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Chapter One
Loukas—Eleven years ago
“Well, hello there,” a silky voice purrs in my ear as I sit on the beach and soak up the sun.
My eyes fly open, finding the bright blue eyes of a stranger boring into mine.
“Hello,” I respond, regaining my composure as I blink a few times and climb to my feet.
My eyes begin at her feet, her tanned toes painted pink, and follow her smooth legs up to her black bikini bottoms, tanned, flat stomach, to the perky breasts almost popping out of her string bikini top.
I’m already practically drooling at the sight before I get to her absolutely gorgeous face. Tight black curls flow over her shoulders and surround her. Long, dark eyelashes frame her oval eyes, providing a gentle contrast against her skin tone. Her nose is graceful and in proportion to her face, with contours that blend seamlessly with her other features. It’s her red lips that catch my attention with a warm smile that is soft and inviting. Her eyes crinkle into the smile and seem to sparkle.
“I’m Antonia,” she says, her smile widening to show off her pearly white teeth.
Instead of answering, I open and close my mouth like a stunned fish. She has to be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying something. I am used to meeting other supernaturals who have an otherworldly glow and unnaturally good looks, but the woman standing before me is more than that. She’s a goddess in human form.
A soft giggle snaps me back to reality.
“Sorry,” I say, clearing my throat and offering my hand. “I’m Loukas.”
As she slips her small hand into mine, a shock of electricity shoots between us. I look from our joined hands up to her eyes, searching for a reason.
She’s not my mate—of that I’m sure. My owl is silent, watching patiently from behind my eyes. She may not be my mate, but there’s a connection between us that I don’t understand.
The next few weeks fly by with Antonia and I spending every moment together, stealing kisses—and more—whenever we can. I’ve fallen so hard and fast for this incredible woman that it’s hard to believe she’s real. I joke that it’s like she’s put a spell on me. She’s a witch, of course, but we both know she wouldn’t do that.
“I was thinking…” She interrupts my thoughts as we lay atop a cliff overlooking the ocean. The sounds of waves crashing into them and the gentle breeze rustling through the trees nearly put me to sleep.
I raise up to my elbows, reaching out to take her hand in mine before bringing it to my mouth and placing a soft kiss on the smooth skin on top.
“About what, my love?” I ask, and she giggles.
“Well…” She bites her lip in that sexy way that drives me crazy. “I was thinking that maybe you could come with me when I go home next week.”
I won’t lie and say the thought hasn’t crossed my mind, but the thought of leaving my home fills me with anxiety.
“What ifyoustayed instead?” I challenge.
A look of anger flashes across her sweet face.
That’s not right.
It’s not anger. For a moment, I think I see something more sinister in Antonia’s expression, but it’s gone so quickly that I question if it was my imagination.
“Loukas,” she pouts.
“Seriously, Tonia. You love it here too. Why don’t you stay?”
“I have obligations back home.”
“So do I,” I respond. I know already that this is ramping up to be our first fight.
This conversation was inevitable from the beginning. We’ve been so good at not bringing up the fact that she is leaving soon, but her leaving was always a threat on our horizon.
“I know that,” she heaves out the words, slips her hand from mine, and rises to her feet. “I am next in line to be high priestess. I have no choice but to go home.”
“I’m next in line to be alpha,” I remind her.
