The water lapped between my chin and neck, each little wave colliding to the beat of my heart. The panic rose with each one. I tried to swallow it down but couldn’t.

Even though I knew it was useless, I still attempted to move my arms. They didn’t move. Sikitsha had unfortunately made the special chains too well.

“Begin Test #134.” Sikitsha's voice boomed from the speakers.

My jaw twitched as ...

“All right, where are we headed?” When he didn’t get an answer, Jesse Lawson twisted in his seat. He was shocked by how much fear he saw in the woman’s eyes. Correction, young girl. Maybe a teenager.

“I – I don’t know,” she whispered. She flinched and hid behind her scarlet hair.

Jesse eased his vehicle away from the curb. He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as he drove through the ...

Against the stone of the cave wall, the screech of a talon scraping against its side sounded. Aster sucked in a panicky breath. She tried to silently scramble further into the cave.

“Where is it?”

Aster froze as another of her pursuers spat out an answer. She shouldn’t have wandered off. She knew better.

Aster backed even further into the recesses of the cave. She tried to ignore the large crac...

“I need to confess something…I did it. Now, can you pass the wine?”

Li looks at me witheringly. She looks at the wine bottle skeptically. “I don’t think I should let you have this wine,” she says snarkily.

I make a grab for the bottle. Li snatches it before I can and holds it out of my reach.

“Lance, why in the continent did you think it was a good idea to storm the Council’s meeting and spout ...

“Can I help you?” I asked.

The lady in front of me scowled. “I want real help!” she snapped. “I don’t want assistance from a worthless hybrid!”

I felt my face tighten as it froze in its professional expression. “Very well,” I said tightly. I spun around and entered the back room.

As I did so, I could hear Ruth Durus say, “Honestly, why can’t Ramon find better help?” Her companion made vehement...

“I want to fight,” I said. I ignored the furious looks directed at me for having busted into the Arena’s inner sanctum. I zeroed in on my master, Jordan. “I want to be a Warrior.”

One of the other masters snorted and said, “You? You’re barely five feet and skinny as a rail. A match against you wouldn’t be even remotely entertaining.”

“It’s risky for a young girl like you to go against our season...

I grab my sister’s hand and pull her towards the cliff edge with me. She nods slowly in my direction. Then we jump.

Kaelynn squeals in excitement. I pulled water together, to form a chute that ended above the ocean. We land in the water with a giant splash.

I let go of her hand and swim my way up to the surface. I burst through and giggled.

“Look out below!”

Heeding the shout, I used my abilit...

“Like this.”

I watched as my fiance squinted in concentration at Reuben. She attempted to hold her body in the position that he’d indicated. It wasn’t correct.

“Reu, you’re explaining this badly,” Kristopher interjected. “Here Sara, you’re supposed to stand like this.” He proceeded to demonstrate.

“I think neither one of you are being particularly helpful,” Alyssa, Sara’s sister, said tartly fr...

“Is that a piano?”

I blinked and glanced at my friend, Molly. She was standing in the sand, her gaze transfixed on an object in front of her. I peered in that direction.

“Um, I don’t know…” I trailed off as we got closer. It was a piano. An old, wooden grand piano. I walked up to it and ran my hand across its side.

The side panels were beautifully carved, with an intricate design of swirling b...

If I counted the ways I love you,

I wouldn’t know where to begin.

You’ve saved me,

In more ways than one.

You’ve changed my heart,

My attitude and mind.

You’ve made me a part

Of something sublime.

I love you because

You’ve shown me grace.

I love you because

You’ve changed my fate.

If I counted the ways I love you,

I wouldn’t know where to begin.

If I counted the ways I love you,

I wouldn’t know...