[Aera’s POV]It’s hard to stomach. Watching the woman who has been nothing but strong and confident since the day we met be so weak and vulnerable. Something about it reminded me too damn much of my brother, and where I couldn’t do anything to help him, I wanted to do everything in my power to help her.However, the first step to helping her was overcoming all the prejudices that she had to endure. How in the world could we do that? Especially with what was happening within Crimson Tides.Frowning, I look toward the building's exit and remember all of the angry pack members that were just beyond it. I found myself wondering if Silas had managed to calm them down or if he wasn’t getting anywhere."Are you considering escaping?" Isabella huffs, drawing my attention back to her. "Typical man," she continues, but I’m not quite sure if she is referring to me or someone else. "When problems arise that seem just a bit too much, they haul ass, never to be seen again.""Am I to assume that you

[Ayla's POV]"It was."As the words leave my lips, all the emotions that I felt at that time come rushing back. It had been a while since I truly let myself relive those moments with Barren since it was just too damn painful."We met when I was about thirteen, and the darkness was just beginning to wake up," I continue. "Back then, it was much harder to keep under control since I wasn't used to it, and when I felt like giving up, he appeared like an angel that the goddess sent to me."For a moment, I don't speak as Aera examines me with an unreadable expression on his face. I'm sure that he isn't pleased to hear what I'm saying, but he was the one who asked for it."Maybe it was because I was at my lowest when we first crossed paths that I fell for him. He extended a hand I so desperately needed and accepted me as I was, no questions asked."The words were flowing now, and I found myself slowly letting go of the resentment that I held at that time. I guess you could say it was for the

[Aera’s POV]"Does it matter why we are together?" I ask before Ayla can respond. "Is that any of your business?"I didn’t know what the hell I was doing jumping in, but I couldn’t ignore the hostility that was beginning to form on Celia’s face."As her family, it is," Celia responds slowly.It was no surprise that she would be like this toward me, especially given what I said to her before she came running to the capitol to hide. She knew that I knew she was behind that damn bet, and I was sure she didn’t expect me to tell Ayla about it. That was most likely why she was so surprised to see us together."Family," I scoff, unable to hide my disgust toward her using that word. "Some family you are.""Aera," Ayla murmurs, reaching out and touching my arm. "I can handle this.""Are you sure?" I ask, giving her a look of concern. "Even in your condition?""Yeah," she responds simply. "Celia, why weren’t you honest with me from the beginning?"A look of shock crosses Celia’s face at Ayla’s

[Aera’s POV]I can’t make sense of what is happening, and before I can truly begin to question it, the coppery taste of blood is dripping onto my tongue."Wai…" I gasp, trying to stop Ayla from whatever she is doing. "Why?""I said before, just drink," Ayla snaps.Her features are pale, and there is a fear that I can’t quite understand shining in her eyes. It’s almost as if she is expecting something horrible to happen, and I can’t really grasp why."Aera," she says sternly. "Do as I say before it’s too late."Although I don’t know exactly why she is insisting on me drinking her blood, I oblige, swallowing a few drops and then more until I can feel the fire in me beginning to calm.What the hell? What was this? Was her blood doing this?As these thoughts begin to swarm my mind, she pulls her wrist away and rips a piece of her shirt off, then wraps it around the wound."Feel better?" she asks while looking ready to bolt at any moment.For a moment, I don’t speak as I do an internal exa

[Aera’s POV]Once I’m out of the room, I extend my senses until I can feel Ayla. Although I had noticed that something was off about her the day before, just how weak her aura felt confirmed that there was something serious going on.Unable to stop the worry that suddenly flares, I move, heading in the direction that I feel her, while those who roam around the temple watch me. Their gazes take me in as if I’m some sort of foreign object, given the fact that outsiders are usually not allowed in this place.Despite wanting to tell them off for their blatant actions, I force myself to ignore them. Right now, the biggest concern is getting to Ayla. However, before I reach, a hand reaches out, wraps around my arm, and pulls, sending me crashing into a small broom closet."What the hell?" I hiss, looking around until my eyes came to rest on Celia. "What are you doing?" I continue, going on full alert."I wanted to talk to you," she responds, her face remaining calm."Talk," I repeat, raisin