I was awakened by a pair of strong arms pulling my naked body from the warmth of the bed.“What the fuck?” I cussed blinking my eyes to find Brent with a blade to my throat while a man I didn’t know bound my legs and arms together with a rough rope.“Not another peep or I will sever your pretty little head from your shoulders.”“Why are you doing this?” I asked, looking over at Jaxon’s still frame. He looked like he was sleeping, but with Jax being a full vampire, he doesn’t sleep. Panic hit me.“Is he alive?”“He is for now, but if you don’t shut up, he won’t be for long. He’s only spelled.”“I thought you were my friend Brent, why are you doing this?”The look he gave me was frightening and his fist landed hard against my cheek. The room swam for a second and then everything went black.I blinked my eyes open and was im

My life is a mess. Well, it’s always been a mess, but it’s even more of a mess now than it has ever been. Wendy, I wish you were here. The voice I heard next was not the voice I was praying for, but it was good enough. Damon approached me from behind, rain leaving his hair to fall in streams down his face. His face showing signs of sympathy and a look that said that he knew all too well what I was struggling with.“I don’t suppose you just stumbled upon me by chance?”He came to stand beside me. “Not exactly.”“Liam?”He offered me a short nod. I should have known Liam wouldn’t have just left me alone with my thoughts. He would do whatever he felt necessary to try to help me work through my thoughts and emotions. He must have luckily guessed my location because I told no one where I was going, and I left those mental doors on lockdown.“He thought, rather hoped, th

I rummaged through the closet in an effort to locate something simple to throw over my body, afraid that Wendy’s appearance had been a figment of my imagination. I grabbed one of Liam’s old cotton t-shirts and slipped it over my head. It would have to do for now. When I re-entered the room, Wendy’s back was to everyone as they each dressed in their clothes.“Everyone’s decent now. You can turn around,” I assured her.I kept my eyes on Chase as Wendy shifted her feet to turn around. It was obvious to me that he was conflicted and honestly, so was I. Chase took a step toward Wendy, hesitating long enough to see if she would disappear, before taking the chance and running the rest of the way to her. His face was alight with joy as he scooped her into his arms and spun them in circles, childishly giggling as he did.“I’ve missed you so much. How are you here?” he cried as he returned her to her feet. He as well a

A loud knock on the door tore their attention from Chase. Guin moved to cover her naked form while Jax moved to open the door. On the other side of the door stood the large, masculine frame known as Grady. He took a quick glance around the room, stopping at Saraid, eyes wide as he took in her disheveled appearance, in nothing but a t-shirt. The heat in his stare made her wrap her arms around herself for cover. Liam had once suggested that Grady desired her, no, loved her and the look he gave her then told her that Liam was correct in his assumptions.“You are a gracious and loyal friend to the crown Grady, but if you continue to look at my wife that way, I may just have to rip your eyes from their sockets,” Liam stated in a way that gave Grady pause.“My apologies. I mean no harm, your highness.,” he addressed Saraid, ignoring Liam’s glare all together.“It was not me that addressed you, Grady. It is disrespectful to ignore th

Her eyes shot open at the sound of a familiar voice screaming her name, pleading for her to help. Saraid scanned her surroundings, hoping to spot a sign to lead her in the right direction. The same voice screamed again, a blood curdling scream.“Oh, no. I’m too late,” Saraid cursed herself under breath and ran in the direction of the screams.As Saraid ran faster, the screams drew nearer. “Just around this corner,” she chanted.She reached the end of the darkened gray hall and rounded the corner. Saraid stopped, gasping as she fought for air. This hall, like the last was empty. There was no sign of the woman or her attacker anywhere. She inched herself further down the empty hall, looking for a trace of Wendy. She was there, somewhere, she could feel her fear deep in her bones.“Wendy, I’m here. Where are you?” Saraid yelled into the empty air around her. The sound of her voice echoed along the vast hallway,