Prologue
Effie Harlow
My family was in danger.
I’d heard the words directly from the seer’s mouth.
My heart was palpitating as I leaned against the stone wall right outside the grand ballroom, the celebratory feast in honor of my birthday going on inside.
None of the happiness, the joy, or thankfulness I’d been feeling before mattered because now there was a looming cloud over the head of every single person I loved.
My hand tightened on my throat as a nervous energy invaded my body.
It was my fault they were in danger. My fault.
Your daughter is in danger—she will bring danger to your entire family.
I knew my mom and dad would only hear the first part, but I was far more focused on the second part—the part where something I did, or maybe just who I was, would bring danger upon everyone. A tremble worked over my skin as thick tears began to crowd my lashes.
Distantly, someone called my name, and I knew I needed to go back in there—after all, this was my birthday feast. But now it felt like a shell of a celebration.
I knew the threat was immediate or of major importance—or both—because the seer had pulled my parents out of the event to deliver the warning.
I mean, if that didn’t say urgent, I wasn’t sure what did.
I should have stayed to listen to what type of danger, but I’d been so panicked that I’d missed that part while walking away. I needed to know, though. I needed to ask my parents. I had absolutely no clue how to fix this, but I would try.
“There you are. Little moon, what’s wrong?” My mom appeared in front of me, panic in her gaze as she captured my face between her palms.
“I heard what the seer said,” I whispered, confessing immediately, “about me bringing danger to our family.”
Understanding washed across her face. “Analise often has visions that occur years in the future, or of things that can be misunderstood. Right now she doesn’t even have a clear vision; this was just a feeling that was strong enough to spook her.
I promise you, Effie, the only thing you bring to this family is joy and happiness.
I don’t want you for one moment to think otherwise.
Analise is just trying to keep us updated on everything her magic tells her. ”
“You think so? You really think it’s not a big deal?
” I wanted to believe her so badly, to let relief collapse over me, but I also knew there was a possibility she was just telling me that to make me feel better.
I could see concern in her gaze still, I just didn’t know if it was because of how I was reacting or the situation itself.
“I promise, that is exactly what I think,” she confirmed, gently grabbing my hand and leading me into the ballroom.
The guests welcomed us back and I let out a small sigh, trying to shake the dark moment from my mind.
I still planned on practicing my own magic to help in case there was trouble, especially if it meant making my other forms emerge, but for today I would enjoy the beautiful party my parents were throwing me.
“Everything okay?” my dad asked as we reached the front of the room.
I nodded as my mom said something about ‘telling him later,’ his wrinkled brow letting me know he was concerned.
All too soon, though, our moment of privacy was interrupted as gods and goddesses alike approached our table to both wish me happy birthday and talk to my parents.
I suppose it was one of the benefits of being their daughter—I got to sit and listen to everything quietly, and usually people forgot I was there since I was young.
I found most of what they were told fascinating, especially since I had never left the capital—something I hoped to change soon.
My gaze wandered as talk of civil wars in the eastern lands began, and I watched all of the couples on the dance floor waltz gracefully.
I could never fathom how they moved so easily, how their dresses didn’t get caught under their feet.
Every freakin’ time I had a dance lesson, that happened.
Being graceful obviously wasn’t in my future…
but maybe one day I would have a dance partner who was good enough to help me.
I nearly smiled at that. Now I was being really silly.
All of the girls my age, especially the ones in my tutoring classes, had started to talk about the boys they liked.
They were from the capital, but since I rarely left the palace and everyone in my classes was female, I’d never met any of them.
They argued about who liked who and if they would date one of them, and a bunch of other stuff I’d never thought of…
Not that it mattered, I suppose. It wasn’t like I could date.
That wasn’t in the cards for me—at least until I was like four hundred, according to my dad.
My thoughts were broken when the music suddenly stopped. The orchestra members were absolutely frozen in place, everyone staring at them in confusion—
Light burst out from the center of their group, and an ear-piercing screech sounded as I was tackled to the ground by my mom.
I whimpered as I hit the ground, my body being pushed under the table as screams echoed in the ballroom.
I curled up further as my dad shouted something, leaving my mom and me hidden.
Mom was trying to whisper something to me, but I couldn’t make out her words.
My hearing went static as the room shook and rumbled with power.
The magic turned twisted and dark in the flash of a second, a presence entering the room that sent a chill over my skin.
Sickness turned my stomach as I hugged my mom, her hand on my back and the fierce expression on her face not making me feel better.
The room was darkening from the little I could see, and black fog seemed to be invading every inch—
My mom was gone.
“Mom!” I cried out, my pink magic surrounding me defensively as the room went absolutely silent. I knew something was terribly wrong because the quiet grew constrictive, and my chest felt heavy as icicles began to form underneath the table.
“Mom?” I whimpered. “Dad?”
A soft chuckle sounded, one that was filled with malice, and caused a terrified chill to roll over me. I curled further in on myself, squeezing my eyes shut and trying to focus all my magic on making me invisible—
The floor opened up underneath me, a scream tearing from my chest as my eyes snapped open.
The last thing I saw before falling into the darkness was an unfamiliar, victorious face.