Meridian Novels & Stories

The storm that had been a veil became a weapon. Freezing rain lashed the windows of the black Range Rover as Gaspard navigated the winding, elevated roads above Lake Geneva. The Villa Meridian wasn't in the city proper, but carved into a private, wooded hillside in Cologny, a gilded enclave of discreet billionaires and diplomatic retreats. Its isolation, once a feature of its security, was now a vulnerability in the tempest.

Meridian's final move came on a Monday in the first week of April, and it came, as Ernest had predicted, from a direction they had not fully anticipated. Not a revised offer. Not a legal challenge. Not a press approach, though the press approach had been circling — there had been an enquiry to the estate's PR firm from a property industry journalist that had had the fingerprints of a planted question. No: Meridian's final move was operational, and it was surgical, and it was designed to create a problem that neither of them could solve from a distance.

I replied with a roll of my eyes. Alpha Cadell held a ball in his very fancy, and extremely huge, mansion. He said it was a celebration for his arrival at the new town. I was sure it wasn't only that. "Just keep your manners. We will be in and out before you even know it." Morgana stressed, and nodded her head at some woman with a winged face mask. Did I mention that this is a masquerade? We live in Midwick, Virginia. A very small and very beautiful town, which one would feel was built right in the middle of the woods.

The roof began to shred, and the room shook, moving the foundation and making everyone hold on. Doc, ever vigilant, stayed with Phoenix and when he said, “Last one Luna, give it all you’ve got!” she grunted and the world paused when this tiny titan came into the world announcing her arrival with lungs that rivaled any Alpha wolf’s howl. The weather miraculously stopped, the sun came out and all was calm as if nothing ever happened. Both Gael and Phoenix heard the Goddess in their mind saying to them, ‘Congratulations Gael and Phoenix, It is my pleasure to introduce you to…..Serene. She will always be the calm in your storm.’

First, we needed to get her home and safe. “Since when has that Asshat ever been helpful or given us any information?” I asked exasperated. The Alpha of the Margam territory, Jeremy Lewis was enough of a Bell end that he actually introduced himself the people as Alpha Jezz. Jezz? What the hell kind of grown man wants to be called the nickname he was clearly given by his high school rugby team?

It took almost 2 months for me to recover from that shock and pain. I check the time, it is almost 9 and if I don't make it to Amber's place on time, she will get worried. It is only 30 minutes drive to Merced. So, I turn on the music and turn around the driveway.

DAMON'S POV The penthouse was finally quiet again after Lily’s hospital scare. She was back to her somewhat fussy but improving self, sleeping in her crib after a full feeding. Eve had crashed hard on the couch, exhausted from the all-nighter and the constant fear. I sat in my home office staring at the monitors... security feeds, stock tickers, everything. Sleep wasn’t happening for me. Then my phone started exploding. First my CFO. “Damon, you need to see this. Meridian deal is collapsing, they’re pulling out citing ‘instability and reputational risk.’ Stock is already dropping four percent in pre-market.”

She crept down the hallway quietly, pretending she had urgent medical business with the doctor at midnight. She pushed the door open softly. Alex was not in the front room, but the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Stepping forward, Magda approached the shower enclosed by a thin plastic curtain. Through a narrow gap, she caught sight of Alex’s bare body. His broad shoulders and toned arms appeared mesmerizing in the dim light. And as her eyes descended upon his naked lower half, Magda swallowed hard, the heavy rush of saliva gathering in her mouth. She wet her lips with her tongue... and pulled the curtain open violently with both hands.

The water didn't fall; it formed a series of spheres around the Sisters of the Meridian. Inside the spheres, the Sisters began to scream. "She’s showing them the truth!" Leo shouted, trying to steady the child, but his own runes were turning a bright, rhythmic violet. I saw into the spheres. I saw the Blue Meridian—a paradise built on the literal bones of the 'Too Much' women of their own continent. I saw Naia, not as a queen, but as a butcher who had drowned thousands of omegas to keep her 'Blue' blood pure.

Aika interrupts my thoughts by saying, “girl, why are you so ballistic?” “What?” I say out loud, and the water of the river falls a little on us, while everyone shouts “Woo!” Eric says, “Calm down, calm down, we’re not doing anything.” Everyone with their hands up. “Shit, sorry.” Aika, silence. Let me concentrate. I close my eyes and start breathing slowly. I place my hand on my heart so I can feel it. My heart rate slows down, as does my breathing. I open my eyes and watch as the water slowly recedes, returning to its natural flow.