Gracie stood perfectly still in the dense shadows of the forest, his lips curving into a predatory smile. After centuries of searching, the final piece of his puzzle had revealed itself. The ancient bloodline he craved pulsed through Dalia's veins like liquid fire, and he could practically taste the power waiting to be harvested. His heart hammered against his ribs as visions of his dark kingdom danced through his mind. She would be the key to everything he had lost.
The girl before him was utterly unaware of her destiny. Gracie watched her with the intensity of a hunter studying his prey, drinking in every detail of the vessel that would restore his reign. The shadows writhing around his feet grew agitated, sensing his anticipation.
"What shall we do with her?" they whispered urgently, their voices scraping against his consciousness like claws on stone. They recognized the raw energy radiating from Dalia, the untamed force that called to every dark creature within miles.
