After making progress in rebuilding the neighboring villages difficult for the past two days, the rain had ceased falling onto the city streets of Vordane, though the wet and the clouds still remained. They blanketed the stars and buildings, allowing the fire swaying in the street lamps to cast the city in an eerie glow.

City folk seldom lingered outside of their dwellings since the war that had come too perilously close to robbing them of their lives and homes, but a few males lumbered up the street with raucous laughter from the tavern at its end which remained open.

They attempted greetings. I ignored them, my focus stolen so thoroughly, they’d need to attempt to kill me to garner so much as a glance from me. Even then, I wouldn’t stop. My mind had narrowed. The hunger within me had sharpened to a lethal point that wouldn’t dull until I found the creature I was seeking.

The breeze carried her scent to the very end of the street. To the tavern.

I smirked, but soon frowned when it faded at the intersection. I backed up and retraced it to the city’s most popular tailor—Olivianna’s shop and apartment.

Blood marked the trim of the door.

I didn’t knock. The door opened from my fury and need alone, slamming into the wall and sending rolls of fabric to the floor.

Olivianna gasped and stood, her hand on her chest. It dropped, her shoulders sagging when she saw me and said, “Scythe, you scared me.”

I ignored her, struck still by the female curled upon the dressmaker’s velvet chair.

Her hair was a mess and impossibly longer, a pillow and a blanket beneath her lithe yet curved frame. The pounding of my heart ceased as the organ swelled and pushed a searing breath through my slackened lips.

Some of those curves were noticeably less severe when she opened her gray eyes with a start and pushed herself up. I scowled, both hating and loving what I saw. She was here. She was not the same.

Then I crossed the room, ignoring Olivianna’s protests to let the female be.

“She needs to rest,” she said at my back.

I said nothing, just glared down at the creature who’d run from me without a backward glance. Who’d left me without a shred of thought for what the fuck I would do in her absence. Who’d changed my life in a matter of days only to leave me in the type of darkness I could never fucking escape on my own.

My heart restarted with a violent thud.

Those big eyes stared up at me from a thinner face, her cheekbones and lips more pronounced. The latter trembled as she dared to reach for me.

I took that soft hand and pulled her to her feet. The magic of her skin on mine threatened to undo me on the spot.