Chapter 1 #3
It felt like I walked forever, but eventually, I reached a gate that surrounded a sprawling estate.
Unlike before, I could take in all the details without the mist interfering.
A three-story house with wide windows, a gabled roof, and a wrap-around porch loomed in the distance.
There was something imposing about the structure, as if it watched me with disapproval.
A shiver slipped through me.
I stepped off the road onto a gravel path that cut through a manicured lawn of gray bushes, white flowers, and black hedges. In the distance, a large pond glinted silver.
The owl, gliding silently overhead, led me down the gravel path toward the house.
As I got closer, color bloomed around me like someone had plopped a drop of paint onto a canvas.
It slowly spread, dyeing my surroundings with hints of night.
The silvery lake turned a sparkling indigo, the lawn a deep emerald, and shadows sharpened the shapes of the hedges.
A knot in my chest eased. Soon I’d find whatever I needed to see, and I’d be able to go back to sleep—normal sleep. The low hum of voices grew louder in the background, like listening to someone talk while my head was underwater. Whatever they were saying, it wasn’t what was important.
Around the corner of the house stood a beautiful white gazebo with green vines climbing the sides. Red, pink, and yellow chrysanthemums dotted the scene, adding a splash of beauty and filling the air with their floral scent.
I tensed as more of my senses returned. Whatever the Portent wanted to tell me would be clear soon.
Two figures stood on the other side of the gazebo, talking in quiet, muffled voices. Their conversation had an edge of restrained tension but was too soft to make out. Their veins both had the slight glow that marked living creatures in a Portent.
The owl circled a few times over the men before it turned and flew off, disappearing into the dark sky.
I moved forward until the first man came into view—a stranger with shaggy blond hair and a cleft chin. I was pretty sure I’d never seen him in Austen Heights.
He narrowed his blue eyes at his companion, who was still mostly hidden. “Admit I’m right.”
“You were way out of line, Easton,” said a rich tenor. The voice had the perfect amount of huskiness to make my toes curl.
“You’re blind to what’s right in front of you.” The blue-eyed man—Easton?—stepped toward his companion.
I shifted to the right to better see Easton’s mysterious counterpart, and my breath caught at how perfectly his face matched his voice.
He wore an air of elegance like a well-fitted coat as well as a pair of dark-wash jeans and a cream sweater under a dark blazer.
He was tall and well-built with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and thick black curls.
“If you can’t help but question me, our arrangement isn’t going to work.” The unreasonably attractive man’s green eyes flashed as his voice came out a growl.
Easton swiped at his forehead nervously, his face pale.
I moved forward, sacrificing my view of Easton to get closer to the other man. He wasn’t from Austen Heights either—I’d remember if I’d seen that sharp jawline or those mesmerizing eyes—so then what was he doing here? Was he part of that group of highborn fae Riley had mentioned?
The man shook his head, revealing slightly pointed ears.
A fae, then. I took back all of my previous comments about his sexiness.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” The fae’s eyes narrowed to match his gravelly voice.
What had Easton done? Despite myself, curiosity urged me closer, but I was still a good fifteen feet away. Even though they couldn’t see me in a Portent, getting too close always made me feel exposed.
“I had no choice.” Easton swayed under the fae’s glare but said nothing. What was Easton’s race? I couldn’t see his ears to confirm if they were pointed.
The fae stepped toward Easton, blue magic streaming from his fingers and into Easton’s chest.
Easton made a choking noise and collapsed to one knee. His eyes rolled backward, and he slumped forward, hitting the ground with a soft thud.
The dark-haired fae dropped to his knees and held a hand to Easton’s throat, his expression determined. Was he checking for a pulse to make sure he was dead?
The glow in Easton’s veins flickered out.
I gasped and stepped back, hiding behind the gazebo once more even though I was invisible. Had I really witnessed a murder? Then again, I wouldn’t put it past a fae to kill.
Was that what my Portent had wanted me to see?
I jolted awake in bed and sat up, covered in a cold sweat. Thoughts as turbulent as the bay at high tide swirled in my head while my heart pounded wildly. If only my Portents showed the future instead of the present. At least then I’d have a chance to save that man.
But now it was too late. Easton was dead.
Ice numbed my chest at the callous way that dark-haired fae had stolen a life, but I shoved the fear back and let resolve take its place.
It didn’t matter that Easton was a stranger.
I couldn’t sit back and do nothing after what I’d witnessed.
My fingers curled into fists where they rested on top of my quilt.
Normally, I hated my Portents, but now I’d love nothing more than to use my ability to bring down that fae murderer.