I\u00a0was\u00a0sleeping\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0her\u00a0sudden movements.\u00a0I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0eyes,\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0darker\u00a0than\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0fell\u00a0asleep\u00a0due\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0day\u00a0coming\u00a0to\u00a0an\u00a0end\u00a0and\u00a0night\u00a0gracing\u00a0us\u00a0with\u00a0its\u00a0presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cGavin?\u201d\u00a0Judy\u00a0whispered,\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0hoarse.<\/p>\n
Relief\u00a0flooded\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0buried\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank\u00a0the\u00a0goddess,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0breathed,\u00a0peppering\u00a0kisses\u00a0along\u00a0her\u00a0hairline.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0awake.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid\u00a0I\u00a0worry\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0peeking\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0through\u00a0hazy\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0are you\u00a0feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0reluctantly\u00a0released\u00a0her\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0better\u00a0look at\u00a0her\u00a0face\u00a0and\u00a0get\u00a0her\u00a0some\u00a0water.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0okay,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0sitting\u00a0up\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0watched\u00a0me\u00a0walk\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0room.\u00a0I\u00a0went\u00a0into the\u00a0kitchen\u00a0and\u00a0grabbed\u00a0a\u00a0glass\u00a0of\u00a0water\u00a0before\u00a0returning\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0bedroom\u00a0a\u00a0moment later.\u00a0\u201cHonestly,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0fine.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0mean\u00a0to\u00a0worry\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0looked\u00a0uncertain,\u00a0though,\u00a0even\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0spoke\u00a0those words\u00a0with\u00a0as\u00a0much\u00a0confidence\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0muster.\u00a0I\u00a0handed\u00a0her\u00a0the\u00a0glass\u00a0of\u00a0water\u00a0and\u00a0sat\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0edge\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0bed\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0took\u00a0small\u00a0sips.\u00a0My wolf\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0on\u00a0edge\u00a0after\u00a0what\u00a0had\u00a0happened.\u00a0I\u00a0reached\u00a0over\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0brushed\u00a0a\u00a0strand\u00a0of\u00a0damp\u00a0hair\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0face\u00a0and\u00a0behind\u00a0her\u00a0ear.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0are\u00a0still\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0warm,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0Eliza\u00a0come\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0check\u00a0you\u00a0over.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0grabbed\u00a0my\u00a0arm\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0make\u00a0any\u00a0sudden\u00a0move.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0quickly.\u00a0\u201cEliza\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0here\u00a0for\u00a0this.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0okay,\u00a0honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0was\u00a0here\u00a0earlier,\u00a0after\u00a0you\u00a0passed\u00a0out.\u00a0She\u2019d\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0that\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0awake\u00a0and\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0look\u00a0for\u00a0herself,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0informed\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0face\u00a0lost\u00a0some\u00a0of\u00a0its\u00a0color\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0finally\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0look\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0before\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0shifted<\/p>\n
towards\u00a0the\u00a0window.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u00a0long\u00a0had\u00a0he\u00a0been out\u00a0for?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0though\u00a0I could\u00a0tell\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0tone\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0already\u00a0knew\u00a0the\u00a0answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHours,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0entire\u00a0day\u00a0pretty\u00a0much.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0swallowed,\u00a0not\u00a0saying anything\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0while\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath\u00a0and\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0cupped\u00a0her\u00a0face,\u00a0my\u00a0thumb\u00a0drawing\u00a0lazy\u00a0circles\u00a0around\u00a0her\u00a0cheekbones.<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy,\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0what\u00a0happened,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0say,\u00a0keeping\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0low.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0something\u00a0is\u00a0going on,\u00a0and\u00a0I<\/p>\n
1\/4<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0776<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
need\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0what\u00a0it\u00a0is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing\u00a0is\u00a0\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0say,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0cut\u00a0her\u00a0off.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0lie\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0firmly,\u00a0but\u00a0gently\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0time.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0your\u00a0mate.\u00a0You\u00a0can\u00a0trust\u00a0me.\u00a0Tell\u00a0me\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0happening\u00a0to\u00a0you\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0can\u00a0help\u00a0you\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0cannot\u00a0stand\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you hurting\u2026\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0destroying\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0wolf.\u00a0We\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0our\u00a0mate,\u00a0so\u00a0please\u2026\u00a0give\u00a0this\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0was\u00a0aware\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0begging,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0pathetic,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0it\u00a0when\u00a0it\u00a0came\u00a0to\u00a0her.\u00a0Her\u00a0eyes\u00a0fluttered\u00a0shut,\u00a0a\u00a0tear\u00a0slipping\u00a0down\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks.