Nicholas, meanwhile, looked down and to the side. He wouldn’t meet my gaze even as I walked nearer to him.“Nick?” I prompted, fear weighing heavy on my heart.“Unfortunately, that isn’t all of the bad news I have to share,” he said.I braced myself. “What else?”“Joyce has somehow escaped.”I gaspe

At first, Nicholas simply pressed his lips to mine, non-demanding. It was sweet, and I cherished it. But it wasn’t enough.With all the bad news now weighing heavily upon us, threatening to drag us down, we both needed the affirmation of the other’s presence and affections. My devotion to Nicholas w

It was difficult while he was touching me like this, but I forced all of my thoughts away from my own pleasure and toward getting Nicholas as naked as me.I dragged my hands up the front of his torso, appreciating every curve and dip of his hard muscles along my way to the base of his throat, where

That night, despite the worries and the fears and the dark murmurs all around us, I was able to sleep soundly, feeling well and thoroughly loved.I was also likely happy to be back in a familiar bed, surrounded by familiar faces.And not everything was so dire. Elva was healthy for the first time in

“The King and Queen decided that, in a matter of fairness for those that did not have a chance to attend the island getaway, one more event will be held before the next elimination ceremony. This will ensure that all candidates will have a chance to showcase their merits before we must send more can

The servant led Nicholas and I to a sitting room where the King stood behind the chair his wife was sitting on. A table had been arranged in front of her, with two teacups and an extravagant silver teapot.The Queen stirred a sugar cube into her tea. The gentle chime of the spoon hitting porcelain w

“For the sake of providing a united front,” the King said, “I am making a request of you. It is not a command, because I believe you to be a good person. You must be for my sons to both think so fondly of you. I trust you will do the right thing.”Oh, I really didn’t like where this was going. I had

After that terrible meeting, I needed some space to think. Nicholas, having left the room with me, was reluctant to leave me alone.“You can’t listen to them, Piper,” he said. “They are just trying to manipulate you.”“Maybe,” I agreed. That was a distinct possibility, especially with how kind the K

“You don’t know that,” I said. “It’s as possible that Hawk kidnapped him as it is that Joyce wanted to go. We don’t know all the facts.”Veronica received no comfort from my words. Her shoulders slumped slightly. “I wish I could have been in two places at once.”I didn’t know what to say to that. It

I decided to make my presence more obvious and walked closer to Elva, Nicholas in his wolf form, Night, and Silver. Nicholas shifted back into his human form now, sitting in the grass.“Piper,” he said, smiling slightly, a wolfish grin. He was proud of his wolf form.“Hi, Mommy!” Elva said. “Nick-la