by Ravyn Fyre
I had no idea what happened to make that possibility a reality, but the vision was part of why I was hesitant to look at what the future had in store for us in the first place. Why couldn’t I have seen a happy ending? Hearts and flowers would have been a nice turn of events, instead of doom and gloom. Another round of images inundated my mind the second I broadcasted my need for a happy ending. Since it wasn’t my first rodeo, I quickly stopped their progression and put them to rights to see them in sequential order.
As I watched my happily ever after playing out before my eyes, I found myself wondering which version of events would come to pass. How could there be such a difference between the outcomes? I mean, I’ve always believed in the theory that if I projected my dreams to the universe, they would come back to me. Could this possibly be a version of that? Deciding to test out my theory, I focused on insecurity and failure before welcoming another round of images.
Surprisingly enough, the images were similar to the first round, except for a few more details I hadn’t noticed at first. Nothing helpful. Frustrated with how fickle the future was, I tried to hone the vision into something beneficial to identifying choices we could make. I needed the events that led up to the outcomes I saw, something that would lead us down the road of happiness instead of devastation. It would also be advantageous to our cause to know when the events would take place. It’s not like I could use our aging faces to indicate that our happily ever after followed my capture. Plus, it was in my best interest to keep my head.
I braced myself for a new set of images based on my intent and was pleasantly surprised to see they were already right side up and in the proper order as they played out in front of me. It made me feel like the gift was coming to heel instead of me being at its bidding. No longer would I be forced to live with the bits and pieces it was willing to give, without knowing the context behind the motives. It reminded me of presidential ad campaigns back home. In my opinion, it forced the seer to guess with only minimal facts to guide them. It wasn’t like the full story wasn’t available. My gift knew it was possible to see it all, but as I was finding out, my intent and focus played a larger role than I initially thought.
I almost lost my concentration when the first scene to enter my mind was something relatively recent. Swallowing my outcry, I thought, Now this is something I could work with! In the vision, I left the council room with instructions to immerse myself back into the fold of my peers. The consensus wanted me to glean more information about what kind of part Onyx had to play in the whole mess.
We still didn’t know what killed Anolla and Castice the first time around. Adira had been adamant it wasn’t a known poison or chemical. At the time, I hadn’t questioned her abilities. Looking back at it, maybe I should have checked for myself before I leaped back in time. Although dwelling on the past would do me no good. Unless, of course, I planned on jumping back again to correct the mistakes I’d made during my trip. I could see it becoming an infinite loop, where each journey from the future to right the wrongs of the past would generate new mistakes in the process.
Shaking the thoughts from my mind that took my focus away from where it needed to be, I concentrated on learning why I needed to go undercover in the first place. What would I learn from sharing a room with Onyx, and what outcome did this particular detail belong to? Unless I could prove to Kalen spying would lead to the proof we were looking for, he would never go for something that meant our separation.
I wanted to believe stepping into the lion's den would lead to a future of happiness. One where Kalen and I were holding our grandchildren as we watched our son’s royal coronation. If my theory of intent was to be believed, spying on Onyx shouldn’t lead to my gruesome death. The question was: Was I willing to take a chance on that possibility? Was I ready to bet my gift was so incredible I was able to do what no other seer could do? If I was a betting girl, I might have gone with the odds, but after already making one big mistake, I was gun shy about committing another. Maybe I should skim the files per se of each outcome and ascertain the highlights. The answers were close. I just needed to seize enough of them to make an educated guess.
Gathering everything I wanted to ask in my final query, I sent it out in a Hail Mary and gasped out loud when image after image assaulted my brain. The transfer was too fast for me to see, but I knew if I took the time, I’d be able to see every detail leading up to every possible outcome of my infinite life. Excited to finally have something useful to help our cause, I accessed the roommate file and hit play. I could hear a buzzing noise in the background. At first, I thought it was a bad recording, but I could make out Kalen’s concerned voice when I hit pause.
“Don’t get lost in there, my love. Please come back to me.”
Checking back into reality to make sure I wasn’t hearing things, I opened my eyes and looked at Kalen before I said, “How does one get lost in their head?”
Kalen gleamed at me and replied, “You’d be surprised by how many people get lost in their thoughts and never to make it back out again. It’s alright if you didn’t see anything. You wouldn’t be the first to come up empty.”
“Empty? Oh, I didn’t come up empty at all. Far from it,” I answered with a smile.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Whatever you have to tell us will need to wait. We have incoming, my lord,” Rom warned with a growl.
Tanen shot me a look before he flashed away just as Kalen started issuing commands, "Kiso, lock it down. I’d rather deal with the aftermath of them making assumptions rather than come up with something on the spot for our gathering. Natashia, be prepared to freeze time if anyone makes it inside.” He turned to me, gave me a half shrug and said, “Not that I want to put you on the spot, but we don’t have a lot of time. What did you see?”
“That’s a loaded question. I saw a vision of us happy as well as one of our demise. When you guys indicated the future was tricky to predict, you weren’t kidding. If I had more time to study the possibilities of our future, I’d have something more concrete for us. Considering I was just getting to the details of the visions the gift showed me, I’d only be postulating,” I explained, wringing my hands in front of me nervously.
