Shattered Moonlight

Book 0: The Moonlight Series

by K.C. Harper

Genres: Romantic Fantasy; Urban Fantasy; Romance; Erotic & Steamy Romance

Synopsis

**Welcome to the spicy sequel of Shadowed Moonlight, the urban romantasy series filled with witches and werewolves.

Kane and Briar are back . . . but** so is the danger.

Briar and Kane have solved Cambria's murder, but the trouble keeps coming: Briar's stepfather was the one pulling their strings all along. Now he's compelling her to protect his secrets while he uses her as a pawn in his torturous game.

Torn between her stepfather's commands and her own heart, Briar struggles with her new role as her coven's second. And with Kane as Alpha of the Northern Pack, duty threatens to rip them apart.

Then Kane's old flame reappears, igniting Briar's jealousy and throwing another wrench into their suddenly complicated relationship.

With secrets, suspicions, and powerful forces working to tear them apart, can Kane and Briar weather this storm?

READERS LOVE IT
'An unforgettable urban romantasy' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A compelling blend of mystery and romance' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book had me on my KNEES' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The romance was incredible had me audibly squealing' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A gritty urban fantasy that will sink its claws into you from page one' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release date: April 15, 2025

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Print pages: 320

Sample

Chapter One

I sashayed across the tattoo shop, Lucas’s massive cake in hand.

The place hummed with weres from Kane’s Pack, finishing the last-minute setup for my brother’s birthday. The scent of the teal paint we’d coated the walls in four days before still clung to the air while stacks of dark-stained hardwood flooring sat shoved to the back corner, waiting to be laid. The black trim around the windows, doors, and crown molding, red leather seats and hydraulic chairs still needed to be finished, but it was coming.

Lisa Xing, my bestest friend and human owner of No Man’s Land, the tavern I used to work in, tapped my ass as I passed. “Looking good, chickie.”

“Ow,” I squeaked, batting my eyelashes her way as I shimmied my ass.

“It’s gonna be sharp when it’s done,” she said, arranging a cacophony of chemically enhanced potions—chemically enhanced because for the weres, shadow walkers, and magi, human liquor didn’t affect shit. “When’s the official opening?”

I brushed my long, mahogany-colored hair from my shoulders, better exposing my dark brown corset top and flowing ivory skirt. “A month.” I peered out the front window of the shop and worried my lip, ’cause after everything that happened with my stepfather, Isaac, and Jared, being separated from Kane made me twitchy. And I’d been twitchy a lot lately. Between getting the shop ready to open and stuff with his Pack dragging him away, we’d just been two ships passing in the night.

Tables lined the walls on either side, scarlet tablecloths covering them. Food and drinks overflowed their tops, because, well, the wolves were hungry beasties who liked to eat. Bronze balloons clustered along the high ceiling and framed the entrance—an entrance I kept staring out of, ’cause patient I was not.

Immortal Inc was twice the size of its predecessor with sample sketches lining the back wall. It was a primo location, smack in the Canal District at the unorthodox, neutral grounds center of Cambria, our relinquished city. Well, relinquished after the humans figured out our ‘subspecies’ existed, to which, Cambria became the solution, separating us. Save where the Talisian Sea bordered the weres’ territory in the south, the Cortez Mountain range circled the city like a natural barrier, cutting our kind off from Ithica.

Real estate in said neutral grounds didn’t come available often, so when it’d popped up for sale two weeks before, Kane and I pounced at the chance. And with my wolfy lover’s seat at the Conclave and associated, virtually bottomless bank account, he’d outbid every other potential buyer and gotten a ridiculously fast closing date to boot.

We’d kept the name in honor of his mother, who’d been killed trying to break him from his former Alpha, Ronin’s command—the outfall of my stepfather Isaac’s schemes. Another one, anyway.

“That’s so fast,” Lis said, tucking a strand of her sleek midnight hair behind her ear. Well, kinda sleek. It was less perfect than usual, with multiple strands sticking off in random directions, its shine dulled slightly. Not that she hadn’t brushed it, more like it was haphazard. Not as much care, which was way out of character, ’cause Lisa always cared.

She’d gotten worse and worse since my stepfather’d waltzed into her tavern and compelled her under his control, just like he’d done with me, and Theo, Mason, Lucas, and mom. A pang of guilt had my stomach twisting, because if not for my connection to Isaac, he’d never have come into Lisa’s life.

I removed the glass cake cover and set the miniature sparkler-looking sticks into the icing. Flicking their ends, the spell engaged, those sticks shooting small, celebratory, multi-colored fireworks a foot high. A magi illusion.

Lisa set a stack of plates off to the side. “When’s Sierra’s dirge?”

Swallowing hard, I straightened. Every magi was offered a dirge, their ceremonial passage

after death. Ceremonial because the wraith had already taken their soul to the Iron Hells, the dead’s resting place. I’d never been to one, not even my own father’s, seeing they were only for active Coven members and I’d been entirely too young.

My heart dropped, lungs seizing when an image of my former Coven Leader ripped across my mind. Her lifeless gaze and the empty, gaping hole in her chest put there by the Phantom . . . by Jared. The memory of him felt . . . strange and weirdly unclear. The harder I concentrated on it, the more it shifted, like trying to see the forest through the trees.

He’d been a regular for my readings at No Man’s Land. A fellow magi whose only care was ensuring his wife didn’t catch his skeezy ass with one of many side-pieces. A fact that made his role in those murders feel like a leap, but if there was another explanation, I wasn’t seeing it.

I rubbed a hand along the back of my neck. “Tuesday, with the full moon.” Always with the moon, because the wolves ­weren’t the only ones who followed its cycles.

She leaned a hip against the plastic-covered counter. “Have you seen Mason lately?”

I hadn’t actually been around my ex since the day of the fire that almost scorched our asses. The fire that’d been set by Isaac to hide his lab before he vanished. Dead. Maybe. ’Cause Jared’s body had been the only one found, but my stepfather hadn’t reared his scheming head since, so I could only hope.

“Yeah. I, uh,” I cleared my throat, “took the position as Second.”

Lisa’s angular umber eyes widened when they found me. “And what’d your wolf say?”

Kane’s Beta, Joaquin, sauntered closer, and the laugh he let loose as he stepped up beside me was dry.

I frowned. “He said a lot.”

My Alpha’d been less than impressed to know I’d be working alongside my ex—an ex I’d ended things with for Kane. But seeing my wolfy lover had not one clue said ex was also under Isaac’s thrall, Mason was lucky his innards hadn’t become outards.

In the three weeks since, I’d tried every way possible to tell Kane the truth, but Isaac’s compulsion made my tongue a dead weight, immovable and useless.

Lisa’s hand found her hip. “Do you even want to be Second?”

Grabbing a stack of cutlery, I organized it beside the cake.

I’d told Isaac I’d accept the position as a ploy to keep my ass alive, and while every spiteful bone in my body had me wanting to revolt, I just . . . couldn’t. After what’d gone down with Mason and Ronin, the havoc they’d been forced to wreak, I wanted a hand in the Coven. Wanted some

been forced to wreak, I wanted a hand in the Coven. Wanted some way to help. To protect. And see if maybe there was some path outta this compulsion mess for all of us.

I shrugged. “I wanna do more.”

“Not what she asked, banshee,” the Beta said.

I pursed my lips and huffed. The trouble with pushy friends was all the damn pushing. “I never wanted this kind of responsibility but having access to the Conclave means I have a voice. After everything, I don’t want to be on the outside.”

Lisa flicked me with the tip of her finger. “You’re the Northern Alpha’s claimed mate, chickie. You’re never on the outside.”

Joaquin cocked his brows and tipped his head her way in a “what she said” gesture.

There was that, but still… “That doesn’t help me with the Coven.”

