Concordia, Nine Hundred and Forty Years BeforeThe looming seawall held Luos and Willa entranced as they passed under it, the shadow dragging over the ship and the spray from the raise portcullis raining down over them all. Thaelen felt the temperature change, cooler under the permanent shade of the great wall, and the pattern of the waves calmed, the reef creating tranquillity within the bay.The docks were busy with ships stocking in anticipation of his return, and the boardwalks were crowded with vampires and blood slaves come to see their king’s arrival, word having passed from the guards on the wall. Within the crowd’s restlessness, the soldiers created a half-moon around Sigrid, Alyra, Hod and Magnus, who stood waiting to greet him.The Astrean ship anchored away from the docks, isolating as per Meguitte’s instructions, keeping the convicts away from the Concordian blood slaves.As the gangplank was positioned, Thaelen saw the vampires move the Concordian blood slaves back, enco

Concordia, Nine Hundred and Forty Years Before“My king?”Thaelen fought his way out of a deep sleep and winced against the flickering light of the lantern that the blood slave held. Attendants moved around the room, lighting candles and taking clothing from the chests. The open window shutters showed a night sky filled with stars.“What has happened?” He sat up knowing that they would not wake him without reason. “Have the humans managed to open a tunnel?”“No, my king,” the blood slave slid onto the bed next to him and offered him her wrist. “There was an episode at the encampment,” she explained as he drank. “Prisoners were taken before they managed to escape with the slaves.”They had anticipated it, Thaelen thought grimly, and had increased the guards as a result. When Meguitte had decided that the quarantine was done, and that there was no sign of ill health amongst the blood slaves, he had met with his advisors and discussed how to proceed. It had been decided to draw the names

Havermouth, Two Weeks BeforeThey were both quiet during the drive back to Havermouth, tired from the night f-king and emotionally raw from their conversation at Haven Farm. Heath’s mind still buzzed with shock over the discovery of Aislen’s pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage. The pack had sent twice yearly reports on her. How had whoever been reporting not noticed? Unless they had and had deliberately kept it secret.Who had been keeping it secret? Abigail? For what reason? Just because Aislen was human?How different their lives would have been, he thought with anger, his hands clenching on the steering wheel, if news of Aislen’s pregnancy had reached them. It would have taken the sting out of Charlotte’s pregnancy for Rhett, and given Catherine Edison her much longed for grandchild…Why hadn’t Aislen tried harder to tell them after the phone call…? Why hadn’t she come back to Havermouth and…? He sighed out a breath. She had been eighteen, he reminded himself, and alone. They had

Havermouth, Two Weeks BeforeAs Heath passed Cameron’s bedroom he heard his red-haired mate cry out, and paused, the timbre of that cry striking him deep. He heard the rumble of Rhett’s voice, the tone teasing, and felt his heart pick up pace as it always did when he knew that his mates were f-king. The temptation to join them and lose himself in the pleasure of their bodies was strong, but he drew in a deep breath and continued through the house, keeping his footfalls silent. In the kitchen he took the kitchen shears from the top drawer.He spent twenty minutes collecting the blood red roses from the ancient bushes in the garden, creating a bouquet and thinking about the past from Aislen’s perspective, trying to see her side of the story, trying to understand the woman that he loved. He had been avoiding doing just that, he admitted to himself, hiding from the truth.“Stupid,” he told his younger self. “Stupid, arrogant, f-ked up Charlie clone.” After everything, after all his resent

Havermouth, Two Weeks BeforeTalen watched as Morgana’s friend reversed out of the driveway, before heading down the hallway to the kitchen. The back door was open and through it he could hear Cameron and Tyler laughing as they prepared to paint the rear of the house.In the kitchen Heath wore a floral apron whilst he did the dishes. “Rhett has gone to the main street seeking coffee that hasn’t been brutally murdered,” Heath told him as he wiped his hands on the apron before taking it off."I thought that murdering the coffee beans was part of the coffee making process,” Talen replied, amused.“I guess you’re right.” Heath’s grin was a bright flash and a nice change, Talen thought, for the werewolf. There was a bright lightness to all three werewolves that was a joy for him to see. “But this crap that Aislen has is like drinking sewerage compared to Boyston’s brew.”“It all smells and looks the same to me,” Talen admitted watching as Heath fidgeted with the apron, before lying it over