“Cut to the chase, woman! Do you or don’t you know what’s going to happen? We don’t have time for your theatrics!” Kiso exclaimed, holding his arms out like he was physically pushing those approaching away.
Kalen’s answering growl pierced the room. With a snarl, he tucked me into the crook of his arm before he spoke, “This will be your only warning. You will speak to the woman next to me with the highest respect given to our people. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself without a tongue!”
My mouth dropped open at his exclamation, but there was no way I was going to reprimand him for sticking up for me, regardless of how barbaric he sounded. At least he was my barbarian! Reaching up, I placed my hand over Kalen’s heart. When he looked down at me, I smiled and whispered, “Thank you. No one’s ever stood up for me before.”
He returned my smile and gazed at me with longing before he replied, “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Blood of you, blood of me. Forever mine, forever yours. For all eternity.”
I blushed as I recalled what we were doing both times he recited those words in the past. It made me squirm as my pussy quivered at the memory. Everything around us faded away until he was the only thing I could see and feel. I would have happily stayed that way forever, but Natashia cleared her throat loudly, breaking the bubble I’d mentally erected around us. I couldn’t help the scowl I sent her way before I addressed Kiso.
“I don’t have the answers yet. I’d be lying if I told you I did. I saw war. I saw my death.” Before I could continue, Kalen interrupted me with a growl, “Death! How do you die?” His grip on me tightening at the same time.
“How I died doesn’t matter,” I answered with a hiss.
“Like hell, it doesn’t matter!” Kalen roared to the ceiling.
I knew standing up to
him in front of his people wouldn’t go over well, but there was no way I was going to let him speak to me that way. Twisting in his arms, I poked his chest with my index finger until he gazed down at me with a puzzled look. Then I let him have it, “Knowing the way wouldn’t help us in this situation, but knowing the who might.”
Kalen grasped my upper arms and gave me a slight shake before he spoke with a deep voice that sent shivers down my spine, “I’m not going to ask you again. How do you die, and who was responsible?”
“Fine. Make me recite how I died out loud. It wasn’t like the memory wasn’t going to haunt my nightmares in the first place, you bastard! I was just trying to save you the same fate. The Mengh sliced off my head while you watched. Happy now?” I screamed, trying to slow my breathing before I started to hyperventilate. His look of fury turned to defeat when he dropped his head and said on a sigh, “No. I’m far from happy about what you just revealed. How did they capture you?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I’m not sure. I was just figuring things out in there when I heard you call for me. It appears my intent guides the visions. On my last query, I focused on the outcome where we all get to keep our lives, and it showed me returning to my quarters so I could spy on Onyx,” I barely finished saying her name when he roared, “Absolutely not! You’re not leaving my side!”
Cocking my head to the side, I glared at him and said as calmly as possible, “If you would have let me finish. You would have heard me say that I couldn’t be certain if that pathway would lead to my death or our happily ever after. You would have also heard me say I needed more time. I’m not stupid, and I don’t have a death wish.”
“Are you sure about that? Wouldn't be the first time today you’ve put yourself at risk,” Kalen growled.
I took a step back and gasped. It should have been an indication to quit while he was ahead, but Kalen continued. “I have half a mind…” He didn’t get the chance to complete his statement before I cut him off with a warning, “You better not finish that sentence.” Taking a couple more steps back, I placed my hands on my hips and stared him down. I was watching his every move, ready to defend myself if necessary. When Rom spoke up, I kept my attention on the Strix in front of me, wondering how he would decide to move forward.
“My lord. Please excuse the interruption, but our unwanted visitors have evacuated the area. If you wanted to get out of here, now would be the time to do so,” Rom cautioned nervously.
Kalen appeared to be relieved with the interruption. He stared at me for a few more seconds before he sighed and turned to answer my guards. “Thank you, Rom. I’d like you and your brother to head to the infirmary. The longer we’re able to hide the fact that we know about their little assassin, the better.”
“And if they’re already aware?” Kiso asked.
“Notify me immediately, and we’ll rendezvous in my office,” Kalen replied before addressing Natashia next. “Would it be possible for you two to stay behind and make sure everyone gets out without being seen or caught? If it was a clean getaway, meet us in my office. If it’s not, transport them to the dungeons.”
Levi held up his hand, cleared his throat, and said, “Just a second. I have a question before we all scatter.” He turned to me and continued, “Jade, have you used your gift to see if one of the Sixers around here can produce the toxin or poison we’re looking for? Seems to me identifying our killer should be our number one priority.”
I scoffed at myself when I realized I never thought of looking. “No, I didn’t even try. I should have, though, especially after Adira was adamant it wasn’t a toxin or poison produced in nature. At least not one she knew about. Do I have enough time to take a quick look?”
“I can’t guarantee we have the time,” Rom replied with a frown.
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s just go with the original plan and split up. Jade can look after we leave here successfully, and if anything needs investigating, I’ll let you know. Everyone clear on their assignments?” Kalen asked, giving a nod in acknowledgment when they answered yes.
