Crossed (Never After, Book 5)

He embodies righteousness; she embodies sin. Father Cade Frédéric, a pious man, grew up in the streets of Paris and has devoted his life to the service of the church. Yet, beneath his holy facade lies a lurking monster—a sickness that oozes darkness and thrives on the wretched. When he receives the assignment to serve as the priest in Festivalé, Vermont—a town renowned for its stunning architecture yet plagued by despair—this inner affliction stirs within him, urging him to cleanse the town of its malevolence.

Amaya Paquette is the enchanting enigma of Festivalé. By day, she cares for her younger brother, but by night, she transforms into Esmeralda, captivating audiences with her mesmerizing dance for those who are both greedy and shameless. Though her heart yearns for love, she hesitates to embrace companionship, fearing the pain of abandonment once more.

Upon laying eyes on Amaya, Father Cade finds himself entrapped by her beauty, convinced that she must be employing witchcraft to draw him to her. His thoughts spiral; he cannot eat, breathe, or think about anything but her. The allure of temptation becomes an overwhelming force—one that he knows could lead him to ruin.

She represents his greatest vulnerability; thus, he resolves that he must be her downfall, even if it entails sacrificing the one woman he could ever genuinely love. The struggle between temptation and duty intensifies as he grapples with his own desires and the call of his vocation. He is torn between the sacred mission of purging the evil lurking in Festivalé and an undeniable attraction to the very source he perceives to be wicked.

As Father Cade delves deeper into the mysteries of the town and uncovers its veiled secrets, he discovers that Amaya is far more complex than he initially presumed. Her world is not merely one of allure and seduction; it is fraught with its own battles, shaped by her circumstances and her fierce love for her brother. Each night, as she dances, she layers her performances with hope, dreams, and unseen struggles.

Meanwhile, Cade’s internal conflict grows. The shadow of his sickness compels him to act, to rid the community of what he sees as the embodiment of sin. But the closer he gets to Amaya, the more he realizes that the darkness he perceives may not be as clear-cut as he believed. Love and temptation blur the lines he thought were firmly established between good and evil.

The stakes rise as he considers the consequences of his actions and the heavy price of righteousness. Can he reconcile his protective instincts over the town with the profound connection he feels toward Amaya? This question hangs heavily in the air, driving the tension between them. Cade must face the reality of his grave choices, as the monster within him threatens not only his soul but the fate of the very woman who has captured his heart.

In the end, the struggle for redemption, the intricacies of love, and the battle against inner demons converge, leaving Cade and Amaya to navigate a path filled with uncertainty and longing.

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