The next vol! Unbeta'd.
PROLOGUE
Miles to Go Before Sleep
Eight years ago …
Aeron sat by the window, feeling the night air kiss his skin. It was cold, but he didn't mind; he could see the stars, stretch his wings out behind him with no pain, had slept the night before without nightmares. He wasn't healed, per se, but he was recovering.
Today marked one year since he'd first winnowed into the woods outside the property. One year since the monster had shredded his wings, since he'd escaped, since he'd gotten his second chance. One year since he first caught sight of Hope, barefoot in the moonlight.
There was to be a celebration that night, he knew. Caroline had set it up, calling it his "rebirthday", given that he didn't know when his actual birthday was. Josie was cooking some sort of ridiculous cake (with supervision from Alaric), and Caroline had the room they used for private dinners decked out in decorations already. Elijah and Hayley were visiting, while Kol, Davina, Rebekah, and Marcel had sent their best wishes.
It was all set to be a night to remember.
Now, if only he could stay his anxiety at seeing Hope for long enough to look forward to it, he might just enjoy himself.
Now …
It was nightfall by the time the pyre was built.
Hope had learned to build fires long ago, courtesy of Kol. Nix had been better at it when they'd traveled together, but she tried to avoid copying anything that traitor had done.
When it was done, she wrapped the Suriel in the cloak she'd brought to offer it, biting back the lump in her throat at the cruel irony of it. She lifted the body up onto the pyre, finding the weight negligible. The Suriel was barely more than bones, she found.
With the Suriel in place, Hope rested a hand on the edge of the cloak, not quite touching the corpse. "I won't say I'm sorry," she said. "I can't imagine anything more meaningless. But I will say that th0ugh I know I may never deserve peace again, but I hope you find some."
Blinking back tears, Hope stepped away, keeping her hand hovering in the area. Steeling herself, she said, "Incendia," and watched it burn.
If this was ever going to end, she'd have to end it herself.
I know this was short, but I have Act I coming your way by 17/09. Feedback makes it come faster!