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Chapter 35
Chapter 34 “This could end without anyone getting hurt, Julian. All you need to do is make the right choice.” “It’s the right choice for you, Titus.” Eyes meeting, Julian shook his head, feeling the determination of the man he shared a body with. “How can I let twelve more people die, when I could finally kill you?” “For that to be possible you also need to kill Anne.” “No, I don’t, because I understand the bond between you better than you ever could. One thing I’m certain of is Father shouldn’t have created it in the first place. Anne was never truly able to make her own choices. Her…
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Chapter 34
Chapter 33 “What happened?” Although the conversation they needed to have wasn’t going to be easy Anne breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of Natalie’s voice. “Do you remember anything?” Silence followed, but Anne didn’t push for an answer. However long it took it would help to know where to start. “Cornelius… he used dark magic, didn’t he?” “I’m sorry.” “There’s nothing to apologise for, Anne.” Natalie might thing so, but Anne disagreed. “He kissed me.” “Yes, I know. He told me the night it happened, because he thought I deserved honesty, and I can tell it’s not what you wanted.” “How can you tell?” “Rather than being…
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Chapter 33
Chapter 32 There he was, exactly as Julian hoped. One of Titus’ closest allies, the darkness slowly transforming him every visit, until the time came when he was strong enough. From the emotions it seemed as though something had happened within, and it might end up being the reason to accept an offer of help. “Good evening.” The man looked at Julian, eyebrows raised. “Unless it wasn’t. Good, that is. Your emotions make it seem as though it may not have been.” “What are you?” “One of Glimmerbrook’s dead, Julian Ember.” “I’ve never heard of you.” “Titus didn’t want anyone to hear of me. So they didn’t.” “How long have…
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Chapter 32
Chapter 31 “Let Anne see to Natalie. Natalie has nothing to do with this, and Anne…” “I care very little about Natalie. Anne is staying right where she is.” “Cornelius…” Eyebrow raised, Cornelius shook his head. “You’re really going to pretend, Titus?” Titus looked at Anne, who hadn’t yet moved. “Julian.” “At least you haven’t entirely forgotten me.” “How could I?” “No one else knows anything about my existence, thanks to you.” There was a fury in Julian’s voice which was to be expected. “Cornelius is more interesting than you think, but then it’s not as though you actually care. Only Anne matters.” “You took him to make use of…
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Chapter 31
Chapter 30 “You’re welcome here, Dante.” “Thank you.” Dante looked around the small room, trying to wrap his mind around what he was seeing, because he knew about magic – he just had no idea what other people used it for. Not even Anne. “Being here…” “I know.” Celeste smiled. “Everything takes time.” Time they technically didn’t have. Every hour brought the ritual closer, and being there felt like a waste, yet Dante could see why he needed to know more. If he was truly going to help Anne it was the right choice to make. Combined they might be able to stop Titus, saving Glimmerbrook from tyranny. Celeste’s collection…
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Chapter 30
Chapter 29 “This is going to be much easier if we’re both looking, Anne.” Cornelius sounded more amused than anything. “You’re the one who knows what you need.” Anne breathed in deeply. She wasn’t safe. There was no doubt about that. It was easier to feel how much he’d changed when they were in his home. “Cornelius…” “Please don’t act like you’re scared of me.” All he needed to do was get her further into the basement. If she went over to the other bookcase it would be so much easier. Only she wasn’t herself, and he felt her fear, in a way he’d never been able to before. Something…
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Chapter 29
Chapter 28 “Anne made a good point. I need to understand the reasons for the choice you made, Dante.” “She was the reason for the journey I made to Glimmerbrook. The dreams of her… they gave me a reason to keep going, Celeste, after what happened with my parents.” “I don’t know much of the story.” “Maybe it’s better that way. What really matters is getting Anne away from Titus.” “To you that’s what matters, but it’s not going to be as simple as you seem to think, due to the soulbond. Although I wouldn’t say I know Titus I am certain this was part of a plan, potentially from…
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Chapter 28
Chapter 27 Leonora warned them, and she was right. There was no doubt the bond was affecting Dante more. Anne felt it. It existed. With time it could be as strong as the bond with Titus, logically. Unfortunately that was exactly what they didn’t have, and with Titus knowing… had there always been a plan? It was Titus. Of course there was always a plan, but the problem was not knowing what it might be. He knew Dante would be part of their lives at some point, without knowing exactly when, due to the limitations of whatever their father was able to share with him. Working round it was still…
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Chapter 27
Chapter 26 Standing in Dante’s hallway, Anne wrapped her arms around herself, focusing on what they needed to talk about. “I didn’t think I was going to see you today, after what happened, but I’m glad you’re here. You’re right. There shouldn’t have been any expectations, and I’m sorry for how I acted.” From the way Anne was choosing not to look at him Dante didn’t think she’d accept the apology. “Honestly, I understand.” She breathed in deeply. “We’re here to talk about souls, mates, and bonds. This is Celeste Ember.” Dante glanced at Celeste. She was attractive, her eyes different to Anne’s. “Pleasure to meet you.” “Celly, this is…
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Chapter 26
Chapter 25 “There are more. I just don’t have space for all of them.” Anne studied the piles of books. “How many more?” “Enough for us to be here for the entire time we have.” Celeste sighed. “Soul bonds have fascinated the Embers for lifetimes, but we are missing more than I thought we would, possibly because your bond was created.” “Missing?” “Books aren’t here from some generations, mostly the early ones, which I think would actually be the most useful.” “From when one of the Embers was Titus’s ally.” “When I was talking to Mother she said she thought there might be a missing Ember. One not mentioned by…