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Emma’s hold on her hands quivered.

Niera shook her head, casting the vision aside, but the energy thrumming between their connected hands remained strong. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

Emma’s head angled to the side, her dark gaze gauging Niera with renewed curiosity. “You saw my Philip?”

Niera shrugged, pursing her lips.

Softness brushed her elbow. She glanced down to find Holly nuzzling the side of her head against her arm, the fur tickling her skin and the small animal’s quiet purr soothing the rift in her conscience.

“I’m not sure who I saw, but the man is someone who is bound to you, elementally. Fated to have you.”

Emma’s eyes widened and a soft gasp fled her lips. “You’re capable of seeing interwoven patterns between people. A matchmaker.”

The corners of Niera’s lips curled. “Yes. It’s part of my gift. I can see how all things of nature are woven together through their energy lines, if I choose. But the strongest visions involve people, since their life essences are usually brimming with light.”

“And yet, you give the gift of love to strangers while you, yourself, remain alone. But not for long.” Emma lifted her hand, cutting Niera’s rebuttal off before it reached her tongue. “When you have your visions, you inadvertently open yourself up, too. And I don’t see solitude in your future. I see struggle, but happiness.” Her dark eyes narrowed further and she tapped a finger on the tabletop. “You have an aversion to ocean water.”

“Unfortunately. I’m a fae of forests and trees. Being so near the ocean depletes my energy.”

“And you came to Cat’s Paw Cove to help your friend, regardless of the consequences to yourself. Ahh”—she wagged that finger at Niera, her eyes widening, an impish smile crossing her mouth—“it wasn’t always so, and it shan’t always be.”

“I don’t understand. I’ve had an aversion to salt water—”

“Due to a misunderstanding, yes?” Her smile grew and her face brightened with knowing. “But something plagues you and your hope of happiness. Time is running out. You’ll face a choice. A life-altering decision in the near future. Once you come to the crossroads, choose wisely. Listen to your heart, not the voice in your head manipulated by this magic that imprisons you.”

Nodding slowly, doubtful of the woman’s prediction, Niera went along with the reading. Some of it hit raw truth, but Emma’s advice remained utterly vague and convoluted, like that of most psychics. Give enough to hook a customer into believing, and play with words to satisfy curiosity.

But that truth of time and plagues…

Emma patted her hand.

“Eli!” The older woman called, her high-pitched voice ringing through the room. A moment later, the handsome man from the storefront poked his head through the beaded curtains and smiled. “Please put together a care package for my friend here. Include fire agate, desert rose, and three pouches of the purifying bath mixture. No charge today.”

Niera gasped. “But—”

“I’m on it,” Eli said, dropping the beads to sway until they came to rest.

Holly hopped onto her lap, brushing her tail across Niera’s face before curling up in a contented ball.

“Emma—”

“I insist. Who knows”—she rose to her feet, black eyes glittering with excitement—“it might actually work.”

Niera lifted Holly’s light, furry body to her chest and rolled out of her chair, close on Emma’s heels as they headed toward the curtain.

“I’m not sure I get what these things can do for me.”

“You’re a woodland fae, yes?” When Niera nodded, Emma laughed. “Surely you understand crystal magic. And the purification bath is to counter this”—she waved a hand up and down Neira’s body—“cloud hovering around you.”

“Cloud?”

“Dear, the curse. Or what will soon become a curse. I saw a snowflake, but its significance baffles me. Whatever task you have to fulfill is somehow linked to a snowflake.”

Maybe the prophetic dream wasn’t completely pointed at Cat’s Paw Cove. Florida didn’t get snow.

Did it?

The ominous chill that trickled through her veins begged to differ.

Either her silence or her expression gave something away as Emma gathered the beaded curtain in a soothing clickety-clack and urged her from the room.

“Sometimes visions aren’t as literal as they seem, dear. Although, these parts have seen a flurry or two, if the timing isjustright.”