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Chapter One
Cora
Cora steeledherself as she walked through the cafe doors. She knew her older sister wasn’t going to like what she had to say, but she needed to tell Amelia sooner or later.
I’m moving to Cascadia,she thought, like she was practicing. I’m moving, but I’ll be fine.
She marched up to the table where Amelia already sat, sipping a cup of coffee, a matching mug steaming in front of the empty seat meant for Cora.
Cora’s heart twisted in her chest.
Who’s going to order me coffee the way I like it after I move? she thought.
Amelia looked up and smiled.
“There you are,” she said.
Cora swallowed and stood up straight. It was now or never.
“I’m moving to Cascadia,” she said.
Amelia stared, her mouth open in a perfect little O, her coffee cup frozen halfway to her mouth. Seconds ticked by in silence.
“Say something,” Cora said.
“The shifter state?” Amelia finally asked.
Cora just nodded.
Amelia set her coffee back on the table without drinking any of it.
“You can’t let him run your life,” she said.
Cora sat, hanging her purse across the back of the chair, and she took a long swig of the coffee that Amelia had gotten her.
Then, without saying anything, she reached into her bag and pulled out a manila envelope. Her hands shook, just a little, as she pulled out a photograph and handed it to her sister.
Amelia turned red with anger almost immediately, and even though Cora had thought that she couldn’t possible get angry again, she felt the rage building inside her as well.
“What did the police say?” Amelia asked, her voice barely controlled.
Cora shook her head, her lips pressed together. “That they can’t prove it’s him, of course,” she said.
“They mean they don’t want to prove it’s him,” Amelia said.
She clenched her jaw and looked out the window at the brick buildings lining Main Street. Cora knew that look: when they were kids, that look would have preceded Amelia throwing her coffee cup through the plate glass window, then running off to fight whoever had hurt her little sister.
Unfortunately for them, Cora and Amelia weren’t from one of the wealthiest families in Charlesville, Virginia, and if Amelia beat someone up, she’d definitely go to jail.
No matter how much he deserved it.
“Did they even check for fingerprints?” Amelia asked.
“They made a whole show of it,” Cora said. “Didn’t find anything. They wouldn’t even increase the restraining order to a thousand feet.”
“You’re kidding me,” Amelia said. Her voice started to rise. “This asshole sends you a picture of you sleeping with a goddamn hunting knife in the frame and they won’t do anything?”
“That’s Charlesville’s finest,” Cora said bitterly. “I’ve been switching motels every couple of days to get away from him and they won’t do a thing.”
