Author: admin

“Sit down.” He gestured at the rock ledge behind her. “And spread your legs.” She did so. The moment her knees parted, Caspen’s jaw tightened. Up until now, his gaze had been detached, almost unfeeling. Now his eyes glowed brightly, lit with raw intensity. He kneeled suddenly in front of her, leaning forward and closing…

“No.” Caspen shook his head, his voice a shadow of a breath. “You first.” Tem was so close, she couldn’t protest. If that was what he wanted, she would gladly give it to him. So she looked up at him, feeling the swell of inevitability grow, unable to resist the wave that was about to…

“You seriously can’t go two weeks without kissing a stable boy?” Tem said. Gabriel laughed. “I could. But why would I want to?” She had no answer to that. By the time they got to the Horseman, Tem was aching for a drink. The bar was busier than usual, which wasn’t a surprise. The entire…

The next morning dawned like any other. Tem went about her chores, delivering her eggs and helping her mother in the kitchen just as she always did. But in the back of her mind was the constant knowledge that in less than twelve hours, she would be face-to-face with a basilisk. By the time evening…

“It is our job to prepare you for that honor.” His eyes flicked over them, and Tem flinched when they landed on her. “Proceed to your caves.” Nobody moved. How were they supposed to know which cave was theirs? They awaited further instruction, but the basilisk didn’t speak again. To Tem’s satisfaction, even Vera looked…

“You’ll never guess what happened to me last night,” Vera whispered. Tem sighed. She had come to the bakery to deliver eggs and had gotten gossip instead. It was always that way with Vera. “What happened?” she asked. Vera leaned over the counter so only Tem could hear. “Jonathan took me under the bridge.” Tem’s…

Before she could put her foot in her mouth again, Tem retreated to her bedroom. It was her sanctuary in more ways than one: every time the world seemed too large, she knew she could end the day alone in her bed. Tem hung her cloak in her wardrobe before lying down and staring blankly…