Prologue
Abram—Past
Della tore through my home, her panicked voice echoing against the stone walls. I already knew what was coming, knew I was about to vanish, but gods, I didn’t want to. Not yet.
“You need to hide so they can’t find and use you, Abe. We don’t have much time.”
Della’s voice was frantic as she stared at me. She had barely saved me from Malamay and Diath. I knew she was right, but I had only one thing on my mind. Or rather, one particular witch. I couldn’t leave without seeing her once more.
“Just give me five minutes,” I said. “I’ll be back.”
“What is so import—” Her words cut off as I used my star mist to vanish and reappear deep in the woods of Cerithia, in front of the house belonging to the biggest pain-in-the-ass woman I had ever met. My gaze swept over the home that looked like it would collapse with a stiff wind, but it was only an illusion. The Deathweaver Coven chose to hide in this abandoned-looking shack.
A light flickered on inside. I hated that I knew exactly whose room it was. Elowyn’s. Something stirred in my chest as I thought of her, but I would never admit it to her or myself.
Once more. I just needed to see her once more before I had to disappear.
Just as I was about to sneak into her room, a man walked past me toward the front door. He couldn’t see me as I hid behind my magic. None of them could. But his smile made me pause. He held flowers in his hands, and for some reason I couldn’t explain, I knew they were forher.
I watched curiously, wondering if he was the type of man that caught her attention. Elowyn had never given much of her attention to anyone since I’ve known her. His dark hair was styled nicely, and his robes were those of a nobleman.
He knocked, and a moment later Elowyn answered as if she had been waiting eagerly for him. Her smile was brighter than any she had ever given me. My greedy eyes took in everything about the sight of her being happy. She only seemed to scowl at me.
“Zane.” She greeted him with a familiarity I didn’t like. “Come in.”
Some wild emotion surged in my chest, but I refused to name it. Elowyn had been nothing but a thorn in my side. She was not my mate. Zane walked past her, and her gaze immediately shifted right at me.
“Abram?” she called out, stepping forward. “Whatever you’re here to be an asshole about, I assure you, it wasn’t me.”
Shit.
I hadn’t counted on her seeing through my magic. How had she seen me? Quickly, my mind scrambled for an excuse.
“I wanted to make sure you had theBook of the Deadsecured.” I lied. I knew she did.
She glanced over her shoulder, probably at the man waiting for her. She moved toward me but stopped far enough away that she thought she was safe. My hands flexed at my sides because I wanted to reach out and grab her for once. But I didn’t. I shoved my hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t be tempted.
The wind caught her scent—violet petals and smoke from her herbs.
“Of course I do.” Her gaze swept over my face, giving away nothing. “I vowed to you, as Queen of the Deathweaver Coven, that I would protect the book. It’s bound until Ardella comes to me.”
Her voice was soft, but there was a tinge of attitude because she thought I doubted her.
My eyes roamed over her face, trying to memorize how she looked. Gods, I wanted her to smile at me like she smiled at that unworthy man. She deserved someone who made her smile like that all the time. I hated that it wasn’t me.
“Listen, Abram, I know you don’t trust me…”
“I never said I didn’t trust you,” I cut her off.
Her dark brows pinched together. “All right, fair enough. You never said that. But I know you don’t like me or my coven—”
I cut her off again. “Then stop doing stupid shit.”
My gaze narrowed on her. Her entire body tensed at my snarky tone. She tried to hold in her irritation. So I smirked. That was all it took for her to lose it.
Her hands fisted on her hips. Her dark green dress hugged her curvy body perfectly, but I tore my gaze away.
“Listen here, asshole. You came here to what—annoy the shit out of me?”
