URSULA'S FATE
FATED INK
Brielle Johnston hadn’t known about nor believed in magic—until it tore her world apart. One strange night at Fated Ink exposes secrets she can’t explain, power she can’t control, and a destiny that refuses to be ignored.
When Hunter and Lennox Garrison walk into her life, everything gets even more complicated. They’ve only just discovered that they’re shifters, and somehow, their awakening is tied to hers. The connection between them is instant and overwhelming, their combined power attracting attention from forces far darker than they understand.
Caleb, a warlock with his own twisted agenda, sees Brielle as the key to something ancient—and he’ll do anything to claim her. With her newfound magic spiraling out of control, Brielle must learn who she really is before her enemies decide for her.
New power. New love. New danger.
The Goddess isn’t done choosing for her fated ones—and Brielle is about to find out what destiny really costs.
The apartment was quiet except for the low hum of the city outside and the rustle of Colt flipping through a takeout menu. Braydon was sprawled on the couch, scrolling on his phone, while Landon sat at the kitchen table, jotting down notes in a small notebook. They were planning something simple but perfect—a date for their mate. Something that would make Ursula laugh, maybe even forget for a night that she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“We do dinner at her place again, and I’ll cook,” Braydon said without looking up. “Something fancy but not pretentious.”
Colt grinned. “So, no mac and cheese?”
“Not unless you want to get hexed.”
Landon smiled faintly. “We’ll make it special. She’s been on edge since the Goddess came to her. She needs to feel … safe again.”
He didn’t get to finish the thought. His heart clenched, a sudden wave of heat and fury flooding through his chest. It wasn’t his own—it was hers. Ursula’s magic brushed against his mind like a scream made of fire and fear.
“Did you feel that?” Braydon was already on his feet, eyes blazing gold.
Colt’s expression darkened. “That wasn’t just magic. That was panic.”
Then, faint as breath, came her voice. “Landon… Braydon… Colt…”
All three of them shouted at once. “Ursula!”
The connection severed, leaving silence that rang like a wound.
Landon’s chair toppled backward as he moved. “She’s in trouble.”
They didn’t need to say more. The brothers bolted for the door, hearts pounding, claws threatening to break through their skin. The elevator was too slow, so they took the stairs two at a time. By the time they reached the roof, the night air was thick with static.
The rooftop terrace was chaos. The wards shimmered weakly, the air still tasting of ozone and burnt magic. The rest of the coven was already there—Willow, Saffie, Brielle, Hunter, Lennox, Jacob, Liam, Nolan, and Isaac—all drawn by the same pull.
Willow’s nose twitched first. She inhaled sharply, her eyes narrowing. “Do you smell that?”
Brielle’s lioness stirred under her skin, her pupils dilating. “Sulfur.”
Saffie stepped forward, her expression grim. “That’s black magic. Old and foul. A Councilor must have invoked it to bypass the wards.”
Hunter frowned. “Why sulfur?”
Saffie gestured to the flickering ward lines. “Because they burned through holy magic to get in. It’s a byproduct of corruption—the stench of something that’s touched shadow energy.”
Braydon swore. “So how do we find her?”
Willow moved quickly to the center of the terrace. “We start with a circle. It won’t be as strong without all four of us, but it should be enough to scry.”
Landon and his brothers stood back as the women formed a tight ring, hands clasped, heads bowed. Willow placed a crystal in the center atop a city map. Her voice rose first, calm but firm. “North for air, South for fire, East for dawn, West for dusk. By light of moon and heart’s desire, show us where our sister burns.”
The others joined in, their voices weaving like threads of energy. Power pulsed through the circle, shimmering over the map. The crystal began to glow—then sputtered. It rolled a few inches and stopped.
Confusion rippled through them.
“It’s not moving,” Brielle said.
Saffie’s eyes widened. “It’s not that it won’t move. It can’t. They’ve taken her beyond our realm.”
The words hit Landon like a punch to the gut. “What does that mean? And don’t fucking tell me that means she’s dead.”
“No. It means she’s not here anymore,” Saffie whispered. “Not in this plane. She’s somewhere the map can’t reach.”
Braydon cursed, running a hand through his hair. “Then how the hell do we get her back?”
Willow turned, eyes blazing with determination. “We’ll use a mirror. If we can’t find her in this realm, we’ll see her through the veil.”
They moved fast, dragging a freestanding mirror from Saffie’s bedroom. The air thickened as they formed another circle around it, candles flaring to life with a flick of Willow’s wrist.
This time, Saffron’s voice carried the weight of command. “By moon and flame, by blood and bond, show us our sister. Show us where she stands.”
The others joined her, the chant rising into the night. Magic pulsed from the circle, flowing into the mirror. The surface shimmered, rippling like water—and then it cleared.
Ursula appeared.
She was tied to a stone pillar, blood streaking her face, her hair matted and wild. Her dark grey eyes were open, defiant even as a cloaked figure struck her across the jaw. Another stood behind him, chanting words that made the air hum with pain.
Landon fell to his knees, a roar tearing from his chest. “No!”
Braydon’s claws burst from his hands as Colt’s golden eyes flared. The three of them moved forward instinctively, as if sheer will could drag her back through the glass.
“Get her out!” Colt shouted. “Do something!”
Willow’s face twisted in concentration. “We’re trying! The magic’s fighting back!”
The cloaked figure in the mirror turned, his face half-hidden—but his smile was unmistakable. He raised his hand, whispered a word—and the mirror exploded.
The blast sent the witches flying backward, candles snuffed out in a gust of black wind. The mirror shattered into glittering shards, scattering across the floor. The circle broke.
Saffie gasped, her hands shaking. “They know we saw. They’ll move her.”
The lions were on the edge of losing control. Landon’s breath came in ragged bursts, his muscles trembling as the shift fought to break through. Braydon was already half there, golden light racing beneath his skin. Colt’s voice was low, trembling with fury. “If they hurt her—”
A brilliant silver light filled the terrace. The power pressed down, cool and endless. Every heart froze.
The Goddess appeared in their midst, her silver eyes calm but sharp. “If they hurt her, it will be the end of everything,” she said softly. “But she is not lost.”
Landon’s voice cracked. “Then help us! Please—tell us where she is.”
The Goddess shook her head. “You cannot reach her tonight. To cross that barrier requires my strength as well as yours. At noon tomorrow, you must form the circle again. I will join you then.”
“Tomorrow?” Colt growled. “You expect us to wait fourteen hours?”
“She is beyond your reach until the sun stands at its peak,” the Goddess said. “That is when the veil between realms thins enough for you to breach it.”
Braydon’s fists clenched. “We can’t just do nothing.”
“You must,” she said gently. “If you rush, you will fail. Wait for me.”
The light dimmed, and she was gone.
