Clara “I want to go to Bragne,” I told Felix, as I dug through a cabinet full of clothes. We were back in the Quarters. The weather was much colder, and I was glad. It was too warm in Khordon. There was something about the weather in a southern city that made me too stuffy and sleepy. The days were getting shorter, and I had to wear something warmer. I frowned at the assortment of sleeveless, barebacked dresses. Felix leaned against the wall of the room and clicked his tongue. “Out of the question.” “Why?” I demanded. “Because of the vamps?” “Because of Deanneth,” Felix said pointedly. “You think he’s going to let you waltz out of here with your head in the clouds? I spent almost a week making sure you weren’t going to die.” I was about to give a scathing reply, but I thought better of it. Felix wasn’t going to open up to me if I continued to put him on the defensive. So I straightened up and looked into his eyes. “Thank you for saving my life,” I said. He tilted his head at me i

ClaraFelix stood shock still. His brain must have been in override. He didn’t say anything, and he didn’t move. I felt embarrassed doing this, but I didn’t let him go. He was slightly smaller than me, but today he seemed even smaller and more pitiful. He rested his head against my shoulder, and I felt his hot cheek graze against my bare skin. I tried to remember what Hazel did when she tried to soothe me. I stroked his back in slow, gentle circles.Felix didn’t cry, but his arms suddenly lashed around my back and waist. His hot breath burned my neck, and I felt as if I was being violently hugged by a small, but heavy bear. His slender body shivered, and I stroked his silver hair. My fingers ran down to the back of his neck. The Mark would be there – a symbol of black magic and ostracization. Before, I would have recoiled in disgust at the thought of touching someone with the Mark. But now, I only felt pity for Felix.He held me as if no one had ever bothered to show him any physical

ClaraAs I watched the Coliseum fights, I understood why werewolves were willing to kill themselves to get in. There was a heady atmosphere that stirred my pumping blood. Warriors of every size and race fought down in the sandy pits. I saw creatures that I had only seen in books: monitor lizards, tigers, lions, and panthers. The Coliseum wasn’t just a gladiator free-for-all. There were circus acts of skilled acrobats leaping in the air, knife jugglers, and jesters. Drummers kept a steady tempo that thrummed throughout the entire stadium, and musicians blew trumpets when a fighter triumphed over his opponent.I could feel the roaring crowds pulsate like one living, breathing being. There was no rank or caste here. We were either fighters or spectators. Entertainment and the thrill of the fight drew us all together. Some fights truly tested the limits of the werewolf fighters, and I found myself gripping the stone seat as I watched. When two Allied Hunters fought, it was like they were

DeannethThe Coliseum and the games were boring as usual. The Councilors droned on and on about certain policies that I had to enact, and they asked me so many tiring questions that I want to just toss them off the building. Of course, I had to remain calm. I answered every single one of their questions about the attack on Clara. Lord Hector and Lord Velant did not even believe that a vamp had attacked her, but Mistress Orias had visited Clara when she was still sick. She had seen the bite marks on the girl’s neck, and she had smelled the foul stench of vamp blood.Mistress Orias knew that the vamp threat was real. I sneered to myself. How fitting that the only intelligent werewolf of the bunch was in my brother’s pocket. By the time the tournament was over, she would dutifully send some small messenger bird to Bruess’s tower to tell him everything.I didn’t care. Let these insignificant Elites do what they must. I took a deep swig of wine straight from the bottle. Goddess, I needed s

Clara Heat and murderous rage emanated from Deanneth’s body. The sheer focus of his thoughts terrified me. The words came clearly to my mind, and I knew that he never let me leave his side. If I was more stupid, I might have said something particularly grating or sarcastic at that moment. But this time was different. The words howled into my mind, and I recoiled as if he had struck me physically. I looked in confusion at his beautiful face, and there was not even a single wrinkle or brooding frown that betrayed the boiling hatred within him. He continued to smile sweetly at me, but his grip around my chin tightened as he forced me to look at him. The sheer shock of his fury winded me. All this time, I took for granted that he desired me and that he was just a playful flirt who whored around. Now, I felt within him nothing but a dark abyss that pulled me deeper and deeper. “Let go,” I said nervously. I tried to free myself, but Prince Legiere’s grip grew even tighter. Felix, of