“Get away from her!” Nicholas shouted, his voice raw and rough in his half-shifted state. He gripped Jane with his claw-shaped hands and threw her behind him. Julian ducked as she flew by. She smashed onto the cage along the opposite wall and fell down to the ground. Nicholas immediately stepped i

Eventually, Nicholas returned to my side. “Let me take you back to your room.” “But my sister –” “Is safely on the other side of that door. Come on.” He spoke slowly and calmly. He must have seen me trembling. “You’ll feel better when you are at Elva’s side. Mark just checked on her, she is safe

I was surrounded by a feeling of warmth and safety. I blinked open my eyes, and I found myself pressed into a hard, masculine chest. Beneath my ear, I heard the steady thumping of a strong heart. Lifting my head, I looked up at Nicholas. He was carrying me through my bedroom toward my bed. I could

Although perhaps Julian’s initial plan to hold a contest event at Terry’s mansion would bear fruit. At this point, I felt so directionless, I wasn’t sure what was even possible anymore. “Leave it to Julian and me for now,” Nicholas whispered. “We’ll give it more thought.” When I started to say som

“Julian?” I prompted. “You must have come for some reason?” “Right,” he said, then rubbed his forehead. “That’s true.” He cleared his throat again, then stood straighter. When he started forward once more, his usual smirk slipped back into place. Whatever weakness that had taken over him was lon

Elva gasped. “How did you do that?” Julian laughed. “Sleight of hand, my dear. Would you like to learn?” In a flash, the quarter was back in his hand. He held it out for Elva, who greedily accepted it. “Yes!” she said excitedly. “No,” I said a second later. Elva turned her doe eyes on me. “M

After thanking Tiffany, I excused myself from lunch and ushered Elva back to the safety of our room. I kept my eyes peeled for any sight of my twin in the hallways, but I saw no sight of her myself. Yet I had no reason to doubt Tiffany. When we were back in the room, I called Mark to the side. “I

The guard who had opened his mouth immediately did so again. “Many apologies, Your Royal Highness. We meant no offense. It was not meant to be a secret from you, though…” His gaze shifted to me. Beside me, Nicholas straightened, body tense as a bow string. “So you are following us?” “Following M

The evening of the fundraising gala, Elva and I changed into our glistening golden dresses and waited in the parlor with the other candidates for Nathan to come and bring us to the event. We stood near Susie for a while, but she was distracted. She had prepared notecards for her pitch, as well as

Elva immediately perked upon seeing him. “Jul-an! Teach me the trick again.” “She’s been practicing,” I said softly to Julian, like a secret. “Then maybe you should show me.” Julian withdrew a quarter from his pocket and handed it to Elva. I let go of her hand so she could move, though I place