When the brothers flashed out of the room, I turned to face my mate. Now wasn’t the time to lock me away, and I would do everything in my power to make him understand I wouldn’t go down without a fight. As he stalked toward me, I held up my hands, and using his power against him; I pushed him back. When he looked at me like I’d lost my mind, I said, “I meant what I said. I won’t be locked up while everyone else puts their lives in danger. You wouldn’t do it. You shouldn’t expect me to.”
I opened my mouth to ask for a truce and swallowed the words when Kalen disappeared. It didn’t surprise me at all when he reappeared behind me and encircled me in his arms. His breath on my neck sent tingles of awareness throughout my body. He took his time kissing my neck on the way to my ear before he whispered, “Seems we have a misunderstanding. Perhaps I should demonstrate what I had in mind before you rudely cut me off and accused me of atrocities I hadn’t yet considered.”
My answering shudder was all the answer he needed before he flashed us away to his quarters. I pushed away and spun to face him. “I thought you said we were rendezvousing with the others in your office.”
“I think we have a few minutes before that needs to happen. I’d rather continue our conversation,” Kalen replied with a mischievous look, taking a step toward me.
“Are you trying to tell me you weren’t going to say you had half a mind to lock me away for my own good?” I seethed, taking a step back.
“No,” Kalen answered as he took another step.
I waited for him to explain himself as I continued to back away slowly. Frustrated with myself for how turned on I was with his alpha tendencies. He matched my every step without saying another word. I knew without looking I was about to run out of space. Not wanting to feel caged or vulnerable, with no escape, I stopped, held up my hands, and said, “Well then, enlighten me. What did you intend to say?”
“It’d be more fun to show you, but seeing as we are short on time, I’ll humor you with an answer. As you pointed out earlier, patience is something we both lack. If you had let me continue, I’m positive you would have liked what I had to say because I can think of nothing else. I can’t deny that I crave it. All I see is a vision of you bent over as I take you from behind, reminding you of where you belong. It doesn’t escape my intelligence that we face many barriers. Our past and present are just the beginning of our story. I know that everything would be different if either of us had been patient, but I’m not interested in the past. Only the future. And in that future, I envision us working together. Notice I said the word ‘together,’ and that’s because I mean it. There is no future where I will ever let you out of my sight again. We’ll investigate everything side by side, just like you wanted. Regardless of what you envisioned, I’ll never agree with you going undercover. I will not put your life in danger, especially when I’m not there to defend you. Please don’t ask that of me.”
When he started talking about us doing things together, I couldn’t help the smile spreading across my face. It proved to me he’d been listening when I’d mentioned something similar while we were in the dungeons. It made me feel like there was hope for us yet. We just needed to stay alive long enough to experience it, and if I wanted that future, I had work to do. Dropping my hands, I released a big sigh and said, “Thank fuck. That’s what I needed to hear.”
“Truce?” Kalen asked, holding his hand out to me, waiting for me to come to him.
“Truce,” I replied, eliminating the distance between us.
I placed my hand in his. He took advantage and pulled me into his chest. Wrapping me in his arms. He kissed the top of my head and groaned, “I want to be selfish and hide away from everyone and everything.”
“I can’t deny that it’s tempting, but one of us has to be the adult here, and I don’t want to fail,” I answered, pushing back so I could see his response.
“Fail in what exactly? There are no expe
ctations on you,” Kalen answered quietly, stroking my cheek softly.
“I beg to differ. ‘Jade, what did you see? Jade, did you use your gift to find out if a Sixer is responsible for producing that toxin?’” I mimicked with sarcasm, using air quotes for emphasis before tacking on, “I’m not used to falling short. First, I couldn’t predict the future with accuracy, and then I completely missed scanning those around me for that deadly ability. Not to mention my brain is more interested in shagging my mate than solving the latest crime!”
Kalen captured my cheeks in his hands and smashed his lips into mine, cutting off my words. I responded in kind. Kissing him for all I was worth. He pulled back slowly when I was entirely under his magic. Nibbling on my bottom lip before he responded in a husky voice, “You’re too hard on yourself. You didn’t fail as a sightseer. I’ve never met anyone that could see what they wanted when they wanted. Most are at the mercy of the gift and try to make sense of a single scene. Like you referred to earlier, I believe those people end up guessing to fill in the blanks they didn’t see. As for scanning everyone, nothing is stopping you from doing it now.”
“What if I find something?” I stammered.
“Then we move on them with the full force of the Sixer army!” Kalen replied fiercely.
I wanted to point out if I identified someone, it would just be another fail on my part, but whining about it wouldn’t do me, or anyone else any good. Nodding my head once, I closed my eyes and probed the powers at my disposal. Searching for an unknown substance that could kill a person from the inside out seemed like an impossible feat. There were multiple Sixers capable of creating deadly toxins and poisons, but none produced the black gelatinous goo. I tried to reach Adira’s gift to validate her claim, but I couldn’t locate her anywhere. She must have been too far away from me. Frustrated and relieved at the same time that I hadn’t found the culprit, I opened my eyes and said, “We have a lot of dangerous Sixers around here, but no one that warrants being brought in for questioning. How far away are we from the main compound?”