Nicholas reached up and cupped my face with both hands. He traced his thumbs across my cheekbones, before lowering his thumb to cross over my bottom lip. The pad of his thumb dragged over it. Feeling a little bold, I darted my tongue and licked him. He gasped, then pushed his thumb into my mouth.

The next morning was the final of our time on the island, so I made sure to set a personal alarm to wake me up just before dawn. When it finally went off, I grumbled a minute, before remembering my plan and forcing myself out of bed. I turned toward Elva and shook her gently, rousing her. “Mommy

The Oracle and her entourage stayed just off the shores of the beach. I didn’t know what they were waiting for. “She’s giving you time,” Veronica said. When she realized that could be cryptic, she added, “Likely to get your affairs in order. She wouldn’t want to scare Elva.” I could appreciate t

We stood in front of the ocean in a line parallel with the water. First Veronica. Then Julian. Nicholas. Elva, and myself. Veronica raised her book. The book light was no longer needed now and turned off. Veronica read the invitation spell by the bright light of the morning sun. The words were f

Veronica hung her head. She left something out? Nicholas and I glanced at each other, before the Oracle spoke up once more, reclaiming our attention. “For the volunteers it will be painful. Perhaps you’ve guessed as much. The sacrifice of life force, even that freely given, leaves it’s toll. Kno

When I blinked my eyes open again, I was reclining on a leather seat with the back dropped way down. The ceiling seemed to be curved. There were other seats beside my own, similar in shape and style. Nicholas was sitting in one of them.The ritual was over, then. I didn’t feel much pain anymore, tho

During the rest of the flight, I was able to convince Nicholas that I did not need to be emergency lifted to the hospital. He didn’t seem pleased at first, but we compromised with allowing the doctor to look me over once we were back at the palace. If she wanted more tests done, I would concede to h

Just as they were about to enter the house, Nicholas turned to look at me. We didn’t truly say goodbye and already we were pulled apart from each other once more.Despite all the trauma that occurred at the island, good things happened too. Nicholas and I being able to spend so much time together wa

“Oh.” Susie’s eyes widened. “I suppose you wouldn’t have known.” She hung her head a little. “Tensions with the Bear People have more or less exploded. Mark says more and more soldiers are being sent to the northern border. War seems imminent.”I didn’t want to believe that. “Surely there’s somethin

“I don’t understand,” I said. My thoughts were entirely addled. How could Nicholas’s parents not only forgive Bridget for all that she had done but also continue to want her to be Queen? Hasn’t she proven herself unsuitable? Unstable? At least, disrespectful?They had to have known that she slapped