Page 6

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Niera liftedher brows at the calico cat sauntering along at her heel. Whether the cat was a wanderer and the café didn’t mind her coming and going as she pleased was a mystery. However, Holly’s determination to keep close to Niera both warmed an empty space in her chest and seemed to keep the effects of the ocean at bay.

A little.

Strange.

The doorbell jingled overhead as Annise pulled open the glass door to Eye of Newt. Niera half expected to walk into a witch’s den. Her fae blood immediately latched onto the magic that sifted through the air. Serene energy surrounded her, the essences changing like gentle, unseen waves. It called to the magic infusing her spirit, emboldening her with the confidence she’d lost when her driver left her on the side of the road to be pummeled by briny ocean air.

Annise locked her fingers around Niera’s wrist and dragged her toward the back of the store, waving to a handsome man straightening some bottles of essential oils on a shelf by the register.

“Hi, Eli. Is Emma here?”

The man nodded and motioned to a thick beaded curtain that hid everything beyond it from view. “She’s not with a client, so go ahead back.”

Niera leaned close to her friend and whispered, “What are we doing?”

“Weare going to say hi to Emma.Youare going to get a glimpse into your future.”

“My what? Wait, what—”

The beads parted with a clack and whoosh, a sound that reminded Niera of rain dripping through tree branches. An older woman popped her head out. Behind her, Niera could see an eccentric room cast in dim illumination and the flickers of candlelight. Wild, wide black eyes darted between her and Annise until they narrowed on Niera. She huffed a breath, a black curl fluttering from her tanned cheek.

“You. Oh, yes, you.” She snickered, straightened her shoulders, and waved Niera into the room. When Annise urged her forward and started to follow, the woman tsked. “No, child. Just the woodland fae.” Her dark gaze dropped to Holly. “And the kitty.”

Niera threw a pleading look at Annise as her so-called friend shoved her into the room. She even caught the glint of humor in Eli’s eyes as the beads swooshed closed behind her. Holly hissed at the curtain, swatting the colorful beads, then twisted onto her back and began toying with the ends.

“Loyal cat, my butt.”

“Oh, she’s loyal. Holly, is it?” Emma pulled out a chair at a round table and took a seat in a cushioned chair. She flapped her hand. “Come now. Take a seat. I was expecting you.” She lifted her wrist to her face, swiping the screen of her Apple watch to illuminate the time. “Only about ten minutes sooner.” She tapped the object as Niera cautiously took a seat across from her, not bothering to tuck herself into the table. “Fancy thing. Eli bought it for me thinking he could schmooze his way into my good graces regarding my grand-niece.”

“Did it work?” Niera tilted her head toward the beads that rustled with each playful swat from Holly. “He’s in your store.”

Emma laughed. She reminded Niera of a jolly lady as she bounced, her curls flopping around her face until she settled.

“Eli and Sam are a sure thing. At least, last I saw.”

She swiped a deck of cards from the edge of the table—tarot cards, if Niera was correct—and began to shuffle. Emma’s gaze never wavered from Niera. She had the feeling the woman was picking her apart with a pair of celestial tweezers. One layer after another peeled away until she felt the undeniable vulnerability of being truly Seen. Straight-to-the-core exposed and naked before this woman.

“Hmm, I might not need these for a reading.” Emma placed the shuffled deck back on the table and held out both hands, palms up. “Place your hands in mine, palms to the ceiling.”

“Uh—”

Emma’s grin stretched. “Are you frightened to know what’s in your future?”

Niera blinked at the woman, her lips flapping soundlessly. Emma’s words hit a raw chord in her soul, a quietly manifesting fear she’d held close to her heart all this time. A fear that her future would include happiness for others, but not her own.

Only two nights ago, a ghostly entity in a dream reminded her that the time to reach her quota of perfect matches was coming to a close—the day after tomorrow, to be exact—and she must complete it before a snowflake’s fall.

I’m in Florida. There’s definitely no snow to be had here.

Fingers twitching nervously, Niera did as the woman bid, unfurling her fingers and resting her hands in the cradle of soft, warm skin.

Almost instantly, she saw a vision of a man embracing Emma, his energy bright and strong, wrapped in and woven with his beloved’s. Instinctually, she closed her eyes and gave herself over to the vision, the recognition of the Fates weaving compliments together in a burst of gold and white light. She hadn’t noted a wedding band on Emma’s finger or draped on a chain around her neck.

“I see a man with you, holding you. You’re not married, but…dating.” The words tumbled from Niera’s mouth on their own accord as her mind settled in a trance-like state that often occurred when she crossed paths with anyone possessing the characteristic signs of a Fates’-meddled destiny. “I can’t gather his name, but he’s of your age, quite charming, eyes like the sea.”

“Philip?”