“But the next day when I convinced him to see a doctor about the heart pains he’d been experiencing, he was hit by an out-of-control truck on his way to the doctor’s office.”
“That’s because it was his time.I’ve talked to Arim about this a lot, and it seems there’s a fine line between changing the future and redirecting it.Normally, when someone is going to die, there’s little you can do to change the outcome.Maybe they die by sword instead of by poison, get hit by a car instead of suffering a fatal health problem.But sometimes we see a circumstance not meant to be, a situation caused by otherworldly means.Take our being here.”
“You and me?”
“No, myself and my brothers.We lived the first few months in this world in Snoqualmie’s mountains.Then I had a vision of a possible future, one in which we died by wraith attack after arriving.”
“You’re kidding.”I was surprised by how good it felt to talk with someone who could do what I did, but who, unlike me, embraced his gift.
“I told Darius and the others about it, and we managed to contact Arim in time to prevent the Netharat from discovering this realm.At least we thought that at the time.”
“So how did you come to live here?”
“Arim told me to search inside myself for an alternate future.That night I dreamt of six lucky numbers.A few spells to make us fit in with you humans.And like magic, here we are.”
I grinned.“Gotta love that lottery.I tried to control my visions when I was younger.But after the loss of my neighbor, I stopped listening to my dreams.They come sporadically, but I usually forget them the morning after.”
I immediately thought back to that first erotic dream of Darius.A fantasy or possible reality?Had I caused our lovemaking in the first place or just saw the potential and went after what I wanted?
“Cadmus?”
“Hmm?”
“What does the word ‘affai’ mean?”
He choked on his coffee, and I waited while he recovered.Interesting reaction.And one that made me determined to know the word’s meaning.
“Where did you hear that?Darius?”
“What does it mean?”
He paused, too long for my comfort.“What didhesay it meant?”
“He said it was a term of affection, but I have the feeling it means more than that.”My heart pounded, as if telling me I was on the verge of discovering something important.
“What are you two talking about?”Marcus stood in the kitchen doorway, his eyes wide as he looked from me to Cadmus and back.
“Marcus, great to see you up and about.”Cadmus beamed at his brother with obvious relief.“How was work, old friend?”
“Are you drunk?I haven’t gone in to work yet.”Marcus glanced at me.“Oh, you’re still here.How lovely,” he deadpanned.
“I’m changing into sweats.”Stupid brothers, sticking together.“You can come with me or I go out alone around the block.Your choice,” I growled and stomped to my room.
* * *
MARCUS
The minute Samantha left, I glared at Cadmus and said in a low voice, “Darius specifically asked us to lethimexplain the affai situation when the time comes.And the time isn’t now.Want to scare her off before he has a chance to propose?”
I kept an eye out.Samantha moved surprisingly silently for a human.
Cadmus shrugged.“What was I supposed to say?She asked me what ‘affai’ meant out of the blue.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t see that one coming, soothsayer.”I smirked, though Cadmus didn’t seem to appreciate the humor in the situation.“I can see I’m needed more here than at work.”I gave a loud exhale, letting him know I felt tasked with a great burden.“What say I take the day off and help you out before you help her right out the door?”
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”Cadmus scowled, clenching his fists to keep from punching me, I could tell.
“I know, but just because I’m better than you doesn’t mean I can’t assist you, you poor idiot.”I chuckled, unable to help myself.