Being Second gave me access to the Recovery Center, the health facility at the heart of Cambria. The source of the Conclave’s endless income. “Unity for a common cause,” that offered preternatural treatments and cures . . . as long as you were uber wealthy and human. A sickening notion.

Cassian, one of Kane’s Pack, crossed in, trays of food in hand. Lis headed his way to help.

Biting the quick of my nails, I bobbed right and left, peering out past the nearby oak trees and down the road. “Where are they?”

Getting the memories Isaac had stolen back—memories of the child he’d had stripped from my womb. Memories of him using Ronin to force Kane away, to make me think my wolf abandoned me. To fray the threads of my tattered heart so I’d give up on him. And I had. But he’d never given up on me.

After the chaos Isaac’d unleashed, I hadn’t exactly coped, especially when my Alpha and I were apart—which had been more than I’d preferred of late.

Joaquin batted my hand from my mouth. “Take it easy.” Light from the black chandelier overhead struck his hazel eyes, making their color strikingly vivid. “Kane’s got Lucas. They’re on their way.”

I scoffed and set a palm over my heart. “Forgive me if recent events have me twitchy.”

He inclined his head because he’d been there, helping my Alpha hunt Jared before they dragged me and Mason from the fire.

Sage, there was so much I needed to say, so much that was tearing me up inside. The truth about Isaac, my mother, our child. It clawed at my heart. Begged for release.

My gaze flicked to Joaquin’s, then away, then back, then away again.

He sighed, soul-weary and deep. “You’ve got an idea I already don’t like.”

I plunked my hands on my waist and offered him my best scowl. “I haven’t even said anything yet.”

Kane’s cousin Theo thumped closer, his dirty-blond hair wet, like he’d come there

straight from the shower. He dropped his elbow onto my shoulder, the weight of it dipping me sideways. “It’s your face.”

My scoff game was on point. “What’s wrong with my face?”

A mischievous spark lit Theo’s expression. He flicked his hand in my general direction. “What isn’t?”

Gone was the hollow that’d taken root beneath his sable eyes, put there by Isaac’s compulsion. A power he shouldn’t have had, but seeing he’d used his smarts as a chemist to strip shadow walker venom of its genetic markers—of Ivy’s genetic markers—he most certainly did. And like the snake he was, he’d used that concoction to take us over. Control us. Get his blood-stained fingers into the upper echelons of Cambrian power, then wreak his revenge.

The Beta sighed, staring at the ceiling like he prayed for strength. “Out with it, banshee.”

I swatted Theo like the pest he was, then answered, “I wanna learn to defend myself . . . or something useful like that.”

Theo’s brow arched, his expression screaming You can throw a punch.

Considering I’d launched one straight at his face when I’d thought he worked with Isaac . . . Yeah, I could call on my power if I needed, but when it came to actually fighting, I didn’t know what the Iron Hells I was doing.

“Not the time for this conversation,” Joaquin said before his eyes went unfocused, the same way they did anytime he and my Alpha were having their secret, wolfy chit-chats.

I stabbed my finger into his chest. “Do not tell him about this, Joaquin!”

He blinked, and his eyes returned to normal. His expression was impassive as his stare dropped to that finger, watching it like a bug he itched to swat. “He needs to know.”

“Joaquin—”

“He’ll discuss it when he gets here,” he said, annunciating each word.

Squaring myself to him, I pursed my lips.

He made a show of eyeing the Pack, then canted closer and said through his teeth, “Pri-vate-ly.”

My gaze narrowed, annoyed at whatever political preternatural minefield I’d clearly stumbled into, but I clamped my mouth shut because the last thing I, or any of us, needed was more trouble.

Lisa sauntered back, balancing a massive tray of pizza dogs in her hold. Theo grinned and reached for them.

I smacked his hand away. “You touch those before my brother gets here, and I will neuter you!”

Every wolfish gaze in the room turned my way.

“Careful, chickie,” Lisa said, setting the tray down. “This crowd looks hungry.”

Snickering, I grabbed a potion, lifted it in cheers, and downed it. It tasted like piss, but it

burned on the way down, doing the trick. Better than the magi-spelled Tonic I’d previously been hooked on . . . one I’d used to slow the tidal wave of emotions that tried to drown me in the years Kane and I’d been torn apart.

The sound of a truck’s familiar engine rumbled in the distance. My lungs shuddered while I took an easy breath.

Headlights cut across the parking lot, then tracked through the windows and over every face in the room. The robin’s-egg blue, 1952 Chevy pickup truck, parked. Its doors popped open. Kane stepped out and rose to his towering height as the surrounding lights hit his profile. His navy, long sleeved shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, showing every ridge and sinewed line of muscle beneath when he prowled toward the entrance.

My mouth watered as I eyed my right wrist and the small heart tattoo there. One Kane had given me. His first ever.

When he crossed in, those silver topaz eyes locked on me, their color rolling like liquid metal. My heart settled, because iron fires, I’d missed him.

Across the shop, stares dropped.

His Pack cleared a path ’cause, neutral ground or no, ticking off the North Cambrian Alpha was the biggest of bad ideas. Not that he’d expect them to cow, but actively blocking him was a challenge. And challenging Kane Slade was a good way to separate your head from your body.

I trailed my fingers over the claiming mark along the side of my neck, the one that declared me his. The one I’d wanted—needed—because it tethered us and meant sharing his extended life. Living together. Dying together. Because it meant never being without him. It was the same mark he’d used to track me to that burning warehouse. And I’d thanked the wraith and all things holy my stepfather’d had not one sweet clue what it could do, otherwise he’d have left me and—by default—Kane, the permanent kind of dead.

My Alpha’s stare dropped to that mark, and the corner of his mouth arced up. Warmth pooled low in my stomach, stoking a fire that never extinguished. I pressed my thighs together. Shadow and sage, he was badass, beast, and brawn rolled into one sex-charged package. And he was mine.

“Someone’s hungry,” Lisa said, gaze crinkling at the corner.

I stroked my palm up my arm. “The wolves always are.”

She jabbed my rib with a finger. “I wasn’t talking about him.”

My face heated a thousand degrees before Kane stepped into my path. His stride was even when he stalked closer, the gait of a man who knew what he offered—the threat he oozed. My fingers itched to run through his hair, that mix of gunmetal gray, light smoke, and white, enticing. Like the predator he was, he hunted me.

My head craned up to better see him.

His deep, commanding voice rumbled through me. “You’re staring, Bry.”

That was a rule, wasn’t it? Don’t hold their wolfy eyes lest you wished for trouble . . . good or bad.

I bit my lip, my lady bits doing the happiest of dances as I purred, “Mmhmm.” Power of obsidian, the things he did to me.

He grunted, gruff and promising, then nipped the corner of my jaw.

Sage, we’d been apart for so long, shattered pieces until he’d fought his way back to me. Until he’d ripped and clawed and tore his way through Ronin’s Pack to take the Alpha seat. Until he’d ended the command that had stolen him from me.

“I brought someone for you,” he said, tipping his head behind him.

I ducked my gaze past him as Lucas crossed inside. A cheer went up around the room and a smile lit my face as I happy-clapped and squealed. The Pack closed in on him and he loosed my favorite mule-like laugh. And iron fires, I’d missed that sound. It’d been stolen for so long. Too long. All our lives had.

Kane stepped aside as I scurried forward, wiggling through the wolves until I latched my arms around Lucas’s gangly neck. “Happy birthday!”

He patted me on the back before wriggling from my grasp. “Thanks,” he said, a deep red blush staining his cheeks.

My heart did a pathetic somersault in my chest.

Theo edged in and clapped my brother on the shoulder with a wicked smirk. “You’ve aged, boss.”

Yeah, Lucas might’ve only been sixteen, but for everything he’d endured, he could’ve been the oldest one there.

I mashed a hand in Theo’s face to shut that saucy mouth. “Ignore this mongrel, Lucas.” Darting in, I pecked his cheek again. “How are you?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Good.”

