Page 52

Dani

Despite the heavy rain cascading from the gray skies, the farmer’s market continues unabated, vibrant amidst the downpour. Colorful tents stretch along the streets, providing refuge from the rain while sheltering an array of vendors, each enthusiastic about showcasing their homemade crafts.

Jules, Amelia, and I weave through the stalls, our spirits undampened by the weather.

We delight in the sweet, warm, mulled wine as we shop. We also buy crystals, sage, honey, and some handmade jewelry.

Meanwhile, Carter chooses to remain with Killian, Dax, and Adonis, who have found a cozy spot beneath the expansive canopy of the Irish bar.

Amelia and Jules leap joyfully through the rain puddles as we make our way over to the guys. Their laughter rings like music as I trail closely behind.

I take a big whiff, enjoying the scent of the wet earth. My eyes find Dax, Killian, and Adonis, and I smile.

God, they are so sexy... I am the luckiest girl alive.

My mates smile back at me as I get closer.

I can’t help but notice Adonis. His smile isn’t the same—it’s cold and distant. Something is off. Adonis has been notably subdued throughout the day, overshadowed by an unsettling silence. It gnaws at me, and I wonder if my recent dream has cast a shadow over him.

I settle into his lap, the warmth of his body provides me with a sense of comfort. He hands me his beer and I take a big sip. “Everything alright?” I murmur softly. He nods gently, offering me a weak smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes .

Concern lingers in the air between us. I shift my gaze to Killian, who shrugs nonchalantly.

“Alright, well, I’m going to see Elaine…” I announce, taking another sip from Adonis’ beer. The table erupts in a chorus of groans at my comment. “Oh stop, all of you! You knew this was the plan.” Adonis tightens his grip on my thigh, a silent plea for me to reconsider.

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea, Dani. Besides, we just got here,” Carter interjects, his tone laced with worry.

“Oh, I’m going by myself,” I reply with determination. “I want all of you to stay and have a fun time!” My words hang in the air.

Killian laughs loudly, “I think the fuck not, sunshine. That’s not what we talked about earlier. I’m coming with you.”

Dax shifts restlessly in his seat, the wooden chair creaking beneath him as he chugs the last gulp of his beer. With a satisfying thud, he slams the empty bottle on the table. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Me too,” he declares with a hint of defiance.

I lean back to glance at Adonis, hoping for a similar rallying cry of support, but he merely observes with a pensive silence.

“You all head off with Dani. I have something I need to take care of,” Adonis says as he gently lifts me off his lap, leaving a palpable void in its absence.

As he begins to walk away, I reach out and grasp his hand, my voice low. “Hey,” I speak softly. He halts, turning to face me with a sad look in his eyes.

Drawing closer, he cradles my jaw with his strong hand, a gesture both tender and possessive. A half smile dances across his lips, igniting a spark within me, and his thumb grazes my lower lip. With one last lingering look, he releases me and walks away without saying a word.

I love you , I say in my head, hoping he will hear me. He stops for just a second but then keeps walking away .

Why does my heart feel like it’s breaking?

Killian reaches under the table, grabs my thigh, and squeezes it lightly.

Dax stands up and gives me his arm, “Shall we, my lady?”

I smile up at him and take his arm.

“Dani… please be careful,” Carter says, worry etched across his face.

“Yeah, babe, be careful. Don’t knock the bitch out,” Jules winks at me.

I glance at Amelia, and she smiles with his lips pursed… something is off. “Come on, Kil.” Killian stands up and tosses money on the table.

The three of us find a quiet, empty alleyway. Almost instantly, I find myself wrapped up in the tendrils of their shadows. They wrap around me like a comforting embrace, and my mind quiets.

When my vision comes back a few moments later, we are right outside the Keepers of the Mist community, which is tucked away in the woods.

Before we start walking, Dax and Killian hide themselves in their shadows. “We will be right here, little dove,” Dax says as his shadows unfurl from him, gliding over my skin and delicately tracing the contours of my face.

I close my eyes, inhaling deeply, savoring the earthy scent of damp leaves and moss that fills the air. Then, with a determination that steadies my heart, I begin to walk forward.

“It’s that one,” I say, pointing.

I ascend the worn wooden steps; the old boards creak with every step I take.

Before I can even raise my hand to knock, the door swings open. Elaine stands there, a beacon of vitality, smiling at me like she knew I was coming.

“Dani… I knew you’d come. Please, come in,” she gestures for me to walk inside .

