Page 20

Chapter Seven

“Well, that’s a shocker.”

Niera listened to Annise’s grumbling voice respond to the weatherman on the television, her mind wrapped and warped after the events of last night. She hugged her knees to her chest, rocking slowly on the sofa, her unusual behavior overlooked by her friend, who seemed more frustrated by the current events and weather predictions.

After two more escape attempts, each ending with her landing supine on the beach with Holly’s sympathetic voice pleading that she stop, she finally gave up. Though the cat wouldn’t explain how she was keeping Niera in Cat’s Paw Cove, she did leave Niera with a haunting prediction that aligned with both her prophetic dream and Emma’s ominous warning.

“To prevent a curse, you must break a curse. And it must be done before the first snowflake falls.”

“If that isn’t rhetorical,” Niera muttered into her knees. At last, Annise glanced at her, the smooth skin over her brows pinched with worry.

“Hey, you don’t look well. How much time did you spend at the beach?” Mouth taut, she cast a curious look at the telling trail of sand that led from the front door to the guest bedroom. Niera sighed and shrugged. Annise suggested, “How about another purifying bath and I’ll make you some tea. Later, we can keep things low-key and catch a movie at the Shakes-Purr Theater. Indoors, away from the ocean. Well, kind of.”

Niera scanned the small condo, keeping her eyes peeled for Holly. The animals she communicated with in the forest didn’t speak. Not like the cat that had chosen her as its plaything. She didn’t appreciate being a fae ping-pong ball, bounced back to the beach from the edge of town. She hadn’t checked, but by the feel of her rear, she sported one heck of a bruise on her tailbone.

“Earth to Niera.” Annise plopped down on the sofa beside her and waved her hand in front of Niera’s face. “You’re really scaring me. This isn’t like you at all.”

“Maybe I need to rest today. Get some of my strength back. Why don’t you go meet up with Danny? I’ll be fine.” She waved to the sand on the floor. “I’ll clean up my crumb trail and call you if I need anything.”

“But—”

“No buts.” Niera forced a smile and squeezed her friend’s hand. “I’ll be fine. Just need a little rest is all. Besides, I’ll be leaving tomorrow and need my strength.”

“I wish you’d stay. Danny said Al was really concerned over the way you took off. He felt terrible about how things were left.” Her friend’s lips pursed. “Howwerethings left?”

Niera threw up a hand. “Definitely not what you’re implying. We talked and, being the fae I am, I didn’t want to lead him on so I took off.”

“Huh. Sure.”

She shrugged. “Well, that’s pretty much the nutshell version of it. After tomorrow, all of this will become a moot point because I confirmed what you already knew about Danny. My job here is done and your job to go hang out with your boyfriend and perfect match is calling.”

All troubles with Alistair forgotten, Annise bounced on the seat a time or two, then slung her arms around Niera’s shoulders and hugged her tight. “You definitely are the Mystical Matchmaker!”

Niera laughed as Annise sat back. “I didn’t make the match with you and Danny. You two did that yourselves.”

Her smile faltered, her words repeating in her mind. Her friend jumped from the sofa and disappeared into her bedroom, rambling on about her plans for the afternoon, none of which Niera deciphered.

“Gods be darned.” Niera whimpered, dropping her head on her knees. How had she missed it? How had she not realized Annise and Danny were not meant to stop her curse?

You were too excited about making the last match. Too sure of yourself. Too confident and you missed the obvious.

She’d made ninety-nine matches. Not one-hundred.

“You knew it, Niera. You knew Annise and Danny weren’t a match requiring any intervention. You said it yourself: It was aconfirmation.”

She’d brought ninety-nine couples together, allstrangersbefore their initial meeting. She followed the fickle Fates’ energy lines, life essences, of those who were meant to be partnered. She knew the routine, the struggle, the obstacles, and, ultimately, the happy outcome.

Annise and Danny didn’t count.

She needed to make one more match.

“Well, if nothing else, I’m in Florida, so I’m safe from snow.”

Annise emerged from her room, hair styled and outfit sharp. She had applied a light coat of makeup, but her radiant skin beamed beneath the powder.

“I’m going to meet Danny at Surf’s Up Café on the boardwalk. Their morning classes end in fifteen minutes. If you need anything, you call me, got it?” Annise gathered up her small purse and car keys, and stepped into her shoes at the door. “And don’t worry about the sand. I’ll sweep it up when I get back.”

“Nonsense. Go. Have fun.” She pushed to her feet and shooed her friend out the door with a smile. Annise giggled, tugging a jacket over her shoulders before she left. Niera stood in the doorway, watching for any sign of a mischievous calico padding around the front stoop. Thankfully, her adopted feline friend—if she ventured so far as to call the cat such—was nowhere to be found. “I expect you home by nine.”