ter

ing to regain her composure, she remained still and concentrated on breathing in and out. She recognized she had no short-term

gth on seeing through the fog clouding her vision. When the other person c

gnized Talon's living room, and the reality of the situation smacked her in the fa

was nothing to be done.

m losing the best part of myself. Every man I have ever loved is gone. I will never be whole again. Yet you stand there with nothing

uld not help but notice that she appea

appear ungrateful,

eak your heart. I have to know that you are strong enough to

steady as I will ever be. I give you a fair warning, though. If you

id not, but I know who did. If you think

ing in her veins. "Are you telling me that this was the wo

ly. "I am sure that you are aware of the fact that certain flowers a

at since infancy. What is your

. It is an extensive process to marry into our clan. One must not only be born into the right family, but they must also complete a medical screening, at which time blo

her. Before our parents could force her hand, she was already pregnant. It was too late to do anything about it, so the test was never discussed again. If it turned out your blood was tainted, they would have stigm

on her face. "This is fascinating information, but

s sudden interest in helping her that afternoon. She remembered the time it took Oleander to go into her chamber to pick up t

, and I realized right away what she had planned. I

I would live or whether I would perish. She has never loved me. What will happen to Talon's soul? I know w

eir lifeforce to reunite before they are reborn. Unfortunately, because he does not have a human soul, he will be stuck in purgatory for eternity. Please do not let

niece. "You are correct about your mother. She is a ruthless woman without a shred of decency. I think you know what you must do. She ne

ing would please her more than ending her mother's existence. She stood tall, brushed herself off, and walk

t her next move. Once she controlled every r

adjust to her current reality. She felt empt

the energy. No one else realized it, but Anwyn was a living thing. The realm cried out for Genève, drawing her in. She knew if she could get back, she

de perfect sense to Genève. The instant she lost Talon, she gave up the part of her capable of love, compassion, and trust. He had been good, and now all she had left was malevolence. The pain was too

attention of a powerful wizard named Zeek. It took months to entice him to look up from his experiments, and look up

g anyone else. Her chance of living happily ever after died with Talon, so she may as well ma

uld still manage to implant suggestions into the average human consciousness--that was how she had built her vast army two years ago after killing her mother and leaving her aunt. The problem was, that otherworldly creat

ure of revulsion and excitement. She put her palm on her stomach and sighed. When he had asked for her hand in

the cheek. Judging from the look on his f

ly figured out how to do it, my love. I knew it was possible! All the

into his eyes. "That is wonderful, dear

old into the alternate dimensions! Try as I may, I could not persuade the world tha

s–do you know what this means? We will rule all the realms. We will have infinite power. All we would have to do is find t

k at Zeek and was taken aback by the disgust in his eyes. Things would never be the

e me to gain power. Leave my presence, d

ed her that he could move between the dimensions, it had taken her by surprise, and she had let her mask slip. It was just for a