"Yes," William admitted quietly. "And like Paoli said, it came with a very high price."Her brows knit together in confusion. "You were condemned as a kid? But how did you continue to age if you were immortal as a child?" she asked."It's-" he began."Don't even say it's complicated," she interrupted shortly. “This looks like a good time for explanations.” She crossed the room to sit down at the table, made an elaborate point of settling back in her chair and gestured to the one across from her.While she was waiting for him to join her, she lifted the lid on the tray and found a delightful dinner of roast beef and carrots.She didn't hesitate to start eating.The food was surprisingly delicious. A sweet glaze on the carrots made them melt in her mouth.William took the seat across from her and leaned back, watching her in a thoughtful silence. Only once she'd finished eating and pushed her plate away did he take a deep, r

Emily couldn't stifle her gasp of horror.William's arm tightened on her side, almost to the point of pain. His eyes glittered gold and his chest rumbled with a low growl.             “It would be a waste, don't you think?” Paoli said quickly, his voice flat and matter of fact. He sounded calm, almost conversational.  After her initial gasp, Emily held a blank expression and refused to show fear in the face of someone obviously accustomed to terrifying others. She wouldn't go to her death humiliating herself by screaming and begging. She would face her fate with dignity. No one needed to know it took all of her will to keep her knees from giving out."Lycaon knows; as do I; if you push this issue, Emily will not be the only life lost here today. William and I will die with her. It's doubtful we'll be the only ones,” Paoli said. It was a subtle threat, but a threat, n

Emily was sleep walking.She had to be.One minute, she was sleeping fitfully in the bed in her room. The next thing she knew, she was padding silently on bare feet past Paoli who was sleeping on the couch. She wanted to cry out for help. But, as with many dreams, she couldn't seem to get her body to work quite right.She walked through the door and around the castle. Her mind screamed at her to stop and get back to the safety of Paoli and her room, but her feet continued on. She was convinced her certain death would step out from any corner in the castle halls, but still she kept moving, despite her fear. Her body seemed to be under someone else's control, and she was powerless to stop herself.It was daytime, and the castle was thankfully empty this time of day. Room after room she went, through the halls, past the crested doors, and into the throne room where the Coven heads held court. Eventually, she found herself in an ancient hallway. It s

For the next two days, William stayed with Paoli while Emily recovered from their ordeal in her own room. William spent more time asleep than awake to allow his body to fully heal. Every time he woke, he went directly to Emily's side, only to find her asleep and still pale.Her breathing was deep and even. He allowed it to reassure him. Still, each time he saw her like that, he was gripped with another wave of guilt.He'd done that to her.Paoli's attempts to bolster him only managed to make him feel worse."You're looking at it all wrong," Paoli informed him when he returned from Emily's bedside on the second evening.William gave him a questioning look; one brow raised quizzically."You've never left a victim alive, before," Paoli pointed out with a nod of approval. "That's a huge accomplishment for you, especially under the circumstances."Victim.William felt the word all the way to his soul.He'd made Emily

William woke the next evening to find Emily coated in a fine film of sweat. Confusion set in momentarily, and he sat up to notice there was enough sweat to soak the sheets around them.His heart began to hammer almost violently when the realization took hold of him.She was beginning the change.Guilt seized his gut like a physical thing.He should have told her.He'd intended to explain it all last night and clear the air between them, but he'd gotten distracted.He had no regrets about sealing his claim on her, but something nagged at his conscience, just the same.By not telling her what he'd done, he hadn't properly prepared her for what was happening now. It was his job as her mate to keep her safe and protected.Another thought clenched in his gut. If he'd told her last night, would she have rejected him?He pushed the idea away.It didn't matter.She couldn't reject him now.Not with the bond