Page 126 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

He swallowed hard. “Yes?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“I’m almost one hundred years old and I’ve never been kissed. And since the world may be ending soon, and you seem like a good enough… well, not that you’re some second-place prize…”

He cut her words short, pressing his lips to hers.

Ora leaned into Caiden, letting her hand wander into his thick hair. Her mouth tasted like blackberries and the mulled wine they had been drinking.

Arousal boiled in Caiden’s core, and he slipped his tongue between her lips.

She let out a little moan, but didn’t pull away. Instead, her hand went to his belt.

Caiden pulled away. “It’s okay, we don’t have to.”

“Excuse me. I didn’t mean to be too forward.” A heat flushed her cheeks.

“I just don’t want to do anything you’re not comfortable with.” Caiden grabbed the wine bottle and took another swig. When the wine hit his lips, he knew something was off. He looked at Ora.

“What’s wrong, my Lord? Feeling sleepy?” A wicked smile cut her beautiful face in two.

“What did you do? Who are you… really?” His words slurred as they left his lips.

Ora’s face transformed before him into something sharper, with bloodred hair, deep tanned skin, and a hooked nose. “Oh, prince, that’s not for you to worry about.”

“But…” His eyes grew heavier with each passing moment. Heaving himself to his feet, he tried to run, but his legs were clumsy, and he toppled into the snow.

The stranger clicked her tongue, and she stood over Caiden. “You men are all the same. All it takes is a bat of an eye and you forget your own names.”

Caiden tried to speak, but his whole body was numb. All he could do was blink as the cold of the snow seeped into his bones. The world went dark.

30AELIA

Upon returningto the Alder Townhome, I tucked Baylis into bed before heading to the parlor to instruct the servants on what to pack for our trip back to the Woodlands.

Finneas was waiting with Amolie when I arrived, his goat-like face twisted with concern.

“What?” I asked, handing my coat to another servant.

“The mermaid was here again.”

My eyes widened and my stomach twisted.

“Here? What did she say?”

Finneas held out a folded piece of parchment.

“She told me to give this to you.”

Cautiously, I took the note and unfolded it. Ursula’s swooping script read:She will not stop until you are dead. You have been marked.

I swallowed the fear bubbling in my stomach.

“What does it say?” Amolie asked, tilting the paper in my hand to get a better look. “Oh no.”

Fear threatened to drown me.

---