't sleep

with enchantments older than the trees themselves. But no ward, no spell, no fire-etched rune cou

erself in the b

s glint

. Just a fli

en

porcelain sink,

ll is happen

ne pulsed faintly in the reflection,

t was

-

ed her from

e bond was progressing too fast. Kael's influence was seeping

ve it-not unless h

uld anchor her mind w

and whispered a sin

behind him, a tal

crossed. He wore the same cocky smirk he alwa

a truth

ed. "What th

bleedin

rin faded.

or her, the god inside will tak

to stop it," Lucien

. "She deserves the truth. All

t's not the truth that breaks people

-

ut of the bathroom,

h and polished like a river stone

?" she as

you only what's real. No glamour. No illus

ms. "And what am

u reall

red at t

screamed at her

s done bei

he shard and

world fe

-

nor va

e walls, the m

eneath a blood-red sky, facing

sat a man

a

es molten red, and his skin inked with the

smi

back, m

dered. "No. I'm n

"You woke my fire. And you've s

back. "This

manor and your Guardian lover. This is the

towering and regal. "I

e me," she hissed

n why does your heart bea

eath c

lic

chest that she

r the past. But your blood does. Your bones

er die,"

ce a soft growl. "Then

't have

he wanted

ntle, almost reverent-and

-

r with a gasp, stumbli

ees bu

, holding her steady, b

you see?

dn't a

coul

ince this all began, she was

a

her

-

f the old cathedral, Luc

chment in his hands-ma

eal bound

iled

t. In the end, she

-