The word tore out of me, sharp and broken. Rage and heartbreak collided in my chest until it felt like something was splitting apart inside me. The weight of my failure crashed down all at once. She’d lost everything.
“She is the rightful queen,” I growled. “Give it back to her.”
The woman shook her head. “You don’t understand. She relinquished all ties. She left. She didn’t want to stay as a member of the coven.”
“You’re a god,” the blonde blurted.
I shot her an annoyed look.
“We all thought she lied about finding a husband,” she rushed on. “You never came to any of the functions with her.”
Guilt slammed into me. “I was busy.”
The brunette turned on the blonde. “I told you she wasn’t lying. And you still tried to make that deal with Jade.”
Every muscle in my body locked. I turned slowly back to the blonde, who visibly shrank under my stare.
“What deal with Jade?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous.
She swallowed. “Elowyn’s mother ruined us. Our lineage was dying. Jade offered a solution—but only if Elowyn was erased from the coven. No name. No ties. Gone. In exchange, she’d lift the curse on our fertility.”
My blood roared. I stepped toward her. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Elowyn agreed it was the right choice,” the blonde said quickly. “She said she didn’t belong here anymore.”
My chest constricted. “Where is she?”
“She didn’t say.” The blonde frowned. “But she told us that if you came, we were supposed to tell you this—”
I stiffened.
“She said you’d never find her. That you should go be with your mate and not feel guilty. She wishes you nothing but the best.”
“No.” My voice was a snarl. “She can tell me that herself.”
I scanned their faces again, desperate now. “Does anyone know of family or friends she’d go to?”
They all shook their heads.
“She doesn’t have friends or family outside the coven. Well… besides her father, but she’d never go there.”
“Damn it,” I hissed, dragging a hand through my hair. “Does she have a favorite place, anywhere she might go? I am desperate.”
They all shook their heads again.
“If she comes back, you will trap her here and call for me—Abram, God of Fate.”
They nodded quickly as I used my magic to transport myself to Della’s house. As soon as my star mist disappeared, Della and Haden stood up from the couch.
“What the fuck is going on, Abram?” Della hissed. “What did you do to Elowyn?”
My throat tightened. “I broke her fucking heart,” I confessed, pressing my palms to my eyes. “She’s my wife.”
Della’s eyes flashed red. “You already married Loma?” she sneered.
“No, not Loma. Elowyn is my wife. We’ve been married for months.”
Her mouth fell open, her eyes fading back into their shimmering star-color. “Elowyn stopped by this morning,” she whispered, tears gathering. “She wanted to cash in the favor I owed her for storing the book.”
