Page 31

“Honestly.” She clicked her tongue. “You’ve seen a zombie ferret, met two wolves, and you’re being protected from demons by a centuries-old vampire. But tea leaf reading is where you draw the line?”

“Fair point.” I leaned forward. “Go on then, what do you see?”

Priya rotated the cup, her brow furrowed. “Hmm. There’s definitely a bird here—see this shape?” She tilted the cup towards me. “Usually means news is coming. And this curved line… interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

“Well…” She fiddled with her long braid. “It could be interpreted two ways. Either you’re about to embark on a passionate love affair that will change your life forever…”

I snorted. “Or?”

“Or you’re going to be eaten by a large fish.”

“ What? ”

“The signs aren’t always clear cut!” she defended, gesturing at the tea leaves. “Look, this swooping pattern could be Cupid’s arrow or a fish’s tail. And this cluster here could represent either romantic desire or, you know… teeth.”

“Brilliant.” I threw my hands up. “So I’m either going to fall madly in love or become fish food. That’s really helpful, Priya. Really narrows it down.”

“The universe works in mysterious ways.” She set the cup down with a satisfied smile. “Though personally, I’m leaning towards the love affair interpretation. These leaves have a distinctly romantic energy.”

My traitorous heart couldn’t help but cling to her silly game, equal waves of longing and terror shooting through me.

The night Tom rejected me, I’d sobbed on the beach and sworn off ever feeling anything for anyone again.

Yet here I was, my heart doing backflips over a vampire who’d already friendzoned me so violently it had left emotional bruises.

“You’re making this all up.”

“I never make things up. The leaves don’t lie, Flynn Carter.”

I peered back into the cup, remembering how my grandfather used to say you could read the weather in the patterns of waves.

These tea leaves swirled like tide pools at low water, promising either romance or a fish attack—though after my years at sea, I knew better than to dismiss either prediction.

The ocean had taught me that the most unlikely outcomes often came true.

A shadow fell across the kitchen floor, and I nearly jumped out of my skin as Seb materialised in the doorway.

How did a man with so much presence move so silently?

Curls damp from a shower, his black coat was draped casually over one arm, but it was his rolled-up shirtsleeves that caught my attention—and held it.

There should be laws against exposing forearms like that.

I accidentally licked my lips, then dragged my gaze up to his face, where his mouth quirked into an amused smile.

Of course, my heart had decided to perform its usual gymnastics routine at the sight of him. After a full day without seeing him, my body seemed determined to betray just how much I’d missed him .

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Are you torturing Flynn with tea leaves?” he asked, with mock scorn. “Go on then Priya, what’s it today? Last week, I was apparently destined to be trampled by a herd of ghost cattle.”

“That was a perfectly valid interpretation!” Priya brandished my empty cup at him. “And what about the one I did for you the other day? That turned out accurate!”

Seb’s dark eyes flicked to me for a fraction of a second.

“Actually,” Priya continued, practically bouncing with excitement. “I was just telling Flynn about his very interesting leaves. They’re showing signs of an incredible romance on the horizon—”

“Or a fish!” I blurted out, my face burning. “She said it could also be a fish. With teeth. That might eat me.”

“The fish interpretation was clearly secondary.” Priya waved her hand dismissively. “The romantic energy is much stronger. See these swirling patterns here? Classic signs of passion and—”

“Really fascinating stuff about the fish, though,” I cut in, desperately avoiding Seb’s gaze. “Proper Jaws vibes. Very scary. Much more likely than any… other interpretations.”

Seb’s low chuckle sent a rather delicious shiver down my spine. “Priya’s readings do tend to fixate on romance. Last month she told Kit he’d meet a mysterious dark-haired stranger who’d sweep him off his feet.”

“And he did!” Priya protested.

“He fell down some stairs and a paramedic with black hair helped him up.” Seb’s gaze lingered on me, a hint of mischief playing across his features.

“Though I suppose we shouldn’t dismiss Priya’s romantic predictions so quickly.

After all…” He stepped closer, and my breath caught.

“Her observations about new connections have proven rather accurate lately.”

My stomach instantly exploded with rabid butterflies. The word choice wasn’t accidental—he was definitely referencing our conversation from the other night. But just what was he playing at, flirting once more?

Priya’s eyes darted between us, her eyebrows climbing steadily higher.

“Right!” Seb straightened suddenly, breaking the moment. “I need to head out for a few hours. Priya, you’re still able to stay until I return?”

“Of course.”

“Where are you—” I clamped my lips shut.

“Just a meeting.” Seb shrugged on his coat with fluid grace. Tonight’s skinny tie was slightly different—a sleek, dark silk that caught the light when he moved.

My heart stuttered. A meeting? Right. With who? He’d said he didn’t date humans, but what if he had a throng of vampire lovers? Some eternally beautiful creature who shared his darkness, understood his hunger in ways I never could?

The thought of him with someone else—someone supernaturally special and far more sophisticated than me—left me feeling hollow, like someone had scooped out my insides with a rusty spoon.

I was so very mortal and very ordinary. What could I possibly offer someone like him anyway? A boring, average human who’d barely left their tiny fishing village for the past decade.

Not that it mattered. He’d made it clear nothing could happen between us. Even though he kept flirting, the absolute dickhead. Still, watching him straighten his collar, about to leave to meet a mysterious someone… it filled me with nausea.

“Well, I’ll be here later!” I cringed at my desperate tone. “You know… because I sort of live here.” Until they sorted the demon problem or I died. “For now.”

Smooth Flynn. Real smooth. That’ll definitely make him forget whatever vampire sex god he’s rushing off to meet.

Seb pressed his lips together, clearly fighting a smile. He fussed with the coat on his arm, smoothing the fabric down. “I’ll try not to keep you waiting too long.”

My heart did a little flip at his words, though his tone remained neutral .

“Good luck with your meeting,” I managed, aiming for casual and failing spectacularly.

He turned and strode out without looking back, his footsteps fading down the corridor.

“Well, well, well.” Priya’s voice dripped with amusement. “Those tea leaves are never wrong.”