As I step over the threshold, a wave of unease washes over me. The musty scent of mothballs fills my senses as if this house has been vacated for ages. It wraps around me, making my stomach churn and my heart race.

My gaze drifts around the dimly lit room. The furniture, cloaked in a crinkly, translucent plastic, looks like it’s been frozen in time, untouched and unwelcoming. The few scattered decorations barely hint at personal touches; the space feels more like a museum than a home.

Elaine notices my discomfort. “I like to keep things very clean,” she explains, a touch of pride lacing her words.

“Hence the smell and the furniture wrap. Please, take a seat. I’ll make us some tea.

” With that, she gestures toward a stiff-looking chair.

I sit, feeling the chill of the plastic beneath me, and brace myself for what’s to come.

Tea… Yeah fucking right. I’m not drinking that.

“I hope you’ve come to accept the truth, Dani,” Elaine’s voice calls from the kitchen, her tone steady yet laced with concern. The sound of the soft clinking of glasses being retrieved from the cabinets fills my ears.

“I, ugh… I have some questions for you,” I reply, my voice wavering slightly.

A warm, reassuring pressure rubs across my shoulder—Killian’s touch is unmistakable and grounding amidst my uncertainty.

Elaine glides into the room, balancing a delicate tray with a steaming pot of tea and two empty cups. Her gaze flickers around me, cautious and probing as if she can feel the unspoken presence of Dax and Killian.

My heart quickens, an unsettling rhythm echoing in my chest.

“Why haven’t you aged a bit?” I blurt, the question spilling out. “Is it Octavia? Is she using magic to keep you young?”

“Right to the questions, I see. Here,” she pours the tea from the pot into my mug and then into hers .

I put my hand up, declining her glass, “I’m not thirsty,” I say firmly. “But it’s nice and warm. You don’t want to catch a cold!” I grit my teeth. “I said, I’m not fucking thirsty.”

She sits up straight, holding her chin high. “No need for the vulgarities, Danika.”

“Just answer my questions. You’ve been absent my entire life... the least you could do is be honest with me.”

Elaine lets out a deep sigh. “Very well then,” she mutters, taking a delicate sip of her tea and tossing a sideways glance at my glass.

I roll my eyes in response.

“Yes. For 31 years, Octavia has generously given me the gift of youth. This began right after you entered the world.” She sets her tea down deliberately, the porcelain clinking softly against the wooden table, and crosses her legs with an air of practiced elegance.

“To be honest, you were quite the dilemma. I didn’t want to be pregnant, yet your father was adamant about having you.

You quite literally upended my existence, altering my body forever.

The moment you were born, I left, seeking refuge here. ”

She pauses, her gaze drifting momentarily as if lost in the weight of memories. “Long story short, I’ve been leaving offerings to Octavia for years now. You see, she speaks to me. So, in return, I give her what she wants. What she needs.”

“Such as body parts from dead women you butcher?” I say sharply.

Elaine shifts in her seat, her fingers absentmindedly stroking the plastic on the cushion as though seeking comfort in it. “You don’t miss a beat, do you?” she continues, her voice growing more serious, “Magic always comes with a price.”

“A life for a life?” I say questioningly.

Her eyes narrow, “Exactly.”

“So, you’ve been killing these innocent women for her then? And as payment, she keeps you young? ”

Elaine claps, her laughter filling my ears.

“You are very bright, Dani… Yes. I killed the women. I did that so I could summon Octavia. You see, she hasn’t been able to physically be here in many, many, centuries…

but she knew you would come. She knew you would set her free…

I just simply did the dirty work to help make her strong for when she arrives.

And Danika... she is stronger than ever! ”

I stand up from the couch, pissed. “How the fuck does any of this make sense! You are a murderer, Elaine! You murdered innocent women so you could what, tell Octavia how much you love her and stay young?! You’re fucking sick!”

“Oh, Dani, cut the theatrics. Octavia needed blood and souls, and I needed certain body parts for her spells to make them stronger. She needed someone strong-willed to help her, and that someone was me. You know, she can make you powerful, too. She has promised me so much… you’ll see!”

“This is so fucked up! You’ve been butchering women like cattle all to stay fucking young and kiss Octavia’s feet?!”

“I have not butchered them… they willingly sacrificed themselves to Octavia, allowing me to drive the sacred knife through their hearts. Then, I offer their bodies up to the shadowmires, and they give me their protection in return. As a warning, I drew the symbols you found during your little crime scene hunt. The symbol of Octavia.”