VOLUME II: RUIN'S PROMISERu took a deep breath and surveyed the little faces sitting on the carpet in front of her. She sat on the chair from which she’d read dozens of stories already in just the two months that school had been in session. She thought back to how optimistic she’d been back then, thinking this would be the best class she’d ever had, and she would teach them so much before the end of the school year. Now, it was only eight weeks later, and she was preparing to tell them goodbye. The tears stung her eyes and threatened to spill over; she only hoped she could manage to get her message out before the dam gave way.Cutter had told his class last Friday and had been gone for an entire week now. His replacement, Kristin Collins, was sweet, and Ru had assured him they were in good hands. Now, it was her turn. Never in a million years had she envisioned herself leaving her classroom, her profession, but she had important

It had only been a couple of weeks since Lyric had taken a picture of Ru’s scars, the ones she had been given her true name, Rune, by her mother for, but she hadn’t had any luck getting a clear translation yet. Ru knew Lyric Gabriels well enough already to understand she wouldn’t give up until she found an answer. She nodded at Ivy and managed a small smile.“Still not sure why Rider’s putting another bathroom in a house we probably won’t be staying in long term,” Cutter commented. “But if it gives him something to do….”“I think he’s tired of there being three girls and only two bathrooms,” Ivy chuckled, stepping back toward the kitchen. “Personally, I wouldn’t mind if he had his very own restroom.” She made a face as if to say Rider Michaels had a habit of stinking up the other bathrooms, and Ru couldn’t help but chuckle. Rider was something else, that was for sure.

How he’d gotten even closer to her, she wasn’t sure, but she leaned her face over just a bit until the side of her head was resting on his forehead. His arm was around her shoulders now, and she let herself become enveloped by him for just a moment, drawing upon his strength to shore up all of the battlements that had come undone within her. His lips grazed her cheek, and Ru felt something else stir down deep inside of her. The thought that if she tilted her head up slightly and found Cutter’s lips with hers, he’d likely kiss her entered her mind, but she had never even allowed herself to consider him more than a friend, not even when they’d gone out on a date, because she’d always believed he didn’t think about her that way. Now, in the darkness, as he brought his other arm around her waist, and she traced the bare skin of his muscular arm with her fingertips, her thoughts began to change. Not giving in to temptation was a strugg

Ru was halfway up the stairs when she heard Cutter’s footsteps behind her. She slowed down, and he caught up. “You okay?” he asked as they proceeded to the hallway in unison.“I’m fine,” Ru replied, hoping her smile was counterfeit enough to fool him.“You don’t have to go through with this tonight if you don’t want to. We can wait until you’re ready. I can even tell Ivy to hold off on the travel arrangements if you want.”She turned to face him and saw nothing but sincerity in his expression. His hands were shoved down deep in his jeans pockets, his handsome face crinkled with concern. “No, it’s not that,” Ru assured him, though she wasn’t completely sure that was true. “It’s just… I can’t go to Wyoming without talking to my mom—to Liddy.”Cutter looked surprised. “You&

Unlike the real woods that stood near Angel Grove, only a few miles away from the historic home, these woods were shrouded in eternal night. Being part of a dream realm heightened the more sinister qualities of the location. The real woods would’ve appeared less menacing during the day, while it would always be just as dark, foggy, and uninviting here no matter the time, although it didn’t help that it was almost eleven at night when the team began their search.Cutter kept Ru within eye sight, which wasn’t difficult considering she was more than a little scared to step out of his line of vision. She was also more than a little distracting, not only because he felt he was constantly checking on her location, but because it was her. While he was surrounded by twisted trees with long, scraggly branches, thick roots reaching up from the ground to snare a misplaced step, she was the embodiment of all things lovely and good, even in jeans an