Page 1 of Destined Dawn

PROLOGUE

Bronwyn

Twenty yearsago

“Take her.”

My sister shakes her head violently, fixing me with a steely glare, even though silent tears race down her cheeks and drip off her chin.

I peer down into my daughter’s sleeping face. So serene, so peaceful, unaware of all the danger and chaos that exists in this world. My battered heart breaks that little bit more.

“Please Mabel,” I beg, unable to drag my eyes from my daughter’s face. She is so beautiful, so perfect, from the miniature nails on each of her tiny fingers to each long dark lash that rests against the curve of her delicatecheek. My heart aches. I don’t want to hand her to my sister any more than she wants to take her from me.

But what choice do I have?

“Don’t ask me to, Bronwyn. Please don’t ask me to,” she whispers.

“You’re the only person I can trust. The only person I know will keep her safe.”

“She needs you. Her mother.”

My spine straightens and I look up to meet the watery eyes of my sister.

“I’ve told you. My days are numbered. What use does Rhianna have with a dead mother?” My sister winces, shaking her head again. But she doesn’t argue with me about what I’ve seen. We both know by now that my dreams do not lie. They show me the future and the future is my death.

We can bemoan and bitch about it until we’re blue in the face, until we’ve driven ourselves mad. But the future can’t be changed – not something like this – no matter what those who have used my powers may believe. The future is coming no matter what.

“And if you don’t take her, think who will.”

“Caspian?” she says. “He would keep her safe.”

I gaze back down at my daughter. I can see him in her features. The dark hue of her hair, the structure of her small face. I am there too. In the color of her eyes, in the fairness of her skin. She is the perfect amalgamation of us both.

“He wouldn’t,” I say.

“Surely, he will come and–”

“Mabel! There is no time! Take her. Take her now and hide her. Please, before it is too late.”

“He’s her father. He would keep her safe. He is far morepowerful than I am. He has a whole army, for goodness’ sake, Bronwyn.”

Now I shake my head. How can I tell my sister the truth? She has always been so adamant when it comes to the things she believes in. She sees the world in black and white. For her, there is no gray. She has never wavered. She is strong. How can I admit I have been seduced by – that I have fallen for – a man I know is not good? That I suspected this about him, but turned my face away from the truth and loved him anyway.

“The only person she is safe with is you.” With the remaining part of my heart shattering into a million pieces, I hold the baby out to her. It takes all my strength, the act almost physically impossible, my arms not wanting to give her away. Bile sloshes in my stomach, burning all along my throat, and I force back the tears bubbling in the corner of my eyes. If I crack now, my sister will never take my daughter from me.

“I have seen it,” I whisper to her, almost afraid to utter the words out loud. “She is the girl from the Fourth Prophecy.”

“The prophecy?” Mabel says, her nose crinkling in the way it does when she’s confused. “But that prophecy is unclear and?—”

“It doesn’t matter. It puts her in danger, Mabel, so much danger. They will come. They will come for her – you know they will. Either to destroy her or to attempt to steal her powers.”

“Steal her powers?” Mabel says in alarm. “Have you seen that?”

I hold my sister’s gaze. “You must keep her hidden. Keep her safe … please …”

“But even from Caspian? From her own father?”

“Yes, Mabel,” I snap. “Especially her own father.”