Endpapers: “Underwater fish”: Holbox / Shutterstock; “Vintage gold floral design”:
After6pm / Shutterstock.

Cover and endpaper design by Rita Frangie.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of
the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons,
living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Version_1

For Sarah, daughter of my heart

Contents

Also by Nora Roberts

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Epigraph

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Special Excerpt from The Obsession

As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods;
They kill us for their sport.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Was it a vision, or a waking dream?
Fled is that music:—do I wake or sleep?

JOHN KEATS

PROLOGUE

Once, in a time long ago, in a world beyond our own, three goddesses gathered to celebrate the dawn of a new queen. Many who’d traveled across the land and skies, through time and through space, had brought gifts of gold and jewels, of rich silks and precious crystals.

But the goddesses three wished for more unique gifts.

They considered a winged horse, but news came that a traveler had flown in on one, making it a gift for the new queen.

They debated gifting her with beauty beyond compare, with wisdom or uncommon grace.

They couldn’t make her immortal, and knew from those who were that this was both blessing and curse.

But they could give her an immortal gift.

“A gift that will shine for her, for all time.” Celene stood with her friends, her sisters, on the sand, white as diamonds, on the verge of the ink-blue sea, lifted her face to the night sky, to the swimming moon.

“The moon is ours,” Luna reminded her. “We cannot give what we are pledged to honor.”

“Stars.” Arianrhod lifted her hand, palm up. She closed her eyes, her fingers. And smiling, opened them again. Now in her palm a jewel of ice glowed. “Stars for Aegle, the radiant.”

“Stars.” Now Celene held out her hand, opened it. She held a jewel of fire. “Stars for Aegle, who will shine like her name.”

Luna joined them, produced a jewel of water. “Stars for Aegle, the brilliant.”

“There should be more.” Celene turned the burning star in her hand.

“A wish.” Luna stepped closer to the sea, let the water lay cool kisses on her feet. “A wish from each for the queen, and into the star. For mine, a strong and hopeful heart.”

“A strong and questing mind.” Celene held the fiery star aloft.

“And a strong and adventurous spirit.” Arianrhod raised both hands, one holding the star, the other lifted toward the moon. “These stars to shine while worlds turn.”