A laugh-sob erupted from my throat. I felt Zak’s hand, warm on my arm, grounding me, but I forced myself to pull away. If I was going to feel everything going through me, I couldn’t afford to be distracted.
“Sparrow?” Zak asked.
“Shh,” Logan said. “She’s doing it.”
Shadowy forms appeared, as if conjured by the darkness of my emotions. As I allowed my despair and confusion to fill me, the forms coalesced into shapes with light and color. And then I saw her—I saw my sister.
Wren appeared before me, standing on the river. She looked scared. “He’ll betray. He’s an imposter. He doesn’t belong there.”
“Tell me more, please,” I said.
Wren in front of me, in a vision I was controlling. Suddenly I realized— “Does this mean you’re alive?” I asked.
“It’ll take more than one asshole to bring me down,” she said, her voice hard as steel.
I was stunned. My sweet sister sounded uncharacteristically fierce. She sounded like me.
Again, her body blurred and shifted. She transformed into Everett. “I can’t show you your future,” Everett said in my sister’s voice. “But he can.”
“Show me,” I said.
Everett changed into his grizzly and shook his head. In Wren’s voice, the grizzly said, “It’s important that you keep quiet about this.”
I nodded. The grizzly came over and hugged me. This was the most realistic vision I’d ever had—I could even feel the grizzly’s warm breath on my cheek. “I love you, sister,” the grizzly said in Wren’s voice.
“I love you too. Don’t go—”
The grizzly turned back into Wren. Her green eyes were sad as she faded from view.
When I came to, I was slumped against Zak, his chiseled bicep like a rock under my cheek. I blinked and opened my eyes. Logan stared at me with a concerned expression.
“You okay?” Zak asked.
No. I felt like I had an emotional hangover, and despite getting to see my sister, I wanted more than that. I wanted her here, back at home, where I knew she was safe.
Zak was still waiting for my answer.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, my voice bright.
“Lie,” Roman said from the riverbank.
Damn shifters. Walking lie detectors.
But my sister was alive—and despite the hangover effects of the vision, I was fine. I could trust this vision. I’d had it on purpose, and it made more sense now. Everett wasn’t out to get me—not that I’d ever been able to really believe he was. Instead, he was going to help me.
Logan was already striding up the plank leading to shore, looking pleased with himself.
“Thank you,” I called out to him.
He turned and smiled. “You’re welcome.”
I tried to stand up, but my legs were wobbly, and the gentle rocking of the dock didn’t help.
Without another word, Zak stood. He picked me up and cradled me in his arms. I nestled into his chest, feeling content and cared for. The others were walking farther ahead. I waited until they were far enough away that they couldn’t possibly hear me.
“I had a vision,” I said, then pressed a kiss against his collar.
I could hear the smile in his voice as he said, “No shit.”
“I saw my sister,” I whispered. “She’s alive. Don’t tell anyone. I’m not supposed to talk about any of it. But I wanted to say thank you so that’s why I’m telling you, Zak. Thank you.”
He stopped walking and gave me a squeeze. I looked up into his green eyes and he said, voice serious, “No more running from us, okay, Sparrow?”
“Okay.” I kept my eyes on his, trying to show him I was sincere. “Okay.”
Chapter Eleven
First thing after my vision, I went to talk to my mom. Well I tried. She didn’t make it easy.
The yellowed ceramic looked twice my age. Little flowers and an array of squash were painted on the side of the dish, faded over time into an orangey brown blob. I could only make out the shapes by squinting.
Beneath the tight plastic wrap was a layer of crumbled crackers, with the occasional spiral noodle erupting from the crunchy surface. I wondered what kind this was. By the smell of it, my money was on tuna.
My mother had been receiving a lot of casseroles. And a lot of guests.
“The good ones always die first,” Mrs. Miller said to my mother. The woman was probably a hundred years old and still looked like she was fifty. A really fit fifty.
I kept my gaze on the casserole and waited for her to leave, ignoring the hate rays that beamed at me from her dark eyes across the table. This wasn’t why I was here. I had come to tell my mother about my vision.
“They’re just too good for this world, like my Jenny was. Like your Wren.”
Jenny was apparently a saint. We’d all heard it a thousand times. Who was to say for sure, she’d died before I was born.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” my mother said. “The way you talk about her, Jenny sounds—”
“An angel,” Mrs. Miller said. “Sweet as sweet could be. It’s the other ones that we get stuck with.” Her eyes flicked to me in a disapproving scowl.
She’d never liked me. Not after I’d dated her grandson. By dated, I mean fooled around with in the pool when we were teenagers.
“Like Johnny.” That was the one.
“Johnny seems like a nice—” my mother said.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
“Johnny won’t find a mate. He’ll live his life alone, in my basement, causing trouble. That’s the thing about the bad eggs. They’re the ones that live forever.” Her eyes burned and her words cut. There was no question that she meant me. That Wren should have been alive, that it was me who should have died.
My phone buzzed again.
