The sleep filling in Lilly’s eyes finally subsided along with the panic from the abrupt awakening and she nodded her head. Lilly looked around seeing they were at a beautiful cabin by a lake deep inside a heavily wooded forest. Her eyes widened as she realized they were alone and Brayden was still holding her wrists. A weird feeling filled her stomach as warm sensations pulsed from where Brayden was touching her. He followed her gaze to his hands and then quickly released her mumbling an apology. As much as he wanted to touch her they needed to talk, and he doubted she expected to wake to them being alone. With the sudden release of her wrists Lilly’s stomach returned to normal but her skin suddenly felt like it had been touched with ice for too long. Brayden outstretched his hand to her while saying, "Come on let's go check this place out. My dad said it's heavily protected so you're good to actually practice your magic or freak out and not worry about attracting attention." He adde
Lilly looked up to see him staring at her almost with a look of adoration and her face flushed with panic so she quickly asked. "Okay, so what about Claire and my mom?""Right! So Claire is mated or married to Ivan. Ivan is apparently some big shot warrior who is cousins with my dad, and adopted siblings with my mom? So technically not related to you at all. In all reality, Claire is actually only 7 years older than us. Explains why she looks so young for being your mother! Do you remember from before my parents dropped me off with you and Claire?"Lilly chose not to speak and just shook her head signaling for Brayden to continue. "Well you actually lived with Claire and your mom until there was an... um... 'accident'. We were only 5 at the time or well that time around, so telling you that Claire was really your mom you didn't question it. But I remembered having a different mom than you so Claire said we were cousins." Brayden paused looking to Lilly to make sure she was following b
Withdrawing from the link knowing Brayden had made it to Ivan and James Lilly decided to let herself enjoy the warm bath Brayden had started for her. Sinking in she felt everybody tense then relax from the heat assaulting her every muscle. Going through the plan in her head she realized they would have to pull Frank. Years ago she lightly mentioned needing someone at the in-between to keep tabs on Esteban. Little did she know Frank had volunteered and left before she was able to delegate anyone for the decision. Without making it a known decision many had come to believe Frank was a traitor, in order to prevent his cover from being blown she didn’t say a single word. However, she knew the pain he was put through because of the few times they had run into each other over the years. For every time he had let them go Esteban taught Frank a lesson. It pained her to know he was suffering so much just to keep her safe, and when she tried running away to live a normal life. Before long the t
Red.Just the color red, deep blood red burning hot. Lilly's sight was like someone covered her eyes with a red piece of paper. A chill ran down Lilly's spine as she felt her body move of its own accord. Moving up from the bench by the lake and pulling her forward. Her legs moved to bring her closer to where she imagined the lake would be. Mates? What are they, werewolves in some messed-up fairytale? War since 1917? They're in the twenty-first century! This is a dream she's still asleep in her room asleep with that loveable loser on the floor.Wait.... loveable? Is Brayden loveable in a way other than platonic love? Lilly felt her legs falter and a smoke-like hew grow in her vision as she inches closer to the water's edge. Her mind itched like someone was tickling it, but how could some reach her brain? The beautiful s
Brayden made his way down the hall to where he remembered his parent's room had been. The door flung open and a dark chocolate skin toned woman smiled with absolute joy flowing out of her. Brayden gazed at the small fragile woman before meeting her caramel eyes. He saw the brown ring slowly turn around her caramel circles before tears filled her eyes. "Hi, mom." That was all Brayden could say before he was pulled into the room. "Sit sit. Have you eaten? James... your father... sorry it's just been too long. I know how you've been but please tell me you know I can't truly see everything. Where did Lilliana go, weren't you too just out by the lake? Don't tell me Miriam took her away! You two have just as much processing as we mothers have a want for catching up." Brayden just waited for her to take a breath before he answered.
‘Where are you?’ The words rang in Lilly's mind as she stood staring at the man who had helped create her. Also remembered he was the one who had almost made her lose her life, more than once. The man laying on life support before her was no more than a sperm donor in her eyes. He was never there when she needed him and everytime she needed him the most, he tried to kill her and everyone close to her. Nia... the pain-filled her from the core almost as if the incident had just happened. Why did that memory have to take this long to come back, when everything else came rushing back at the lake. ‘Lil... Lilly! Lilliana, I need you to tell me where you are. Now!’ Brayden was panicking which he had every right to. If he isn't close enough when things go wrong ev
"Shit!" Miriam fell to the ground in pain, before basically yelling. "You said a little pain. This is not a little pain!" "Well, would you have come if I said it would be bad?" Brayden watched as Miriam curled herself in a ball from the pain. His eyes drifted to Lilly standing by the window looking outside at the falling snow. He made his way over wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her into his embrace before whispering. "I told you not to let go." "I know, but I had to see what day it is." Lilly gently replied continuing to watch the snow casually fall with no other care in the world. "Okay, where are we?" Miriam had gained her strength back and was walking toward the window. "When" Lilly and Brayden mumble
Everything started to blur and turn white before they were back in the dark fruit cellar. Miriam looked to the bed of her once cherished love. She used all the strength she had left to crawl to the monitor and unplug it. The beeping stilled and the room grew silent. "He said he was going to bring you home to make a new plan and was attacked. James wasn't even there was we arrived." Miriam cried until her eyes couldn't take it anymore. Brayden help Lilly to lean against the wall as he walked to his mother-in-law to finish their conversation. “Other than a slight pain in the chest do you have any other pain from the jumps?” “I hurt everywhere Brayden but I doubt it has to do with jumping.” Miriam said holding her head as she tried to hold in her vomit. “I loved a man that used me to create a child to also be used t