitchen wall.I barely listened to what she said because all I could think about was that Erina was pregnant and the expression on Magnus’ face. She was carrying my pup, and she was gone. Gone.“What?” I said absentmindedly. We had to find her. Erik said he didn’t know where she could have gone. But I’ve watched him with Anderson at the facility. He could lie without so much as blinking an eye. He knew where she was.Daphne slapped my thigh to get my attention. “You knocked me up, you damn dog!” she screeched.“What?” I barked at her, irritated. That woman could cut through glass with that voice. I stood and shoved my chair back, having hardly touched the meal she prepared.She closed the distance, putting her face directly in front of mine. “Are you dense? I said I. Am. Pregnant!” clipping every word.I blinked and stared at her flushed face, her glittering eyes. “Pregnant?
ErinaI went into the gaudy woman’s apartment against my better judgment. But it was already late, and I would kill for a place to shower and sleep. I followed her into the living area, which looked decent enough but had a lingering smell of cigarettes and something I was unfamiliar with. She did not invite me to be seated, and so we stood, intently observing each other. I haven’t eaten properly, and my stomach protested much to my embarrassment.“I have some money, not much,” I confessed. “But I just need to clean up and have a place to sleep. Just for a few hours. I’ll be gone by morning.” If she could throw in a good meal, I would be grateful.She inclined her head to measure me. “And where do you want to go, honey? Let’s see how much money you have.” She held out her hand. There was a ring on every finger except her thumb.I took out the small wad of cash and held it out to her. “I have to go to Chaumont by bus or by train.”She shook her head and took all the money. “I’m afraid t