Callum trudges over to us. “First, I told you he would be hung over,” he says to me. It’s not the greatest start, but Ciprian just shrugs and stuffs a home fry in his mouth. “Second, I’m sorry for putting you in that position, Ciprian. I was freaking out, and I made a mistake. I should never have asked you to do that.”
By the time he’s done, Callum’s jaw is so tight I can practically hear it creaking. Ciprian sits there gaping at his brother, so I grind my elbow into his ribs until he snaps out of it.
“It’s okay. Next time, I’ll tell you when your plans are shit,” Ciprian says, pushing my elbow away and standing to shake his brother’s hand.
It’s a good start for them, and I can’t help bouncing a little in excitement.
“For fuck’s sake, Sheena.” Ciprian bumps me with his hip. “I can literally feel you overreacting. It’s giving me indigestion.”
I hide my smile around a huge bite of breakfast sandwich as Callum goes back to pretending his brother isn’t there. He bends over and peppers tiny kisses all over my neck, making me giggle and squirm at the tickling sensation.
“Training at nine?” Callum asks.
I give him a nod and Ciprian sends him a sarcastic salute as he turns to leave.
When the door closes behind him, Ciprian turns to me, a long-suffering look on his face. “You two are gross. You should work on that.”
Ciprian and I walkout to the training ground two minutes before nine. There are a few people milling around outside. They aren’t paying us any attention now, but I know that could change, especially if I lose my shit again. People love a good supernatural meltdown.
“Why do we have to do this outside, anyway?” I gripe, swinging my foot at a pebble in my path. I miss and nearly fall on my ass. Ciprian’s lip twitches, but he doesn’t laugh. I pretend nothing happened. “It’s not like we’re fist fighting around your mom’s precious gargoyle.”
“No magic indoors. It’s always been the rule.” He shrugs. “Mother thinks it disturbs the energy in the house or something.”
I level him with a disbelieving look. “But the energy is already...”
“Macabre? Insidious? Oppressive?”
I laugh as he rattles off synonyms. We enter the training ring together and find both Gideon and Callum waiting for us with matching nervous smiles.
“Hey, baby,” Gideon says.
“When Ciprian pulls you into the vision, look for the edges.” Callum starts out all business, and it actually helps me feel grounded. “Once you can identify the edge?—”
“It will ripple or shimmer slightly,” Gideon interrupts.
Callum nods and continues. “Then you’ll focus on peeling the illusion back. Like a sticker.”
“Or pushing it away like a heavy piece of furniture,” Gideon suggests.
I nod emphatically, bracing for whatever nightmare Ciprian has in store for me. “Ripples and shimmers, stickers and furniture, push or pull—got it.”
I turn to Ciprian, expecting to see nerves on his face as well, but he looks absolutely diabolical. So much so that I take a wary step back. I spent enough time in foster care to recognize when someone is up to something.
His calculating wink is the last thing I see before the edges of my vision flicker.
I glance at Callum and Gideon to see if they notice anything, but they’re not looking at me anymore. I’m about to tell them that nothing has changed when I notice a ripple around one of the puffy clouds above us.
Oh shit. We are in a vision.I start scanning the training ground for differences, determined not to fuck this up.
Gideon takes a step towards Callum and grabs his bicep in one of his massive hands. “Please, don’t go. I’ve always been in love with you.”
Gideon rubs his thumb across Callum’s arm, then crowds him against the fence. When Callum yanks the taller man down into a hungry kiss, Ciprian’s earlier wink begins to make sense to me. As I watch my boyfriends make out, the temperature climbs. I fan myself and grin.
“Oh my gods.” Ciprian’s disgruntled voice echoes inside my head. “This is my apology vision, Sheena, but you at least have to tryto push me out before I’m scarred for life.”
I choke on a laugh. There is literally no incentive for me to kick this illusion out. Instead of trying to peel or push like they suggested, I sit down cross-legged on the ground and watch the sexy tableau unfold.
When Callum yanks Gideon’s shirt off and grinds against him roughly, a groan of appreciation escapes me. The soundmust push him too far because Ciprian suddenly appears in front of me, blocking my view and glowering down at me.
