Brielle drove her little Beetle out of Chetvine after leaving Medicine God's Covenant. She was determined to go because there was nothing here worth holding onto anymore.

If she had to name one thing she felt a hint of attachment for, it was probably Andrew, whom she had just talked to. He was about the same age her son would have been, and if he were still alive, he would have grown into a handsome young man as well.

In the rearview mirror, two black SUVs sped up behind her.

Brielle's instincts kicked in as she swept her gaze over them and immediately accelerated, yet the SUVs roared louder and closed in quickly, boxing her in from both sides. One of the car windows rolled down to reveal an old, deeply lined face covered in pockmarks.

"Brielle, this isn't the road back to Sovereign's Apothecary, is it?"

The moment she heard that voice and saw the man's face, Brielle stiffened. "Damon? You actually came to Chetvine."

Damon Mullins was the Third Elder of the Divine Alchemists an