The Gamma warriors fell back into the shadows. I told Susan to go take her seat in the audience and she obeyed. I felt my body relax. Lily was satisfied. And so was I. It’s in your blood, she said to me. You know it’s true. You were born to be their queen. I looked out into the cheering crowd. And for the first time, I started to believe Lily a little. Maybe I did have something noble inside me. Microphone feedback sounded as one of the judges picked up a mic and tapped it. He cleared his throat noisily and said, “Miss Yena, with perfect scores across the board, it’s clear to see that you are our winner today.”The judge wanted to go on, but the audience rallied at this announcement, even though they’d already known I won. I stood beside Lucy again and clasped her hand. The judge pleaded with the audience to quiet down before he continued. “As we do each year at the end of this show, we welcome you to speak briefly about your collect

NOLAN This was Yena’s night. All Nolan wanted to do was… whatever she wanted. He wanted to worship her. She pleaded for him to put his big dick inside her. Hearing her talk like almost made him lose all control. But he kept himself together.He started out teasing her, getting her body ready for what was coming.He kept letting her think he was about to fuck her hard, but then he’d pull out and sit back on his heels. It was driving her crazy.His eyes roved all over her body. Every inch of her turned him on. It seemed like she grew more gorgeous every day.“Kiss me,” she said, and she jumped on him. He let her push him back on the bed and climb on top of him.She lowered her mouth to Nolan’s and kissed him softly and slowly.He bit into her lip. Hard.He tasted blood.She cried out in a mix of pleasure and pain and threw her head back.He grabbed her hair and pulled her body down into his. She sat into his lap, and he grabbed on tightly to her hips and pushed hims

NOLAN Nolan was not sure he would make it to the school in time to surprise Yena as she was leaving campus, but he wanted to try. He did not know where things stood with them.The past twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind.She passed out as soon as he tucked her into bed, which did not surprise him. And then he stayed up all night staring into the darkness, imagining what his life would be like without Yena.A life without Yena no longer made any sense.He remembered what his mother told him about the prophecy. Nolan had been doubtful when Luna told him that story. But it all made perfect sense now.Yena completed Nolan.But he loved her more than he needed her.In the light of day, Nolan felt a little better, because he was able to keep himself busy with work. He told himself he and Yena would work things out. He would find a way to make her happy, without losing her.The prince’s car arrived just in time to intercept the one that had been on the way to retrieve Yena

ADAN “I’m eating crow,” Kerr said, raising a glass to Adan in toast. “You knew exactly what you were doing. I’ll never doubt your strategic mind again.” They were in Kerr’s home office, meeting with Clarice and another politician she had recruited to Adan’s cause. The woman, called Fianna, was a close ally of Clarice, and she had pledged her allegiance to the uprising eagerly as soon as Clarice told her of the opportunity. Adan gave Kerr a little nod of acknowledgement and sipped his drink. The four of them were seated around a big circular table that held trays and plates and platters of all kinds of breakfast foods.So far, only Kerr had touched any of it. “And now we enter the next stage,” he continued, leaning over the table to spear a gigantic sausage link with a steak knife. He took a bite, eating it right off the knife. Adan stood and paced over to the fireplace.He let the heat cling to his suit and his skin, breathing in the smell of smoke,

Nolan shook his head and said, “I don’t know how you could. My father said he would only keep me here for one day, but…” “But what?” Nolan sighed. “He’s been known to say things he does not mean.” “I don’t understand. You didn’t even touch Adan. Why would your father think this was necessary?” Yena gestured around at the tower, the little jail cell, the silver bars. “My father seems to think that I am… unstable,” Nolan said, still pacing. “Adan must have convinced him, after baiting me into that trap, that I can’t be trusted.” He heard Yena whimper quietly. He stopped pacing and went to face her through the bars. Her mouth was a thin line, and tears were pooling in her eyes. “It’s going to be okay,” Nolan said. It was the first thing he could think of to say. “No,” she said, “it’s not. And it’s all my fault.” “This is not your fault, Yena.” “It is,” she pleaded, falling into a heavy sob. “I’m so sorry. I should h