Page 1 of Bones

PROLOGUE

DUBHLOACH

1690S

Death lurks near.

And I do not mean my brother.

Unease rippled down my spine to twist in my stomach. The crusty bread and potted meat that had just filled my belly suddenly vanished, and an intense hunger stole my breath until my strides stumbled on the cobblestone.

With my own steps halted, I heard the softer ones that followed me before pausing soon after.

Keeping my back to my mystery shadow, I moved toward the stacked crates at the side of the path and paused to dig in my leather satchel. I pulled free the remainder of my bread and meat before adding the dried, salted cheese I packed for my evening meal.

The senses in the back of my mind said that I would not need it anyway.

A dreaded thought that I did not allow myself to focus on.

I set the nourishment down on the dusty crates and turned my back to them as I pretended to search my bag further.

As I pretended not to hear them being stolen from under my nose.

Only when the rapidly fleeing footsteps sounded did I dare to risk a peek over my shoulder.

For the love of angels… Just a young girl.

Could not be more than five.

Practically a babe and wasting away.

Despite her empty stomach that I felt as keenly as if it were my own, she did not dig into her pilfered treasures with the ravenous indulgence she very well deserved. Rather, she held the prize close to herself as she ran.

Undoubtedly to share when few others had extended that same consideration to the starving child.

An ocean away, and yet the same toxic rot has spread more so.

I find I loathe this time and place.

It did not used to be like this.

I had a wealth of time to compare to. For centuries, I had roamed the Earth with my siblings. Though we had once worked together, we had long ago been forced to separate into territories in order to fulfill our duties.

Keep the growing use of magicks in check.

Keep things fair.

Balanced.

Most importantly, we were tasked to prevent the end of the world.

Even as the humans did their best to hasten it.

Dark magicks were a danger to all—including those who wielded it—but growing greed was the real crux of humankind’s undoing.

For as long as my siblings and I had existed, humans had always suffered from greed and envy. The more years that passed, the worse it became.

Especially in that time and place.

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