Chapter 1
The forest had always been the one place Whitney could breathe.
Far beyond the nearest village, where the roads became little more than winding trails swallowed by moss and wildflowers, there stood a small wooden cottage surrounded by towering trees. Thick branches stretched high above the roof, creating a natural canopy that kept the cottage hidden from wandering eyes.
No one came this deep into the woods.
That was exactly how Whitney liked it.
Morning sunlight slipped between the branches, painting golden patches across the forest floor. Birds called to one another from the treetops, while somewhere in the distance, a creek rushed over smooth stones.
Whitney stepped outside onto the wooden porch, holding a steaming cup of tea between both hands.
Her long, wavy chocolate-brown hair fell loosely down her back. The morning sunlight caught the strands, giving them warm coppery highlights. Her tan skin glowed beneath the soft light, while her striking light blue eyes slowly scanned the peaceful forest around her.
For once, there was no one chasing her.
No hunters.
No bounty seekers.
No mages searching for her.
No demons.
Just trees.
Birds.
The sound of water.
Peace.
Whitney took a slow sip of her tea.
Then something brushed against her ankle.
She looked down.
A massive jaguar sat beside her.
His golden-brown coat was covered in dark rosettes, and his powerful body made him considerably larger than an ordinary jaguar. His long tail flicked lazily across the wooden porch.
Whitney smiled.
"Good morning, Jaguar."
The jaguar looked up at her.
A deep rumble vibrated through his chest.
Whitney raised an eyebrow.
"Don't start."
Jaguar blinked slowly.
She could feel his thoughts through their bond.
You have been standing here for ten minutes.
"I like mornings."
You have been drinking the same cup of tea for ten minutes.
"Because it's hot."
Jaguar stared at her.
Whitney stared back.
He slowly looked toward the cup.
Then back at her.
She sighed.
"Fine. Maybe I forgot about it."
Jaguar gave a low chuff.
Whitney smiled.
"You are unbelievably judgmental."
The jaguar stood and stretched, his powerful muscles shifting beneath his fur.
Their bond had existed for years.
Jaguar wasn't simply her pet.
He was her familiar.
A magical creature bound to her soul through a connection neither of them could completely explain. He could sense her emotions, feel her magic, and communicate with her through their shared bond.
And Whitney could feel him too.
His curiosity.
His irritation.
His affection.
His instincts.
Sometimes she could even see brief flashes of what he saw through his eyes.
Jaguar walked toward the edge of the porch.
Whitney followed.
"Where are you going?"
He glanced over his shoulder.
Herbs.
Whitney smiled.
"You're collecting herbs again?"
Yes.
"You collected enough yesterday."
Not enough.
"You said that yesterday."
And I was correct.
Whitney laughed.
"You're impossible."
Jaguar disappeared down the porch steps.
Whitney followed him into the forest.
The cottage quickly disappeared behind the trees.
This was their world.
The forest belonged to them.
Whitney knew nearly every path, every stream, every patch of medicinal plants. Jaguar knew even more.
He could smell herbs buried beneath leaves.
He could hear creatures moving long before Whitney noticed them.
And when something dangerous entered the forest, Jaguar always knew.
They walked for several minutes before Jaguar suddenly stopped.
Whitney nearly bumped into him.
"What?"
Jaguar lowered his head.
His ears pointed forward.
Whitney immediately became alert.
"What did you hear?"
Jaguar didn't answer.
Instead, he moved toward a patch of ferns.
Whitney followed.
He carefully pushed his nose beneath the leaves.
Then he began digging gently at the earth.
Whitney crouched beside him.
"Moonleaf?"
Jaguar glanced at her.
Yes.
Whitney smiled.
"Good boy."
Jaguar stopped digging.
He slowly turned his head toward her.
Whitney immediately realized her mistake.
"You don't like being called that."
No.
She laughed.
"You're still my big baby."
Jaguar huffed.
I am a predator.
"You're my predator."
He flicked his tail.
Whitney carefully gathered the moonleaf and placed it inside the small basket hanging from her arm.
"Anything else?"
Jaguar moved deeper into the trees.
Whitney followed.
They traveled farther into the forest, collecting several different herbs.
Moonleaf.
Starroot.
Silvermint.
And a handful of tiny blue flowers that only bloomed beneath the oldest trees.
Whitney knew what each plant could do.
Some could heal wounds.
Some could reduce fever.
Others could be used in protective spells.
And some were dangerous enough to kill a person if prepared incorrectly.
Whitney had learned long ago that magic wasn't always about power.
Sometimes it was about knowing exactly what you were touching.
Jaguar suddenly stopped again.
This time, Whitney felt something through their bond.
Concern.
She immediately stopped walking.
"What is it?"
Jaguar stared toward the trees.
His ears flattened.
Whitney's fingers tightened around the basket.
"Someone's here?"
Jaguar's tail stopped moving.
Yes.
Whitney looked around.
"Human?"
Jaguar sniffed the air.
Then he gave a low growl.
No.
Whitney's expression changed.
She slowly set the basket down.
Her magic stirred beneath her skin.
She could feel the forest around her.
The trees.
The roots.
The earth.
The water beneath the ground.
Everything was connected.
She closed her eyes.
Then reached outward with her magic.
For a moment, she felt nothing.
