“Good, actually.” I smile. “My powers are under control, and I’ve been coping much better with crowds since I first came to see you. Selene and I are going tomorrow evening, and I’m actually looking forward to it instead of dreading being in such a busy environment. She’s so excited to share the festival with me, it’s made me excited too.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.” Mohinder gives me a proud smile.
“I’m just hoping news of what happened in the square yesterday doesn’t bring us too much attention.”
“Why’s that? You did a good thing—it’s normal for people to want to congratulate you.”
“Honestly, I didn’t do much. All I did was try to comfort Audrey while Selene undid the spell on Raine—she’s the real hero. As for the rest, I’m not comfortable being the centre of attention. Feeling people watching me doesn’t set me on edge the way it did when I first moved here, but it’s still unsettling. Logically I know The Raven can’t get inside Crystal Lake’s wards, but there’s still part of me that feels like it’s him following my every move, not our nosy neighbours.”
“Has breaking situations down into rational thoughts been helpful?”
“Absolutely.” I nod. “At first I still went straight to panic mode, but, even though we’ve only been having our sessions for a few weeks, it’s becoming more and more natural to talk myself down before I get overwhelmed. I’m still afraid. I think I will be for a long time,” I admit. “But I’m not angry at myself anymore. Needing help doesn’t mean I’ve let The Raven win.”
“You’ve come a long way in a short time, Jared. Your dedication and openness, both in our sessions and to the workyou’re putting in during your own time, is something you should be proud of.”
We talk for a while longer and, as per usual, I leave the fifty-minute session feeling emotionally drained but with a quieter mind and a sense of achievement. Healing isn’t easy, and the process is far from over, but the more time I spend with Mohinder, my friends, and of course Selene, the safer I feel in Crystal Lake. Turns out Corbin forcing me out of The Ledger was the best thing that could have happened to me. While I still disagree with how my old boss handled the situation, I’m not angry anymore. How could I be when I’ve finally found my place here in this quirky little town? Crystal Lake is home, and while he may still haunt my nightmares, The Raven can’t take that away from me.
SELENE
I’m in an open-plan office. Jared’s here, and he’s obviously upset. His hands tremble as he angrily dumps items from his desk into a cardboard box. There’s a raven perched on a bottle-green leather chair, beady black eyes watching him through the glass walls of what must be his boss’s office.
Jared throws a pot of pens into the box, then picks it up without saying a word. His colleagues look on, but not one of them makes any effort to check on him or say goodbye. He turns his back on them, striding towards the lift. The raven slams into the glass, frantically beating its wings as if chasing him off.
I jolt up in bed with a startled gasp, heart racing and head throbbing after the vision. It’s almost identical to the visions Ihad before Jared came to town—but those visions were linked to me being a moon witch and foreseeing my fated mate. Jared and I have met and acknowledged we’re mates even if we’ve yet to complete the bond—so why am I having the vision again?
Jared’s still sound asleep beside me. Since the day he found out we were mates, we’ve not spent a single night apart. Doing my best not to disturb him, I slip out of bed and make my way downstairs on silent feet. After splashing cool water on my face and inner wrists, I gulp down a glass of orange juice to get my blood sugar back up in the hopes I won’t wake up feeling like total crap tomorrow.
I brush my teeth again, then crawl back under the covers, snuggling into Jared’s side. Even in sleep, he throws a protective arm around my waist, holding me to him. A weary sigh leaves my parted lips. This is what I needed. We’re both OK. Whatever the vision means, I can deal with it in the morning.
“You’re supposed to be glowing with newly mated bliss, what’s up with you today?” Gwyn asks, adding more change to the till drawer.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
She wrinkles her nose. “OK, I’m happy for you, but as your sister, there are some things I don’t need to know.”
“What? No, it’s not like that.” I bite my lip, debating whether I should tell Gwyneth about my vision or not. She’s not a moon witch, but sheismy big sister, and she gives great advice. It’s worth a shot. Who knows, maybe talking it through with her will help me figure out what it means. “You remember the visions I told you about having before Jared moved to town?”
“The ones you finally told me were of your mate,” she says pointedly, still not letting me live down not immediately telling her what they meant after my trip to the library. I didn’t come clean until after meeting Jared. “Of course. Why?”
“I had a similar vision last night. That’s weird, right?”
Gwyn purses her lips in thought before replying. “You said it was similar, not the same. What was different?”
I explain how the whole thing took place in Jared’s old office this time and the bird’s strange behaviour. “Do you think it’s because we haven’t bonded yet?” The books Giles showed me didn’t say anything about any potential consequences for a moon witch waiting to bond with their mate, but that could be because supes usually bond pretty quickly after meeting their fated.
Gwyn shrugs. “Could be. Wait, did you say there was a raven? Isn’t that the name the humans gave the serial killer who’s been terrorising humans in London?”
“Yeah, why?” I ask, unsure of what that has to do with anything.
“Jared was an investigative reporter before moving here. Is it possible he was working on something to do with The Raven?”
Huh, that would make sense. “Maybe. I’ll have to ask him. But that still doesn’t explain why I’d have the vision again now.”
Gwyneth shrugs. “Magic has a mind of its own sometimes. I wouldn’t worry about it. Whatever Jared was working on it’s in the past. It’s not like The Raven’s going to come here—we’re in a sanctuary town.”
“You’re right.” I shake my head, laughing at myself for getting so worked up over such a mundane vision. “I think the aftereffects just messed with my head a bit.”
Gwyn grimaces in sympathy. “Another headache?”
