The sensation was so real that her heart worked hard in her chest and her lungs labored for air. She stopped halfway into the living room, paused to catch her breath and fight the nameless panic filling her.
Silver tried to use the beauty surrounding her to regain control of her frantically racing heart. The carved chess sets soothed her, as did the image of Wraith hunched over, patiently carving the intricate pieces. But when she saw the partially finished statue on a table, her calm was shattered by its likeness to her.
“I’ve dreamed of you,”Tynan said, kissing the side of her neck. “Wraith found you another way. Come back and we’ll show you a different path than the one you’ve always thought to walk.”
Tears flooded her eyes. Both men groaned and crowded in, kissing the moisture away, holding her until the riot of her emotions settled. She wanted to stay, to give in to the hope blossoming in her chest but concern for Joelle forced her out of their arms.
“I’ll just go to the clearing, then come right back to you.”
The door opened at Wraith’s command. Beyond it, the wall of trees and brush parted to reveal a path. Silver kissed both men before hurrying away while she had the will to do it.
“I don’t like this,”Tynan said as the path closed behind her.
“Neither do I.”
They remained where they were standing, struggling against the urge to follow her. Finally Wraith turned. He motioned to an elegantly crafted mirror mounted on the wall. “We can watch her from here.”
“Thank the Goddess,”Joelle cried as soon as Silver stepped into the tiny clearing. “Oh, thank the Goddess.”
Silver staggered backward when her cousin launched herself. She wrapped her arms around Joelle, returning the unexpected hug with an equally fierce one.
She was reeling with emotion, her mind spinning from what she’d read into Tynan’s confession and Wraith’s carving.
Did it mean what she thought it did? Could they possibly have a future together?
Only the wetness of Joelle’s tears had the power to draw Silver’s mind away from thoughts of Wraith and Tynan. “I’m okay,” she said, giving her cousin another hug before disengaging.
“You have The Mark?”Joelle asked, her features drawn, her hands clenched at her sides in tight fists.
“Yes.” Silver turned her hand over to expose the circular pattern.
Joelle sobbed. “Oh Goddess, forgive me,” she said, grabbing Silver’s hand and holding a medallion between their palms.
Chapter Six
Horror stopped Silver’s heart for a beat. It froze her lungs for an instant as a scream of denial rose up but couldn’t escape. Though she couldn’t feel the sorcerer’s magic, she knew a spell had been woven into the coin.
The sense of betrayal deepened when she realized why Joelle had insisted they go to the club last night. Somehow she’d known what was going to happen.
Agony ripped through Silver. The Mark made her null—helpless against the sorcerer’s spell that rendered her unable to fight, unable even to shout for help. Tears of rage and confusion and pain fell in a steady stream, a perfect outward reflection of the tears Joelle was crying.
Joelle sobbed again before turning away, her expression revealing her shame. “I prayed the dreams weren’t a true prophecy, Silver. I prayed they were just nightmares because the thought of being sent away, of marrying in haste so I wouldn’t be alone in some desolate village was terrifying. All I’ve ever wanted was to stay in New Holyoak. But then I heard Mother talking with some of the elders. They had the same the dream.
“They all agreed. The Mark would appear on your palm the night before the Rite of New Beginnings and if you came to the Turning Ceremony, then you’d stay in New Holyoak. I’d be given another territory and over time you’d become the most powerful witch in the coven.”
Joelle began walking, her hand gripping Silver’s tightly, ensuring that the medallion remained pressed between their palms. Inside Silver screamed, pleaded with her cousin to allow her to speak so she could tell her she had no intention of taking her place in the coven tonight. But the magic making her walk peacefully away from Wraith and Tynan kept her mute.
Tears gathered and fell more rapidly. Her heart grew heavier with each step. If they were watching her they could easily think that seeing her cousin had made her change her mind about returning to them.
“Oh, Goddess forgive me, but this is the only way,”Joelle said as soon as they got to a wider path.
A knot formed in Silver’s stomach. She recognized where they were and how quickly they’d be off elven lands.
Last night she’d entered the woods from a different location. She’d run blindly, worried about getting away from the sorcerers chasing her—only she hadn’t truly escaped them.
She knew what was coming even before Joelle said, “Etienne’s not as handsome or as powerful as some of the magi, but he’s less arrogant. If I were a null, I’d be happy with him as a husband. He’ll make sure you’re happy—with a spell at first—but it won’t be terrible. He promised the spell would work both ways. By the time it fades the two of you will be in love. And if the prophecy comes true, you’ll grow very powerful. You’ll find a place for yourself as a sorceress.”
Joelle picked up the pace. “Etienne, hurry! Hurry! If you want a wife you need to come here. Now!”
Silver willed herself to fight the panic and horror. Etienne Durand was a decent man and less arrogant than most magi, but she wouldn’t be bound to him without a fight. She wouldn’t accept this as her fate.
Pain lanced through Tynan’s heart. He wanted to wipe the mirror clean as soon as Silver left the clearing with her cousin.
The tears streaming down her face cut him like the sharp edge of stone and made him bleed inside. She’d gone to reassure her cousin, she’d promised to come back immediately—yet it was obvious she wasn’t returning.
“No,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. “No,” he repeated, unwilling to let her go without a chance to coax her into staying.
“No,” Wraith growled and the air filled with the menace of an impending storm.
They left the cottage, their magic rising up, joining and entwining in a way that spoke of fated destinies, earth and air spells linked and rippling out before them.
The sun was high and the sky free of clouds, but the closer they got to the elven border the darker and more hostile the forest grew. Unnatural winds howled along the path, whipping Joelle’s words backward along with their hair.
Hope surged to life in Silver’s chest again. It pounded through her veins in time to the rising panic of her cousin’s racing heart.
Please, Silver prayed silently, knowing elven magic was responsible for the menace around them. Let them reach me in time.
But even as her prayer finished, Etienne emerged from the trees and hurried toward them. The sight of him caused Joelle to lunge forward just as a small sapling swayed and bowed in front of her.
It whipped across her ankles, tripping her and sending her to the ground. Silver started to tumble after her but was caught by a limb and slung backward, ripping her hand from Joelle’s.
Silver scrambled to her feet and ran. The wind aided her, pushed her so roughly she nearly stumbled.
Joelle’s shout chased her along with the sound of running feet and the beginning of a spell.
Hurry! Silver’s heart screamed. Hurry!
She rounded a curve and slammed into a hard male chest. Tynan’s arms enfolded her immediately, trapping her hands at her sides and nearly crushing her in a hug that resonated with the same emotions she felt. Behind her, racing footsteps came to an abrupt halt. Next to her Wraith cast a spell. In a heartbeat silence reigned, so pure that even the birds and insects honored it.