Pippa's POV Adrian’s eyes darken and he pulls me tightly against him, but he doesn’t do what I want him to do. He doesn’t kiss me. Instead, he rests his lips against my neck. His warm breath against my skin is ragged and erratic. “You need to leave,” he says, his voice low and husky. “Where am I supposed to go?” “Yes, you’re right – I’ll leave.” He vaults over the table to the other side and runs out of the back door, disappearing from view before I even know what happened. The strange desires I’ve had ever since I returned from the paddock settle down and the urge to throw myself at Adrian passes. I’ve never acted like that in my life, and I wait for the familiar old feelings of guilt and shame, but this time it doesn’t happen. Good. That's good. It's tiresome feeling guilty all the damn time. Smiling to myself, I leave the kitchen and go in search of something to do. The little cottage is spotless, and all I can find to read are a few old religious magazines the previous occup

Caspian's POV “Maybe we should go on a date or something,” Denise says. “Get out of the palace so you can clear your head.” “No.” Denise is my mate. I have her because I need a Luna. The pack insists on it, and it makes them stronger, but I love her about as much as I love my other bitches. She’s useful, that’s all. I never understood the mate bond. I don’t understand wolves that will live and die for their mates. Denise loves me to the point of simpering adulation. She’ll do anything for me. It annoys the shit out of me, and some days I catch myself fantasising about killing her. Maybe one day. When I don't need her anymore. When I have the Cambion. I can see it so clearly in my head. Slitting her open from throat to groin and dipping my hands in her warm, sticky blood. Stroking my hard cock, I order, “Get on the bed." Giggling like a little teenager in love she jumps on the bed and stands on all fours, ass in the air, eager to feel me inside her. There was a time, right at th

Pippa's POV I sneak out of my room and into the lounge to watch Adrian sleep. I’ve been doing it a lot lately. He doesn't know I'm doing it. For some reason, he never wakes up and I can't bring myself to tell him about it. Sometimes, it feels as if I have no control over myself. It is almost as if an invisible force moves my body along. I refuse to believe it’s some kind of wolf though. I would know if I had a wolf, I’m sure of it. I sit on the rickety little coffee table and stare at his peaceful, relaxed face, running our last conversation over in my head. “Do you want to stay or go?” he asked. I have never been put on the spot like that. No one had ever asked my opinion about much of anything, and I’ve had very little control over my own life. I've always just done what people told me to do. I'm not entirely sure I can be trusted to make good decisions. “I don’t know. Can I think about it?” He nodded and stood up. “Let me know in the morning.” He disappeared into the cottage an

Adrian's POVEither I’m so tired I can’t think straight anymore or I’ve lost my ability to reason rationally. “What do you mean Caspian’s not looking for me?”“He stopped after he met our queen, he did. Now that he knows what she is, he don’t care about you no more.”I narrow my eyes at Monty. “How do you know?”“Your priest friend ain’t the only with spies an’ informants an’ such. Ryker, Caspian’s Beta, he be telling me things.”I relax a little. “Caspian knows she’s with me. I’ll be easier to find than Pippa.”“Aye, but as I said, our queen be hiding you.”“From all wolves?”Monty shakes his head. “Only enemies.”“How do you know these things?”“I’ve had a run-in with a Cambion or two before. None were anything like our queen, but some things are always the same, no matter what kind of creature you be.”I fall back on the couch and run my hands over my tired eyes. “We just sent out a telegram to every wolf in the world. I don’t even know how that happened.”“Aye. That’s why we have

Pippa’s POV When I spoke to Tammy about the mating ritual, she painted a very different picture. I wasn’t prepared for what happened and how long it would go on for. I imagined some blood and a little bit of pain, but I totally underestimated the fight to stay alive and the agony of it all – in my wildest nightmares, I didn’t expect that I’d still have to fight after I marked Adrian. She promised me that the worst would be over after I bit him. I thought once I made it back, once I sealed our bond, that it would stop. But it doesn’t. It goes on and on. “Make it stop,” I sob. “Why isn’t it stopping?” “Shh, my sweet girl, it’s okay,” Adrian whispers in my ear. "I'm right here. You are not alone." The world shimmers back into existence, and I’m very aware of the blood streaming down my right side, over my breast and onto the bed, colouring the light blue sheets crimson. I slip out of consciousness again, but I don’t end up back among the stars. I don’t go back to that peaceful pla