Nicholas reached up and cupped my face with both hands. He traced his thumbs across my cheekbones, before lowering his thumb to cross over my bottom lip. The pad of his thumb dragged over it. Feeling a little bold, I darted my tongue and licked him. He gasped, then pushed his thumb into my mouth.

The Oracle and her entourage stayed just off the shores of the beach. I didn’t know what they were waiting for. “She’s giving you time,” Veronica said. When she realized that could be cryptic, she added, “Likely to get your affairs in order. She wouldn’t want to scare Elva.” I could appreciate t

Veronica hung her head. She left something out? Nicholas and I glanced at each other, before the Oracle spoke up once more, reclaiming our attention. “For the volunteers it will be painful. Perhaps you’ve guessed as much. The sacrifice of life force, even that freely given, leaves it’s toll. Kno

During the rest of the flight, I was able to convince Nicholas that I did not need to be emergency lifted to the hospital. He didn’t seem pleased at first, but we compromised with allowing the doctor to look me over once we were back at the palace. If she wanted more tests done, I would concede to h

“Oh.” Susie’s eyes widened. “I suppose you wouldn’t have known.” She hung her head a little. “Tensions with the Bear People have more or less exploded. Mark says more and more soldiers are being sent to the northern border. War seems imminent.”I didn’t want to believe that. “Surely there’s somethin