Then—
There.
A presence.
Dark.
Powerful.
Ancient.
Whitney's eyes opened.
"Something is coming."
Jaguar stepped directly in front of her.
His lips pulled back, revealing long, sharp teeth.
"Jaguar..."
He growled again.
The sound was deeper this time.
Stay behind me.
Whitney frowned.
"You know I can protect myself."
I know.
"Then move."
No.
Whitney sighed.
"Stubborn cat."
Jaguar's ears twitched.
Stubborn mage.
Despite the danger, Whitney almost laughed.
Then the entire forest went silent.
The birds stopped singing.
The insects disappeared beneath the leaves.
Even the wind seemed to die.
Whitney felt the hairs on her arms rise.
Something was watching them.
She slowly raised one hand.
Blue-white magic began glowing around her fingertips.
Jaguar lowered himself into a defensive position.
Then a shadow moved between the trees.
Whitney held her breath.
A figure stepped from the darkness.
He was enormous.
At least six feet five inches tall.
His skin was a deep, dark blue, almost black where the shadows covered him. Two large ram-like horns curved from his head. Long, shaggy black hair framed his face.
A long tail moved slowly behind him.
His hands ended in sharp, talon-like nails.
And his eyes were completely black.
A demon.
Whitney knew immediately.
Jaguar did too.
The jaguar's growl became a thunderous roar.
The demon stopped.
His eyes moved toward Jaguar.
For the first time, there was something resembling amusement in his expression.
Then his gaze shifted to Whitney.
And everything changed.
He had expected a powerful mage.
He had expected someone dangerous.
He had expected someone perhaps surrounded by guards or hiding behind magical barriers.
He hadn't expected her.
Whitney stood beneath the trees, her long brown hair falling around her shoulders and her pale blue eyes fixed directly on him.
She didn't run.
She didn't scream.
She simply watched him.
The demon felt her magic.
It was enormous.
Far greater than the rumors had suggested.
It flowed through the forest like an invisible tide.
His fingers curled.
He had spent months searching for her.
He knew what her power could do.
He knew what taking it could mean.
He had come for one reason.
Her magic.
Nothing else.
Jaguar took a step forward.
The demon's eyes narrowed.
Whitney placed a hand against Jaguar's shoulder.
"Easy."
Jaguar didn't take his eyes off the demon.
He is dangerous.
"I know."
Very dangerous.
"I know."
The demon studied the jaguar.
A familiar.
Interesting.
That meant Whitney wasn't simply powerful.
She was bonded to another magical creature.
That could make her even more dangerous.
Whitney took one step forward.
"You're trespassing."
The demon said nothing.
"Did you hear me?"
His black eyes remained fixed on her.
Then, finally, he spoke.
His voice was deep and rough.
"I know who you are."
Whitney's expression hardened.
"Then you know you should leave."
The demon almost smiled.
"No."
Jaguar snarled.
Whitney's magic surged.
Leaves exploded from the ground.
Branches shook violently.
The earth beneath the demon's feet cracked.
The demon remained still.
But inside, something unexpected happened.
He hesitated.
He had come here prepared to attack.
Prepared to take her power.
Prepared to fight whoever stood in his way.
But now that he was actually standing in front of her, something felt wrong.
Not wrong because she was stronger than expected.
Wrong because he didn't want to hurt her.
The thought disturbed him.
He had never cared about the people he hunted.
He had never hesitated.
Yet now he couldn't stop looking at her.
Her eyes.
Her face.
The way she stood fearlessly beside her familiar.
Something about her pulled at him.
Whitney noticed his hesitation.
"Why are you staring at me?"
The demon didn't answer.
He didn't know what to say.
He should have attacked.
Instead, he took one slow step backward.
Jaguar's growl softened slightly, but he remained between Whitney and the stranger.
Whitney narrowed her eyes.
"Who sent you?"
"No one."
"Then why are you here?"
The demon looked at her.
"For your magic."
Whitney's expression immediately became cold.
Of course.
There it was.
The reason she had feared.
Another person wanted what was inside her.
Another hunter.
Another monster.
Her magic intensified around her.
"You'll have to kill me first."
The demon stared at her.
For some reason, those words bothered him.
He had expected her to beg.
He had expected fear.
Instead, she challenged him.
And for the first time, he wondered if taking her power was actually what he wanted.
He turned slightly.
Whitney watched him carefully.
"You're leaving?"
"For now."
Jaguar's ears remained forward.
Whitney didn't lower her magic.
"Why?"
The demon looked over his shoulder.
His black eyes met hers one final time.
"Because I want to understand what you are."
Whitney frowned.
"I'm a woman."
Something almost resembling a smile crossed his face.
"I know."
Then he disappeared into the trees.
Whitney remained completely still.
Jaguar slowly turned toward her.
She looked down at him.
"What?"
Jaguar stared in the direction the demon had gone.
Then back at her.
Trouble.
Whitney sighed.
"Definitely."
She picked up her basket.
"Come on. Let's go home."
Jaguar followed closely beside her.
But neither of them noticed the shadow watching from high among the trees.
The demon had not truly left.
He was still there.
Watching.
Studying.
And for the first time in centuries, the hunter wasn't thinking about how to take his prey's power.
He was thinking about how to see her again.
