JACOBY I stand there still oblivious to what she could mean. I must have a stupid expression on my face as she looks at me again and laughs. After a minute she turns and looks back toward the stream of water below us. “When Kaya attacked you, that was never supposed to happen. With Liani being the chosen one, I intervened. After all, you have such a vital role in this as well. Everyone thinks you are buried at the cemetery when in fact I had a couple of witches preserve your body. I wanted to wait till the time is right, but you’re mate is smart. She suspects that you are still tethered to the Earth,” she says smiling. “Maya knew about this?” I ask. “No, but she definitely knows that you haven’t officially crossed over. Why do you think you didn’t know who Liani’s mate was or the fact that she was the one? Once you crossed over, you would have known all of that. Maya knew that but couldn’t understand why,” she says. “So, my body being preserved? What does that mean?” I ask. “W

AUBURON Seeing Liani match my energy as I tried to tease her when I took off my clothes set both Carro and me ablaze. My little wolf was beautiful, smart, sexy, and powerful. She was perfect to me, let alone for me. Carro has been wanting to take over and mark her for a while now, but I’ve been holding out because I’m afraid something will happen once I do. There’s a part of me that’s not comfortable with happiness. I’m always waiting on the other shoe to drop, for something bad to happen, and since I’ve met Liani my energy has been matched and I have been met with consistency. I like it, but there’s a part of me that won’t let me get comfortable until I know that she’s safe. That my family is safe. That my uncle and her aunt, any witch or anybody that was against us is gone. When she ran from Carro and I, the predator in us woke. If she wanted to run, we would definitely catch her. Her wolf was smart and I can tell Carro loved seeing her for the first time. Her shiny white fur, wi

LIANI As I make my way toward the direction of where my father is walking from, I stop in my tracks when I see my mom hugging him. Iris whines in my head and I feel my heart beat heavily in my chest as I witness this sight. “H-how?!” I whisper. Iris snaps me out of my thoughts and I continue running toward them. “D-dad! D-daddy!” I say as I run. My mother turns around and moves out of my father’s view as he opens his arms and I jump in them. “Hi, little one,” he says as we hold each other in a death-grip hug. After a minute or two we finally release each other. “How are you here?! How do you have your body!? What the hell-” I say. My dad chuckles and my mother giggles as tears run down her cheeks from her eyes. He simply points to the sky and says “Thank the moon goddess!” I freeze as I feel the energy getting heavier behind me. The hair on my arms stand up again and for a moment, the slither of happiness I felt left in an instant when I realized where we are and who we were

LIANI I didn’t realize my eyes were wandering or that I was even gawking at him until he cleared his throat and said “Eyes up here, Liani,” My eyes immediately shoot up and I couldn’t help but blush at the fact that I got caught. I almost forgot Sierra was standing there until she said “That’s my cue to leave. Please do enjoy yourselves. Lady Liani, Prince Auburon” then bows and scurried off. As I watch her leave, Auburon pulls me into his chest, cradling his head into my neck. He then places a small smack on my ass and moves his hands slowly up my body till they’re resting on my shoulders. “You look beautiful,” I blush. “Come on,” he says as he grabs my hand and guides me into the room. I was so dumbfounded by everything that I couldn’t even say anything. “Tell our mate he looks good! Goddess!” Iris says through my mind and I can see her roll her eyes. “Oh, now you speak to me!” I say. “You look really good too,” I say to Auburon as we step into the room. He turns around and

LIANI Somehow Auburon’s words soothed me enough to get up and prepare for the day. Honestly, I had no choice, as today was our first outing. But, I could feel through the mate bond just how serious Auburon was about being there with me and protecting me shall the need for it arises. Cassidy and Sierra ushered in to help me with my hair and make-up. They were a little more formal and anxious than usual and I think it’s because they see me in a different light now. Aella and Layla also came to my room so that we could all get ready together for the outing. This will be Aella’s first public appearance and it makes me feel better that she’ll be there. But, I know all eyes are going to be on me. After all, I will be their future queen. I’ve also been thinking about my grandma and if she’s okay since she and my grandpa went back to their house. I wonder what her meeting with Shannara was like and if those burns ever went away. Goddess, I hope she’s okay. After about two hours of getting