“You seem to be living a long life,” I said, and rose from the table. “I have a call to take, Mom. I’ll be back.”
“Sparrow—”
“Good riddance,” Mrs. Miller grumbled under her breath as I left the room.
I pulled out my phone and hit the green button to answer. Whoever it was, I could use the distraction.
“Hello,” I said.
“Ms. Solaris, it’s Charlize Geard.”
“Oh.” I gulped, remembering what my mom said about how shifter corporations and powerful packs had been wanting to bring a Seer into their ranks. My heart beat angrily in my chest like a caged dragon, remembering what Chad Curtis had said about Wren’s “death”—that Charlize Geard was behind it. Geard might’ve made it look like Wren died, so she could more easily escape with her and we would stop looking.
Well, I would never, never stop looking for my sister.
“Have you reconsidered my offer since we last spoke?” she asked.
A shitload of money and a place to live in California. An escape…yeah, I remembered. I also remembered what my mom had shared with me, and how Charlize Geard was likely behind Wren’s disappearance.
My voice shook slightly as I asked, “What happened to my sister?” I asked.
“Your sister?”
The calm in her voice was practiced, of course it was. For the billionth time I wished I had some shifter lie-detecting powers, though I knew well enough that those powers only helped if someone outright lied.
“Wren. What did your men do to her?”
“You’re mistaken,” she said. “I don’t know what gives you the impression that I or my men have been anywhere near your sister.”
“So you know who I’m talking about. You know Wren. Wren Solaris, oracle, just like you said you wanted. Wren Solaris, Seer.” Wren Solaris, reported deceased.
“Word of your sister’s abilities is what planted the seed, the promise of knowledge beyond the here-and-now. I absolutely wanted a piece of that. I still do, it’s why I’m calling you.”
“Wren—”
“Word is circulating that Chad Curtis was transporting her, that he botched the job. I think your questions m
ay be directed at the wrong person.”
I took it all in. Everything she said made sense. That’s what was scary.
“While you work that out,” she said, “my offer stands. I can provide you with assistance in honing your ability of foresight.”
“How?” I asked.
“My resources are limitless,” she said, all matter-of-fact. “Whatever you see in your sister that you believe you don’t have, I can give you that, sharpen your abilities. Make you the strongest oracle, give you a home where you belong, and the freedom to come and go. You want that, Sparrow, don’t you?”
If she could do what she promised, she may be my best chance at finding the truth of what happened to Wren.
“I—”
Movement caught my eye, a hand that swiped the phone from my palm. I turned on my heel. David.
He ended the call and slid my phone into his pocket.
I felt like I’d been caught doing something wrong. Except they were the ones who’d been keeping secrets from me. I was just trying to find the truth. With one look from David, I felt like a child being scolded. It was completely frustrating.
“David—”
“Was that who it sounded like?” His voice squeezed me like an alpha’s firm grip, even as he kept his hands to himself.
He looked to the screen in his giant palm.
Mom and Mrs. Miller appeared in the doorway.
“Go home, Mrs. Miller,” David said without turning his fiery gaze from me.
She lowered her head and did as she was bid.
“What’s going on?” Mom asked.
David’s eyebrows rose, as if repeating my mother’s question but with more force.
I held my head high. I’d done nothing wrong. I repeated that to myself—I’d done nothing wrong. “I received a call from Charlize Geard.”
“You what?” Mom started shaking.
David put his arm around her, his gaze still weighing on me like a mountain had been dropped on my shoulders.
“What does she want from you, Sparrow?” David’s voice was calm, even, terrifying.
“She says she doesn’t know what happened to Wren,” I said. “I believe her. I think Chad Curtis—”
“Don’t talk to her again,” David commanded.
“Chad Curtis—”
“I will handle Chad Curtis,” he said. “And you can’t trust Charlize Geard.”
I wasn’t so sure. I didn’t know who I could trust beyond Eveline and my bodyguards. They were the only ones that seemed to care what I wanted.
“Sparrow, listen to your father,” Mom said. “We are your parents. We know what’s best for you.”
“You will not speak to Charlize Geard,” David repeated.
“And you’re moving back home,” Mom said.
“What?”
“We can’t risk it,” Mom said.
“Risk what?” I scoffed. “Me sleeping in my own damned bed?”
“Risk allowing her to do the same thing to you that she did to your sister,” Mom said.
Her eyes were sad, but the fury inside me raged.
“Give me my phone,” I said, holding out my hand.
“Sparrow—” Mom started.
“Give me my phone, David.” Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes.
“Promise you won’t speak to her,” he said without budging. “Swear it.”
“Yes, I fucking swear it.”
He held out my phone. I snatched it and raced for the door, keeping my steps as measured as I could without flat-out running away.
I needed out. Now.
I’d keep my word. But I was not moving back in with my parents, no matter how temporary it was supposed to be.
As soon as I stepped outside, I inhaled sharply, filling my lungs with fresh night air. Drake and Everett stood there, waiting for me.
