Chapter 40
When the vision passes, Cal cradles me in his arms. The worry in his eyes is worse than the helplessness in my body. I want to be normal, not a liability.
He brushes the hair out of my face. “You drank my beer.”
“I figured that out.” I give myself as much space as possible without leaving his lap. I’d collapse to the floor if I tried to stand, so I don’t. But… space.
I’m usually so good about checking a glass before I drink. Cal’s touch made me desperate, and I forgot. I can’t drop my guard again.
Seeing us fight was awful, but it’s better than watching him get hit by a car or burn to death in a fire.
I shiver. Goddess, don’t take him from me.
I rub the heels of my hands over my eyelids to clear the afterimage the vision pressed into the backs of my eyes, but it doesn’t work. His anger was loud and clear. Why were we fighting?
Cal’s hand runs comforting paths up and down my back. “JR, are you okay? What did you see?”
I swing my legs to the floor and stand. “Nothing. It’s fine.”
His arm slips to my waist, tugging me back to his lap. His lips drop to my ear. “I can take it. Tell me what you saw.”
“Nothing important.”
“Bullshit.”
I flinch at his fierce tone. “I just need air. I’ll be back.”
“Are you sure?”
“Not my first vision.”
He threads his fingers through mine. “I know, but—”
“Cal, I’m fine. Or I will be.” I can’t be around him right now. The emotions from the vision are too raw for me to process while he’s brushing hair out of my face, stroking my back, coddling me like I’m five.
I dodge around bar patrons and slip out into the cool night on the patio.
Half a dozen picnic tables sit in neat rows.
Lanterns on every surface make it cozy and inviting despite the chill in the air.
The soft sound of the ocean lapping against the shore caresses my soul, but it doesn’t soothe the ache.
Telling Cal about my vision won’t change it, so distance is my only choice. I should go home. Give up. Come to terms with my curse and accept I will always be alone. Tonight is a fool’s hope. Instead of breaking the curse, my best friend will hate me.
That’s not even the worst part.
Cal triggered a vision. It confirms we can never be a couple. A best friend’s love can’t break the curse.
Maybe love isn’t the answer.
Maybe it’s never been the answer.
I mean, my parents loved me and triggered the curse.
Maybe my curse can never be broken.
The prophecy was incomplete. I’ll kiss Dane and see his fate.
That would be horrible, but survivable. His fate is written in stone already. Whether I see it won’t change what happens. If I know, I can warn him.
But… Cal’s face fills my mind’s eye. I might lose him. Whatever happens between now and our fight might destroy our friendship.
Is freedom worth that?
But I want to talk to Dane. He might know a loophole I missed.
I claim an empty table in the back and let my head fall into my hands. Focusing on my breathing regulates my heartrate and gives me an anchor to examine the pieces of my vision. If I analyze what happens, I can mitigate the damage.
The Calvin in my vision was so mad. Rage-filled.
How do I limit the damage? How do I—
“Am I interrupting?” a voice behind me says. Dane stands at the end of the table with two glasses of clear liquid. He lifts them. “Water?”
I take the glass. “Thank you.”
“What happened back there? Your boyfriend get too handsy?”
A wry smile pinches at my cheek. There are so many ways I could answer Dane’s question, but I won’t abuse Calvin’s trust. He and Dane have been rivals since the day they met.
I’m not na?ve enough to assume they won’t use whatever information I share against each other, and I don’t need to make Cal pay for my idea backfiring.
He didn’t expect me to react to his touch the way I did. That’s my miscalculation.
So, small talk.
“Are you having a good night?” I ask.
“Busy. New clients.” He shrugs like his work is no big deal.
Dane is a warlock with the ability to transfer his power to and from other magical beings. He helps people temporarily boost their magic when they don’t have enough to perform the spell that they need.
Calvin says Dane takes advantage of people by charging interest on his magical loans, but I don’t see it that way. If I needed a spell to make your life better, to solve a problem, or help a loved one, there isn’t a price I wouldn’t pay either.
I’d buy my freedom if I could.
“I bet they appreciate you.” I run a napkin around the rim to make sure there’s no saliva and sip my water. The cold liquid quiets my jangled nerves.
“I do what I can to help those in need.” Dane gestures to the bench next to me. “May I sit?”
I scoot over to make space. “Company would be nice.”
His smile flinches into a smirk, but he covers it, turning his head to hide the expression. His expression has to do with Calvin, I’m sure, and the assumptions Dane is making about why I’m out here, asking him to join me, instead of nuzzled in Cal’s arms.
A light breeze ruffles my hair and sweeps his scent into my lungs. The smell of freshly mown grass and eucalyptus swirl from his clothing, and my stomach pinches. I’ve never known him to smell like this.
Am I wrong about the identity of the man in my vision? The moon isn’t right tonight, but I hope whatever happens between Dane and me isn’t a one-night stand. I hope we don’t have sex our first night together.
I search my memory for other senses from my prophecy.
His shoulders are the right breadth, I think. It’s hard to know when we’re sitting side by side instead of him hovering over me, eclipsing everything else in my field of vision.
Rough fingertips? Maybe not since he gets manicures, but I’ve never held his hand. Dane’s voice is smooth as tequila, but that doesn’t disqualify him. Sex makes everyone’s voices sound different.
