Page 129 of Stone Seduction
What was Finn’s magical ability before this? Nothing. He made amazing chocolate without the aid of magic.
Incorrect. He was also of the water, able to summon waves, manipulate the seas and rivers and oceans—all of it. Made to fight the fire, to cool the terrible onslaught of the mote enchanter destined to destroy the gargoyles. A great weapon, spun from the threads of destiny to save the ones who’d saved us.
Oh. My. God.
Cold iron blades skewered me, the truth a wicked poison. With cruel irony, it healed the holes in my memories, showed me what only Finn and I knew.
My power to steal did more than take abilities. Its deadliest element, the one that’d been hiding in the shadows.
It stole destinies.
Finn’s destiny, making it mine.
My brother was made to fight Ember, and I stole it from him before he got the chance to face it. To be him.
With one touch, I sucked everything away, ruining his life.
Thief…
An onslaught of acidic bubbles popped in the back of my throat.
Dirty, dirty thief.
I wasn’t supposed to have Asher’s mark on my neck. It belonged to Finn. Asher belonged to Finn. What if… What if his heart belonged to him and I’d stolen their fated love?
Was Asher meant to love my brother instead of me?
Thief.
Dirty thief.
My limbs lost all sensation. I collapsed, retching, unable to comprehend this. Couldn’t stand it, couldn’t allow it to be true.
Face it, thief.
You are a thief.
A vile betrayer of my beautiful brother.
I took away his potential.
I took away his love.
Asher.
Asher.
Asher.
I rolled onto my back, my chest constricted by rusty chains. How could I face this? How could I go on living knowing this?
Monster. Thief. Disappointment.
My parents were right to hate me. Look at what I’d done.
I whimpered, sobbing on the beach of this memory.
“Finn…” I choked on my words.
