AgnesElijah had some matters to attend to at work that day—although I had a sinking feeling that he was just avoiding the awkwardness of what had happened last night, and I couldn’t even blame him—and Thea was still resting in her room with a stomach ache, so I had the house to myself for most of t
I watched as she stepped inside, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. She set the basket on the table, carefully arranging its contents: some pink tulips, chocolates, assorted tea bags, and a stuffed animal.I knew that Thea wouldn’t eat the chocolates with her stomach upset, and she’d bee
ElijahLast night was a mistake.At least, that was what I kept telling myself as I sat in my study, staring blankly at the paperwork spread across my desk. The words blurred together, the numbers meaningless as my mind repeatedly wandered back to Agnes—her scent, her touch, the way she’d felt benea
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “No,” she said after a moment. “There is only one fated mate for each person. But…”“But?”She tilted her head, considering for a moment, and then pulled one card from the deck. “I sense something strange about your bond. A tangle somewhere in the invisible red thread tha
AgnesThe following day, I found myself in the library during my break, the old book on spells and curses tucked away discreetly in my bag. Somehow it felt heavier today, as if the missing pages added weight to it. I needed answers, and Gertrude was the only person I trusted to help me find them.Th
AgnesAva looked like she’d just seen a ghost, and I knew I had struck a nerve. No matter how little Ava and I got along, and no matter how many years we had spent barely even speaking to each other, I knew the look on her face when she realized she’d been caught doing something she wasn’t supposed
“If you remember anything else,” I said, turning to leave, “you’ll let me know.”She didn’t respond, and I didn’t wait for one. I had what I needed—or at least, as much as I was going to get from her.Back at home, I spread the book out on my bed, flipping through the remaining pages in search of cl
AgnesThea and I spent an afternoon the following weekend in the kitchen, the air filled with the sweet scent of rose petals and the sound of laughter. Honestly, it was the most fun I’d had in weeks, maybe even months. Thea was practically bouncing up and down with excitement as we laid out all the
The blunt assessment stung, but I couldn’t deny the truth of it. I stared down at my drink, debating how much to share. Mason had warned me about Elijah before, had told me I was fighting a losing battle against a mate bond. Part of me was afraid that confiding in him now would just invite an ‘I tol
AgnesThe image of Olivia in my jewelry was burned into my mind as I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom. It was almost midnight, and sleep still refused to come. The house felt too quiet, too empty without Elijah.He hadn’t come home.His secretary had said he was on “confidential pack business”. S
“I need you at the witch’s shop,” I said without a greeting. “Now. And call the authorities. There’s been… she’s dead.”James didn’t waste time with questions. “On my way. Ten minutes.”I ended the call, my mind racing. This wasn’t right. If the witch had killed herself, why was there blood splatter
Elijah“So we agree on the champagne and gold color scheme for the tables?” the wedding planner asked, making a note in her planner. She was meticulous, writing down every detail as if her life depended on it. I liked that about her.I nodded, glancing at the sample table setting she’d laid out. The
But what if he’d known Olivia would follow me? What if he’d sent me as a decoy, knowing Olivia would copy whatever I chose?I pressed my forehead against the steering wheel, trying to make sense of it all. I needed to talk to Elijah. He would explain everything, clear up this misunderstanding, and w
AgnesMy stomach dropped as I stared at the photo on my screen.“Can’t wait to wear my new pieces for the big day… With a dress to match!”I read the caption three times, each word digging into my skin like tiny daggers. How did she get the same jewelry? Had she been watching us at the store yesterd
AgnesThe scent of garlic and tomatoes greeted us as we stepped inside the house later that evening. Elijah was already at the stove, stirring a pot of what smelled like spaghetti sauce with the white sleeves of his button-down rolled up to his elbows, exposing his muscular forearms. He looked up as
“Thea, sweetheart… We’ve talked about this before. I would love nothing more than to be your biological mother. But…” I swallowed hard. “I’ve already had you tested. You’re not my biological daughter, no matter how much I want you to be.”Her face crumpled, and tears spilled down her cheeks. “But wh
AgnesThe following morning, I stood in the design department’s fabric storeroom, surrounded by endless bolts of luxurious materials. How long had I been in here? Minutes? Hours?The sketches for my new dress were complete, and the patterns were cut, but I still couldn’t decide on a color. After the