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Prologue

Gemma

“You really think it’s that easy?” I ask withacross , violet flowers The air is stifling, but in a beautiful way because it’s real, which makes it perfect

Alex struts up to the side of me with his ar at his lips His muscles are flexed beneath his black t-shirt, his brown hair is tousled, and his green eyes glint with mischievousness “Of course Why wouldn’t it be?”

I start to spin in a circle, keeping , brown hair blows in the gentle breeze and the back of my purple tank top sticks to my damp skin “Because…” I spin and spin and spin, so free and everything is so wonderful

Alex chuckles under his breath, watching me with fascination “Because why?”

I stop spinning, facing hiet the feeling that things are supposed to be harder than they are—that life is supposed to be harder?”

He cocks his head to the side with an amused expression “You don’t think life’s hard?” He stretches his long legs, walking through the grass towardsthe distance between us “Because the other day you see was difficult ”

I puthi a bad day, okay? I totally failed my math test and then so eyes but a nice butt Plusout with you anymore… that you’re a bad influence on me ”

He stops in front offorout on the bed ”

I scrunch my nose and swat the side of his ar it is to have ‘the talk,’” I ers around hteen-years-old Like I really didn’t kno everything works ”

“Probably pretty erin broadens “Glad it was you and not me ”

I pinch his chest and he winces, laughing “Stop s It’s not funny ”

“Oh, it’s co to ood use what your ht you ”

I try to stay angry, but it’s tough “No way, if I have to suffer, than you do, too No more for you Ever ”

His palh the thin fabric ofhis fingers through ht In fact, you were very generous to me ”

Bitingto hide my blush Alex says I’m the most emotional person he’s ever known, that he can tell what I’ siht

He places his hand onfro at you when you’re embarrassed, especially when you bite your lip like that ”

I bite my lip harder, just to tease him, and then raise my eyebrows

He s a kiss on the corner of my mouth My eyes shut of their own accord and I let out a soft sigh, unable to hide what I’, which has pretty much how I’ve been since the day I was born

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers with his lips hovering over ins to surface out of nowhere “And last night was a ”

It really was a I’ve ever wanted However, deep down, it all feels too easy It feels likedeep intoly open my mouth, because it’s easy It always is with him

Chapter 1

Alex

Myin to fade and the land clears It’s the earliestout by the lake, watching the fog lift from the water, and just like that the land was clear and the world looked so much happier I wished there was an evanescence of Sprites clearing the land

Unfortunately, there’s not, so I’ainst theover and over again It’d be the , except for the fact that I have thousands of other problems Liketo save our half-sister Aleesa, who’s being held a prisoner by the Fey