“I shouldn’t even be saying this, but you can still turn around and run, love. You owe my realm nothing. You owe me nothing. I’m a selfish bastard, I admit that, but I would never force you to marry me. Do I want to marry you? Yes, I do. But you’re so young and have your whole life ahead of you. If we marry, you will be expected to return to Farrarie with me and rule by my side. You will be Queen.” Fuck, I didn’t think of any of that. I would have to leave my realm and live in his. Though, it’s not like anyone here would miss me, aside from Alex and Chase.I would have to leave everything I know and move to a whole different world. Part of me was scared shitless and another part was longing for the adventure that move would bring. It would be a new beginning for me, a fresh start where no one would know of my past. I could start over.“As scared as I am with this whole unlocking my power thing and

Ryan's POVAfter I left the mess hall, I made it back to my room in record time. I quickly made my way over the bed and grabbed the small vial Alex had given me. Without hesitation, I drank it and laid down. A short while later I was being shaken awake. I blinked a few times, trying to get my eyes to focus, and when they did, I saw both my cousins standing by the edge of the bed.“Did you do it? Is it done?”“Yes, Alex, he’s coming to us now.”“Okay, we need to be ready. Are you ready to tell the others the truth?”“Yeah…I think so, Chase. I understand a lot more now, and when he is woken he can help me understand more. He is a key piece in this war; I needed the others to think I was scared and uncertain about marrying Nico blindly or else they would have asked too many questions. Nico is very bright, and he would have

Nico's POVI’m sitting here, staring at her and the way she is running her hand through Kai’s hair. Since when did she stop being angry at him and when the hell did they become friendly like that? I knew they were close in her dreams, and just thinking about Kai having his hands on my woman made my fucking blood boil. I hate the way I’m feeling, like I’m some insecure child. I have never felt like this before about anyone. I hated Kai just for having her hands on him.“Could you stop fucking touching him? He’s alive, yay! That doesn’t mean he needs you to constantly fucking pat him like he’s your pet.” I snarled, shocked at my own outburst.I saw the others staring at me with wide eyes. Dom and Jax both looked like they wanted to laugh. I narrowed my eyes at them until they looked away. I returned my stare to Ryan and found she was glaring at me. The look she was giving me to

Nico's POVI heard her gasp as the portal closed behind us. Was that gasp because she was happy I brought her here or was she pissed off because this was the place Kai had brought her, and where she thought he died?“Nico, I…I—” Dammit, I made a huge mistake bringing her here.I bowed my head, feeling defeated, letting my black hair hang over my face, shielding my eyes. Nothing I do seems to make her happy.Instead, I have a knack for pissing her off“I’m sorry, I’ll take us back now.” As I turned around to open another portal, she grabbed my hand. My eyes shot to hers. She had a beautiful, shy smile on her face, and her eyes told me what she could not. She was glad to be here but unsure what her next move would be.“I’m shocked you brought me here. I have never been to Lake William before. Well, of course, I have, but only

Nico's POVAfter Ryan left the mess hall, everyone continued to chat amicably about their lives. I noticed Kai had been very quiet for most of this. It was strange, considering he normally added his version of events when I, Jax, or Dom told a story of our youth. However, I didn’t have time to worry about his salty-ass attitude—this might be my only time to ask Ryan’s cousins some things about her. I made my move when there was a break in the conversation.“Were Ryan and her sister close, even though they lived apart?” Both of the warlocks’ faces dropped at the mention of Ryan’s twin sister. Chase was quicker to recover from the shock and answer my question.“Stevie and Ryan were closer than anyone I know. Even though they lived apart, they would always find a way to see each other or talk on Ryan’s hidden cell phone. It would destroy Stevie when she couldn’t sp