OpheliaNot that it mattered, but I half expected Ryker to tell me to turn my ass around and get back to my lessons. The last thing I anticipated was hearing his smoky, accented voice roll through my mind.“The door is unlocked.”So lost in my anger, I hadn’t bothered to check my phone to see how long of a walk it was to his place. Half an hour later I was dripping in sweat.I had just reached the end of the gated neighborhood where his villa sat, looming over the town like a palace comprised of pale stone, sharp balconies, and reflective windows. A gentle breeze kicked up, and as I basked in it a trickle of tart cherries hit my nose, faint yet noticeable.I froze, cursing myself because I hadn’t thought to bring the scent blocker with me when I left the restaurant.Setting my jaw, I decided I had no choice but to go inside and hope my scent was too weak for the bond to solidify. If I turned back now, I’d lose hold of the anger that drove me here in the first place.The inside of Ryke
OpheliaHis fingers tangled in my hair, gripping the strands tightly as if to say, I will have this moment whether you like it or not, I will have you.And I wanted it. Oh, how I wanted it.Even the scalding pain of the dark-bond mark hidden on my wrist didn’t ease my desperation for him. For an Alpha that didn’t belong to me. For a man I could never have.I expected our parting to be slow and sweet, the opposite of the kiss that left my mind a mess of need, but it wasn’t.Ryker tore himself away from me with such vitriol that a few strands of my hair were removed in the process. I hissed, reaching up to ease the pain in my skull when he snarled.“Is this why you came here? To seduce me?” He raked his fingers through his hair, his eyes bright and wild. “I see you’ve already gotten control of your magic, strega (witch).”My jaw went lax. What was he insinuating?“What does magic have anything to do with—with what just happened?”Ryker turned his back on me, and the bond wriggling in my
Ophelia When we entered Nova’s house, I couldn’t help but look around for Coop. There were traces of him everywhere, from the muddy shoes sitting on a shoe-rack by the front door, to the damp swim trunks on the back patio. Noticing my wandering gaze, Nova smiled. I couldn’t help but notice that it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Coop’s not here. He spends a lot of time with those friends of his.” “Arielle, Sarah, and Denver?” I asked, to which she nodded. “They’re nice.” She didn’t get the chance to reply to that. A woman’s voice came from within the kitchen. “Oh, dear. Where did I put those dang car key’s again?” Nova’s eyes went wide, “Nana! What are you doing up?” I followed her into the kitchen to find an elderly woman shuffling about. Her curled hair was frosted with white and stuck up in random tufts. She had on a robe, which was partially undone, and a pair of velvet slippers. “Little girl, have you seen my keys?” She was talking to Nova, I realized. While Nova seemed to
RykerChe cazzo?! What the fuck was wrong with me?I slammed my fist into the punching bag and snarled as it swayed just beyond my reach. The second it was within range I landed another blow.I’d come down to the basement gym the second the maga—the fucking enchantress—left.I’d kissed her. I’d fucking kissed her. Kimberly would have my balls for it, or at least she’d try. As much as I had on my plate, the last thing I needed was for her to become even more clingy than she already was.I threw another punch, then another, and another. I didn’t stop until my teeth rattled and the roar of my wolf drowned out my screaming thoughts.How her scent had called to me. The small hints I caught had caused my damn mouth to water. Had it been cherries I’d smelled? The mere memory had my cock twitching.With a snarl, I shoved those thoughts down. I needed to think rationally.I knew she hadn’t used magic on me. As fucked up as it was, I knew it would hurt her for me to assume so. I needed to drive
RykerAfter showering and changing, I hopped in the car. After making a pit stop at a local butcher, I made the hour drive to the facility I’d had built deep within the densely packed forest on the eastern side of the island. If I continued for another few hours, I’d reach the cliffside that dipped down into the ocean.Surrounded by a silver-plated fence topped with barbed wire stood the building where my father—what was left of him—resided.The guards, who kept to their shacks on either side of the paved road, ushered me in through the gates. They opened with a mechanical whirr and closed just as quickly.Nurse Beverly, who had taken care of my father for the years that he’d been here, walked me up to his room. She chattered about how he’d been doing, and how his condition hadn’t really changed since the last time I’d visited.I entered my father’s padded cell to find him strapped in a chair that had been bolted into the floor. The straitjacket held his body in place, keeping him fro
OpheliaI felt a bit better after hearing Nova’s explanation on why it was so important for me to join the coven. The secrets had been wearing on me, tainting my dreams with images and symbols I couldn’t quite understand.Even as we spent the rest of the afternoon in her bedroom, I couldn’t erase the feeling that I was still missing something. Perhaps she hadn’t told me everything or twisted some of the details.I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so.Of course, my evening was ruined when Lucille called and barked at me to get my ass home. One of the maids had caught a stomach bug and spread it to the rest, so someone needed to clean the house.“There’s this party on the western part of the beach tonight. Did you want to go?” Nova asked from inside her obscenely large closet.I snorted as I stood from the bed. “I think I’m good on beach parties for a little while.”Her head of pale-blonde locks appeared from around the doorway. Heavily glossed lips popped open in an O s
Ophelia“What’s the rush, little dove? Always trying to fly away.” He clicked his teeth and shook his head, then proceeded to step onto the path. “Follow me. Oh, and try to keep up. Wouldn’t want you getting lost.”I bit my tongue against that insane nickname of his, not wanting to somehow set him off, and followed him into the shadow-laden forest. Tree branches seemed to move out of our way as we ventured deeper.The path curled left and right before straightening out once more. For several minutes we walked in silence. I counted the quiet, shallow breaths that left Jude’s lips, and trailed my gaze up the back of his tattooed neck to the dark hair that was shaved short around the sides.He turned, as though he could feel my eyes on him.“Not much farther now.”Fifteen or so minutes later we entered a clearing. The trees towered over our heads, blotting out most of the sun. The shade provided was thick and cool, helping to dry the sweat that had beaded along my back.Jude spun on his
OpheliaCocking his head, he asked, “You didn’t mean what, little dove? You didn’t mean to provoke me? To piss me off? No, you meant it, and now you’re going to pay the fucking consequences.”Oh, Goddess. Oh, Goddess, I was going to die here.I went to call out to Nova through the mind-link when Jude’s hands fell on my bare thighs. The tips of his fingers grazed centimeters above the hem of my dress.The bond squirmed within me, as did my wolf who couldn’t decide whether she wanted to tear out his throat or demand he mark us.I made a frantic grab for my magic, only for it to glide through my fingers. When I went to try again, his hands slid up further. His eyes strayed from my face to my legs, which I held together with as much force as I could muster.Jude flicked his hand a second time and the vines pulled, spreading my legs apart. A jolt of—of something cascaded down my lower belly, tightening into knots that pulsed and ached.“Jude, please—”His eyes rolled in what looked like pl