can be returned.
What did you do? My chest clenched.
Every king needs a queen. You have the finest.
I am not a king.
You will be.
Leave me. My body shook. My worst nightmares were coming true.
I cannot do that, and if you look inside yourself you will realize you do not want me to.
I hate you and all you stand for. Whatever plans you have, count me out. I will not help.
You will.
No! I screamed inside my head.
The poison already runs through her veins.
What poison? Ainsley. What had he done to her?
Your poison. Once mine. This brand of poison uses itself as an antidote. As long as she has more, she will live.
More what?
Of you, he taunted. You are old enough to understand the ways of men and women. Her body knows. Her body will forever crave the poison that will keep her living.
What have you done? Fear engulfed me. This is impossible.
Not impossible. Real. If you die she dies too. Do not forget that, and you can thank me later. Thought I would use an insurance policy that would reward you at the same time. You were always my favorite son.
I was your only son. What do you want with us? Did you have to return now and poison the one thing I want?
I could not return until you had the strength for me. She gives you the strength. Her strength.
What does that mean? She is just a girl. My girl.
Do not worry. I am not a man anymore. I do not wish to take from you. I wish to give.
I will find a way to rid myself of you. I had to. I had to protect Ainsley.
Be careful to keep the girl close. There is no telling how fast that poison will snuff out her life without the antidote.
I will stop you! I seethed
You will not. I am your only ally.
I am allies with the Essence and all her family.
What would they do if they knew of the darkness in you? The darkness that allows you to hear me?
I do not fear death.
But your death will mean the death of her too. I will take my leave for now, but when the time comes you will answer to me.
My body shuddered as his words echoed in my head.
“James?” Ainsley spoke my name softly. “Are you all right?”
I ran my hand down her back. “I am fine. Everything is fine.” The lies slipped off my lips easily, too easily.
“Don’t leave me,” she mumbled as she snuggled into my side.
“Never. I will forever keep you at my side.” I closed my eyes, relieved when the voice did not return. Was it all in my head? Did I dream it?
I continued to stroke Ainsley until I found something new. A raised spot just beneath her collar bone.
I ran my hand over the mark, but I already knew what it was. It was the Mendel mark. She was marked with my family name. She was cursed.
It would be okay. It was only a mark. Maybe it was normal. I had never had a kindred before. That was it. It was not my father.
I tried to convince myself that it was all a hallucination. I focused on her even breathing. “I will be with you forever.” The words had now taken on a life of their own.
James and Ainsley’s story continues in Forged in Ice (The Forged Chronicles #2)!
Keep reading for a Crescent Chronicles bonus story and a preview of Seduction’s Kiss, the prequel novella to the Allure Chronicles.
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FUTURE
PART 1
A crescent chronicles story
ALLIE
“Come back to bed.” Levi’s drowsy voice carried into the marble floored bathroom.
“In a minute.” I attempted to hide my annoyance. Did he have a sensor or something? I’d sworn he was sleeping when I slipped out of his arms a few minutes before.
“Are you okay?” He sounded worried. He wasn’t going back to sleep.
I tossed the little piece of plastic back under the sink and flushed the toilet. “Yeah, be right out.” I washed my hands for longer than necessary and took a moment to stare at my reflection. I looked pale and overtired. I was surprised Levi hadn’t called a doctor on me already. I loved his protectiveness, but sometimes he took it too far.
I took a few deep, calm breaths before opening the door and stepping back into our bedroom.
Levi’s bedside lamp was on, something he’d done for my benefit