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When we broke apart, Kai was staring like I was the center of the universe. “No matter what happens, I promise I’ll help you break that curse if it’s the last thing I do.”
But I didn’t say any of that, of course. I said nothing. I knew I needed to refuse him, to shove him away even further and reaffirm that there was nothing between us.
I looked to him, looked into his eyes, and opened my mouth to speak.
Book 2
Prologue
Ayla
But I didn’t say any of that, of course. I said nothing. I knew I needed to refuse him, to shove him away even further and reaffirm that there was nothing between us.
I looked to him, looked into his eyes, and opened my mouth to speak.
“Kai, wecan’t.”
What had happened to me being so strong? To being stalwart enough to magically erase myself from his perception for three years? Where was that witch?
Because I needed her now. I had to be steadfast and push Kai away. It was better for the both of us that way, because I couldn’t bear to watch him come to harm and I was pretty sure he was enjoying the whole being alive thing.
But it was like I’d been living on gruel and water for years and had suddenly been let loose on a sumptuous feast. I had tasted paradise, and I couldn’t go back to the nothingness of before. The absolute absence of taste, of sustenance.
As much as I wanted to deny it, Kai was my mate, through and through. We were carved from the same rock and sewn from the same cloth. Two sides of the same coin. Just like he said, we weremeantto be.
“Ayla,” he murmured my name so softly, so sweetly, his strong arms opening for an embrace. I knew it was the time to walk away. To turn on my heel and set the precedent that I wasn’t going to fold. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
But I knew Ishouldbe alone. That I should just run away from society and bury myself in some cave so I didn’t hurt a single soul again. But in the end, I was just too selfish. Too obsessed with the other half of my soul. I couldn’t be the martyr I needed to be.
At least not yet.
So I walked into his embrace, letting him hold me. I could feel tears pricking at my eyes, but I did my best to pretend they weren’t there. When had I become so pathetic?
I supposed it was when I began to fall in love.
“Come on,” Kai murmured, running his fingers through my hair. “You must be exhausted. Let’s get you some rest, shall we?”
I nodded into the warmth of him, letting his scent fill my nose. Gods, he smelled so good. Like safety and excitement and possibility.
“Yeah, let’s,” I answered softly. And despite all the emotional turmoil and conflict within me, I felt only soothing things drip in from our bond.
Kai let go of me, but only long enough to grip my hand and gently lead me away. Sure, I knew eventually I would have to actually cut ties.
But today was not that day.
And tomorrow wasn’t looking likely either.
Chapter 1
Ayla
I was drifting peacefully through sleep, happy to be someplace soft, warm, and safe after the most harrowing journey of my life, which was saying something considering everything I’d lived through.
But soon enough, I lazily floated to the surface, my bladder rousing me though I could have stayed in my slumber forever.
I felt disoriented when my eyes fluttered open and I didn’t recognize the room. There were no ingredients or apothecary supplies scattered around, and my bookshelf full of medicinal texts and witch grimoires was gone.
Something warm and firm stirred against me, and it flipped a switch in my brain, then everything came rushing back.
