“Before they could reach him, his car flew over a guardrail into the river. They’re searching for him now, but it doesn’t look good.”I’m hit with panic. “You’re talking about Ethan?”He looks from Ansel to me. He catches sight of my arm and pauses. Then he nods.Ansel watches me, almost helplessly, as I take off out of the room. I shove my way past Henry and race down the corridor.I fly into the chauffeur's office. By luck, he’s nowhere in sight. The light’s on and there’s a full mug of tea, like he just stepped out. I rummage in the drawer where he handed me the car key from for my trip into town. I grab a random one, and then run through the hall to one of the side doors.The gravel crunches under my feet as I make my way to the line-up of cars. I hit “unlock” and bolt to the one that lights up.I drive like a bat out of hell until I come to the road that runs along the river. My heart is in my stomach.Ada? Can you tell anything? Ansel may have severed my link with Ethan, but I

“Oh.” I shudder in ecstasy and close my eyes.I stay flattened against the wall as the wave of pleasure continues to roil through me.Ansel is watching me.“What do you feel?” His blue eyes are sharp, but his voice and facial expression are dulled.“What are you asking me,” I say, breathless. My mind returns to our first interaction after he brought me here from the auction block. Is he hoping for nostalgia? Because that was sexual pleasure wrapped up in a fear sandwich. I don’t have exactly warm feelings about it.“Without Ada.”“Ansel, I felt the physical aspect of it. It felt good.”“And nothing else?”“Nothing else. And even if there was still something, I’d already made up my mind to leave, for all the same reasons I told you before. None of that’s changed.”“I guess there’s nothing left to salvage.” No emotion registers on his face.“No.”“Just so you we’re clear on my end, baby or no baby, Ada or no Ada. I’m done with you, too.”“Fine,” I say.“Let one of my staff know where to

Ansel tore through the first wolf. Then the second. He left both dead in pools of blood. He made his way toward the kitchen, where he saw the light on, and could make out the smell of fear. The hostage. A growl came from behind him. Before he could react, a large wolf lunged onto his back, and began biting at his neck. Ansel struggled to get him off. From the kitchen, he could hear Henry’s wolf growling, the sound of claws scraping, and of furniture upturned, and then came Henry’s loud whimper.Rage poured through him. Ansel threw the wolf off. The big, silver wolf lunged again, but this time, Ansel was ready. He darted just enough to the side to avoid the full brunt of force as the wolf came at him. He reached for him with his teeth, caught him by the neck, and in one movement, shook him so hard that his neck snapped.Ansel raced into the kitchen where he found Queen Mia’s advisor tied to a chair. A werewolf in human form was nervously holding a knife against the advisor’s neck.Wor

  “He’s gone.” “Gone?” I say the word loudly enough that it echoes. “He’s been moved. Sorry, Miss.” The guard shifts uncomfortably. “And, can you keep it down,” he asks in a quiet tone. “I - I don’t understand.” He leans toward me and says, quieter still. “Maximum security.” My head is spinning. That doesn’t make any sense.  “But that’s for, like, hardened criminals. Violent - “ My voice rises again, and the guard shushes me, putting a finger up to his lips. “My father doesn’t belong there,” I say. He shrugs. “I don’t know. That was the orders. That’s all I can tell you.” “B

They spread over the manor like a web. Some of the agents are outside, too, searching the rest of the property and talking to the gammas stationed at the perimeters for security.They collect statements from everyone. My interview seems to last forever. I struggle to collect the finer details of my memories while they question me. The more they poke and prod, the worse it gets. Hopefully, I haven’t made matters worse for Ansel.When they’re finished with me, I go and wait outside of Ansel’s office.Eventually, he and two agents walk out.Ansel’s eyes are closed and he’s rubbing his head like he’s in pain. “This has sent me into migraine territory,” he says, as the agents make their way back down the hall.“Ansel,” I say. “I just want you to know that I told them you didn’t have anything to do with Ethan’s accident, and that I wasn’t trapped here, or anything like that.”Ansel glares at me. “The things you left me for, I think. Nice to know you see it differently now.”“Some things,” I