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“Eyes on me,” the seer says gently.

My attention returns to Collin. The two of us stare at one another for a long time. Long enough to make me shift in my seat and for this to feel awkward. Long enough for me to vividly visualize those body shots.

It takes another minute, and then Collin begins to speak. “I see another entity shadowing you, slipping into your consciousness when it has a chance—what can do that?” the seer murmurs to himself. “This is no incubus … this is … no earthly being. It will continue to haunt you. It wants to … I’m not sure. It wants you—enchantress.”

That name. I tense.

Des’s chair lands harshly.

Now Collin closes his eyes. Seconds pass, and his breathing seems to slow.

This feels like it’s going off script …

The seer’s eyes snap open.

I rear back. I know the creature staring behind those eyes.

This is no seer.Not anymore.

He begins to speak. “Hurry enchantress, you’re running out of time.”

I try to pull my hands free, but Collin’s grip tightens.

“I’ll devour you slowly, your life is mine.”

The corner of Collin’s mouth curls up into a sinister smile.“So flee from me, for once I’m through, I’ll be freeing myself and coming for you.”

The seer drops my hands, coughing and rubbing his throat. When he glances up again, the Thief is no longer in his eyes.

“What thefuckwas that?” he rasps.

I’m shivering, and not just from apprehension. The room’s grown cold and dark.

Des steps out from the shadows. “That was a creature in need of extermination,” he says, helping me off the couch. “What else did you foresee?” he asks, staring at Collin.

The seer clears his throat, still rubbing at it. “I saw darkness and death, and something about it was …aware. Whatever that shit was, it’s closing in on her,” he says, nodding to me. “If no one stops that thing … then it will get ahold of her. And in that case,” Collin looks at me apologetically. “Death is not what you should worry about.”

Death is notwhat you should worry about.

That should be the Thief’s slogan. I’ve already seen that when it comes to this monster, there are other brutally twisted things he can do that circumnavigate death.

And now my mind conjures up all sorts of impossible things that are worse than death.

See, this is what I mean about wanting to have a normal life. Normal people don’t have to worry about things worse than simply dying.

Collin rolls his shirtsleeve up just as one of the two black lines disappears from his skin.

“That was really all you wanted?” he asks.

“Would you like me to take more?” The darkness still hasn’t lifted.

“No—no,” the seer rushes to say.

“Then I’ll be around,” Des says. “And professional tip: try to keep your dick in your pants during the workday. It’s bad for business.”

Desmond puts a hand on my back. “Ready to go, cherub?” he says, his voice gentling for me.

I nod.