~Valentina~ Hazie has been gone for five weeks. She communicates with us all the time with a new cellphone Eden got for her, which surprised the hell out of us. She's too far away to mindlink, so we frequently talk on the phone. I hate not being able to feel her or smell her scent while I fall asleep. Tae is always gone, working with the Royal Kings from other territories to ensure Hazel is unharmed, as she is not a threat. Sleeping without both of my mates is making me more depressed every day. Carlie and our parents have been as helpful as they can be with Lucas. I haven't been as patient as I should be for him, so I feel like I'm failing as a mother. This depression is taking over my mind, and I don't know how to handle it anymore.What Eden did to Hazie is unforgivable, in my opinion. Tae and I haven't had time to lean on each other as we deal with the emotions of what happened to our mate. No matter how civil and helpful Eden is trying to be, it still doesn't take away the perman

~Octavius~My ass is tired of sitting around The Royal's table in Open Land's Palace. Thankfully, our queens all stayed home to look after our territories so we wouldn't have a full-blown royal war before decisions are made. The Full-Blood King, Alpha Apollo Dolph, and Hybrid King, Thaddius Gray, propose opening the borders. When they first mentioned it, everyone thought they were insane, especially Mortal Grounds, King Harry. He's terrified of what would happen if the borders got overturned, so he keeps looking at me like I'm about to come to his rescue. I never agreed to protect him outside his territory. I'm not his personal bodyguard. The more I listen to Apollo and Thaddius's plan, the more I like what I hear. Why should we be limited to certain parts of the world? Why couldn't we live freely as we are meant to live? It isn't my responsibility to keep other people alive when they're not under my rule, so Mortal Grounds is about to be ass-out.We might not break down the borders a

~Hazel~ I haven't seen Val and Tae since we mated three nights ago. I never told them, but staying in our bedroom was very painful for me because Val's scent was overpowering. Even the cotton balls couldn't keep her heavenly aroma away, but she needed me and I refused to let her down. I can't take that risk again, so the next morning I told them not to come to the cabin. I can only trust myself to an extent until I'm back to normal, which is supposed to happen this afternoon. I'm nervous as hell, but I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried for Eden. I have a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that she's going to do something crazy. She isn't being herself today. I hope my gut is wrong."Eden, talk to me." She stops wiping the same spot on the counter that she's been scrubbing for the last fifteen minutes."Talk about what, Haze?" I can tell she's avoiding eye contact, and it's ticking me off."Everything is going to be okay. We'll keep in touch, and the borders should be open

~Hazel~ I instantly feel the change in my environment before I open my eyes and see we're back inside the cabin. I take in a deep breath, thankful we made it back. Sure, the plan failed, but we're safe, and we can come up with a more effective plan. I turn around to approach Eden, only to find her lying on the floor breathing heavily beside her candle, which is barely lit. I rush to her side, careful not to touch her candle."She's not going to last much longer, Hazel. Since she didn't die directly, it will take about ten minutes for it to be finalized. Just like your body going back to normal will take time as well. Make good use of the time you have left with her." Rebeka's tone is cold and sharp, but she gives me space. The shock I feel is so overwhelming that my body goes into autopilot. I can't cry. I can't yell. I can't break down and beg The Fates to do something- anything- to keep her here with me.I want to ask Eden a million questions. Why would she do this? Why wouldn't she