“You look good,” I agreed. And he did. Healthy. His violet eyes were clear, no signs of the psychotropic V drug that’d consumed him before. The one he’d taken to cope with the mayhem his father had unleashed on his life—our lives. V was dangerously addictive and outlawed for a good goddamn reason. I’d come so close to losing him when its poison accumulated in his bloodstream, until my Alpha’d come along and saved him.

“Alright, enough,” he said, batting me away before he retreated, putting distance between us.

I frowned at the dismissal.

Him being clean eased some of the pressure that’d crushed my lungs and made it impossible to breathe. But I couldn’t shake the fear that he’d slip. And I’d kept his leash tight . . . when he was with me, anyway. Lethal 

addiction aside, being high had put him at risk of losing control and shifting. A big ass problem seeing changelings like him were hated. Feared. Not a shock since the originals, like Isaac, were escaped torturers from the Deep of the Iron Hells, known for chaos, they were instigators with a history of wreaking havoc. Their ability to take the shape of anyone just by touching a skin cell, made their power more dangerous than any preternatural in the damn city, hence the “kill on sight” bounty on their heads, and Isaac’s “I’m totally a human” cover story.

A girl around Lucas’s age lingered behind him, hands fidgeting with her sleeves. She stood several inches shorter, her sepia-toned skin rich. The smile she wore was bright when she found me.

“Hannah.” Lucas cleared his throat. “This is my sister, Briar.” He gestured around. “That’s Lisa, Theo, and Joaquin.”

The Beta shook her hand before Theo scooped her up in a bear hug. “Welcome to the club.”

She went rigid, until my brother laughed and pried her free.

My eyes widened as I stood there, slack jawed, Lisa’s expression the mirror of my own, because Lucas had brought a . . . girl?

Hannah—the name was vaguely familiar. A name he’d mentioned to Kane the day my Alpha’d brought him Renew, the ridiculously expensive pill with chemically filtered healing properties that’d cleared his drug-addled system. The day Lucas’s life had turned around.

Kane extended a hand and closed my gaping mouth.

The smile in Lucas’s eyes was bright, not a pup anymore, but not quite a man. And the way he looked at her . . . it reminded me of how Kane looked at me, and it warmed my heart, but still, after everything we’d been through, my trust issues ran deep. My brother was finally finding his feet. The last thing I wanted was someone rocking his emotional boat and knocking them out from under him. Which meant I needed to know her. Figure out where she stood. What kind of risk she might pose.

I blinked several times before my brain kickstarted. “­Hannah!” I offered a nod and a tentative smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Lucas frowned like he’d expected more.

“You, too.” Her voice was soft, kind—just like her chestnut eyes. But Isaac’s eyes had lied. Eyes couldn’t be trusted—new ones, anyway.

“Lucas has told me so much about you,” I said, throwing an obnoxious wink his way.

He dragged a hand through his hair, and mumbled, “Oh, sage.”

Hannah chuckled, then reached for that hand, threading her fingers through his. My brother’s narrow chest inflated.

Theo’s brow arched high. His stare tracked to mine before he sniffed and wiped away a fake tear with a proud ‘Our boy’s growing up’ expression.

He most certainly was and I was trying super hard to figure out exactly how to feel about it.

Some music kicked on, upbeat with a heavy base. Whoops and cheers went up around

the room. Setting her chin on my shoulder, Lisa said, “I can’t stick around. Gotta get back to the bar.”

I patted her hair. “Thanks for helping.”

She pecked me on the cheek. “Come see me soon.”

“I will.”

With that, she gave my brother a birthday hug, and left.

Joaquin pulled back a chair at the head table and set himself down. The rest of our group moved to follow. My brother took his place beside Hannah while my Alpha lowered himself into a seat, completely commanding it like the king he was. Those molten eyes found me. He patted his thigh, then waited.

I aimed for the chair beside him, and bit my cheek to stifle my snicker, because irritating Kane Slade was the fuel that fed my fire.

His head cocked, and that molten stare flashed. Gripping my flowy skirt at the waist, he jerked me to him. My heart fluttered like a fledgling’s wings—erratic and clumsy. I went airborne as he lifted, maneuvering me onto his lap, using the cover of the table to slide a hand between my thighs.

I sucked in a sharp breath. He didn’t touch anything, but iron fires, he was close. He offered me a brash smirk, because he and I were cut from the same damn cloth.

But sage, I’d missed him. Missed his arms around me. Wished we could just stay that way; me glued to his side like the clingy, desperate mate I was.

“Make room, witchy,” Theo taunted as he nudged my side and thunked himself down.

Witchy? I rolled up my very short mental sleeves because them was fightin’ words. “Wait, am I getting a hint of . . . ” I made a show of sniffing the air and his still damp persona, “wet dog”?

For the second time that day, every set of preternatural eyes swiveled my way and poor Hannah turned ashen. I might’ve tried to console her, but really, the wolves’ bite was wayyy worse than their bark.

“It’s fine,” Lucas loud-whispered to her. “Briar’s gonna get herself eaten someday. We’ve all accepted it.”

My Alpha barked a laugh.

I gasped and stabbed a finger at Theo. “That sassitude is your fault!”

He batted my accusation aside, then turned to Kane and chucked a thumb my way. “You just had to pick this one.”

Kane’s broad hand flexed possessively over my hip while he bared a canine at his cousin.

Grabbing one of the pizza dogs, Theo met my stare when he bit into it. Slowly. Crumbs sloughed over his shirt, and he wiped his greasy fingers on his pant leg.

That saucy little

mutt! Threading my fingers together, I settled them over the table. “Where’s the better half of your DNA, Theo?”

“She’s right here,” his sister Naomi proclaimed, fluffing her hair with a dramatic flair as she sauntered toward us, her claimed partner, Autumn, bringing up the rear behind her. Naomi shoved her brother’s shoulder. “Stop being a pest, pup.”

I grinned and set a palm to my chest. “Ah, Naomi. Your presence always warms the cockles of my heart.”

Theo grumbled under his breath.

My brother edged closer to Hannah, their shoulders touching. Lucas smiled before he straightened in his seat and made the introductions.

Naomi waggled her brows. “Happy birthday, big guy.”

“Thanks,” he said as he reddened again.

Theo eyed the cake like the starving mongrel he was. “You gonna cut that, Boss?”

Lucas grinned, then grabbed the nearby knife and got to work. He and Hannah doled pieces out while the group fell into conversation.

Kane’s arms locked around my waist, and he crushed me to his chest. He and my brother exchanged a glance.

“What’s up, Big Bad?” I said inside his mind, using our touch-necessary, wolfy connection.

He huffed a laugh. “Luke wants a tattoo.”

Oh, hells no! “He’s only sixteen, Kane.”

An easy incline of his head. “That’s what I told him.”

My gaze narrowed. “Why does it feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”

“I think he needs something that’s his.” His thumb grazed a slow line across my stomach. “I wanna offer him a job. Let him apprentice with whichever wolf we hire. Give him something to work toward.”

And keep him outta trouble.

“The kid’s been through a lot. He needs a direction. Some goal or an endgame.”

Dragging my finger over my Alpha’s cake, I raked the icing off the side. His lip arced up at the corner, and that stare flashed.

Naomi rapid-blinked. “Did you just . . . take his food?”

I snickered, ’cause I’d taken his food before. A lot. There was scarce a meal between us where I didn’t steal off his plate. “What’s his is mine.”

Kane’s chest rumbled. “And is what’s yours mine?”

“Yes . . . unless it’s on my plate. Touch that, and I will cut you.”

Angling forward, he tugged my hair to the side, set his teeth to my throat and raked them across it. Predatory, but easy.

Sage, I loved him. He filled every part of me, from the far reaches of my sad little soul, to the chambers of my clumsily beating heart. I was his

We’d walked through fire to find each other again, and I was never giving him up.

I shimmied against him, getting closer.

