Alexia's nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protec...
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Moonless
Maiden of Time
Fly little sparrow, the Soulless are comin'
Fly lest yer caught on the Moonless night
Or render yer heart to the one that is callin'
Take up yer Passions and join the fight.
--Author unknown
One
Blue Eyes
Alexia was reasonably confident that exiting the carriage was the equivalent of stepping into Hell. She glanced out again at the grand Roman pillars of the finest country estate in her corner of Devonshire and shivered. Just let me be invisible.
Mother cleared her throat. Her golden tresses glowed in the lamplight leaking through the open door. Alexia straightened up. She forced a smile as she smoothed the amber ruffles of her stomacher, the newest cut and height of fashion for 1768.
Mother rolled her eyes, took Father's waiting hand, and descended to the drive.
Alexia scowled. A month ago she'd turned sixteen. A month ago the expectation to be lady-like and presentable had begun. A month ago the nightmares had started. The night terrors certainly resulted from Father's talk of making her a match early—before anyone caught gossip of her less-than-pleasing visage. This too-thin frame and her sunken jowls were enough to keep her own eyes away from reflective surfaces. How could she fault others for sharing that opinion?
Father extended a hand. "Alexia, come."
She'd inherited his dark tresses, but that was where her resemblance to this handsome man ended. He gave her a grim smile and assisted her down before taking Mother's arm. Her parents pulled together, draping her in their shadow—though out of embarrassment or a need to shelter her, she couldn't decide.
She glanced back over her shoulder as the carriage rattled away.
Goodbye, safety. Goodbye, anonymity. She turned to the brightened steps. Hello, Hell.