\u00a0I\u00a0wiped\u00a0it\u00a0away\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0thumb\u00a0and\u00a0wrapped\u00a0her\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0arms,\u00a0pulling\u00a0her\u00a0flesh\u00a0against\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalk\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0whispered,\u00a0rocking\u00a0her\u00a0back\u00a0and\u00a0forth.\u00a0\u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0think\u00a0I\u2019m crazy,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0finally\u00a0said,\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0muffled\u00a0against\u00a0my\u00a0chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d\u00a0never\u00a0think\u00a0about,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0assured\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0sniffled\u00a0and\u00a0peeked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0through\u00a0her\u00a0dark\u00a0lashes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0had\u00a0this\u00a0dream\u00a0a\u00a0couple\u00a0of\u00a0weeks\u00a0ago\u2026\u00a0an\u00a0older\u00a0woman,\u00a0maybe\u00a0middle\u2013aged,\u00a0came\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0blood\u00a0calls\u00a0to\u00a0blood.\u00a0At\u00a0the\u00a0time,\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0much\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0dream,\u00a0but\u00a0then\u00a0we\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0Manor,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0her\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0raised\u00a0my\u00a0brows.<\/p>\n
\u201cSaw\u00a0who?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEsme\u00a0Blackwell.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0her\u2026\u00a0the\u00a0woman\u00a0from\u00a0my\u00a0dreams.\u00a0Only\u00a0much\u00a0older.\u00a0She\u00a0obviously\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0say\u00a0anything\u00a0while\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0there.\u00a0But\u00a0she\u00a0kept\u00a0staring\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0Then,\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0leaving,\u00a0I\u00a0heard\u00a0her\u00a0speaking\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0head\u2026\u00a0her\u00a0mouth\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0move,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0head.\u00a0She\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0once\u00a0again\u00a0that\u00a0blood\u00a0calls\u00a0to\u00a0blood.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0swallowed.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0what\u00a0this\u00a0meant\u00a0or\u00a0why\u00a0the\u00a0elder\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0coming\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0mate\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0sleep,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0sense\u00a0of\u00a0dread\u00a0wash\u00a0over\u00a0me,<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0could\u00a0mean\u00a0anything,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her,\u00a0running\u00a0my\u00a0fingers\u00a0through\u00a0her\u00a0hair.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0can\u00a0figure\u00a0this\u00a0out.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0shook\u00a0her\u00a0head\u00a0slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0had\u00a0another\u00a0dream\u00a0not\u00a0long\u00a0ago\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0came\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0again\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0things.\u00a0Only\u00a0this\u00a0time,\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0much\u00a0younger\u00a0than\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0previous\u00a0dream.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0around\u00a0my\u00a0age,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0explained.\u00a0\u201d\u00a0Then,\u00a0right\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0passed\u00a0out\u00a0earlier,\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0her\u00a0face\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0head,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0her\u00a0words\u00a0echoed\u00a0over\u00a0and\u00a0over\u00a0again.\u00a0Blood\u00a0calls\u00a0to blood.\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0this\u00a0sharp\u00a0pain\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0temple,\u00a0and then\u00a0I\u00a0passed\u00a0out\u00a0completely.\u00a0When\u00a0I\u00a0woke\u00a0up,\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0her\u00a0again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0saw\u00a0her?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cJust\u00a0now?\u201d<\/p>\n
2\/4<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0776<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
She\u00a0nodded,\u00a0nibbling\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0lower\u00a0lip.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u00a0what?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stepped\u00a0towards\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0unclasped\u00a0her\u00a0necklace,\u00a0handing\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u00a0The\u00a0pendant\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0closed\u00a0fist.\u00a0I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0it,\u00a0and\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0dropped\u00a0it\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0palm\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u2026\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0paused\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0gathering\u00a0her\u00a0thoughts.\u00a0\u201cGavin,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0Moon\u00a0Gem.\u00a0She\u00a0handed\u00a0me\u00a0the\u00a0Moon\u00a0Gem\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0my\u00a0destiny awaits\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0blood\u00a0calls\u00a0to\u00a0blood.\u201d\u00a02<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 776 I\u00a0was\u00a0sleeping\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0her\u00a0sudden movements.\u00a0I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0eyes,\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0darker\u00a0than\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0fell\u00a0asleep\u00a0due\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0day\u00a0coming\u00a0to\u00a0an\u00a0end\u00a0and\u00a0night\u00a0gracing\u00a0us\u00a0with\u00a0its\u00a0presence. \u201cGavin?\u201d\u00a0Judy\u00a0whispered,\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0hoarse. Relief\u00a0flooded\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0buried\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0hair. \u201cThank\u00a0the\u00a0goddess,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0breathed,\u00a0peppering\u00a0kisses\u00a0along\u00a0her\u00a0hairline.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0awake.\u201d \u201cDid\u00a0I\u00a0worry\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0peeking\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0through\u00a0hazy\u00a0eyes. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21845\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}