Chapter 1
Their voices were loud. Julian walked silently down the hallway. Neither would know he was there until he was ready for them to.
“We have to do something to help Mother.”
“Does Mother want us to help her?” Sebastian was less certain of their plan than Seth. “She chose Father.”
“Under duress.”
“Seth…”
“We know she hates the ritual. It’s not something she’s ever pretended she thought was the right thing to do, but after the first time she felt as though she couldn’t say no.”
Only it was more than that. The bond had an effect, even if Titus didn’t use it. Thaddeus’s choice was a mistake.
“For us.”
Anne was pregnant when they first did the ritual, neither of them knew, and by the time they found out it was too late to change anything. The boys were born, both transformed in the same way as their parents.
“We don’t want this either, Seb.”
“If we tell her…”
“She won’t go against Father.”
“You don’t know that, Seth. If we talk to her…”
“She might try, do her best to convince Father it’s for the best, but he’s not going to listen. There’s no chance of him agreeing she’s right. He never has when she tried to put a stop to the ritual.”
Sebastian sighed. “What do you suggest?”
“I can help.” They both looked at him, and Julian could see the uncertainty they both felt. “Which of the many questions you have do you want answered first?”
“How can we see you?”
“Ember magic. Titus wouldn’t have told the two of you about me, but I was one of the first, and his friend.”
“Father had friends?” Seth’s voice was incredulous. “He’s only ever had allies.”
“We got to know each other before magic. He was different. Magic changed him, and then… well, that will come later. Any more questions?”
“You knew Mother?” Sebastian spoke for the first time. “She’s why you’re here?”
“Anne didn’t know me. Thaddeus made the choice it was for the best, even though the time would come when we’d be married, if Titus hadn’t brought magic to Glimmerbrook.”
“Mother was nine, and Father was fourteen. You were the same age?” Seth studied Julian. “Grandfather knew?”
“He knew his father.”
“Father never talked about his grandfather.”
“May I?” Seth nodded, so Julian sat beside Sebastian. “Silas was the one who first told Titus about magic. There’s a long story to be shared, and we have time for it later, once we’ve made a decision how best to help Anne.”
“Unless she doesn’t want it.”
“Seb…”
“No, Seth. We need to be logical. Does Mother want our help?”
“For the two of you to make an informed choice I need to tell you about something. Thaddeus wanted to protect Anne, due to the power he saw within her, and had her bonded to Titus.”
Sebastian looked at Julian. “A soulbond?”
“You have Ember friends.”
“Father never knew.”
“How much do you know about soulbonds?”
“Enough to be certain Mother would never have agreed.”
“She might have then. Losing everyone changed her, Sebastian, but now she’d argue against it.”
“Can it be broken now?”
“No, but it can be transitioned.”
“How do you know about any of this, Seb?”
“Like Julian said I have Ember friends. Or had.”
“So how is the bond transitioned?”
“You say it as though it’s going to be easy, brother.” Sebastian shook his head. “It’s been there since their first life, which means it’s stronger than any bond should be.”
“Unfortunately, as much as I wish it was that simple, Sebastian is right. Transitioning the bond won’t be easy, especially as Titus will do what he can to stop it. Knowing you planned this is the reason I had to step in, because doing it wrong will kill Anne, something you don’t want to happen.”
“What do you suggest?” Seth kept his eyes on Julian. “You’re the one with the best understanding of the situation we’ve found ourselves in.”
“There is a solution. Has your father ever said anything about Anne’s soulmate?” Both shook their heads. “It’s something he’s been waiting for.”
“For what reason?”
“To steal the soulmate bond.” Sebastian’s voice was almost a growl. “He needs it to keep Mother with him for good, and means he can use the soulbond to make us all immortal. At least that’s what he said he was going to do.”
“He will.” Julian sighed. “A promise was made.”
“You brought this soulmate up for a reason. What can we do, Julian?”
Julian breathed in deeply. “Find him, bring him here, and change everything.”
“How exactly?”
“Father can See, Seth. He knows when it will happen, so he can prepare for it, but he can’t See the dead. If we change the future…”