His cock twitched, and his hands cinched over my hips. “Easy, Bry.” Then inside my mind, “Don’t make me bend you over this table and ruin your brother’s birthday.”

I shimmied again.

He growled.

My gaze drifted my brother’s way. Hannah leaned into him, whispering something in his ear—something that’d never be private around the dangerously sensitive hearing of the nosey ass weres present. Lucas loosed that goofy laugh.

I sighed. My wolf was right, my brother did deserve a win—a leg up. Something that was his. He’d had enough taken from him. I set my head back on Kane’s shoulder and grumbled, “Fine. Lucas can apprentice.”

He popped his hip up then reached into his back pocket and pulled out a card, addressed To Luke. His chest pressed into me when he leaned forward and chucked it my brother’s way. “That’s for you.”

Lucas’s grin was wide. Too wide. The kinda wide that said he’d known what was coming. He tore it open. That grin stretched so far across his face, it touched my soul.

Kane chucked his chin Lucas’s way. “If you want it, you’re scheduled for the opening.”

Scheduled? Pump the brakes! Had they just . . . tag teamed me? Oh, that sneaky pack of mutts! I eyed my wolfy lover askance.

The wink he offered was devastating. My mouth watered.

Lucas angled the card Hannah’s way.

She bounced in place, celebrating for him. “How’s it work, anyway?” she asked. “The tattoos?”

Theo pointed toward a stack of vials lining the shelf behind the main counter, each filled with an off-white, ground up powder. “Moon dust.”

Kane dipped his head to hide his smirk, while I bit my lip to do the same, because it’d been the same lie Theo’d told my brother years before.

“Don’t believe him,” Lucas told Hannah before he aimed a light punch at Theo’s side. “He’s just being an idiot.”

Theo yipped and dodged, shoulders shaking as he laughed.

My brother’s arm fell across the back of Hannah’s seat when he explained, “Preternaturals heal too fast for human tattoos to work, but were claws scar us all, so they mix it with the ink to make it permanent under the skin.”

Her eyes went wide. “So, that stuff’s what, powdered claws?”

“Technically bone.” He nodded. “But, yeah.”

“That’s so cool!” she said, voice high and sincere.

Heads snapped toward the entrance when it cracked open, and my mother stepped in.

My Alpha’s body stiffened, forearms flexing as he rolled his hands into fists. “The

shadowed moon’s Lana doing here?”

I swallowed hard. Sage, I wished I could tell him the woman he knew wasn’t the woman she was. That everything she’d done, all the cruel things and crueler words, had been Isaac’s compulsion. Isaac’s bidding. I wanted to tell him everything, to get us out. Find a way. Something. Anything. I trailed a nail along the hem of his sleeve. “I, um, asked her to come.”

His stare narrowed on me. Hard. “She treated you and Luke like shit for years, then came crawling back after Isaac ditched.” He rolled his shoulders. “You don’t owe her anything, Bry.”

Ditched. Not exactly the reason for my stepfather’s absence but seeing Kane had not one clue about Isaac’s role in anything, that’d been his take on things. If only he knew the half of it.

Ducking my chin, I shrugged. “I’m trying something different.” I rolled my hair around a finger and slid from his lap. “I’ll be alright, Big Bad.”

His exhale was gruff and grated through his throat. His molten stare trailed me as I left, but he didn’t fight me.

Aiming mom’s way, I twisted the wide, titanium band of the obsidian ring on my index finger until it faced my palm, and I clasped it. The heat of its energy rolled through me, channeling from my heart where my power lived. I drew on it, then threw a cocoon over our conversation to shield it.

Lowering my arms, I gripped my opposite wrist. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course.” Her cobalt gaze, the match of my own, flicked around. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“How are you?”

She tucked her wiry, salt and pepper hair back from her face. “Good. Glad I can finally talk to you.”

Glad because Isaac’d wielded her love for me like a weapon, forcing her cruelty. It was still there, his power over her, but him being gone meant he wasn’t there to use it.

He’d driven a wedge between us, one I wanted desperately to remove. Inhaling deep, I braced against my next question. “Have you heard from him?”

She shook her head. “No. Nothing.”

The tension in my body ebbed. Not completely. But every day without him was a goddamn gift. My mind drifted, a face searing across my memory. One I couldn’t get out of my head. One I wanted desperately to free. To send home. “Any idea where Ivy could be?”

“I don’t.” She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Briar.”

“No, don’t apologize.” Not for him.

Eyes were on us, their weight heavy. One silver topaz pair in particular.

Mom shrank in on herself, gaze downcast. “I don’t think . . . I should probably go.”

My face fell. “You just got here.” I wanted time with her, to talk, but with Isaac’s command still locking our tongues, there was naught we could do on that front.

“I’m not wanted.”

Not wrong. The weight of the tension was so thick on the air, it was a wonder I could breathe. Still— “You don’t have to.”

“No, I do,” she said, selfless, like the mom I remembered. The mom from before. “This is about Lucas. I don’t want to take away from that.”

My brother glanced our way.

Mom offered a small wave. She found me again, her smile tight. “I want to hug you.”

“Then hug me.”

“I shouldn’t. I’ve been down this road, sweetheart. Your Alpha will have too many questions you won’t be able to answer. This will be easier for you if we do it slowly.”

My heart squeezed. No doubt, she was right, but that didn’t stop the sting, ’cause I wanted her there. Wanted the time that’d been taken. To learn who she was. To love her like I used to, before everything. Before Isaac.

“I’ll call you soon,” I told her.

Inclining her head, she turned on her heel and walked out.

Aiming for the table again, I settled back with my Alpha.

“You good?” he asked across that connection.

“I’m good.” A truth, one he’d know seeing weres could scent a lie. Well, not a lie exactly. More your panic when you lied.

He grunted but said no more.

“How’s school?” Naomi asked Lucas, pulling my attention.

“Alright.” He tipped his head Hannah’s way. “She’s helping me get my grades up.”

That was news. Good news. And I’d take as much of that as I could get when it came to him. That earlier worry resurfaced, and I pinched my chin as an idea blossomed.

Kane’s thumb stroked along my jaw. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Bry?”

“Nothing,” I replied, too fast, too breezy.

“You’re plotting.”

True or not, I crossed my arms over my chest, indignant on my own behalf. “I would never!”

He nudged his face into the hollow of my neck. “Liar.”

I hmphed. “Fine. I wanna get to know her. Lucas looks happy, but he’s still in a dangerous place.”

He inclined his head. “What were you thinking?”

Angling to the side, I nudged Hannah’s arm and blurted, “We should do a double date.”

Lucas and Hannah eyed me in unison. She smiled, bright and genuine. “I’d love that.”

“How’s Monday?”

I asked.

Kane’s stare creased at the corner. “I’ve got the hearing.”

Right . . . the one where his wolves got to make requests. As Alpha, the entirety of that Northern territory was his, and everything in it. His people could own land or modify it, but major change required approval. His, to be exact. He’d put things off to focus on me when he’d first taken the Pack. But those responsibilities had snuck up and bit us on the ass. That and a weird shift of power bids. Lower level, but still an issue.

I fought the pout that tried to force my lip out. I got it, I did, but, iron fires, I just wanted some time. Taking a slow inhale, I told Hannah. “We’ll figure out another time.”

Leaning back, I gave my Alpha my weight, then peered over my shoulder at him. “Are you at least free to go furniture shopping Saturday?” Furniture we needed for the house . . . and shop.

Kane winced, guilt lining his eyes before he and his Beta exchanged a glance. Some silent conversation passed between them.

“I can take you, banshee,” Joaquin said.

My pulse quickened, pounding in my head when I silently scolded my Alpha, “Please tell me you didn’t just order Joaquin to Beta-sit me?”

There wasn’t an ounce of apology in the level tone of his reply. “I did.” He stretched his neck. “A lotta shit’s happened, Bry. I won’t fucking lose you again.”

