Les runs interference just as well as any of my regular guards could. I can see her fingertips out of the corner of my eye when she spreads her arms wide. Her confident silence combined with Bronx keeping his hand on the small of my back makes me feel more secure. Les tells the photographers they can get pictures at the flower well just like everyone else. I realize Les’s presence is so authoritative that the crowd automatically abides by her orders and goes to the photo area. I smile to myself, knowing it’s her goddess ability at work and she’s using it to protect her Alpha and Luna. Not because she has to, because she volunteered to.As people call our names, I feel Bronx’s hand wrap further around my waist protectively. As his temper builds, Les moves closer to us. He’s more on edge about photographers after what happened last year in the children’s boutique. The police caught the photographer who shot him, but they let him out on a bond and skipped the country. Reggie and Milo say

It’s dark in the bathroom. Only the lights above the vanity are on, but the hot water from the showerhead feels good on my aching skin, so I don’t care. I’m sitting on a washcloth. I can feel the cool tile on my scarred back. I don’t remember how I got here, but it smells like home. I adjust my eyes. It looks like Bronx’s bathroom? Where is everyone?“Lex?” I whisper. I’m too tired to get up and look for someone. Hopefully, she has some answers. “Are we in the packhouse?”“Yeah, you’re in our mate’s bathroom. He went to get towels. He’ll be right back.” She whispers and tries to send energy to comfort me. “What happened with Aphrodite?”“I think it’s safe to say I made a deal with the queen, then kicked her hornet’s nest.” I sigh and brush the hair out of my eyes.“Made a deal?” Lex sounds concerned.“I promised her Psyche’s head in exchange for leaving everyone alone for the next five years.” I lean my head forward and put my forehead in my hands. The water rushes over the back of my

“Good Morning, Alpha Regent Bronx Andreas Mason! Joyeux anniversaire [Happy birthday], Luna Regent Goddess Iokaste Mason! How are you feeling, mon ami?” Delilah breezes into the Bronx’s office with Musu and kisses me on both cheeks. She sets down a round cake. The icing is ombre from white to lavender to gray frosting and three candles on top. “Leticia Latmus, Klay Sombun, I hope you are both well!” James and Marco walk in behind them, helping their children toddle in. Codi runs up to them and stops short. “Uncle Marco, can I help? Klay said I can if you say it’s okay.” “Of course you can help, Chinita [Ladybug].” He bends down and speaks to Inez. Her complexion and eyes are dark, just like Musu’s. I wonder what will happen when she grows up? Will her skin, eyes, and hair change the way mine did? If so, how will we be able to support her through a big change in her identity like that? I make a mental note to ask some of the other Menae about their childhoods. “Inez, do you want to

“Bonjour! Cason, it’s Kas. I brought your afternoon appointments!” I call into the depths of the shop.The heavy metal music sounds like scrambled noise to me, but I see a couple of women bobbing their heads and reciting lyrics. Les and Adrienne are pointing to the tattoo samples that adorn the walls. Other Sentinel are showing each other magazines or sheets of paper with sketches to give to Cason for direction. I can feel the excitement of the nine women and it makes me happy. They’re always so serious and prefer a structured lifestyle. It’s good to see them more relaxed.They aren’t even wearing their signature black tactical clothes. Aryelles looks like a supermodel on her day off in baggy tan sweatpants, a baby blue v-neck t-shirt, and baseball cap with her shiny black hair cascading out from underneath. Everyone in jeans, leggings, and even Martina in a maxi dress is a surprising change of pace.“The smell of gunpowder never gets old, does it?” Les stands next to me with a slight

“They’re safe. It won’t kill them.” Kas looks away from her arm, up at me, and sucks in a sharp breath as her eyes glass over. All emotion leaves her body. She slumps as her body stiffens. Her empty eyes stare at me, unblinking. I can see tears in her eyes, but they’ll never fall. Her mouth is open slightly, but she won’t speak. Even her scent disappears. I take her icy hand and try to listen to her heartbeat. It’s slow and steady, but not strong at all. I look back at her arm, still gushing blood onto the rug. “Kas?” I whisper, watching the change in disbelief. “No, Baby, come back. Please, come back.” I’ve never seen the moment she falls into one of her visions. I’ve only seen what it looks like when she’s an empty shell of Kas. The empty shell I’m looking at now. My mate, the love of my fucking life, the mother of my children, my wife. She is so much more than that. She’s the Luna of Blood River and of the Menae. She runs a charity and a business. She is so many things to so ma