“What do you think he’s doing?” Aislin fiddles with her hooped earring. “Planning our murder probably,” Laylen jokes tensely. “I have an idea.” I slip off my shoes and squeeze behind Laylen. I hoist myself into the tree. The branches crackle as I ascend upward. Moving slowly, I reach a thick branch that elongates over the lake. I step on it vigilantly, feeling the sway. With my hands out to the side, I balance to the end. It curves under my weight and my breath falters. “Gemma, don’t.” Laylen advises from below. I glance at the castle to make sure Alex is still watching, then I raise my hands above my head. My heart leaps in my throat as I spring on my toes and dive into the lake. Screams ring the air and the icy water stings my skin like pins and needles. I thrash my arms, resurfacing, before losing momentum and sinking for the bottom. Murk

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Helena waves her finger at Annabella. “Never turn your back on your family, Annabella.” Annabella laughs, her thin fingers curling into fists. “Is that a threat, Helena? Must I remind you who mother left in charge?” Helena ambles up to Annabella, like a cat eyeing a mouse. “Mother always did like you best, didn’t she? Too bad she’s not around to see this—she’d be so proud of me. I’m more powerful than she ever thought I would be. I have a human connection now, in the Human World. Did you know that? And soon I’ll be able to be there myself.” Before Annabella can react, Helena grips her by the throat and raises her from the floor. Annabella’s feet dangle as she struggles to breathe. “Helena,” she gasps. “Please don’t do this.” “It’s not fun being the weake

 “But she’s so…” I trail off, kicking at the grass as we walk into the forest. “Short?” He mocks me with a curve of his eyebrow. “Do you really think that’s what she looks like?” He puts his lips next to my ear. “Fey have multiple identities.” I fix my gaze on him. “Do you have multiple identities? Or just multiple personalities?” “There’s that twisted sense of humor again.” He pauses, but only to taunt me. “I’m only half-fey, remember? I barely possess any of their power.”   I roll my eyes. “Yet, supposedly your grandmother’s the Empress.” He slams to a halt, snagging the sleeve of my shirt. “Out of everyone in your little ‘click’,” he uses air quotes, “I’d think you’d

 Celeste knew that nothing she could say would change his opinion of his performance. “Normally, Wesson would have been just as happy and relieved as everyone else,” he said.  “He wasn’t?” she asked, surprised. “He isn’t a monster, or at least he wasn’t back then,” he qualified. “But jealousy was eating him up. Sure he was happy the little girl was all right . . .” “But?” “Noah deliberately left him out. He should have told Wesson what he suspected and let him run with the ball.” Artemis paused for a moment. “Yeah, that’s what he should have done, but I’m glad he didn’t. Tit for tat, as childish as that was. And in his defense, and mine because I backed him, we were young and stupid back then, and neither one of us gave a damn about career po

 The screams from the crowd, frantic to get out of the church, pierced the air. The aisles were crammed with hysterical men and women. Noah had his Sig Sauer in his right hand, and as he pushed forward, knocking people out of his way, he reached behind him under his jacket and pulled out the loaded Glock from his waistband. He leapt onto a pew and opened fire. Running along the tops of the benches, he fired the guns in succession, trying to keep the bastard pinned down. Stark ducked behind the railing. What was happening? The blond-headed priest had pulled out a gun and started shooting at him, and he’d been able to get off only a few shots. He’d seen Father Tom go down, then the other priest, and he was sure he’d hit both of them. Now he had to get Celeste. Stark inched the gun up and got her in his sights. She was down on her knees at the bottom of the altar steps. She was struggling to get up when he fired.