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“Oh my God,” I whisper, taking her pulse. “Oh my God, Cleo!”

Austin hurries to my side. “What’s happening? Is she okay?”

I shake my head and try to think. Do I call the doctor? Is she having a seizure of some kind?Is she having a vision? I tried to remember what happened when Callie had a vision. I don’t remember her looking quite so pale, but I have a vague recollection of her just drifting off into her prophecies sometimes. Could this be the same? Is this Cleo’s first vision?

As quickly as she went into her trance, she pops out. Her eyes slowly become more focused, and she looks at me. Her face looks stricken.

“May I be excused, mama?” she asks, quietly.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” I ask, running my hand over her hair.

She just nods. “Please? I just want to lay down.”

I bite my lip and then nod. “Okay. But I am going to come check on you in a few minutes.”

Cleo just nods and slips from her chair. Austin and I both watch as she makes her way down the hall. I exhale when I hear the door to her room click shut.

“That was a vision, wasn’t it?” Austin asks, helping me stand.

“I don’t know,” I answer, truthfully.

I’m suddenly not very hungry.

“You need to come home, Yelena. If she’s the next Seer, you know how much danger she’s in. Let me protect her, and you. Even if you never want to be with me again, let me protect her,” he says, passionately.

“I’ve protected her for the last five years just fine without you,” I tell him, gathering up my plates. “Don’t you think I know what’s best for her? I’m the one who has raised her all these years. If we move back to the pack, it will bemydecision, not yours,” I snap.

He looks at me for a long time, his expression hard to decipher. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he looks both heartbroken and intensely frustrated. I’ve never seen him look like this until recently.

“Is this because of me?” he asks, finally. “Are you staying away because of me?”

I don’t give him an answer, I just dig in the cupboard for a plastic container and start ladling soup into it.

“Yelena, please, just, think about it. Please don’t stay in danger just because you think it would be too awkward to share a pack with me. I wouldn’t do that to you. You’re in charge of our boundaries. If you say you don’t want me, I’ll respect that,” he adds, heavily.

I finish ladling the soup, and then put the lid on. I carefully wrap a roll in tin foil. I gather it up and hand it to him.

“Here’s dinner,” I say softly. “I think you should go.”

His face falls, but he nods and stands. “The cookies are for her. If she wants them,” he says, taking the food I offered.

“And Yelena?” he calls out as he puts on his jacket. “I really did buy the condo across from yours. Number fifty-seven. You can come visit me anytime. My card is here, in case you need to get a hold of me.” He places the card on the table, and I grit my teeth and nod, walking him to the door.

“Good night, Austin,” I whisper, shutting and locking the door behind him. I exhale and lean against the door, trying to get my thoughts in order.

Austin coming here was a shock. Seeing him at my doorway, watching him play with Cleo—it was a lot. I don’t have the mental energy to analyze it right now. I’m too worried about Cleo.

Please, Moon Goddess, watch over her.I pray as I pick up the sofa cushions from Cleo’s pillow fort and place them back on the sofa. That girl is the most important person in the world to me. I would do anything for her. The knowledge that she has this gift that could harm her, or others, makes me sick with worry.

Once the living room is put back together, I make my way to Cleo’s bedroom and peek in on her. She’s sleeping peacefully, curled up in a ball next to all her stuffed animals.

My heart aches looking at her. All I’ve ever wanted was for her to have a lovely, peaceful,normalchildhood.

If she’s a Seer, she won’t have that, and it breaks my heart.

With a sigh, I creep into her room and lean down, pulling a blanket over her. I kiss her cheek and brush her hair aside, smiling when she giggles in her sleep.

“Sleep well, sweetie,” I whisper as I turn out her light.