Promised against her will to the Sarac’s leader, Marcus, she had barely escaped his grasp, stopping his dark plans. It had almost happened to my mother, eldest daughter of the Servak clan. Everyone feared I’d fall into the wrong hands, become influenced under the wrong beliefs, and have my eventual powers used for evil. I was unexpected, and potentially dangerous. I was the last of the Kvech, the ruling clan-the royal clan thought to have been wiped out. Our injuries or illnesses would heal more quickly than average-and some Timeless also inherited powers. Death would be harder, but not impossible. Born human until around the age of twenty, then we would transform, aging one year for every one hundred human years.

The truth that had been hidden from me for so long played on my thoughts, and I raked my fingers in Mandi’s mane. I’d almost lost Colt-the man I loved-because of my insecurities but in the end it really didn’t matter. I promised myself never to let the opportunity slip by again, but it was much harder said than done. I had so many regrets, regrets for not saying three simple words: I love you. It had already been six months since their death…six long months since the day Sheriff Taylor had arrived on my doorstep to tell me the awful news. But even my parents’ careful measures, I was sure, hadn’t turned out as they’d planned. It was only recently I’d learned why we could never stay in the same place for long. We had moved so much when I was young, remaining aloof had been the only way I could deal with the loss of friends.

If I wasn’t attached emotionally, I couldn’t feel the wound. I would have to remain distant, close off my heart and not allow the hurt in. The pain of loneliness, the pain of betrayal…I shook my head. They had offered to make me a part of their family, something I’d longed for since my parents’ death, but once again, circumstances had turned against me. As we left Dex and Lilly’s cabin earlier this morning, I had tried to hold back the tears-I’d tried to be strong, but without much success. My heart was heavy, filled with sorrow, and broken beyond measure. She was walking slowly her head hung low like mine. Agentle wind ruffled my Palomino Mandi’s blond mane.

Promises by Lisa L. Wiedmeier