A loud knocking on my door startled me out of a deep sleep. I leaped out of bed, hurrying over to the door. “Seb, what’s going on?” I whispered, rubbing the tiredness in my eyes with the ball of my palm. “Your mother would like to meet with you this morning,” he glanced around me to the bed where Elliot was sleeping. I followed his gaze, and my cheeks flushed remembering the dream I’d had last night. He was sleeping without a blanket, and turned away from me, as he always did. “What time is it?” I yawned, feeling exceptionally sleepy today. Blinking a few times, my eyes tried to adjust, but my mind wasn't catching up.“I miss you,” he dodged my question, “My days have been lonely without our training sessions. Can we please at least spend time together? I know I screwed up. I just... I don’t want to let your father down by disobeying your mother.” I didn’t hate Seb, I just...wasn’t particularly interested in anything we had before. I have so few people in my life that I can

I can’t stop staring at myself in the mirror. Seeing Nymeria’s crowning dress on a hanger and having it on my body was like being in two entirely different worlds. The dress fits like a glove after alterations. The corset had a mesh overlay, showing the creamy color of my skin beneath its green hue. Gold crystals created lines before falling off into a leaf like design on the tule of the skirt. The shoulders were slightly structured, giving the whole thing a more regal appearance. I felt beautiful twirling back and forth. My auburn hair was curled in soft waves, void of any clips or barrettes that would take the shine away from my crown. I’d opted for softer makeup, with warm tones to bring out my green eyes. “You have destroyed that dress for future generations,” my mother’s voice pierced my eardrums from behind. “Would it kill you to bite your tongue when you feel the need to speak your venomous words at me?” I turned to face her, wishing that her words didn’t hold as mu

“What’s it like?” My mind had been moving a million miles a minute conjuring up every single question that I wanted to ask Chaos whenever I’d get the chance. When Elliot had so casually mentioned that he was a demon, like that wasn’t a big deal or anything, I’d been less shocked than I was excited. Chaos had been walking around my oasis for the last fifteen minutes admiring everything in full detail. The way that he’d lean down and look at the smallest of details reminded me of how I was the first time I was here, “You mean being a demon?” He moved to the edge of the pool, peering over the edge at the deep, black abyss before squatting down and running his fingers through the water. He lifted his thumb to his lips, swiping his tongue along the pad before scrunching his nose in disgust. I felt my cheeks heat from watching him, “Yes.” “It depends on the day. Year. Century. I’ve been with Elliot for two years now, but before that, I’d not had a mission in probably, fifty years or

“I can’t believe you peed on me.” I was only joking with him, but a wash of sadness crossed his features. I can’t imagine a man like Elliot, so strong and full of pride, having to ask anyone for help with something as simple as using the bathroom. After attempting to haul him into the bathroom, I lost my footing, sending us both tumbling to the ground. In my attempt to push him off of me, I accidentally pushed against his bladder. “I’m sorry. I make an awful nurse,” I shook my head, trying to lessen the shame I could see swimming in his eyes. He couldn’t help that he was paralyzed, and honestly, I could care less that he peed on me. But I could see it in his eyes that he felt less of a man.....and it broke my heart. “You don’t have to sit here with me all day. I shouldn’t have bothered you,” he added, not making eye contact. Biting my bottom lip, I contemplated what to say. He was shutting down, but that was the last thing that I wanted. This whole time, I’ve been try

“You know it wasn’t your fault, right?” None of it was. He did everything he could to save his friend, even when it cost him his ability to walk. I could see the guilt in his eyes telling me the story. He felt responsible. That’s a burden that no one should carry on their shoulders. From that moment on, it was like a trickle effect. He was wheelchair bound and stuck, literally left with his thoughts and no outlet. Gwen slowly realized that she couldn’t get through to him, so she stopped trying. She started finding solace in the arms of another man, who just so happened to be Elliot’s best friend and Beta. I want to hate Talon. I do hate him. Just not as much as before. He was depressed and probably not thinking straight. It’s not an excuse, but a form of understanding I suppose. Elliot shrugged, staring up through the thick layer of trees, “Every day since, I wished it was me who fell down that damned canyon.” An emotional sigh escaped my lips, tears stinging the backs of my e