In Rome’s arms, with my coven, and my town.
We would fight, protect Ravenwood, and as changes beget more, we would roll with the punches and learn.
We would search for Oriel, and I would find my powers.
I would protect everyone I could.
I was not the same Sage I had been when I first came to Ravenwood. And I had found so much more than I had ever been looking for.
I was alpha of the Ravenwood pack. Member of the Ravenwood coven. Rome’s mate. Rowen and Laurel’s sister.
I was a witch.
I was part of Ravenwood.
And I would protect my home at all costs.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Laurel
I stared into the mirror and winced. My body ached, and it felt as if I were burning from the inside out. Then again, maybe I was.
I was dying.
I knew this. I knew that another spell like the one we had done on the battlefield would probably be my last. Of course, if I wasn’t careful, any charm or use of my magic could be my last.
This damn curse had taken everything from me and those I loved. Now, it would take my life. I could say I didn’t want that to be the case, and I didn’t, but I knew what was happening next, and there would be no stopping it. I gripped the edge of the sink and forced myself not to let the tears fall.
Trace was gone. He was supposed to be the one for me. Somehow, he should have been mine. We had danced around each other for so long, taking our time to find who we were, but now, he was gone before we even had a chance to be with one another and overcome our mistakes. Soon, I would join him. I would join him on the other side because there was no coming back from this.
I wore only a bra and jeans, riding low on my hips as I stared into the mirror. Once again, I fought back a cry of rage and pain. If I kept doing this, I would die. I let out a breath and slowly picked up the satchel to rub my burns with the ointment and herbs Rowen and Sage had given me.
Rowen had tried her best to help me unbind myself from the curse, but she’d failed. As had I. Maybe it was because of the curse itself, or perhaps it was because Rowen hated that I couldn’t help her. She’d always helped me soothe my burns. Only I didn’t think she realized how bad it was. Nobody was allowed to realize that.
Not even my brother.
Especially not Ash.
I slowly cleaned the burns, and let the tears fall. Every ounce of pressure on the wound felt like I was dying. It wasn’t fair that this was happening, but at least it was me and not Sage. Sage was far too new to this world to deal with pain like this. She had been dealt blow after blow in her life already, and I did not want her to ever face this kind of pain. Everything hurt, and it literally felt as if I were dying.
I looked into the mirror and swallowed hard. Every time I used my magic, every time I pulled on the fire within me, it scarred me from the inside out. I burned from the inside out. This time, I had been too close to flaming out completely in a gulf of fire and ash.
My eyes were aflame. Pure fire—blue and red and orange and purple. Everything that fire could be, even in its most dangerous and beautiful form.
I looked over my shoulder and pressed my lips together.
Jaxton stood there. He didn’t lean against the doorway. Didn’t look relaxed as he always seemed to be.
He stared at me, his jaw set. “It’s time.”
I shook my head, even as the tears fell faster because the pain was too much. I really was burning from the inside out, and I couldn’t stop it. There would be no dousing this flame. Whatever was coming needed all of us at full strength, but I couldn’t be. I was nothing. Sure, I had a sword, but I couldn’t use magic because I nearly died every time I tried. The next time would mean my death. I was sure of it.
“It can’t be.” My voice sounded as if I’d swallowed smoke. Then again, I had, in a way.
He shook his head. “You can’t keep doing this.”
I looked at him in the mirror, then down at the scars that would never fade from my body, and then stared at him once more.
“I have to.”
Even if it killed me.
Want more of the Ravenwood Coven?
Laurel and Jaxton’s romance is next in Dusk Unveiled.
A Note from Carrie Ann Ryan
Thank you so much for reading DAWN UNEARTHED!
I love writing paranormal romance and a few friends of mine have been betting the universe for witches, covens, and girl power books and that is what sparked the idea of the town of Ravenwood. I cannot wait to show you more of this world!
Next in the series is Dusk Unveiled. I cannot wait to break open Laurel and Jaxton’s secrets.
The Ravenwood Coven Series:
Book 1: Dawn Unearthed
Book 2: Dusk Unveiled
Book 3: Evernight Unleashed
While you wait for more witches, try the Talon Pack series!
The Talon Pack:
Book 1: Tattered Loyalties
Book 2: An Alpha’s Choice
Book 3: Mated in Mist
Book 4: Wolf Betrayed
Book 5: Fractured Silence
Book 6: Destiny Disgraced
Book 7: Eternal Mourning
Book 8: Strength Enduring
Book 9: Forever Broken
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About the Author
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.