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The scene that greets me is horrific, and I almost wish that I’d slept through it. It is no longer the peaceful village I know and love. People, bloodied and ragged, flee, trying to find safety. Behind them, robed figures follow, magic flying effortlessly from their hands.
I hear my name screamed by a voice I know well. What the hell is she doing here?
“Loukas!”
I lurch forward, ready to race to her side but stop short. She sounds angry, not afraid. She’s not worried, not trying to find me for safety.
“He’s not here,” my father answers, his deep voice echoing through the chaos.
I slink through the shadows of nearby homes, hiding myself from view.
“Where is he?” Tonia demands.
“Gone. Banished.” My father’s voice is strained.
Once I round a corner and they come into view, I see why. Tonia’s hands are raised above her head, and my father hovers in the air in front of her. He thrashes in the hold of the invisible bonds surrounding him.
“Liar,” she spits. “Loukas! Come out or your father dies.”
I wait to see if she’s bluffing. My father chose to conceal my presence here, and I trust his instinct even if I can’t trust myown. I continue to watch in horror as robed figures steer some of my people toward the clearing and force them to the ground in front of Antonia.
Over the past weeks, I have seen her use her magic casually. I knew she was strong, but I had no idea she could be so cruel.
It’s not until my father begins writhing in pain that I rush out of my hiding spot.
“I’m here. What’s the meaning of this?”
“There you are, my love,” she sneers, and it’s like seeing someone I’ve never met. “I had almost started to believe you were gone.”
“What’s going on? Why are you doing this?”
“You were going to choose these people, this place, over me?”
A feeling like a bucket of ice poured over my head overtakes me. I blink away the film from my eyes, finally seeing her clearly for the first time. Whatever we had—whoever I fell in love with—is gone now.
I shake my head, trying to understand this new reality.
“No, my love. I was going to ask you to stay.” I take a step closer to her hesitantly, watching as her face lights up at my words. “I was going to ask you to become my…my mate.”
“You were?” Her beautiful eyes, so unfamiliar now, are unreadable.
“Of course, my love. I told you. You and me forever. Always.” As I reach my father, I glance over at him. For the first time in my life, I see fear in his eyes. “Please, just let him go.”
I reach out my hands to her, hoping that she will come to me and release him. Instead, her face contorts once again, and she is the madwoman from moments ago again.
“I know you were going to leave me.”
“No, baby. I promise I wasn’t. I fell when I shifted earlier. I had to wait to heal before coming to you.”
She studies me with distrust, and I know she must see the discoloring of my rapidly healing bruises because her face softens and she rushes to me, dropping my father in the process.
“My poor baby,” she coos.
Reflexively, I flinch as her hands reach out to touch me. It isn’t the right thing to do because a flash of anger crosses her face, and she pauses just in front of me.
“It’s your choice, Loukas. If you come with me, the people in your village will live.”
“Antonia…” I plead.
