I was woken up by the shrill ring of my phone and it felt like I had just closed my eyes and fallen asleep. I turned on my back with a groan and stabbed at the answer button angrily. “Grey.”“I’ve been thinking about our conversation last night and I’m still pissed off but Nova’s insisting we come to see you at the end of the week before we go home.” I could envision Nova standing next to him because he really wasn’t happy making this call.“Great, you’ll be in time for Nicu’s funeral ceremony.”“Shit. Make that the end of next week.” I chuckled as I heard something that sounded like a smack and Ryder’s low cursing as he fumbled with the phone.“Whenever is fine. Gives Abby time to settle in here. We have to go to the ceremony. Dorin was killed too so she’s taking that very hard.”“She needs to come home.”“I’ve got her Dad, she’s safe here with me and Milo.”“Yeah. We’ll talk again.”No goodbye was said and the line went dead as I placed my phone back on the side table and turned tow

Maya’s luggage filled the entire boot and backseat of the SUV and there was just enough space for Genevieve to sit. The drive to Sinaia was quiet and Maya slept through most of it. It was going to be a long and emotional day for her.I hadn’t taken any luggage because I wasn’t staying. It would help cement Maya’s story about the annulment if I left right after and basically ignored her throughout the ceremony. We’d ended up talking for hours and I was reminded of the girl I’d talked with so easily in the garden.Abby had come downstairs to say goodbye to me and told me to give Milo some time. I didn’t tell her that I would be back that same night. Luciana had, as was our way, stood by my window until I looked up and winked at her.I felt a sense of dread as I drove through the Palace gates and parked near the steps so Maya didn’t have so far to walk. She’d allowed me to feel the baby kick the previous night and we were now confidantes and in a good place.“Duke Grey, Princess Maya.” T

I didn’t mention my son again, not to anyone, not even to Luciana. Maya and I had spoken again, two days later and she told me that she had wanted to name him August Grey de Haviland since we hadn’t been married when he’d died in her womb.At the back of the castle, deep into the wooded trees that surrounded us, I placed a small tombstone and buried the rattle that Nova had given me as a gift when Maya’s pregnancy was announced. It was a beautiful rattle with the head of a dragon carved from Dragonstone.I walked past his substitute grave every single day and I left my grief and regrets there. To the outside world I had dealt with my grief and then continued to be the Duke and Sire of Mintia. I would always wonder what type of child he could have been, what type of man he’d grown into and thoughts like that just kept the wound fresh. I needed that pain to stay with me.When I walked back into the castle I put a smile on my face and soaked in the time I had with Luciana, feeling our da

Anger had swirled through Ryder for weeks after leaving Mintia and Wynter behind. Milo and Abigail had been quiet in the backseat and Shae had cried all the way to Bucharest. Nova hadn’t said a word yet but Ryder knew well that she would.Two days later Ryder stood on his porch and Nova finally let loose. He could see swirls of silver in her eyes as she sat down on the porch swing and he finally joined her after minutes of silence.“I love you Ryder but sometimes I don’t know who you are.”“You know exactly who I am. I never hid anything from you.”Nova sighed as she turned to look at her husband. “What you did was inexcusable.”“He put her life in danger!”“Don’t raise your voice at me.”“I’m not … I’m sorry. What else was I supposed to do? He touched my daughter! His filthy hands pawed at her, he slapped her and …”“And he didn’t get very far. Wynter killed him for touching her. He did what you expected of him, what Typhon expected of him.”“It doesn’t matter, he stood in this house

Riley and I had driven the six hours to Bucharest and booked into a hotel. Our flight back to the States left the following morning. I lay in bed and thought about my next move and where I should go with her. I was about to close my eyes when I felt the pull of the dragon realm.“Wynter Grey.”“I’m at your service Lord Typhon.” I bowed my head respectfully as Typhon inhaled sharply and I looked up at him.“I can grant you one desire in this life, you have saved the realms of dragon although I cannot give you the life you seek but I can grant you one wish.”“If I can’t have Luciana back then I wish for all my bonds to sever so I can live in peace.”“It is done Wynter Grey.”I woke up with the sharp pain of my familial bonds snapping, the blood oaths I’d taken snapped all at once and I gripped the sheets beneath my hands as pain seared through my soul. The pain lasted for hours and not once did I stop to think that my family now thought me dead.I felt better when I woke up in the morni