The Never List

by Jade Presley

The demis—descendants of those blessed by the goddesses—had fallen out of favor with the kings centuries ago, back when they’d each ruled over their own territories, like the Legends do now.

But she abandoned us long ago, along with my friends’ mothers, the goddesses Tareena, Eirdis, and Neph.

Kal’s has rubies, Pierce’s has emeralds, and Axl’s, sapphires. Mine has black diamonds, a nod to my Obsidian city.

Those eyes grin like a cat catching a canary. “With all the other sheep?” I’m already backing away, but I don’t break his gaze. “Baa,” I say, then wink at him before whirling around and losing myself in the crowd.

The rubies, that’s Kal Erhart. Sapphires is Axl Dawson. Emeralds is Pierce Bertrand. And the black diamonds…that’s Jax Lavine.

Men like that don’t need a silent princess; they need a sharp warrior, someone who will fight by their side and not cower in fear when their darkness comes out to play.

“Why not the red?” “I’d rather they know now,” I answer. “Know what?” “That I’ll never be what they expect.”

“The minute I heard your voice, the minute I sensed your emotions, you felt like mine.”