TOR POVI couldn't take my mind off Selene. Even with all that was going on, and the encounters we'd had with the burners, she was all I could think about. And it was a problem. We'd been walking through the morning and afternoon in silence. I could tell that she had a lot on her mind since she wasn't acting like her cheerful self. It was to be expected because, after the confrontation we'd had with Damion, it left us with nothing but more questions. I watched her as she walked, resisting the pull that had been growing stronger with every touch and threatening to break free from its restraints with every kiss. I'd meant what I'd said to her the day before. She had enchanted me. And it was becoming more apparent every day that I was losing this battle to maintain control. We were on our way to war but she was all I could think about. I clenched my fists at my side, I couldn't allow this to continue. Once we returned to Alder, I needed to put some distance between me and her. And

SELENE POVAfter about an hour of chatting with Sage, Arlo, and Grayson, I excused myself in search of the bathing room. The last couple of days on the road were dusty and long, making the idea of a bath irresistible. I had just finished exploring the doors on the lower levels with no luck when I noticed a door just off of the main hall that led outside to the back of the cabin. I followed the hallway and walked out the back door. A sigh of appreciation left me at the sight now in front of me. It was a beautiful patio with hand-carved wooden chairs and suncatchers hanging from the awning. Off the patio was a wild garden with various types of foliage and weeping willow trees. I stepped off the patio and started to walk along a path that winded through the overgrown plants. After walking for a few moments, the sound of water tinkling caught my ear. I followed it around the wall of willow branches and to my utter delight, I came across a beautiful azure-colored pool. Stepping to

TOR POV"Sorry to bring this to your door on the same day as the Fete," I said to Ares as he stood staring into the fireplace. We stood in Ares's personal quarters for privacy. It was lit brightly by the sunlight beaming in from the tall windows. There was a tall four-poster bed with dark green velvet curtains and a large leather chair by the fire in front of a giant oak table. "Don't be." He turned to look at me; his amber eyes reflected the flames of the fire as he contemplated what I had just told him. "This Damion person, do we know how much manpower he has at his disposal?" he asked, rubbing his chin. "No," I respond, shaking my head. "It has to be some unimaginable amount to be able to level the packs like he is. But, during our altercation the other day, that was not the case.""He kept talking about some type of weapon," I said, avoiding the part about Selene being a key in all of this. "So, whatever it is, it has nothing to do with manpower." Ares was silent as he sa

TOR POVMy eyes shot open. Something was wrong. I immediately went to the spot where Selene was sleeping. Except she wasn't there. I shot to my feet instantly, fear tearing through my gut as I thought about the worst. I scanned the surrounding area for her, but the night was still. How had I not noticed earlier that she was gone?Had she walked away of her volition?Or was she taken? I tried my best to tamper the panic that threatened to overwhelm me. Stepping over the now cold fire, I stalked off in the direction of her scent. The only scent I smelled was Selene's, which brought me a small amount of relief. At least she was alone. But that relief was quickly replaced by anger. I followed her scent through the woods, trying to maintain a sense of calm. Her smell kept growing stronger. That's when I heard the sound of flowing water. If I knew Selene, then I knew that I would find her at its edge. Sure enough, not a few yards away in a small creek, I saw Selene sitting at i

SELENE POVIt had been nearly a day since I'd seen Tor and it was a strange empty feeling after having spent the last week in his vicinity. I saw him at dinner after we'd made our return yesterday, but he had been wrapped up in war councils ever since. So, instead of staying cooped up in the manor, I decided to go explore the village a little more.The sun was shining down through the trees that surrounded the village in a protective embrace and a slight breeze countered the sun's warmth. First, I wanted to explore the various shops. As I walked down the cobblestone trail, I came upon an adorable tiny shop with large windows and a hand-carved door. After a peek through the window, I realized it was an arms shop. I put my hand on the brass knob and stepped inside. The shop was lit with various candles and lanterns, casting bright light onto the merchandise that hung on the walls. There were all sorts of swords and daggers, along with a variety of bows and arrows.A specific b