Lovely sentiment, except . . . “The point was spending time with you.”

He tensed beneath me.

I blew out a heavy exhale that sent my hair flying. Wolves!

The music changed to a softer tempo. Hannah peered at Lucas through her long lashes. I read the words on her lips when she asked, “Wanna dance?”

He scratched his cheek, neck turning scarlet. His chair scraped across the floor when he stood. She moved in behind him as the two aimed for the makeshift dance floor.

Naomi’s gaze met mine, brow lifting in a “so stinking cute” kinda way.

Kane rose, taking me with him as he carried me out there too. Settling my feet down, he crushed me to his chest and started swaying to the music.

I looped my arms around his neck and sighed. Tucking my head into the hollow of his throat, I breathed in that musk and wilderness scent while I twisted my fingers through his hair.

“I’m trying, Bry.” Trying to do the right thing. Trying to be there.

“I know,” I silently murmured, because he was. And I loved him for it. Swallowing hard, I pivoted the conversation. “Why can’t I talk about training, Kane?”

His arms banded tighter. “Because it implies you don’t think I can’t protect you.”

Hold up. “From the Pack?”

Even inside the recesses of my mind, his voice pitched low. “From anyone.”

I blinked in rapid succession. It was the dumbest of dumb reasons, but the last thing he needed were issues because of my misstep. And having the Conclave or anyone else think that . . . to make Kane vulnerable in that way . . . “That’s not what it means.”

He inclined his head. “I know.” His hand flexed over my waist, kneading the flesh there. “You should learn,” he agreed. “We just gotta keep it quiet.”

I could handle that. “I want you to teach me.” I raked my tongue along his throat, taunting when I said, “Unless you’d prefer someone else—”

He growled, deep and resonant. “Finish that sentence and you’ll regret it.”

I smiled, all proud and teeth because a punishment from Kane Slade was the super kind of fun.

“I’ve got a few hours in the morning.”

I hated resorting to schedules, begging for any scrap of time with him, but that wolf was my life. He was it for me, so if that’s what he had, then I’d take it. Pressing up onto my toes, I peered at him through my lashes and let my pout free. He nipped my bottom lip then arched a lone brow, his heated palms grazing down to my hips.

A soft little mewling sound escaped me.

“Cool it, you two!” Theo snickered when he strode past, walking backwards as he headed for the food table. “There are children present.”

I jabbed a finger toward the corner. “And we set the kiddie table up just for you!”

Kane choked a laugh. “Fuck me, I’ve missed this mouth, Bry.”

Wiggling my ass, I shimmied closer, ’cause there were many more wonderful things my mouth could do for him.

My phone pinged with an incoming text. I tugged it from my handy-dandy skirt pocket and checked the screen.

Mason:

You up for going

over a few things at the RC tomorrow ­afternoon?

As Second in the Coven, I was on the hook for handling administrative stuff; collecting dues, and earnings portions. Or in the case of the Recovery Center, distributing the permits required for Purge and Tonic and other magi-made products when and where required. I hadn’t gotten to that part yet, so, like it or not, it was definitely time.

Kane’s brow ticked high, because he knew me. Knew every expression and sound. Read every reaction. Everything. “What’s up, Bry?”

Seeing my Alpha had not one clue Mason was under my stepfather’s thrall and wasn’t, in fact, the slimebag he thought him to be, there was not one doubt in my mind how things were about to go. Bracing, I showed him my phone. “I start tomorrow.”

His eyes sparked while his jaw ground.

Lovely. Looked like my career was off to a killer start.

Chapter Two

Wind whipped across the yard the next morning as I trained. It rustled the trees and rippled the lake. The fire-kissed colors that tinged the sky waning as the sun climbed.

Kane’s wilderness and musk scent carried strong on the air as he crouched low—a predator eyeing prey. His movements were rigid. Had been since that text from Mason the night before. And I hated that the little time we had was tainted by it.

“Aim for the right,” he instructed.

My grip on my obsidian tightened while I drew on my power.

“We’re just working accuracy, Bry, not power.” He chucked his chin toward my hand. “Release the ring.”

I shook my head. “It’s my only advantage, Kane.”

“For force, yes. But a strong punch is useless if it doesn’t land.” He raised his arms, palms out when he repeated, “Release it.”

Grumbling under my breath, I did as he said. He pushed a big, square knuckled right hand forward—my target. I swung, grazing his pinky, the hit going wide.

I frowned and stared at my fists like I didn’t know them. “How the Iron Hells did I miss something that big?”

He was stiff as he maneuvered behind me, those thick, corded arms grazing over mine, his body encompassing me as he took my wrists. Lifting, he positioned my hands where he wanted them.

“The elbow’s the hinge,” he said, voice level as he went there next, then demonstrated while he spoke. “If they’re too high, your flanks are exposed. Too low, you can’t protect your head.” He positioned me smack in between. From there, he moved to my hips, those hands so big, they wrapped to my ass. “You’re too angled.”

His heat enveloped me, and I peered up at him over my shoulder.

He cleared his throat. “I’m trying to help you, Bry.”

I pressed back into him and dragged my lip between my teeth. “Same, Big Bad.”

His stare dipped there and flashed, but he made no move.

My shoulders fell. “I miss you, Kane.”

Some of that tension eased. His exhale rattled through the recessed chambers of his chest before he nuzzled into the hollow of my throat and raked his canines over my claiming mark.

My mouth ran dry.

Taking my waist, he turned me to face him. The hard planes of his torso pressed into the soft curves of my chest. His calloused hand stroked my upper arm as it climbed, sending a warm shiver down my spine. Hooking a finger under my jaw, he angled my face to his before that low voice thundered through me. “I fucking miss you too.”

“Tell me what’s wrong, Kane. Talk to me,” I uttered.

“You know what’s wrong, Bry.”

My own exhale was equal parts resignation and bracing ’cause I was definitely about to poke the bear—or wolf, as it were. “What if Mason’s changed?”

He went rigid, then pulled back. “You’re defending him?”

I scoured the dusty corners of my mind for a way to actually answer that question but at every turn, Isaac’s leash pulled tight. Twisting the string of his hoodie, I looked away. “He saved me, Kane.” And he had, ’cause had it not been for Mason, I’d have burned in that fire Isaac’d set to hide his lab.

His grip flexed against me as he angled closer. “He did a fuck of a lot more than that.”

“If it wasn’t for him, I’d be dead.”

His large, rough hand took my face, completely engulfing it before he brought me back to him. “I’m grateful, Bry. So damn grateful. But you don’t owe him anything. And if he thinks that gets him a pass for the rest of the shit he pulled, he’s fucking wrong.”

Wraith take me, I wanted to share that truth so he’d understand. Not that they’d suddenly

be besties or anything, but it might’ve dulled his murderous edge. If I couldn’t be honest, I’d need to use the next best thing—logic. “He’s my Coven Leader, Kane. Conclave. Gutting him is not an option. You’ll need to work with him too. Do something to him and we’ve got problems.”

His stare flashed voltaic, charged with a current of rage. A low growl tore from the dredges of his throat.

“I’m Second now. You need to accept that.”

His mouth drew up in a snarl, but he had the decency to keep it shut.

“I’m not asking you to like Mason,” I said. “You just have to trust me.”

He leaned in, words rough along my temple. “I trust you, Bry. Don’t ever doubt that. But he’s not you. I can accept his role. I can accept yours. But no one fucking hurts you, so don’t expect me to forgive him.” He shifted until that molten stare speared mine. “Because I don’t forget.”

I huffed a resigned breath. Without being able to talk, I supposed it was the best I could ask for. “Alright, Big Bad.” I looped my arms around his neck and gave him a gentle kiss.

“Good.” He nipped at my cheek. “’cause I’m taking you to the dirge.”

I tapped a finger against his chest. “You can’t. It’s only for magi.”

