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But now, along the riverbank, we were each solitary strangers wandering the world, bereft of the one whom their soul loved. And only I knew it. She did not remember the sting of losing such a love. Perhaps it was a blessing for her to forget, but it was a loss that had tormented me every day since I’d awoken in a pool of her blood.

Every so often she would peer into the area where I hid, as if she sensed my presence. But then she’d continued on, her golden waves of hair flowing out behind her in the cool breeze.

She’d turned to pass over the river. I’d been two blocks back, hiding in the crowd. I’d glanced up, gauging where I should position myself along the rue to continue my vigil.

And then the demon Menelaus had materialized directly into her path. In disbelief, I had watched as the bastard set a simple trap.

My rage had exploded, and I’d taken off at a dead run before teleporting to eat up the distance. She slipped through my fingers at the last moment, taken by the demon king. But I would not let her go. Not this time.

Now I’d done away with all pretense of hiding my powers—I skipped through space to keep up with the car. I couldn’t see what was going on inside the quick-moving vehicle, but I swore I would make Menelaus pay for his treachery.

Chapter Four

Elena

The car turned down a wooded lane, passed through a set of wrought iron gates, and sped to an enormous chateau. It was set in an isolated clearing, the road no longer visible. The building rose from the landscape like a miniature mountain range, its dark roofs and turrets slashing through the night sky.

I remained silent after the creature’s bizarre claim that we were married. He continued to study me, watching my every move as if he were measuring my breaths. When the car came to a stop, he rose and held out a hand to help me from the car. I ignored him and exited, searching my surroundings for any avenues of escape. The yard was large and open, but I doubted I had a chance of outrunning my captor, and my magic was of no use. The bangles on my wrists had tightened such that they felt welded to my skin.

I would have to wait until I saw an opening, sometime when he wasn’t watching me. And once I got the metal off my wrists? I’d return to this place and destroy it down to the foundation.

“Please, step inside.” He gestured to the large front doors that swung inward as a butler appeared.

I climbed the steps into the foyer. A glittering row of chandeliers lit my way along the bloodred marble floor. I continued on through the wide hallway, opulence in every detail of the paneled walls and the pieces of art expertly placed at intervals. The home was palatial. So much so that I almost felt small, as if crushed under the weight of its finery and sheer size. Each fine work of art and furnishing was just more kindling for the fire I would bring down later.

I scanned the rooms as I passed, looking for potential weapons and examining the windows for escape. Each one was accented with crossed iron pieces in a scarab motif, serving as a decoration and an effective jail. The stranger trailed a few steps behind me. I could sense his gaze roving over my backside, still taking in every move.

“In here.” The stranger waved me into a room with a roaring fire. It was a drawing room, tufted leather couches and a delicate writing desk gracing the polished wood floors. The door closed behind us, a solid thunk followed by the click of the lock. I was once again trapped with him.

My throat closed up, but I kept myself on an even keel. This wasn’t the first time an enemy had underestimated me.

“Please, sit.”

I perched on the nearest couch and awaited my chance to strike. It would come. The stranger would eventually make the wrong move and give me the opportunity to sweep the game board and take him down with it.

The stranger took the seat opposite me, leaned back, and steepled his fingers. “I know you don’t believe me when I say I’m your husband. But, I assure you, Helen—and that is your true name—you are my wife.”

I said nothing and took stock of the room. Only two doors—the one we’d entered through and another, behind the stranger. The first was locked and the other a mystery. The windows bore the same scarab bars, no help there. I pinned my hopes on the mystery door.

“Would you like to know how I found you?”

He tapped his fingers together as he watched me, a smug smile taking over his features.