Sylvia Day The Crossfire Series Novels & Stories

His fingers tightened slightly on the desk edge, and the rimless glasses he had just taken off had left a vivid red imprint on his hand. He looked completely hollowed out, as if someone had drained all the strength from his body. His shoulders slumped, and the air in the office seemed to sag around him. A flicker of sweet revenge ignited inside me, bursting like a firework into a small, wicked mushroom cloud. He deserved every bit of it. By day, he drained me dry, and at night, he played the perfect Prince Charming. And then at daylight, he became a cold, relentless tyrant again.

He lies, promises fake futures, and when he gets bored, he throws them away. Lisa doesn’t see it. And why would she? She looks at the world like it’s not out to get her. She could make any man fall for her, especially someone pathetic enough to rely on flattery like Brooke. But he isn’t getting near her. Not when I’m in the picture. If I can’t have her, no one will. Call me a selfish bastard, I don’t care. I wear that title like a crown. Then came the moment I could get the reason to fire her. She stared at me with fire in her eyes. Not fear. Not submission. Fire.

"If I go down, you're coming with me!" She swung her claws at me. I was ready. My own claws came out, tearing through the air. Ruby screamed. She dropped to the floor, a deep gash bleeding across her shoulder. The room erupted. Xavier bolted back to my side. "Everly," he demanded, "are you hurt?" I wiped a drop of blood from my cheek. "I'm fine." My eyes still stayed on Ruby. The elders shouted orders. The room buzzed with alarm. Then Xavier murmured, "There's a scent... Dark Moon pack?"

Seeing him close the trunk, I prepared to get in my car and leave. But he stepped forward to block my path again. This time, he grabbed my wrist, despite the motor oil on his hands. "Let go!" I was getting impatient, but I couldn't break free. Victor's eyes burned intensely as he said in a low voice, "Claire, I have something to say. Please give me a little time."

"Darling, things are a little hectic at work today. I won't be coming home tonight. Tomorrow's our anniversary, and I made a reservation for a candlelight dinner at Palmette House. Let's bring Crispin and enjoy the evening together," Edgar Snider's voice came through the phone, warm and gravelly. I listened absentmindedly as I tapped open Winifred Clayton's chat on WhatsApp. Just an hour ago, she had sent me a video—she and Edgar, tangled up in each other's arms, kissing like they couldn't bear to part.

The brute had redone the bindings tighter—so tight, he couldn’t feel his fingers. But he didn’t care. Not when Ilana was folding in on herself like she was disappearing. Not after what Nathan said. Calix swallowed hard, heart thudding like war drums in his chest. His jaw ached from clenching it so long. His stomach felt like it was full of broken glass. You know why she locks up when someone touches her too close?” The words echoed like gunshots in his skull. He had suspected she carried ghosts. Everyone did. She’d never made a secret of the blood on her hands. But this wasn’t about a mission gone wrong. This wasn’t war.

I stared at the cameras around me, my voice breaking as I spoke. "My husband, Cody, and Yvonne have been having an affair. They conspired to kill my daughter and frame me for it." Yvonne's face twisted in discomfort, but she quickly blinked her big eyes, trying to maintain an innocent expression. Her voice cracked as she began to cry. "How could you accuse me of such a thing?" she gasped. "Jasmine, what did I ever do to you to deserve this? You're trying to clear your name, but there's no need to drag Cody and me into this lie."

Mom was busy putting away the materials, so she didn't look up as she said, "Sorry, but we're not taking any more orders today." She turned to me. "Rosie, can you go take a look?" I grunted. Then, I heard a familiar ringtone. I faltered and looked up. I froze when I saw the people at the door. "What are you guys doing here?" Dad's usually cold expression was replaced with joy. He even stumbled a little as he hurried toward us. "I've finally found you and your mother, Rosie. Everyone said you two died in that fire, but I didn't believe it. How could a fire burn a person's body so thoroughly that there weren't even any bones left behind?

Austin and I hadn't talked for days. I hurriedly made my way to the wooden hut. As soon as I opened the door, the familiar figure I'd been yearning for days appeared before me. I heard a loud thump of my heart banging against my ribcage. "I want to claim my prize." Then, Austin closed the distance between us with just one long stride. He held my head in his hands and kissed me deeply. His kisses were hot and passionate. He was as hungry as a wolf that had been starving for days. His eyes were like a whirlpool oozing with honey as they drew me into the vortex.

I spelled out the ugliness and the pain she caused, to no avail. Now, I've found lonely acceptance. It happened after I convinced the bear shifter who took Sarn to the realm crossing to take me there. The crossing is located in Sedona, Arizona, at a vortex. She pointed out the exact spot that Sarn disappeared. I stayed for three days without eating or sleeping. Nothing I tried worked. I could not break through to his realm. When I finally collapsed, Dmitri was there and took me back to the nightclub and gave me the room that belonged to Sarn. I lie in the same bed where I saw Sarn with two naked women and tried to remember my anger. I wanted so badly to get mad and try to relieve the pain. T