“Then I’ll sit in the truck and wait. Jared got himself dead before we could question him. We don’t know if he worked alone.”

My brows shot high. Shadow and sage, he was so close to sniffing out that trail.

“Told you already, I won’t take chances. Not with my mate.” He nudged my jaw, the barely-there stubble along his own making a tsh sound when it grazed my skin. “But if Mason says anything, or tries anything, or breathes wrong, there will be no goddamn mercy.”

Canting my head, I questioned, “Mercy?”

His lip pulled back, baring his canines when he repeated on a snarl, “Mercy.”

Not sure I’d call Kane’s approach merciful, but then he was a were. A mated Alpha, to boot. His willingness to accept threat on any front hovered well below zero. My face twisted. Maybe mercy was the word.

His mouth found my temple. “I’m sorry I’m gone a lot, Bry. Things shouldn’t always be like this.”

Shouldn’t? My nod was small as I traced a nail over my heart tattoo.

“Let me do something. Make it up to you. Take you to dinner tomorrow night. Just the two of us.”

My stomach fluttered. “Is Kane Slade asking me on a date?”

“Do I need to ask?”

“You probably should.” I checked my nails. “I’ll need to consider your offer—”

His hand landed on my ass, and I squeaked.

“Down, boy.” I hid my smirk and pushed at his chest before I scurried back. “You’re gonna have to earn me.”

He crouched low, a lupine grin taking his lips. “That so?”

I backpedaled more, heart thumping in anticipation, because playful Kane was my favorite Kane, outside of take control Kane . . . or sexy-time Kane.

Advancing a step, he angled his head down, eyeing me through his brow. “There’s nowhere you can go that I won’t follow. You can’t run from me, Bry.”

Ha! Wanna bet? I bolted, squealing as I fled. His fast-pounding steps closed in while I barreled across the yard, totally aware I’d only made it that far because he’d let me. But when it came to me, my Alpha enjoyed the chase.

He lunged and a lone arm latched around my waist, bringing me up short until I went airborne. He flipped me to face him, then jerked me to his chest. I wrapped my legs around his hips. Gripping the ruffles of my skirt, he hitched it high, hands sliding to my ass. He carried me to the house, then backed me against the façade, and crushed himself closer.

I trailed my tongue along my teeth.

His torrid gaze dipped to my breasts and lingered. Those eyes hooded. “I’m hungry, Bry.”

The rigid length of his cock pressed into the apex of my thighs, and I rolled my hips, grating over it. He grunted a primal and promising sound as he pressed in harder. Sliding his thigh forward, he gave it my weight. His touch raked my sides as a liquid heat pooled in my core.

“When are you gonna learn?” He cocked a taunting brow. “Don’t pick fights you can’t win.”

Oh, but rankling Kane Slade was my life’s purpose, so picking fights wasn’t just a passion, it was an obligation. I trailed a finger down my cleavage and offered him a temptress’s smile. “I wasn’t aware we were fighting.”

A low thunder rumbled through his chest before he drew his fingers into his mouth and laved them with his tongue. Gliding them up my thigh, he hunted my wet and ready core. “I fucking love these skirts.”

“You just love easy access.” My smile turned sheer vixen. “Why do you think I wear them?”

He growled and shifted my thong aside, thumb seeking that wanton bundle of nerves at my center. The gasp that broke from me when he found them was a hunger that matched his own. He worked me in an easy rhythm. Controlling. Dominant. Patient. The exact opposite of me when I tore at his belt to free him.

“I’m gonna fuck you

now.” His fingers sank deep. “Hard.”

I rocked my hips, enjoying his calloused touch inside me while I hissed, “Yes.”

Withdrawing entirely too soon, he ripped his shirt over his head and whipped it aside, putting the deep ridges of his chest and stomach on full display. His thumbs hooked into my thong, snapping the lacy material before he tossed it aside. Tugging the tie of my corset, he loosened the top, baring me to him. He palmed my breasts, stroking their peaks and my head fell back as I moaned.

“Shadowed moon, you’re beautiful,” he said, tone gruff as he braced himself with a hand against the wall. And, sage, he looked good.

My heart thrummed wildly and the smile that took me scorched. I clutched his back as my mind homed in on a thought. A dream. One that’d been ripped from us before. One I wanted so much I could taste it.

Pressure built in my chest, crushing my lungs until I could barely breathe before I blurted, “I wanna try again, Kane.”

His hold dug into my flesh, kneading deep. “Try what?”

I bit my lip, gaze lifting to his. “For a family.”

His eyes flared, their blaze lighting the world like a second sun as a wildfire of emotion ignited there. Desperation. Hope. Need. His palm tracked to my collarbones and along my neck before it engulfed my jaw. He canted closer, mouth brushing mine once. Twice. He sealed that finite distance between us with a snap. Arching forward, he molded himself to me, kissing me with his entire body until I was breathless and lost in him. That tongue delved deep, and my hands plunged into his hair, knotting in its strands. He pressed closer, his breaths ragged when he took and tasted, sating his need.

I drew back, flushing as my shoulders heaved and I draped my arms around his neck.

“I want this, Bry. I do. But an Alpha’s baby could be hard.”

I nodded. The genetic hierarchy of preternaturals meant our child would be a were, and if that little pup had even a fraction of Kane’s strength, I was gonna be one exhausted momma. But nor did I care. “Is that a yes, Big Bad?”

His arm bracketed my waist, a possessive, wolfish smile cresting his lips. “That’s a fuck yes.”

I trailed a finger along his temple, and over his mouth. “If I don’t take today’s pill, my magic will burn through what’s in my system fast. I can be ready tonight. After that, all bets are off. If this works, you’ll be stuck with me.”

His stare speared mine, his voice a gruff rasp when he said, “The hells d’you think I claimed

you for?”

I beamed. Slipping a hand between us, I unclasped his jeans before I drew down his zipper. Slow. Steady. Taking his rigid cock in my grasp, I stroked. He bucked and I opened for him, guiding him to my slit. His hips rocked and he groaned, making a gradual advance before he sank deep and grazed every desperate nerve in my core.

He thrust again and again, sheathing himself to the hilt. I moaned, arching against him, my body a ravenous riot of sensation, eagerly taking every damn inch.

Growling, he tore me from the wall and took me to the ground. “I want everything you’ve got, Bry. Everything.” His hips arced, sharp and hard when his mouth crushed mine, the kiss bruisingly deep.

My body climbed, high and fast. “Oh, sage.” The orgasm hit and my head threw back, his name on my lips.

He kept pace, hips slamming forward as pounded into me. Over and over and over, he seated himself. His body went rigid, and he grunted as he came hard, flooding me with his heat. He kept rocking, riding our waves until he slowed, then stopped altogether.

His hooded gaze found mine, a sated smirk taking that mouth. I moaned a happy sound, and his grip plunged into the hair at the base of my neck. I started to roll again, ready for another round.

His stare went unfocused, and he looked off into nothing before he cursed. “Iron Hells.” Pulling back, he sat up, stare creased when it found me. “I’m sorry, Bry.”

My heart plummeted. Sorry the moment was over. Sorry our fun was done. Sorry, ’cause once again, the Pack called.

***

Kane pulled us up to the Recovery Center’s manicured staff lot in my shiny new black sports car. It was all leather seats, carbon fiber pieces, fancy screens, and a million buttons I’d never understand. But I loved going everywhere with him in that classic truck. Loved that old ass bench seat that prohibited personal space. Still, with both of us having the adultiest of responsibilities, especially ones that were bound to overlap, another vehicle had been a must.

My Alpha’d insisted on taking me, which, petty or not, was logical, considering whatever pesky Pack troubles he needed to face were there too.

We climbed out and headed up the white stone walkway toward the even whiter river-stone-covered building before us. The windows were trimmed in gold, the place all smooth edges and clean. The path was lined with impeccably trimmed hedges that looked entirely out of place in our overgrown city.

