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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 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…
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Chapter 25
Chapter 24 “Titus, can we talk?” “I’m not ready.” “You’re never going to be ready.” Anne studied her brother, the way he was looking at the books in front of him, and knew he was planning something. “This is about Mateo.” Even though he didn’t look at her some of the tension dissipated. “What about him?” A thought Titus had, one he believed couldn’t possibly be, linked to Dante to Mateo. Look closely enough, and there were some similarities, especially to Gabriel. Fortunately Anne knew better than to bring him up, although it was Mateo who’d been the reason for the two of them leaving Glimmerbrook. “You never said anything…
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Chapter 24
Chapter 23 Dante sat on the bench, his eyes on hers, and Anne tried to find the right words, although she wasn’t certain they existed. It wasn’t as though the two of them did have any kind of relationship. He might see things differently, the dreams affecting his decisions, but he could walk away. “Anne…” She breathed in deeply. “I’m sorry, but this… when I last saw you this wasn’t a conversation I could have imagined having. To be honest with you I thought I might even be bringing up the possibility of removing Titus as a problem entirely, which now doesn’t seem viable.” “You want to kill your brother?”…
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Chapter 23
Chapter 22 “I’m sorry for just turning up like this.” “Mother remembers when we were friends, Anne. This is strange, but she’ll work through it.” Celeste studied Anne. “What happened?” “Dante convince Cornelius to talk to me about the ritual, which was complicated enough, and then he kissed me.” “He what?” Anne shook her head. “From the way he spoke it’s something he’s thought about before. With the ritual so close he saw it as his last chance.” “Obviously he doesn’t know about Jonathan.” “Would it have stopped him if he did?” “You think he’d still have done it?” “Possibly. It was surreal.” “Cornelius knows about your soulmate?” “Yes, he…
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Chapter 21
Chapter 20 Footsteps came down the stairs. There weren’t Titus’s, which was for the best as he wouldn’t be pleased she was looking through his research, but she didn’t know exactly who they belonged to. It was probably Cornelius. He was the one most likely to be looking for her brother. “Can we talk?” Anne turned. “You want to talk to me?” “Dante said I should.” For a few seconds all she could do was stare at Cornelius. “About what, exactly?” “You don’t need to ask that question. There’s only one thing I could need to talk to you about.” “Why now?” “I need to know if they’re both right.”…
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Chapter 19
Chapter 18 After Anne’s visit everything became much more complicated. Loud arguments happened more often, Celeste’s parents unable to agree on what to do next, Titus an ongoing problem. He was working with dark magics, his soul scarred, and willing to use them on the Embers, his hatred burning deep. “Celeste, can we talk?” “You here to warn me about Titus?” “I’m certain you already know, and I have tried. He’s not willing to listen.” “Was he ever?” “No, he wasn’t, but this…” “Anne, don’t.” Their eyes met for a moment. “I remember the girl who was once my friend.” “Sometimes I don’t.” “How about you tell me what you…
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Chapter 17
Chapter 16 Anne didn’t often visit the graveyard. She knelt in front of Reuben’s grave, thinking of the man who’d become her father, and tried to find a way for her to have normality. Even if he didn’t entirely believe Leonora there were signs he knew Titus was different, arguing often about the future. Sometimes it happened, and when it did they were simply another problem for Titus to deal with. Unlike her he didn’t connect with their new families. Reuben meant nothing to him, so it was easy for him to do what he believed needed to be done, choosing the same path once more. He never changed. Had…
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Chapter 16
Chapter 15 Footsteps came down the stairs. Anne wanting to have the conversation early, because she didn’t trust him. Titus kept his eyes on the books in front of him. Working out the right way to word everything wasn’t an easy task, to keep her where she was meant to be, by his side. If it wasn’t for Dante… “Are you ready to talk to me?” “When I said tomorrow I didn’t mean at dawn, little sister.” “This is important. Every day that passes is one closer to the ritual, and that…” She tapped her thumbs. “Putting it off complicates my decision.” “You’re truly going to stay, no matter what…
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Chapter 15
Chapter 14 Titus was on the other side of the door. Anne sat at the end of the bed, waiting for the moment when he finally knocked, because he would. He’d want to know where she was, what she was doing, who she was with – and there was no doubt he’d assume she was with Dante. Lives had passed before when they’d had issues, but they’d always worked through them. It would be the same this time, and yet, as Titus stood there, there was this niggling doubt. “Anne, can we talk?” “Now?” “I know I haven’t reacted well, and it’s important we deal with it now.” “Fine. If…