The Awakening

Breen steps through the portal to Talamh. In a deep fog, she finds a woman named Yseult, who reveals she is a dark faerie who means to take Breen to Odran. Breen tries to fight her off, but is bitten by two snakes that cause a deadly sleep. Keegan appears and chases Yseult away, then does a spell with Breen that counters the venom. He carries Breen on his dragon to Aisling and Marg for help and advice.

Breen continues to train and work in Talamh, then comes home to her cottage to rest and write. One night she decides not to put rosemary under her pillow and dreams of Odran and Yseult discussing how to capture Breen. Awake, she learns that an agent wants to see the manuscript of her children’s story.

She visits Marg to tell her the dream. Sedric confirms that Breen is special, the one and only person who carries her bloodline; Odran wants to drain her power so he can destroy all the worlds, including hers. Keegan presses her as they spar and Breen lights his sword on fire with her power. Breen doesn’t want to fight, but Keegan tells her she must learn. He says: “If the worlds were as we wish, the light would be only for joy and beauty, for healing and help.