Chapter ONE - Weebly

y telling her that he did love her. At that moment he
would have done just about anything to drive that
pained look from her lovely face. But he knew her well
enough to understand that the best thing he could do
was tell her the truth and let her decide what she
wanted.
“It’s getting late,” he said. “I should probably go.”
“Probably.” She still held his hand, and now she met
his gaze. “You have too many people angry with you,
Ethan. Sephira, this conjurer. Hutchinson will be angry if
you don’t do what he expects of you. Don’t do
anything stupid.”
“You mean like take on a job for Abner Berson?”
Kannice didn’t smile. “Just watch yourself. And
don’t be shy about showing your face here and letting
me see that you’re still alive.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “All right.”
A short time later, Ethan left the tavern. The moon
had vanished behind a bank of clouds and the wind off
the harbor had freshened. Dressed only in his breeches,
shirt, and waistcoat, he hunched his shoulders against
the chill. He kept his hands thrust in the pockets of his