Knowing what I needed without me having to say, Everett wrapped his arms around me. The two of them led me to the Land Rover without a word and helped me inside. Everett climbed in and took my hand.
Drake started driving and everything hit me all at once—the anger, the sadness, the confusion. I leaned into Everett, letting him hold me.
“They think they can make me stay with them,” I said.
“We know,” Everett said. “We heard.”
“What do you want?” Drake asked.
“I want to fucking leave this place forever. I want to find my sister,” I said. “But right now, I just want to go home.”
The ride was quiet, which was perfect because I didn’t feel much like talking.
When the car stopped outside my cottage, Everett squeezed my hand. “Do you want us to come in with you?”
I wasn’t sure.
“No pressure,” he said. “We’ll be right outside if you want to be alone.”
“Thanks,” I said, and climbed out. Did I want company? Maybe. Yes.
I opened my mouth to say so, but then I noticed something on the porch, something that didn’t belong—a suitcase.
I steeled my nerves and walked over.
On the doormat was a fancy black bag with gold trim—my mother’s style.
Keys in hand, I reached for the lock. The key didn’t turn.
I tried again.
Nothing.
I spotted a piece of paper sticking out the side pocket of the bag—a note.
Sparrow,
I’ve packed you some clothes and had your locks changed. When you’re ready to see reason, you’ll understand why this is for the best.
Mom
Chapter Twelve
Fuck that and all the fucking fuckery going on with my mother. I crumpled the note in my fist.
Spinning around, I marched away from the cottage to the storm basement access.
Bars. There were bars installed across my basement doors.
“Argh!” I yelled, kicking one. It fucking hurt.
“Feel better now?” Everett asked from behind me.
I turned and walked back to the front door. I stared at it and kicked the wood with my sore foot. “I’m not moving in with them. Not for a week, not even for a night. No way in hell.”
Everett came up on the stoop to stand beside me. His brown eyes twinkled. “Did she leave you a tent in that big old suitcase?”
“No. I’ll…I’ll stay with Eveline.” Except she shared a tiny cottage with three other shifters, and two of them were exes of mine. “Shit. Shit.”
“I’m sure it won’t be for long,” Everett said.
I gave him an incredulous look. “Really? Because as far as I can tell, Charlize Geard isn’t going to suddenly decide she doesn’t want an oracle on her payroll. And from what my mother told me earlier, everyone wants an oracle on their payroll or in their pack. How am I expected to live a normal life? Will I ever be allowed to leave the compound? If I move in with David and my mom, will they ever let me move out?”
More than anything, I cherished my freedom. I’d given up so much of that already by agreeing to stay at the compound, by agreeing not go to work or going to dance at Magic. The whole thing had me on edge, and now this—I couldn’t even get into my fucking house. It was too much.
Everett’s gaze went to the ground. “I don’t know. I wish I had the answers, but—”
Stepping forward, I raised my mouth to his and kissed him. He growled softly and wrapped his arms around me. I melted into his embrace, accepting his comfort, accepting him. I could feel Drake’s eyes on us from his place by the Land Rover. He was an outline in the dark.
I pulled away from the kiss and pressed my forehead to Everett’s chest. “Let me stay with you.”
“Sparrow…I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s me and the guys. We share a crusty old bunkhouse at the back of the compound. It’s no place for you.”
Another car pulled into the driveway. The headlights were blinding before they cut out. Roman climbed from the front. Sweet as always, he wanted to check on me.
“
I’m locked out.” I threw my arms up. “Everett says I can’t stay with you.” I turned to Drake and Roman. “You guys want to guard me while I sleep on my front stoop?”
Everett frowned. “You can’t sleep here, either.”
“Better than under the alpha’s roof.”
“Sparrow, you don’t want to sleep on your porch,” Drake said. “Everett, there’s a sixth bunk—”
“Covered in Zak’s music shit—” Everett interrupted.
“And she can stay there tonight,” Drake said. “It’s late. She’ll be protected even better with all five of us around, too. We can work it out in the morning, it’s just one night.”
Roman growled. “Your parents are going to be pissed.”
“They already are,” I said. “They’re half crazy with worry. I’ll call them and let them know I have somewhere safe to stay. Who knows, maybe they’ll even see reason.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed, not caring at all whether I was waking anyone up.
David answered immediately. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” I said, “but I’m not staying with you and Mom. I’m safe, I’m not ditching my bodyguards.”
“How am I supposed to believe you, Sparrow?”
I could hear the grief in his voice and practically see the way he ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. It was something he only did with me. I could picture his face, the tired eyes—he was tired of dealing with my bullshit.
“You can hear it in my voice,” I said. “I’m with three of them right now.”
“We’re here, Mr. Solaris,” Roman said. “Drake, Everett, and me.”
“Let’s just pretend you’re staying at Eveline’s,” David said.
“I can’t—”
“Sparrow, we both know where you’re going to spend the night, with whom you plan to share a bed.”
My whole body stiffened.
His voice was a whisper. “I know a developing mate bond when I see it.”
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