Unforgiven (Fallen Book 5) by Lauren Kate

Author:Lauren Kate [Kate, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2015-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

Approximately 1000 BCE

The desert sky sparkled with stars as Lilith picked up her lyre. Roland sat beside her on a mound of straw, his flute at his lips. Every bright-eyed youth in the village had gathered around them, waiting for the show to start.

The party had been Cam’s idea, but the concert had been Lilith’s, a demonstration of her love for Cam, whom she couldn’t wait to marry when the harvest came. Their courtship had been swift and passionate, and it was clear to all those around them that these two were meant to share their lives. Iris blossoms decorated the canopy of branches that Lilith and her sisters had woven that afternoon.

Roland played first. His eyes shone as he cast a spell over the audience with his mysterious flute, playing a sweet, sad song that put everyone in the mood for romance. Cam held his bronze goblet high, leaning into Lilith and smelling the salt on her skin.

Love hung palpably in the air. Dani’s arm encircled Liat, who was swaying with her dark eyes closed, savoring the music. Behind her, Arriane’s head rested on the shoulder of a curly-headed girl named Tess.

Lilith played the next song. It was a lush, haunting melody she had improvised during her first encounter with Cam. When she was finished, and the applause had settled down, Cam pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

“You are a miracle,” he whispered.

“As are you,” Lilith replied, kissing him again. Each time their lips touched, it was like the first time. She was amazed by how much her life had changed since Cam’s green eyes had first smiled upon her. Behind her, Roland had started playing again, and Lilith and Cam turned their kiss into a dance, swaying together under the stars.

A hand squeezed Lilith’s, and she turned to find Liat. Growing up, the two had been friendly but not friends. Now, the girls had bonded over their parallel romances.

“There you are!” Lilith said, kissing Liat’s cheek, then turning to greet Dani, but something in his expression stopped her. He looked nervous.

“What’s wrong?” Lilith asked.

“Nothing,” he said quickly before turning away and raising his goblet. “I’d like to propose a toast,” he said to the rowdy crowd. “To Cam and Lilith!”

“To Cam and Lilith!” the party echoed as Cam slipped his arm around her waist.

Dani gazed down at Liat. “Let us all take a minute to turn to the person we love and make sure they know how special they are to us.”

“Don’t do it, Dani,” Cam said under his breath.

“What?” Lilith asked. Until now, the night had been as blissful as any Lilith had ever known, but Cam’s tone gave her a sinking feeling. She looked up at the stars pulsing in the sky and sensed something shift, a dark energy converging over their happy gathering.

Lilith followed Cam’s gaze to Dani.

“Liat Lucinda Bat Chana,” Dani was saying, “I say your name to affirm that you live, you breathe, you are a wonder.” His eyes filled with tears.

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