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Chapter 3
Chapter 2 “What’s Cornelius doing, Nora?” “Natalie…” “Don’t, please. For me to be able to protect the girls from whatever terrible plan it is he has I need to actually know what it is.” “It’s really not that simple.” Leonora sighed. “All of this…” “You were the one who told me about Titus, and what was going to happen to Cornelius during the ritual.” “Being prepared for the ritual was much less complicated.” “Stop avoiding the subject. I know this is about Anne. Cornelius told me he has a very different plan for our future than I do, which… I get it. He’s never loved me. What happened with Jonathan made it much worse. My…
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Chapter 8
Chapter 7 The book was the same, passed from one generation to the next, but the people were different. After the last mistake… Titus crossed his arms. It wasn’t worth thinking about. Nothing would be the same again. He’d made certain of it. All he needed was his sister by his side. Anne didn’t remember, and that was for the best. With Dante… maybe it was inevitable, the three of them alive at the same time again, considering everything that came before. Finally it was time to bring an end to him, for good, to keep them from going in the same circles. Soon it would be the two of…
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 7
Chapter 6 It had to be a dream, nothing more. Why else would Zachary Lockwood be standing there waving? He must know he wasn’t welcome, especially as there was no doubt he knew what Thaddeus was planning. Dante looked down at the ground for a moment, hoping to wake up, but maybe it was real. Zachary was there for a reason, and Dante breathed in deeply. “Why are you here?” “I was hoping we could talk.” “Thaddeus sent you, right? He thought you were the one who could talk me into coming to the ritual.” “You were already coming. I don’t need to say anything.” “I was, was I?” “Dante,…
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 6
Chapter 5 For a few seconds Marion stood outside the door, arms wrapped around herself, but she knew she had to talk to her daughter. She tapped the door gently. “Anne, can I come in?” “Of course, Mama.” Stepping through the door, closing it softly behind her, she looked at Anne. Marion was silent, Anne watching her mother in the mirror. Had it been Thaddeus she’d have stood, but with it being Marion it didn’t matter as much, and in some ways it was easier, reading the worry in Marion’s eyes. “Mama, what’s wrong?” Of course Anne read the emotions Marion couldn’t hide. “I need to talk to you about…
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
Chapter 1 Cornelius looked down at the map he’d started to work on, the sound of footsteps a sign he was to be interrupted once more. At least it was Leonora. She’d be an easier problem to deal with, unless she was there on Anne’s behalf, and then… he sighed. Anne cared. It kept coming back to that. She wanted him to be safe. “You aren’t going to change my mind.” Leonora laughed. “I didn’t think for a moment I could, after what Anne said. You’re certain this is the only way you can help her. She thinks it’s going to lead to your death, so I’m here to try to…
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Chapter 5
Chapter 4 If Issac was right, and there was no reason to think he wasn’t, there’d be no talking Thaddeus out of his plan. Little by little he’d changed, becoming more like her father than before. Once he’d been someone she liked, although she’d never say love, their marriage comfortable. Three children later his focus was on power, and immortality. Marion breathed in deeply. He believed it was for the family, the same way her father had, but those words were lies they told themselves. In reality they cared most about what they could get out of the ritual. For one to become immortal a sacrifice was required. At least…
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Chapter 4
Chapter 3 Talking Victor out of going to the ritual wouldn’t be easy, but it had to be done. Dante watched as his father walked toward him. Before the move things were so simple. One decision, the belief he needed to learn from someone else, and life became more difficult. “Father.” “Dante.” Neither said anything more for a few seconds, Victor staring into the distance. “I know we aren’t going to see this the same way.” “Thaddeus is dangerous.” “How?” “If we go to the ritual we’re all going to die.” Or worse, but that was harder to talk about. “You say this, but you have no evidence.” “I need…
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Chapter 3
Chapter 2 The greenhouse was peaceful. None of the rest of the family cared about plants the same way Zachary did, and if he wanted to get away from everyone it was the best place to be. He hummed to himself as he watered, thinking about new plants, ignoring everything else. Thaddeus watched his eldest. Of the three he was the least like either of them, Titus closer to Thaddeus and Anne closer to Marion. Zachary was his own person, making him the best one to talk with Dante, who’d been watching the whole time. He was the smartest of the Fitzgeralds. If Zachary was able to feel eyes on…
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Chapter 1
“Why was Titus here?” Cornelius had his back to her, focused on whatever he was reading on the desk, and Natalie waited, even though there was a chance he might not answer. With how things were it was more likely than him answering. “For the ritual.” Cornelius sighed, turning. “It’s all he cares about.” Of course Natalie was there, asking questions about Titus, because she ‘needed’ to know. Cornelius crossed his arms, eyes on his wife. How different would their lives have been if Jonathan was born with magic? There was no way of knowing. “Nothing else?” “You’re worried.” “It’s not as though you haven’t made it obvious who you…
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Chapter 2
Chapter 1 Brother and sister met outside Issac’s house, the first time they’d seen each other in months, their relationship never very close. It started when they were young – he was the favourite as the boy, at least until it became obvious how unlikely he was to follow their father. “Thaddeus asked me to meet with him earlier.” Issac’s eyes were worried. “Marion, how much have you told him about father’s plans?” “Very little.” Marion studied Issac. Even though they’d never talked much about it they both made the same choice. “I thought it was for the best.” Did he believe her? Marion didn’t know him well enough to…
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Chapter 1