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Chapter 21: Button Ranch

Dorothy knew that — from most perspectives — her life was better for having Matthew in it. Visiting his family on Sundays while they were growing up was a life-saver for her; she dreaded being at home. She never got along with her parents. Without Matthew's encouragement, she probably would have given up a long time ago and gone off the rails in one way or another. She used to daydream about running away from home and joining some kind of crime syndicate, working her way up to the top… becoming someone her parents had a real reason to fear, instead of whatever their reasons for hating her were. Becoming everything opposite of what they wanted her to be. But then she had Matt. Her sweet, clumsy bookworm. He had grown into quite the hopeless romantic, with more love to give than she could have asked for. She couldn't bring herself to tell him that she had evil desires her entire life, but she believed he'd accept her if she did. She almost admitted it to him, once, wh...

Chapter 20: The Tevellyn House

“Do you think I can start helping in the garden now?” Mason asked, moving his gaze from his fishing line to his brother. “Didn’t know you were interested in the garden,” Ryker replied with a raised eyebrow. “Well…” Mason said thoughtfully, “Now that Matthew is married I don’t think he’ll come over as much. He’ll be more busy… and dad hasn’t been able to help all year… Aria hasn’t had any time to go fishing with us, she’s been working so hard.” Ryker smiled at him, then returned his focus to their bobbers on the pond. Cinnamon Crest Falls cascaded into the water nearby, but the water was otherwise still. The autumn morning air was crisp and mostly quiet, with only the sounds of the waterfall and some early morning birdsong to be heard. “The birds will migrate soon,” Ryker said softly. “But I can tell you a bit about the different plants before this season is done, if you want... Usually we start helping after we turn 13.” “I’m 12, not a baby,” his not-that-much-younger b...