Page 20 of Reveal Me (Immortal Vices and Virtues: All Hallows’ Eve #2)

Niamh

I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I knew the forest would listen to me, would offer me the silence I craved. I just needed to think. But really, what was there to think about?

My relationship with Dion had begun with lies. What would happen if we both stopped trying to hide? What if we showed the other our cards? What if we showed each other the truth?

With each step, the soft crunch of leaves beneath my feet was the only sound that filled my ears.

Here, in the embrace of the forest, I was alone with my thoughts, my doubts.

The last few days had been a blur of emotions, of fear and desire and rejection.

Could I really walk away from him, from the man who had made me feel things I hadn’t felt in so long?

As I moved deeper into the woods, I let my magic slip through my fingers, coaxing the plants to whisper to me. The vines curled at my feet, swaying like they knew what I needed—solace, guidance, something that would ease the ache in my chest.

I inhaled, letting the cool, fresh air settle into my lungs.

The forest was alive, thrumming with an energy I felt deep in my bones.

It was a place of secrets, of things that grew and withered in the shadows, just like me.

The poison in my veins hummed in time with the pulse of the plants surrounding me, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt at home.

The thought of staying here, in the forest, crossed my mind.

I’d be surrounded by the whispers of the plants, just as my ancestors had once done.

It would be simple and safe, and it would keep me away from the complicated mess of royalty and fated mates.

I could be like the crazy fairy in the woods that everyone whispered about, untouchable and free. I could stay here, away from it all.

But then, just as I was starting to lose myself in the calming presence of the forest, a low growl broke the silence. My heart stuttered in my chest, and I froze, every muscle tensing. I turned toward the sound, my breath hitching in my throat, praying that it wasn’t who I thought it was.

But no. It wasn’t Dion. It was him.

The panther who had attacked me the other day, the one I’d poisoned. His massive form slinked through the underbrush, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my pulse spike. His black fur blended with the shadows, his powerful body rippling with each step he took.

I slumped to the ground, my legs giving way beneath me, and let out a long, frustrated sigh.

My hand brushed against the cool earth, grounding myself.

I instinctively reached out with my magic.

I could feel the plants around me respond, thrumming with energy, eager to protect me if I asked.

But I didn’t need to fight him again—not yet. Not unless I had to.

I had already poisoned this beast once, and he had survived. What if I couldn’t do it again? What if he attacked before I had the chance?

The panther stopped just a few feet away from me, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. He was close enough now that I could hear the soft rasp of his breathing, could see the flex of his muscles as he waited for something—what, exactly, I didn’t know.

I was caught between the urge to defend myself and the overwhelming desire to retreat farther into the forest, to let the shadows swallow me whole and protect me. Not from this present danger, but from the unknown with my fated mate.

I was so tired. Tired of running. Tired of being alone. I wasn’t going to run. So I sat.

The large panther did something unexpected, causing me to gasp. But it also caused me to see my future in a way I never had before.