The rain poured down so heavily that it was even starting to reach us in the covered deck. Elva dove to cover her precious coloring book pages. “Everyone, inside!” Nicholas said. We grabbed our things and hurried inside. I helped Elva with her crayons and coloring pages, careful not to get t

Ever since I had been brought into this competition, I had been mocked, ridiculed, shoved around, bullied, set up, nearly killed, and threatened at every turn. Bridget’s arrival hadn’t helped the situation at all. While I could blame the underground organization for much of what happened to me in

Nicholas’s anger began to vibrate through him. He growled, probably without realizing it, with each exhale of breath. “It’s past time I speak with Bridget myself,” he said, low and dangerous. Yet, even so, he did not move –not until I pulled back enough to look up at him. He met my gaze with stern

Nicholas POV I returned to the living room where Veronica and Julian were helping Elva color. Jessica had already excused herself and gone to bed. Both Veronica and Julian looked up at me and their eyes went wide. “What happened?” Julian asked. I wanted to tell him but not in front of Elva.

Bridget blanched. “What did you call me?” Ronan clutched at his head as he forced himself upward into a sitting position. “Beloved?” “You hit your head too hard there, merfolk creep,” Bridget said. Ronan’s eyes grew wide. “How can you say that, Bridget? After everything we’ve shared?” “Share