Blackw

ger, Hayden moved. His reaction was instantaneous, a blur of protective instinct. He spun me around, shoving my face into the hard muscle of his chest a

in was torn f

ulder. A thin line of red was welling u

just begun to disperse, i

e didn't release me, didn't even seem to notice the men beyon

ered left wrist, making me gasp. I had to cradle my limp left hand against my chest, every step a jarring reminder of the bone-grin

lling me along in his wake.His body always pos

r side street. A black, heavily armored SUV was idling b

plush leather of the back seat and sl

arked at t

ack into my seat. The sounds of the gun battle faded behin

e of the seat, putting as much

s shirt, exposing the gash. To my astonishment, the bleeding had already stopped. The e

my voice barely a whisper

se, golden-brown eyes met mine, and for the

-born... Blackwood. You're not a spy; you're a runaway." He narrowed his eyes. "Whatever game you're pl

p, refusing

tor at rest, and gave an order to the dri

rough me. My blood ran cold.

g murmur, "You smell of them. Blackwood dust and old pine

ty behind for the dense, dark forests that marked the edge of my old home. The vehic

yden said, hi

ion inside. I was standing on Blackwood land for the first time in fifteen years. The familiar scent of

one last desperate attempt

adow. "I'll find out who you are." he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "And this." he pul

arkness. He paused, a ghost of that cruel smile touching

med shut, and the vehicle sped away, its

ilence of the forest, my heart poundi

rned and walked down the dirt path, t

A woman was waiting on the porch, her arms crossed, her face set in a permanent scowl. Brenda White, the head housekeeper. She fro

tone dripping with disdain. "They expected you'd c

nan, sat at the head of a long dining table. His mate, the acting Luna Georgiana, sat at hi

Then, his eyes flicked over me with cold indifference before returning to his plate, as if I were nothing more than a stray dog wandering

n years, it was colder and more veno