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PROLOGUE
Deep within the Alps, mortal realm
ROUGHLY FIVE CENTURIES AGO
Crawling along a rass for berries or dandelions—anything to dull her hunger pangs as her stonaw on itself
Her older sister, Sabine—or Ai-bee, as Lanthe called her—would soon be back froone on a desperate food run Lanthe had wanted to acco
So Lanthe waited in this h mountain abbey where she lived with Sabine and her parents A fir-tree forest surrounded the s, and a placid lake reflected the sky like awild-flowers
Here, she could coax rabbits to share dandelions with her, na to the up at puffy white clouds to spot shapes
But today was cloudless Which hy she frohen a shadow passed over the sun
She shielded her eyes to peer upward—and sawwings Deadly wings They belonged to a boy, one who looked as shocked as she was
He was a Vrekener! An enemy to her kind
As she scraone as wide as hers They stared, right up until the moment he flew headfirst into a tree
Spell broken, she hiked up her dress and ran for her life Before she’d made the cover of forest, he dropped in front of her, spreading his wings
She gasped, s were jagged— flare at three points along the bottom The flares farthest from the body on either side were tipped with talons Scary talons
She whirled around to flee in the other direction, skirting the lake Though she was as fast as a fey, he again caught up with her, corralling her with those wings On the inside, they were gray, with lines of light forking out all over them
Lanthe and the boy stared at each other, his gaze flicking over her face Whatever he saw there made him exhale a sharp breath Puh
No use running And no one would ever hear her scream Her parents were all the way up in the abbey, a pair of recluses Would Sabine find Lanthe’s led body down here?
Not if I use an to tremble Lanthe didn’t want to call on her powers It seeainst a Vrekener
Even if he was the ined
Looking to be a year or two older than she was, he had vivid gray eyes, tanned skin, broad cheekbones, and sandy brown hair that tu spikes were smooth and silvery
He had even, white teeth, with a pair of fangs! She had the e to tap one of those points with the pad of her forefinger—
“I sray eyes “Are you a little Sorceri?”
There was no denying her species, so she raised her hands threateningly Power easily leapt to the in her palreat and terrible sorceress,” she said in an oernails “If you come any closer to me, Vrekener, I will be forced to hurt you”
He didn’t seem bothered whatsoever by her show of sorcery As if she hadn’t spoken, he said, “Or maybe you’re a little la around in a white frock and eating flowers”
She drew her head back, sputtering, “Wh-what?” Was he jesting with her?
Yes, his eyes glea for her life—and threatening his—he acted as if he’d just stumbled upon a new playmate
One he’d been longing for
“What’s your name, sorceress?”
She was so startled she found herself saying, “Melanthe Of the Deie Sorceri family”
He sounded out her name “Mel-anth-ee” Then he pressed his hand over his chest “I’m Thronos Talos, Prince of the Skye” His tone was filled with importance
“Never heard of you,” she said, casting a glance over her shoulder toward the abbey If Sabine caught this boy here with Lanthe, her overprotective big sister would kill him with her fantastical powers
Lanthe didn’t like things to be killed, not even handsome Vrekeners
As the Queen of Illusions, Sabine couldthe appearance of their surroundings She could also reach into a person’s htmare, then present it to him
Unlike Lanthe, Sabine never hesitated to use her powers
“Is that where you live?” the Vrekener asked, interrupting her thoughts Was he following her gaze to the mountaintop?
“No! Not at all We live far away froet to this meadow”
“Really?” He clearly disbelieved her, but didn’t seee that I sense sorcery from that direction Lots of it”
Vrekeners tracked Sorceri by scent—and by power outlays Lanthe would have to get her parents to useever old “I don’t knohat you mean”
He let it go “So what’s persuasion?”
She glanced down at her palms, startled to see how much sorcery she wielded Did she reallyanymore
Pursing her lips, she called back her power “I canI tell them to do It’s called persuasion, but it should be called co”
Years ago, when she’d first used it, she’d crossly told Sabine to shut her mouth For an entire week, no one had understood why Sabine hadn’t been able to open it Her sister had almost starved
“That sounds impressive, lamb So you’re as powerful as you are pretty?”
Her cheeks heated He thought she was pretty? She gazed down at her frayed dress Though faded nearly white fro, it used to have color Sorceri loved color Her feet were bare because she’d outgrown her boots She didn’t feel very pretty
“I’et called beautiful all the time,” he said confidently