“One count of kidnapping, one count of illegal imprisonment, two counts of neglect and abuse... Need I say more your highness?” I chirped cheekily, my smile fading when one almond-shaped eye twitched violently. I was getting ballsy with my mouth again, it was hard not to. There was just something about being kidnapped by unstable, ancient beasts that REALLY made you want to push bright red buttons.“You're going to stay here Nola, you're stuck whether you like it or not, and if you think for a moment-” The Lycan growled and I cut him off with a haughty sigh because no one was going to boss Nola Reynolds around, Lycan or house rat.“I'm not one of your little ponies Lycan, you can't keep me here against my wish and then fucking Stockholm me into liking it, like you did with the other girls! I'm 'not nobody's damn pussy.” I ground out, flailing my arms about in the space between us before something flashed in the Lycan’s dust-colored eyes and he gripped me violently by the hair.“Now y

Nola Reynolds I’d been lying in bed with my eyes closed, minding my damn business when I heard the rattle of the gold door knob before it flew open.”You sick, psycho bitch!” The blonde girl with cerulean blue eyes cursed, her raven black dress flowing out beside her captivating me for a moment before I felt the flat of her palm connect with my cheeks. I'd turned them to her like an idiot.Now, I always told my first-timers two very important things that took Nola Reynolds from a baleful countryside girl to a fucking demon faster than you could spell N-a-r-n-i-a. Putting your paws on me, and putting your paws in my food.“Did you just hit me?” I choked out, sliding my hand to the sting I was sure had reddened my cheeks before getting up and circling her.“One more word from your filthy mouth and I'd backhand you to the galaxies bitch!” She screamed, her blue eyes flashing and the white saliva that had collected on one side of her lips distracting me again.There’d been only one way

It was weird. I was sitting on the foamy comforter of the bed, panting with a chill in my spine, the shiny rivulets of sweat running down my bare back into the cool, white capri pants I'd slept in, and almost certain I had turned out the lights that were now blazing at full beam.It was a scream I had heard was it not? Screams tended to carry across the hollow cave walls better than the outside.It took me longer than I’d have liked for me to realize the soft progressive creaking noise was coming from the half-open double doors of my room.I resisted the urge to immediately bolt for Nola's room to check on her. I had to be logical about this, impartial. It was what my father would have wanted, however much I hated him, his system, and teachings, stuck.“What the fuck?” I whispered more to myself than the unresponsive redwood, steadying the door before throwing it wide open and stalking into the brightly lit passageway.Someone had come into my room while I was asleep, and left my head

Hector The first time my heart had beat off sync was years ago when my father had backhanded me hard across the face. We’d been camping out between the mountain land trees for a good minute when the white fur of a rabbit scuttled past and I caught a whiff of its earthy scent.“There's your cue boy, Go!” He thundered, the massive jaws of his wolf had already begun to water a little on the sides and I took off my hind legs connecting with the bramble-covered rocks like there was lightning at my heels.I could hear the earth moving behind me as I wound through crooked trees that seemed to bend back on their black-spotted tree barks to get out of my way as I pounced at the rabbit in a split second.“Yes! Yes! Now, the way I taught you! Get the neck first!” The granite in my father's baritone had notes of silvery glee laced through it as I trapped the rabbit between my large paws.”Go on! Snap the neck with your teeth! Like i shown you!” He bellowed when he saw me hesitate.It was the wh

Hector“Your highness!” The council monotoned, the scrape of chairs on wood filling the room as they stood to bow and welcome me.I nodded briefly to the changelings and they sat, the green-eyed imp beside my high seat shooting out a leg to trip me and yelping when I stepped on it.Kalden grinned freakishly when I sat down with a high, and I couldn't help the bright smile that crossed my face on seeing the tree trunk of a man.“All that fresh puss has you looking good your highness.” Kalden mocked under his breath so that only I could hear as the councilmen murmured around us.The razor lines of my best friend's eyes curved with evil delight when I scrunched up my nose in disgust and he covered the snicker he'd been holding in with the back of one clawed hand.“Shut up Kalden, I can tell you've been saving that one for ages.” I grumbled, laughing lightly as the palace maiden poured us red wine, blushing a bright pink, save for the porcelain button of her nose.The man shook his thick