There were eyes on us. I have not forgotten that Cormac and Theo have been watching me this long. The mere idea of it disgusts me. I feel like a pawn upon the chess board of my own life. 

I am sick of feeling this way.

My sisters came to visit. Of course, my Julea found my new MacBook. I lied, told them that I had done a favor for the head of the Black House and he repaid me with the computer. 

I then had to explain what that favor was. 

Fortunately, little Alleah interrupted at just the right moment.

I didn’t have to tell them the entire truth at all.

Something…something doesn’t feel right, right now. I know that sounds crazy, but there is a charge in the air that wasn’t there before. 

I can’t put my finger on what it is. It is probably from the goddess being amongst us now.

She has been kept busy with making reparations with the Wolf god. Trying to fix what the two of them have broken with their bitter arguments that have cursed us all.

Sometimes I struggle with the anger towards her. I will freely admit it.

I am never going home.

I told this to my sisters, once Alleah was snuggled in my bed, napping. She was a bit too old for naps, but she always had liked curling up like a little kitten. Especially in a hotel bed. 

She, like many other young girls, imagined life in the resort to be so romantic. Complete with a wealthy Rajni to love you forever.

It was more filled with danger and sadness now than anything.

“There are problems arising,” Kellis warned me when we had a quiet moment alone, after the rest of my sisters left. “Some in the House of Black are blaming the Woald for the death of that little bastard.”

“But we did not do it.”

“No. But that doesn’t matter. We are Woald. We are convenient targets. You shouldn’t forget that.”

“I won’t.”

“There is something else. Something with the Dhar’s heir, Jierra, and the male she has been mated with. And the goddess and wolf god. Something…is changing. I just don’t know what it is.” Kellis hugged me quickly. “Watch yourself. It’s…dangerous now. In ways I can’t put my finger on. I don’t want to see you get caught in the middle of it.”

“I won’t. You have my w-w-word.”