LOGINThe crowd continued to applaud as Thea took one final bow before exiting the stage. The moment she was out of sight, Elijah grabbed my hand.“Come on,” he said, already pulling me toward the aisle. “Let’s get backstage before everyone else.”We made our way through the crowd, accepting congratulatio
AgnesEight years had passed by.The concert hall was packed to capacity, not a single empty seat in sight. My spine ached like hell from sitting on the hard wooden chair for the past two hours, and my pregnant belly made it impossible to find a comfortable position. Elijah kept rubbing his neck and
“Mom?” Thea’s voice called. “Everyone’s waiting. Are you ready?”I took one last look in the mirror, adjusted the mask slightly, and turned toward the door.“Ready,” I said, opening it to find my daughter standing there in a midnight blue dress that she had designed herself. Her own mask, shaped lik
AgnesOne year later.I stood in front of my mirror, hardly recognizing the woman staring back at me. Two years. It had been two years since I met Elijah—not counting that foggy night we conceived Thea seven years before that, a night neither of us could fully remember thanks to whatever drugs had b
Initially, I resisted. The thought of sharing my pain with a stranger when I had spent so many years being treated like a madwoman for my trauma scared the hell out of me. But Elijah was persistent, reminding me that we all carried burdens that were too heavy to bear alone.And so, twice a week, we
AgnesThe weeks following the destruction of the Lunaris Stone passed in a blur.Elemental Enterprises, of course, was immediately shut down by the authorities. Every known international law enforcement agency descended on Richard’s territory, working alongside Richard and us to document the crimes
AgnesSunlight streamed through the bedroom window, illuminating Elijah’s dark eyes. It was morning. I was in bed, safe although terrified, and the house was just as it always was. Warm and cozy, embers still glowing in the fireplace, and not a cobweb or a skeleton to be seen.Elijah’s face hovered
AgnesMy stomach dropped as I stared at the photo on my screen.“Can’t wait to wear my new pieces for the big day… With a dress to match!”I read the caption three times, each word digging into my skin like tiny daggers. How did she get the same jewelry? Had she been watching us at the store yesterd
The blunt assessment stung, but I couldn’t deny the truth of it. I stared down at my drink, debating how much to share. Mason had warned me about Elijah before, had told me I was fighting a losing battle against a mate bond. Part of me was afraid that confiding in him now would just invite an ‘I tol
“Of course. The flowers, the lighting, even the table settings—it’s all beautiful.” I tilted my head, studying his expression. “Why do you look so pleased with yourself? Did you have something to do with this?”Before he could answer, Thea tugged on my dress, pointing excitedly to a group of childre







