Aurora is different, I don’t think she even realizes just how different. She has been a bundle of energy since she woke up late this morning, her skin is glowing with radiance, her muscles are toned, though still weak for a werewolf, and her smile is brighter than I’ve yet to see it. She even carries herself differently; before last night, she had a permanent slouch in her shoulders, always curving in on herself, trying to be as small and unnoticeable as possible… probably not even consciously aware of it. But as soon as she jumped out of bed earlier today, I noticed the change instantly; she stood straight with her head held high, making me realize just how tall she actually is, probably taller than a lot of vampires. Her new confidence radiated off her, and Danika’s presence is now impossible to miss. Aurora has the aura of an alpha. I’ve been away from her for barely half an hour and already I feel empty inside. She is with Adelaide right now, learning how to change her hair and

The woman at the desk does a double take as we step out of Adelaide’s portal. Her jaw drops and she pushes her fiery red hair out of her face, “Holy shit, a void portal” she mutters, before rising from her chair and rushing over to greet us.Samael reaches out his hand for her to shake, and clears his throat, “Solana said you would be expecting us.”The woman freezes with her hand outstretched; her eyes roam up Samael’s body, which towers over her short frame. I watch her gulp nervously as she looks up at his face, “Y-yes, of course,” she chuckles awkwardly, “don’t usually see void portals here is all.” She blushes deeply as she shakes his hand, her eyes glued to his muscular body.Danika rears her head in jealousy, and I have to work to contain her growl; since shifting last night, she feels less like a voice in my head and more like a second presence that can easily take control of my body.“*She’s allowed to look at him,*” I mutter to her.“*Look at the heat in her face!*” she hiss

I wake up before dawn, wrapped in Samael’s embrace, his fingers trailing up and down my arm in a soothing rhythm. My heart thuds rapidly in my chest, the nightmare I had still fresh and vivid in my mind. Samael holds me tightly, as if he knows I’m not ok, and I nuzzle into his body, inhaling his scent and taking deep breaths to calm down. It’s been a week since I’ve had a nightmare, and I can’t say I’ve missed them. “Did you sleep at all?” I croak, my voice heavy with tiredness.“An hour or two maybe,” he hums out.“I wish I could survive with only an hour of sleep every night,” I laugh. “It must get boring with me just snoring away beside you.”He leans down to kiss me, claiming my lips with his tenderly. “Nothing with you is boring, my love. Even holding you while you sleep fills me with so much happiness.”I feel heat rush to my cheeks at his words, I’m still in utter disbelief that this man loves me, that the Dema king of all people is my destined mate, the second half of my sou

I let out a long sigh of frustration and glance over at Samael who still looks utterly relaxed and at ease, which helps to keep me calm. “Yes, I’m a werewolf, but I’m also a witch. A witch who wants to save your daughter’s life, so let me save her!”“Prove it,” he demands, and I raise a brow at him. “Prove you’re a witch and I’ll allow you to see Sarah.”I feel my eyes narrow, “Allow me?” I sneer at him. “You know, I came here to kill you, right? Something I’m seriously still contemplating and would leave your poor wife to fend for herself with a dying baby!”My cold words hang in the air, having an immediate effect on Eli; he swallows audibly, and from the look in his eyes, I can tell he is at war in his mind. Fighting against his ingrained distrust of other species for the possibility of keeping his daughter alive; a difficult battle to fight, but one which I do not have time for.I close my eyes and focus on my appearance, Eli gasps in surprise as my hair changes in front of him, a

Aurora fell asleep roughly an hour into our journey, her relaxed body pressed against me and held securely in my arms. My safe house is on the coast of Emberi City, a small little place overlooking the ocean and occupied by an elderly couple that I pay to live there, but who are currently enjoying a fully paid vacation to the Mer-isles. They don’t know who I am, but money talks, and it keeps them quiet.I like having a secret place in the kingdoms bordering mine; I have one in Crescent City as well, though I doubt I’ll ever need to use it after Aurora meets her father.I veer east and fly for another hour until I reach the coast. I hover for a few moments, waiting for the others to catch up, “We’ll land on the beach, there’s a secret entrance that goes up through the cliffs and into the house,” I call out once they get close enough.I plummet to the ground as fast as I can, knowing no human would be able to notice me at this speed. As soon as I hit the beach, I take off towards the bo