h day as Et

ne, he'd

rdian business, leaving me in the

ver of my lost abilities. Each attempt was a

Orleans in May, rattled the shutters. Etha

lightly ajar.

st, Alistair, the one wh

Olivia's Cleansing Curses to my wife."

od ran

Then you drew the Curse to her, stripping her bare. If we continue to channel O

I would endure them myself for Olivia," Ethan said, his voice tight. "To see Oliv

iven her the honor of the Blackw

me. Harder t

my inability to reclai

what I thought was sympathy. He'd tell me, "It doesn't

i

other Guardians, the subtle ostracization –

a's ritualistic burdens,

ly. A familiar, dreadful pressu

to hide, but the force

inding,

r I'd never explored, pushing open a he

ide made my

t, a treasury of

room. Swirls of faded pink a

ca of Olivia's childhood r

lace pillow, was a small, carved wooden

ng a similar wooden doll in his hands,

d set. F

hinking. He was

reamed down my face. This se

laugh e

ded to give me a marriage. You g

orb Olivia's burden

uthless, I wouldn't ju

awing on the room's strange, resi

r's form was just vanis

composure wavered

de, feigning concern. "That looked like another back

t. A little jolt now and then

eyes sharp, then his e

d you, whether you command tempests or zephyrs, or even nothing

he continued, guiding me. "I'l

h felt l

btly used a nearly forgotten skill, a tiny whisper of t

built in the bayou... can I borrow

onto the bed, hi

I'd wanted to redecorate, to bring some warmth into the stark chamber. Ethan had

ly pink room in the secret

was Olivia, feminine touch

ulled back, his desire warring wi

Just thinking... a

o much ti