The sunproof glass doors to the RC slid wide before we crossed inside. The place was the definition of sterile with white walls, glossy slate floors, silver and chrome polished accents. The only pops of color were the orange lounger style chairs in the waiting room and the cross logo that stood backlit behind the front desk, each end of said cross representing a group: magi, shadow walkers, wolves, and humans.

Joaquin stood waiting to our left, hands clasped before him.

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling entirely out of my depth. I was an Aura. Read people’s timelines like a clock. I didn’t know the first thing about Coven ledgers and affairs and—

“You good?” my Alpha asked, voice a low rumble when his heated palm settled against the small of my back, fingers flexing deep.

His touch steadied me, brought my heart to an appropriately wild rhythm. I inhaled deep.

“You don’t need to do this, Bry,” he said across our bond.

Cassandra Ryton, Dowager of the Northern shadow walker Clan floated toward us. Her gold, lace and satin vintage gown flitted on the air, the look a fashion forward for her previously Victorian era tastes. Her gaze glided my way, the hauntingly crimson shade something the nearby human’s sight wasn’t acute enough to catch.

Her white-blonde hair slid forward as she bowed her head. “Briar Stone, it is good to see you.”

Shadow walkers didn’t freak me out—much—but Cassandra was of the older-than-dirt-and-dangerously-seductive variety. We’d forged a bizarre respect through Isaac’s chaos, one I wasn’t exactly sure I understood, but as long as she wasn’t eyeing my neck like a meal, we were golden.

“I’m surprised to see you here . . . in the daylight,” I replied as a cluster of whispering humans veered around us, heading inside.

“We have tunnels to shield us so we may walk in shadow.”

That was reasonable, and disturbing. “But, like, isn’t it past your bedtime?”

The Beta rolled his eyes.

Cassandra’s lip twitched. “The wicked do not rest, Briar Stone.” Finding Kane, she said, “I am told the Atrium’s repairs have been completed.” Her chin angled up. “My people say you have left quite the mark in there.”

My brow furrowed, attention darting between her and my Alpha. “Mark?”

A savage smile stretched the Dowager’s face, one that reached her eyes. And one that looked very close to amused. “Your scents are everywhere.”

Scents? Plural.

Joaquin rubbed his temples. “They’ll never get them out.”

My hand latched around Kane’s wrist when I hissed in his mind, “Our sex stained the Conclave?”

He smirked, all wolfish and proud.

Power of obsidian. A scorching heat seared my flesh, concentrating in my face. I was on fire, I had to be, because my skin freaking hurt. I stared at the ceiling, praying for escape. Maybe if I was lucky, it’d implode, offer me a quick death instead of the slow one they doled out.

“I must take my leave, Briar Stone. The hours have been long this day. I am in need of

 rest and my coffin awaits,” Cassandra said.

Wait, had she just made a joke?

“I should like to see you again soon,” she added. Offering Kane and Joaquin a goodbye, she took her leave.

I didn’t know what Cassandra and I were, exactly. Not exactly friends, but not, not friends.

Joaquin’s stare tracked her as she moved. “That was . . . interesting.”

I opened my mouth to reply but looked up when Kane stiffened. His head angled to the right where a lighter ebony skinned woman emerged from a back office. She stopped several feet away, her RC lab coat crisp where it settled at her sides. She tapped at a tablet she held, the obsidian ring glinting on her index finger marking her as magi. One of Alistair’s, seeing she looked not one ounce of familiar to me.

Something in my stomach stirred. “Who’s that?”

Kane cleared his throat.

My head drew back. Wait. Was he . . . nervous?

The woman’s gaze lifted, and I guessed she was closer to my twenty-three years. Her russet-colored eyes locked on my Alpha and widened. “Kane?”

His stare slid to me, then back. He inclined his head. “Whitney.”

Sooooo, he knew her, and if the tense set of his shoulders said anything, it was that he didn’t like knowing her in my presence.

His hand flattened over my spine. “We used to date.”

I went rigid, body turning to stone while a bitter tang coated my tongue. Jealousy, raw and wild, seared through my veins.

He must’ve read that reaction on my face, ’cause his next words came quick. “It was before I ever met you, Bry.”

My heart pounded in my ears while a stinging pain gripped the back of my throat. How had we been together as long as we had and that was the first I’d ever heard of it. “You conveniently left that out.”

“’Cause nothing else mattered after you.”

I hated that it ached so damn much, but the idea of him with anyone else, willingly. It’d been different with Amber, when Ronin’s command forced Kane to obey, in hopes I’d hear and move on. But with Whitney . . .

Kane had been my first everything, and here he’d gone and had a life before me. Touched and kissed and wanted another woman—the utterly gorgeous one sashaying our way.

A gruff grunt broke from his throat.

Whitney’s gaze landed on him.

She stood several inches taller than me, mostly because of her black stiletto heels. Ones she moved flawlessly in, rivaling any shadow walker for grace. The angle of her jaw was soft, curves prominent. She was stunning by any standard.

Because of course, she was.

She stopped before my Alpha and smiled, then leaned in for a hug. Kane was stiff, stare flicking my way when he gave her a lone pat on the back.

My heart twisted and so did my fist with the possessive rage that overtook me.

Righting himself, Kane’s hold cinched against me. “Whitney, this is my mate, Briar Stone.”

Whitney’s gaze narrowed like my name was familiar. If she was from Alistair’s Coven, she’d doubtless heard my mother’s reputation. Known Lana Stone had been ousted from his Coven for funneling drugs to human patients at the RC—for Isaac’s benefit.

Dealing to humans should’ve landed my mother one of two punishments at the hands of the Conclave; death or banishment to the Talisian Sea. But Isaac’s control over Ronin, Anthony, and Victor meant the Conclave left her to Alistair’s devices.

Kane stretched his neck. “I thought you weren’t here Mondays.”

She tucked that tablet against her chest and brushed her long, fine braids back from her shoulder. “One of the girls needed a personal day, so we swapped shifts.”

Wow. Alright. I huffed a sardonic laugh. “You know her schedule?”

“We’ve run into each other a few times.”

“Didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”

A low growl thundered through him.

Joaquin’s brow arched high.

Whitney’s gaze darted between us. “I’ve, um, heard a lot about you, Briar.”

From Kane? Or just in general? My smile was tight.

She raised her free hand, palm out. “Good things, I swear.”

Ugh. She was utterly sweet, and it pissed me off. Not that Kane would’ve been with anyone cruel or unkind. But a snarky bitch who I was justified to hate would’ve been nice.

Kane’s hold slid to my waist when he pivoted my way, eclipsing me and consuming my sight. “You’re upset.”

I had a million questions I needed to ask if I wanted the ache in my chest to subside, but the moment before us was unequi­vocally not the time.

“Bry,” he pushed.

Mason rounded the corner, shoving his black-rimmed glasses further up his nose—a nose with a pink and still-healing scar over the bridge. One my Alpha’d gifted him after the last Conclave meeting fell to shit.

His copper-colored stare drifted my way before he rubbed the back of his neck. When he spotted Kane, his stride hitched, and he tugged the high collar of his lab coat. His attention dropped to where we touched. I swore he winced, but it was there and gone so fast, I wasn’t sure I’d seen it at all. “Briar.” He cleared his throat, voice tight when he

inclined his head. “Kane.”

My Alpha grunted in response, which, everything considered, was better than the alternative. At the very least, it trumped a gutting.

Gripping his opposite elbow, Mason found me. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah,” I said, still deciding if it was true.

My Alpha’s hold on me locked tight.

I couldn’t gauge if his reaction was related to my ex or his, nor did I have the strength to parse it out. My gaze slid from him, to Whitney, then back again. “Have fun catching up,” I silently hissed, then I pulled from his touch and stepped away.

His hand latched over my wrist, jaw working while those voltaic eyes bore deep into mine.

