Prologue

Of Blood and Roses

Elyse collapsed onto the cobblestone in a bloody heap as the blue smoke dissipated around her. An arrow protruded from her upper left arm—an arrow fired by Killian. Her vision blurred, light and dark crashing into one another, and she squeezed her eyes shut as she dragged herself toward the mahogany door before her. She’d lost so much blood, and her magic was almost entirely depleted, yet she raised her uninjured arm just enough to manage a few meager raps on the door.

She didn’t know if the city street was empty, or if a passerby might spot her, bleeding and sobbing. She didn’t care. She’d lost her home, her business, and the respect of the man she cared for, and she was going to lose her life if someone didn’t help her soon.

The door opened soundlesslessly—or perhaps her hearing was starting to fade. Dark shapes moved before her, ebbing in and out of reality. Shoes, she realized. Pointed, black shoes, and a layered skirts sweeping across the floor.

“Elyse!”

She barely heard a woman’s gasp. Then, a moment later, “Fetch the master!”

Elyse didn’t know if she groaned or screamed as the woman hauled her over the threshold. All she knew was that everything hurt so much—so damn much. Cobblestone was replaced by cool tile, and Elyse splayed herself in its embrace. Part of her wanted to give up, to just let things end here on this cold, hard floor. Surely death would be favorable to this. She focused on the way the ceramic felt against her cheek, ignoring the woman’s comforting words.

“It’s all right, dear. It’s all going to be fine.”

If Elyse weren’t utterly broken, she might have laughed. Nothing would be all right, not after today. She was a criminal on the run, and Killian would never stop searching for her. She’d seen it in his face—his absolute devastation.

No, it would not be all right.

Just before Elyse closed her eyes and let darkness overtake her pain, the woman’s promising whisper met her ears.

“Don’t worry. Master Jaime will be here soon.”