There is a sensation deep in my gut that tugs me toward him, like the boat in my vision. There’s something anchoring me here, making me want to settle in for a long conversation.
Over the years I’ve harbored this crush, I’ve felt this tug multiple times when I’ve been in Dane’s vicinity.
Passing each other in the grocery store.
When we helped set up the elementary school’s fundraising booths at the fall festival.
The few times we’ve shared drinks at the Hex.
This tug amplifies my belief that Dane is the one.
My body doesn’t feel tethered to anyone else like this besides Calvin and Lyric, and neither of them are options. Stupid beer.
I sip my water. “How is work? Any interesting people or projects?”
“You don’t want to hear about that boring stuff. I’d much rather talk about you. My neighbor’s daughter is in your class, I think. Gigi?”
“She’s a sweet girl. She grew the biggest tomato plant today.”
Time slips by. Dane asks attentive questions about school, my hobbies, and my family. The kinds of questions you want to answer on a first date. The longer we sit together, the more the tug in my gut matches the one from my vision.
So what if he doesn’t smell right? Maybe tomorrow he’ll smell normal. Tonight, we talk and build a foundation that makes it clear I’m not searching for a one-night stand but want a relationship.
The man in my vision had soulmate energy. That’s what I crave. If my teenage spell worked, a soulmate is what I need for true love to break my curse. My family, Everett, and Cal triggered my curse because the spell requires a soulmate, and they don’t love me like that.
I take another sip of my water and somehow half of it trickles out the corner of my mouth like I have never used a cup before.
“Whoops.” He licks his thumb and swipes it across my lips.
Another vision crashes into me.
I’m crying in this one.
Sobbing.
Clutching the Hex’s door frame as ugly tears and snot pour down my face.
Dane cowers on the sidewalk, blood streaming from his broken nose.
A black eye blooms across his lower lid and down his cheek.
Cinders coat my tongue and the back of my throat.
My arm stings. Elara wraps her arm around my shoulders and forces me inside the bar.
I struggle to free myself from her grasp—I’m not sure where I need to go, but I know it’s not inside the bar—but she’s stronger than she looks.
Her amber eyes capture mine. Their depths make me want to confess every hope in my heart, but my brain spins too rapidly to utter a word.
“House specialty,” Elara says as she presses a cup into my hand. The liquid rushes down my throat, and I snap out of the vision.
Dane cradles my face in his hands. “Sienna?” He shakes me. Brown eyes so dark they’re almost black search my face. “Sienna. Sienna, wake up.” There’s so much fear in his voice that I almost smile at his concern, but my face can’t respond.
I blink to bring my sight fully into focus and press my hands to his. “I’m okay.”
Dane strokes my cheek with gentle, velvety fingertips. “What was that? One second we were having a conversation, and the next your eyes rolled back in your head and your body… it just went limp. You almost hit your head on the table, but I caught you. What was that?”
Tears well in my eyes, and I grab his forearms to steady myself. “A vision. That’s my magic. Part of it, at least. You licked your thumb, and when you touched my lips your saliva triggered a vision.”
My stomach heaves. Dane triggered a vision. He’s not the one either.
“Saliva?” Dane’s head tips to the side. “Don’t you help things grow?”
“That too.” I free my face from his grip and take a sip of water to clear the bile from my throat. “I use spells to move energy from the earth into plants, animals… anything that absorbs power. Growing plants is the easiest.”
“And you have visions? What did you see?”
Not us having sex.
He’s not the man to kiss me and break my curse. His hands are soft. He doesn’t smell like sage and cloves. Even if there’s a tug in my gut toward him. Even if he rides a motorcycle. I’m wrong.
“You smell different,” I say.
“What?” He shakes his head like he didn’t hear me correctly.
It was a weird segue, but I’m missing something. I don’t know a man who fits the qualifications of my soulmate spell. I don’t know anyone who fits the description of the man from my dream. It’s unlikely a stranger will sweep into town in the next thirty-six hours and be my Prince Charming.
I need answers so I can figure out how to make the prophecy come true.
“Why do you smell different? Like… grass and eucalyptus instead of cloves and sage.”
He smooths his suit jacket. “I helped my mom with yard work today and used my dad’s old cologne after my shower. Why does that matter? Does the smell mean something?”
“No. It wasn’t what I expected.” What I’d hoped, but now that hope is gone. But…“When did your mom move out of her condo?”
He digs dirt out from under his thumbnail. “She didn’t. She doesn’t like the way the landscaping company trims the roses outside her building, so she asked me to do it.”
“Oh.” That’s weird, but kind.
He cups my elbow. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep more tears at bay.
Dane triggered a vision.
I don’t know what to do now. I need to believe my vision, but I’m out of ideas.
Dane nods toward the back wall of the patio, toward the waterfront. “This might seem like a strange request, but do you want to get out of here? Will that help clear your head?”
I nod. “I’d like that.” He wants to take care of me. My visions don’t scare him. That’s something.
He might have a spell that can help me. Getting to know him is the only way to rule him in—or out—as my mystery lover.
So, we’ll walk and talk.
He squeezes my arm. “Meet me outside in ten minutes. I need to renegotiate a debt, then I’ll meet you on the other side of that wall.” A genuine smile splits his face. “Why didn’t we do this a long time ago?”
“We’re doing it now. That’s enough.”