Sage, I was so pissy. But Kane Slade bled loyalty. He wanted me. Loved me. Had done everything for me. Still, having his beautiful past stare me straight in the face was clearly more than I could take.

Mason, Whitney and Joaquin looked everywhere but at us.

Sighing, I murmured across the bond, “We’ll talk later.”

His silvered gaze tracked between my own, thumb grazing my tattoo. He gave a slow incline of his head. “Later.”

I slipped free, then moved to Mason’s side and left, sighing as I vanished around the corner. The RC was shaped like its logo with the lobby at its heart. The place was broken into wings; were labs to the north, shadow walkers to the south, the human treatment center to the west. We aimed east to the magi wing.

My stomach churned, and every possessive impulse in my body begged to run back to my Alpha, climb him like a tree and mark my territory. I shook myself. Sweet sage, if that’s how I felt, what had it been like for him, watching me with Mason all that time?

Mason fidgeted at my side, then ran a hand through his dirty blond hair like he had no clue what else to do. “Everything alright?”

My heart twisted when we passed a dark-stained wooden door with ‘Sierra Harris’ embossed on its front.

“Yeah,” I breathed. “It’s fine.”

His mouth tugged to the side. “It doesn’t look it.”

My stare narrowed. Empath or not, using his power to peruse my emotions was a hard intrusion, never mind that Coven mandate named it a clear-cut no-no. “Please don’t read me, Mason.”

He raised his hands. “I’m not, I swear. You just look upset, is all.” His voice gentled as he faced down the hall and said, “You can talk to me, you know, if you want.”

I swung my foot, scuffing the floor, then peered his way. “Can I?”

He shoved his hands in those lab coat pockets and hiked his shoulders. “You made what you want clear, Briar. You love him.” He tipped his head toward my claiming mark. “You belong to him. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care. I’m just trying to help.”

I pulled in a steadying breath and forced myself to relax . . . kind of. “I’m sorry. There’s just been a lot and I’m not sure I’ve processed it all.”

The singular nod he offered was solemn. “Yeah. I get that.”

There was a pain in those words that had my stomach clenching, because if anyone understood what I’d been through, having his life and love stripped away, it was him. But if I planned to move forward, really make an effort at the position as Second and be around him—trust him again—I needed to clear the air. I needed answers.

We closed in on the secure labs, a chrome sign above the entrance reading Magi Observation and Assessment Facility.

Pursing my lips, I peered his way. “How much of it was you?”

His brows furrowed in question when he brandished two keycards, handed one to me, then set the other over the small box with flashing blue lights on the wall. A high beep sounded out, followed by a click when the secure latch released.

I folded my arms over my chest. “How much of what happened was real and how much was Isaac?”

Grabbing the door’s vertical metal handle, he cracked it open, then crossed inside. “I did things to keep you, Briar. Things I’m not proud of.” His stare dropped. “I should’ve helped more with Lucas. Never should’ve given you that Tonic. Never should’ve agreed to Sierra’s deal.” He shook his head. “Those are on me. But everything after; blackmailing you, threatening to go to the Conclave and involve Ithica, the proposal . . . that was Isaac.”

The room was lined with silver and frosted glass, sit-stand desks that held state of the art computers. Each had multiple screens, wireless keyboards and sleek, ergonomic chairs. A series of tablets sat docked on the far table, while windows lined the walls to my left showing a series of labs where several other magi worked.

I wanted to believe Mason, but— “You had a ring.”

He exhaled good and slow before he aimed for one of those desks, set himself into its black leather seat, and gave it his weight. Dropping his elbows on his knees, he inclined his head.

My heart twisted in my chest, hands flying to my mouth when that truth hit like a shovel. Wraith take me, he’d had a ring! “Oh, sage, Mason.”

The smile he offered was sad. “I had it for a while.” He scrubbed a hand over his hair. “Couldn’t find the right time.”

Not a shock, considering my life had been one Lucas-based emergency after the next. But still, I’d called it quits while he’d been ready to propose.

I closed in and settled

 my touch over his forearm. “I’m so sorry.”

He glanced away. “I guess a piece of me always knew you weren’t all in. I think it’s why I fought so hard to hold on. I don’t know. Maybe I thought I could sway you. Still, as much as it stings,” he straightened and met my gaze before he offered a weak smile, “it’s better like this.”

Any lingering confusion or anger toward him vanished like dust on the wind, ’cause it turned out I wasn’t the only one who’d had their foundation shaken.

My attention lit on a pair of Caster Stones that sat on either side of the entrance. They were polished black and reminded me a crap ton of the ones outside No Man’s Land.

Mason followed my line of sight. “Sierra put them in last year to keep anyone from sharing their research.”

“Pump the brakes. She spelled them to shut her own people up?”

He inclined his head.

What the hells? That felt awfully paranoid . . . and limiting. “So, what? We can’t talk about anything we do here outside this room?”

“We can.” Taking up a small box on the desk, he extended it my way, then gestured to the other magi. “But they can’t.”

I popped that box open. A newer, darker, and decidedly larger obsidian ring sat nestled inside the indigo velvet casing. “Thanks?”

A half-smile crested his expression. “It’s taken from the inner rings, closer to the concentrated core of our Motherstone. It’ll give you a stronger pull and has a counter-cast so the stones won’t work on you. Perk of being Second.”

Innnnnteresting. But magi had a process. For obsidians to connect to you, your blood had to be given over . . . “Don’t I need a ceremony or something so I can tether with it first?”

“You did that when you joined.”

Right, because each obsidian Motherstone was unique to its Coven. When you bonded with it, you bonded with its power and the others connected to it. As long as that new ring was from the same stone, the connection stood.

So a power upgrade without the pomp and circumstance? I’d take it. Plucking the ring out, I swapped it with my old one. Its marquise shape looked sleek along my finger, the facets clean and precision cut.

“It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you took the job,” he said as he swallowed hard, then swallowed again. “I need someone I can trust.”

I twisted the sleeve of my coat, ’cause nothing about that sounded good. “Trust with what?”

He scratched his chin as he peered around. “Sierra was up to some stuff.”

I propped a hip against the shelf to my right. “Yeah, that human industrialist from Ithica she had dealings with.” Dealings to shore up her allegiances and financial status by selling them potions behind the Conclave’s back. Not the bestest of plans, but . . .

He nodded. “Turns out, they ended up expanding their arrangement.” Gliding the drawer to his right open, he took out a stack of papers and dropped

 them down before me.

My gaze narrowed on them. It was in a familiar scrawl, one that matched the open-ended Binding Vow my Alpha’d been given for his participation in Sierra’s get-the-Conclave-working-together-so-Ithica-doesn’t-bomb-us-into-oblivion plan. A vow that necessitated his request to any Coven must be granted, lest the one who’d rejected it be killed.

“These are Sierra’s,” I said.

Mason’s nod was tight. “Her private notes.”

With the tips of my fingers, I spread them apart and started reading. And reading. And reading. Ingredient lists. Magi extractions. Human volunteers. Experiments; failed and successful. Serums upon serums. The further I went, the more my expression twisted. “What is all this?”

“Modifiers.”

The furrow of my brow was deep. “Gonna need a bit more on that one.”

He indicated the note before me. “There’s more I’m still trying to sort, but if I’m reading this stuff right, Sierra built a serum that offers humans magi powers.”

My spine locked straight. Shadow and fucking sage. Give them our powers? What the hells had been wrong with her? Just what we needed—Ithica armed with their iron fleet and our abilities. Bad. Super bad.

“We can’t let this get out, Mason.” We needed to destroy it, burn those pages, and never speak of it again.

He exhaled long and slow, the strain in his expression deepening to pained. “That’s kind of the problem.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, pulse thrashing wildly in my ears when I asked, “What do you mean?”

His stare pinned mine, words dropping low when he said, “I mean the serums are missing." ...