Chapter 5

5

S orcerer's Tor

Entrance to the Sorcerer Afterworld

Dartmoor, England

1606 AD

Cold wind whipped across Sofia's cheeks as she watched Malcolm, who stood a dozen yards away from her. It was colder on Dartmoor than she had expected. Her cloak wasn't suited to this chill weather.

She wasn't suited to this chill weather.

But when Malcolm had told her of his mother's death and that he had to go to Sorcerer's Tor, the sorcerer's sacred space, to make an offering in her name, she couldn't help but ask if he wanted her to accompany him. She'd only known him for a month, but she'd quickly grown to care for him.

Kitty pressed against her leg, huddling under her cloak with her little black head peeping out. Despite her thick fur, she too was used to the heat of the jungle. But sorcerers were a strange group—as least, Malcolm's clan was. They lived in a remote part of southwestern England, just at the edge of Dartmoor.

At the highest part of the moor, on a desolate tor formed from the biggest granite outcropping in England, they said goodbye to their dead. According to Malcolm, there was a crevice in the rock on Sorcerer's Tor that led to their afterworld. Only the dead could enter, but it was here that the living paid their respects when someone passed.

Her heart ached as she watched him. Tall and strong, his black hair and cloak whipping in the wind as he stood with his head bowed. He was so beautiful that she almost couldn't believe he was real. When he'd started courting her, she'd been surprised. He seemed so distant, so cold.

That coldness came from the sorcerer within him, but she sensed there was more than just coldness. She'd fallen for him. Enough that she accompanied him to say goodbye to his dead mother, though he'd never spoken of his family before.

He turned to face her then, a sad smile kicking up at the corner of his mouth. Dusk cast his face in shadow. His stride was powerful as he approached her. He reached for her hand, his grip strong and warm.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Fine. Thank you for coming."

She nodded. "Shall we get back?"

He shook his head. "Wait with me a moment. The sun will set. I know how you love sunsets." His big hands gripped her shoulders and turned her gently to face the setting sun.

Sofia smiled. He'd remembered. Even more than sunrises, sunsets symbolized renewal to her.

She sighed when he pulled her back to rest against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. Comfort washed over her. In all her life, she'd never thought she'd find a man like him. She was falling in love.

"See?" His whisper was rough at her ear.

The sun had just flared into a beautiful orange and yellow sunset, fingers of color streaking across the sky and lighting it up.

"You were right. I've never seen anything like it. It's the most beautiful place I've ever been." She turned her head to look up at him.

At his eyes. He looked at her like she were life itself.

"I can't believe what you've come to mean to me," he said. "I didn't know it was possible to feel like this."

She shivered.

"Everything that's happened—my mother's death, meeting you, being here with you—makes me feel like I want to be part of something bigger," he said.

"What do you mean?" Her heart fluttered with hope. She tried to crush it, but failed.

"You, Sofia. I want to be with you." He rubbed her arms and kissed her temple. "Forever."

"Forever?" A smile stretched across her face.

"Forever. I can help you protect your village. Once we're warlocks, we can surely free you of the burden of providing tributes."

The breath whooshed out of her. He wanted to be with her forever, and help free her from the High Witches. Even if they couldn't manage it, to have him share the burden would be incredible. She wouldn't be alone.

Better, she'd be with the man she loved.

She spun around, leaned up on her toes, and kissed him. He groaned and pulled her closer, his mouth slanting over hers and stealing her breath. Stealing her heart. She clutched his cloak tighter, trying to pull him closer to her. To never let him go.

If she lost this, lost him, it would break her.