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Chapter 8
Chapter 7 It was early, a time when Natalie should still be sleeping, although Cornelius couldn’t be certain. They hadn’t shared a bed since Jonathan left. Leonora looked at him. “Has anything changed?” “Unfortunately not, but then I don’t believe either of us thought it would. All the Council members I spoke to made the same decision – to protect their families.” It was always the most likely scenario. Hope wasn’t the same as truly thinking something would change. Cornelius was their best chance, as he’d been Titus’s ally, until Julian helped him see the truth. “Who did you talk to?” “Beatrice, Wolfgang, and Marion.” None of the three were likely to change their minds,…
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Chapter 1
“Mother knows?” “Yes, I told her, and now I’m telling you, because I wanted us to be able to talk about this. With Leonora… she’s probably never going to like me, Celly. She doesn’t understand why we’re friends.” “I told her about the bond, thinking it might help her to understand you better.” “With things as they are it might be easier. There’s nothing I can do to stop Titus. Unfortunately he’s made his mind up.” “Had Mother made different choices she could have stopped this.” “She’s not wrong. The ritual… I don’t know how much I should say right now.” “Titus?” “Sometimes he watches.” “You never know when?” “No,…
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Chapter 1
Glimmerbrook, finally. Next was Anne, and the library was as good a place as any to potentially find her, although so far it was mostly empty. Then again it was early. From the way things had seemed during the walk most people were still asleep. Anne might even be one of them. More of a night owl. New magic. There was no doubt about it. Max studied him, feeling the power coming off him in a way it only ever had Titus, but then he wanted people to know he was capable of anything. With the new arrival it was likely more because he had no idea how to hide…
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Chapter 1
Stones on the window drew Anne down to the back of the house, where he stood waiting for her, the way he promised. Even though he said he wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye she couldn’t be certain he’d keep it – not when she knew how much he wanted to get away from Glimmerbrook. Jonathan stared into Anne’s eyes. He knew she wasn’t going to be happy with his decision, but if it was possible… the only option was to try. Titus had been in control of Glimmerbrook for long enough. It was time for someone else to take his place, and undo some of the damage from so many…
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Chapter 7
Chapter 6 Beatrice breathed in deeply, eyes on the nearest tree, as her thoughts returned to the ritual. It happened more often as the days passed. Most believed Leonora, and yet still planned on being there the night of the ritual, because Titus wasn’t someone they were willing to cross. She’d made her decision, trying to convince the others to do the same, in the belief it would be enough to stop the ritual. Cornelius looked down. Keeping his word was important, if he stood a chance of convincing Leonora to work with him, and that was their best chance of actually stopping the ritual. There was no possible way…
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Chapter 1
Anne was exactly where Jacob thought she would be. He watched her, as she stared at the water in the fountain, probably thinking about the ritual. At least that would be on his mind with the timing, because it wouldn’t be long. It wasn’t as though Titus was ever going to change. She must have felt her eyes on him because she stood, looking directly at him. “Jacob?” There was a hope in Anne’s voice he hated hearing. Before Titus’ decision to leave Jacob in the past they’d been friends. At least he’d have said they were, with the chance of them becoming something more. They moved at the same…
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Chapter 1
Anne was predictable, spending her morning in the same place she often did, and Seward watched her, the woman he’d once believed he was going to marry. Had it been up to Reuben it would have happened, but he was dead, Titus in his place. Titus had other plans, if Leonora was right about him. Leonora wasn’t often wrong, but the Council wouldn’t go against their leader. If she was right… he studied Anne. She’d know, because it wasn’t as though Titus would keep anything from her. The two of them were too close for that, which might mean she knew more, and Seward wanted answers. The bigger problem was…
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Chapter 1
“I’m sorry I came by so early, but I needed to talk to you, and this seemed like a good time to get you alone.” Wolfgang looked at his grandson, gifted the same name by Dieter, as the most powerful of the grandchildren. Although similar in personality, and strength, they had very different features. “What’s wrong?” “The ritual is days away. After Leonora’s warnings…” Wolfgang sighed. “Can you talk to Anne?” Wolfgang studied his grandfather. “Anne and I… after Reuben died she’s kept to herself. Last time we spoke must have been when we were teenagers.” “You know where she spends her time?” “Often she’d spend time in the Gardens.…
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Chapter 6
Chapter 5 Natalie stepped into the hallway, eyes on Cornelius. From the way he was going to the basement it seemed likely his conversation with Anne hadn’t changed anything. “Why bring Anne into this, Natalie?” He didn’t look at her, but he did stop walking. “She’s worried enough as it is. Asking her to talk me out of what needs to be done… I should have known that would be how you’d deal with this.” “She cares, Cornelius, the same way I do.” “Nothing will change my mind. This is what needs to be done, whatever you might believe. Someone has to stop Titus.” “You’re probably right about that, but that doesn’t mean…
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Chapter 1
It was time. The ritual was days away, far too soon, but Max hadn’t been ready for the conversation he needed to have with Titus. He probably still wasn’t. Waiting longer simply wasn’t possible, because it needed to be done before the ritual. Titus might even make the right choice. Maximillian Villareal, the younger rather than the elder, wasn’t a visitor Titus wanted to have, especially as he shouldn’t have been able to get through the wards. Pretending not to be home was tempting, but that wouldn’t get him the answers he needed. Maybe Reuben was right. “What are you doing here?” “This isn’t a conversation we should be having…