Novels by Anna Kaduru

KIARA'S POVThat night, no one slept.Kael refused to leave Rowan's side.I refused to leave either.The room was illuminated only by the soft glow of the fireplace, casting long shadows across the walls. Ryder slept peacefully in his crib while Rowan rested in my arms, his tiny breathing uneven but steady enough to ease my heart, if only a little.Kael stood by the window, his arms folded tightly across his chest, staring into the darkness outside.Neither of us spoke.There were simply no words left.Every few minutes, my eyes drifted to Rowan's back.The mark was still there.Dark….Unnatural….Waiting."What if she was right?" I whispered.Kael turned to look at me."Who?""Seraphine."His jaw tightened immediately."I don't care what that woman said.""What if she was telling the truth?""She won't get our sons.""You don't know that.""I do."His voice was firm."I'll die before I let anyone touch them."The room fell silent again.Then...A knock echoed against the bedroom door.Three

KAEL'S POVThe moment Kiara and I stepped into our room, all the warmth from our conversation disappeared.Rowan was crying again…Not loudly…Weakly….Painfully.The sound was enough to make both of us rush toward the crib.Olivia was already standing beside him, gently rocking him in her arms while the witch doctor knelt nearby with several herbs and small bowls spread across the floor.The old woman's face looked grim.Very grim.The second Kiara saw Rowan, she hurried over and carefully took him from Olivia."My baby," she whispered as tears filled her eyes again. "Mommy's here."Rowan's tiny fingers curled around hers.His crying softened.But it didn't stop….It never truly stopped.I walked over to Ryder's crib.Unlike his brother, Ryder was sleeping peacefully.His little chest rose and fell steadily.Healthy….Strong.Seeing one son perfectly fine while the other grew weaker by the hour was torture.I turned toward the witch doctor."You said the mark changed."She nodded."It has.

KIARA'S POVBy the time I returned to the pack house, the entire place was in chaos.Warriors were running across the courtyard.Voices echoed through the halls.The moment I stepped through the front doors, every conversation stopped.Dozens of eyes turned toward me.Relief washed over their faces.Then fear.Because they all knew exactly where I had been.Olivia was the first to reach me.Without saying a word, she wrapped her arms around me."Oh, thank the Moon Goddess," she whispered shakily. "You're safe."I frowned."What happened?"She pulled away, tears shining in her eyes."What happened?" she repeated. "Kiara, you've been gone for hours!"My heart sank."I—"Before I could finish, a deep voice thundered through the hallway."Kiara."I slowly turned.Kael.He stood at the end of the corridor.His clothes were covered in dirt, his hair was disheveled, and his breathing was heavy.It looked like he had searched every corner of the forest.His golden eyes locked onto mine.For a momen

KIARA'S POVI couldn't sit and wait anymore.Not after what happened to Rowan.Not after seeing that mark burned into my son's tiny back.Every second I stayed inside the pack house, wondering what the Coven was planning next, felt like another second I was failing as a mother.Kael had doubled the guards around the pack.The witch doctor hadn't left Rowan's side.Olivia barely slept.Everyone was preparing for an attack.But I wasn't.I was done waiting for one.Just before dawn, I quietly slipped out of bed. Kael was finally asleep after spending the entire night beside Rowan's crib. His hand was still resting protectively on our son's blanket, as though even in his sleep he refused to let him go.My heart broke at the sight.I leaned down and kissed Kael's forehead."I'm sorry," I whispered.Then I kissed each of my boys."Mommy will be back."I wrapped a cloak around myself and quietly left the pack house before anyone noticed.The forest was cold and silent.Every step carried me farthe

KIARA'S POVSomething was wrong with Rowan.At first, I told myself I was imagining it.New mothers worried.That was normal.I had spent half of yesterday panicking because he sneezed twice.Kael had laughed at me for nearly an hour.But this felt different.Much different.It started before sunrise.Rowan wouldn't stop crying.Not normal crying.Not hungry crying.Not tired crying.Pain…..Pure pain.The sound tore through my chest every time he made it.I sat on the bed holding him against me while trying everything I could think of.Rocking…..Singing…..Walking….Nothing worked.His tiny body shook with every cry."Rowan," I whispered desperately."Please."Tears filled my eyes."Please stop crying."But he couldn't….Or wouldn't.I didn't know.The bedroom door opened.Kael immediately walked in.The moment he saw my face, his expression changed."What happened?"I looked up.Tears were already running down my cheeks."It's Rowan."Kael crossed the room instantly."What about him?""He won't stop

KIARA'S POVThe pack house was unusually quiet.For once there were no warriors arguing outside, no emergencies demanding Kael's attention, and no strange visions stealing my peace.Just silence…..Beautiful silence.I stood near the large window in our room with one of the twins sleeping peacefully against my shoulder while his tiny hand gripped a strand of my hair.I smiled.Every day I looked at them and somehow loved them more.The door opened.Kael walked inside carrying the other twin.Immediately, the baby in his arms yawned.Kael smiled.The baby blinked.Kael smiled again.The baby moved one finger.Kael somehow smiled even wider.I laughed."You do realize you're obsessed?"His eyes met mine."I don't know what you're talking about.""You absolutely do."He walked over and stood beside me.The baby on my shoulder immediately reached toward his father.Kael's entire face lit up."There he is."I rolled my eyes."He literally moved his hand.""He recognized me…..He is two weeks