Beneath the Alpha’s Nose, Chapter 8 “All hands on deck! Arm yourselves!” It’s almost instant—the crew jolts awake, grabbing anything sharp and bracing themselves at the rails. One grim-faced sailor pushes a wicked looking knife into my palm. He doesn’t bother asking questions, and why would he? I’d sounded the alarm. “Watch the water,” the […]
Beneath the Alpha’s Nose, Chapter 7 The Mermaid’s Folly wheezes like a wounded thing, every groan reminding me that I’m trapped inside another cage, only this one floats. If I breathe too loud, it could all collapse; this disguise, this fragile boy’s shell holding in the wolf. I’ve barely been aboard six hours, and already […]
Beneath the Alpha’s Nose, Chapter 6 The streets of Pinehaven are all but abandoned by the time true night settles in. I keep to the deepest pockets of shadow, and even with my hair lopped short, the bristling at my nape won’t let me forget how exposed I am. Every new noise stabs sharp, and […]
Beneath the Alpha’s Nose, Chapter 5 The estate’s asleep, or it’s doing a really good impression. I edge down the corridor toward my father’s study, the air thick with shadows that could hide almost anything, the smallest noise a threat. I remind myself of who I am now—I’m Ari—and it’s got to be second nature […]
Beneath the Alpha’s Nose, Chapter 4 The air feels wrong, heavy with change. Like the room already knows it’s losing me, as if I’ve already slipped through the world I know to somewhere I don’t belong. Maybe this is what dying feels like. It doesn’t seem possible that only a week ago I laid out […]
Mostly Harmless Magic, Chapter 5 Rue’s arms ached as she scrubbed at the root cellar floor, each sweep of the mop collecting more of the glittering residue left behind by the silver wind. Even Granny Thorn’s magic hadn’t done the trick. Not entirely. But the chaos had settled into mere mess, something manageable, something she […]
Aetherloft 