Prologue

" D O NOT GO that way," warned a deep masculine voice from somewhere nearby. "Do not trust what he tells you."

"But I have to."

Savannah stared at the cranberry-colored door rimmed with verdant leaves and shook her head, never so torn, and wasn't entirely sure why. She should stay here. Close to the voice. Close to a man she could never see.

Or was he a man?

Because she sensed he might be something else.

Something more sinister. Darker.

"You do not have to go because he is not there," he rumbled. "So do not let him trick you. Do not trust his claims nor be lured by the light."

Yet she was desperately drawn to the golden shimmer through the partially open door. So drawn, it became more and more difficult to remain with the person who spoke to her. Yet she should. More than that, a part of her wanted to. Knew it was her place.

He was her place.

Yet still, she feared him even as she longed for him. Loathed him as she wanted to protect him.

"Then do not go," he said more gently this time, clearly catching her thoughts. "Do not leave me."

Never so conflicted, she tried to see him, but he remained just out of sight. He was near her but somehow further and further away. And the further away he grew, the more she was drawn to the door. The more it seemed to pull her closer.

"No," he roared, but his voice sounded far off because she couldn't stop walking down the winding dirt path toward the light beyond the door. Could not stay with him any longer because her compulsion to go to who waited for her on the other side grew too strong.

"Stop, mitt hjertes flamme ," he roared in anguish. "Come back to me!"

For a moment, she felt his agony as if it were her own and an overwhelming need to return to him. But it wasn't as strong as her need to go through the door and find, no, reunite with whoever awaited her on the other side.

So before he could compel her to return to him, she picked up her pace and raced toward the door, ignoring the fiery ring now encircling it.

Close.

Closer.

She reached out to push open the door, her heart aching and eager, only for the light to swallow her when she opened it. Then, blinding, searing pain when the light consumed her in fire.