Prologue - Family

"Ah, Colin. You have returned with the food. How much do we owe?" Francesca, the matriarch of the Delvere family swept over to Colin and patted him on the cheek. She was wearing a jet black dress that seemed to swallow the light around it. It was form fitting and revealed a figure that women much younger that Francesca would have died for. Not that Colin knew how old she was.

"Oh you don't have to pay me, Francesca. Doing my bit for Evelina's big day."

" I still don't understand why you had to go buy food.” She replied, her eyes flashing black before turning back to their normal blue, “We could have just summoned a banquet."

"Let him have it, Mother. Colin just wants to contribute to the festivities."

Colin looked to the top of the stairs at Flora, Evelina's older sister. Like her mother, she had a beauty that gave no hint of her age. She was incredibly pale, with piercing blue eyes and a twist of black hair that extended to her waist.

“How are you, Flora?”

“Well.” She replied, flicking her hair back over her shoulder, “I have to head overseas next week to meet with another family. Was supposed to go yesterday, but no way in hell I’m missing my sister’s ceremony.”

“Well I’m glad you are here. I heard there is going to be a real crowd. I’m glad there are going to be a few people I know!”

“Listen Colin.” Flora said, suddenly looking very serious, “No one here is going to tell you this and Evelina is probably too excited for the ceremony, but some of the people coming this evening are incredibly dangerous. Some might see the presence of a non magical person to be an excuse to be cruel.”

“I see. Is Evelina going to be alright?”

“She’s going to be fine. It's her big day and no one is going to harm her with my mother there, but you I’m worried about.”

“Well thanks for the heads up…”

“Just stick with Evelina or my mother and you should be fine.” Flora said, reaching out and giving Colin a squeeze on the arm.

Colin gave a thin smile. He hadn’t considered that someone as powerful as Evelina’s mother would have some powerful friends.

“Having second thoughts about dating my daughter?” Francesca asked, her black and white eyes seeming to pierce right through to Colin’s core.

Drawing himself to his full height Colin shook his head.

“We will see.” Francesca replied, her face passive and unreadable.