Prologue

M y fatal flaw is I never saw the train racing at me until it was too late and I had nowhere to go.

Metaphorically speaking.

The dark-eyed temptress in front of me with the evil glint in her cold stare grins. It's not a warm smile. Not even a friendly one.

It's full of chilly intent. I should have run right then but sometimes you can't outrun your destiny. Your fate.

Her full red lips open and she growls, "Granite Zephyr. You've played with me one too many times. I'm not a toy and my heart is just as warm as any other woman out there. Even if people call me a witch."

I grimace. "Menen. Don't be so dramatic. We're friends. Nothing more. I've told you time and time again. I cannot date you. Can't marry you. I'm waiting for true love. My fated mate is out there somewhere and I'm not settling for whatever this is." I move my hand between us and she glares at me like she wants to rip my whole arm off and beat me with it. "I'm sorry, Menen. We're friends and that's all we'll ever be."

"You went out with me. You made promises to me," she hisses between her teeth.

"I did not. I told you right from the start that all we could ever be was friends. That spark is not there. You know it isn't. I don't know why you're blaming me for what fate has designed. It's not us. We were at the same place eating and I didn't take you there. It wasn't a date. We've gone over this."

Her slim hand twirls in the air and I feel my heart race. I know that she's a powerful witch. A solitary one since her coven disowned her a long time ago. She said it was a difference of opinion and my sense of justice rebelled when I heard that.

It didn't seem fair.

Now I'm starting to wonder if that difference of opinion wasn't something a little more serious. Her dark eyes are flashing with red lights and her slim body is vibrating with anger, righteous indignation.

The air shimmers with a dark light and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. A glowing green light pulses around us and strangely, there's a whipping wind that roars into life in our little bubble.

Her dark eyes glow with a frenetic green light and I fight the urge to turn and run. "What is going on, Menen?"

She chuckles, low and harsh. "You're a naive fool, Granite. With me, you could have been something amazing. We could have practically ruled this town. Without me, you're gonna regret it." Her voice lowers. "You have made a huge mistake. Now you're going to pay."

Her voice changes and she lifts her hands up, the palms glowing wicked green. "For one who chose, the risk is clear. You must face your life alone. One day out of the year…you have the chance to find true love and break the chains of the heavy, drowning choice you've made. One chance, one choice. Find your love. Or stiffen to stone. One day is all I give you. I curse you, Granite Zephyr. You will pay for the rest of your miserable life."

And then she disappeared.

I chuckle nervously but then I move on with my Halloween. I've always loved it and this is no different than any other spooky holiday for me.

Until I wake up and can't move the next day. Then it's clear what happened and my whole world is blown up. In one day.