And here I was thinking the dog was one of the guardian hounds Astrid had mentioned.
His head tilted and his tongue fell out the side of his mouth as if to say, how can you be suspicious of me when I'm this cute?
Unfortunately for him, he was more terrifying than cute. Travis's body had long tears in the arm and gouges in the chest that hadn't come from my sword.
Blood still mixed with the dog's slobber.
Abruptly, power shut its jaws around me, clamping me in an inescapable hold and reminding me of my duties.
Like I could forget.
Those watching murmured to themselves, their gaze’s hopeful. That hope stung, reminding me that I had considered abandoning them.
No more.
It was time to finish this.
Power filled me, my hair lifting and my pale skin glowing.
I didn't remember moving until I was in front of a strange Fae with eyes as red as blood. The same ability that had allowed me to glimpse Callie and the rest's future told me this Fae wouldn't work either.
Nor did the next, or the one after that.
The faces of the Scattered passed in a blur. Later, I didn't think I'd be able to recall more than bits and pieces. I moved through the crowd, the power tugging me along.
Searching. Hoping.
There was something specific I was looking for, yet with each new Fae I came up short.
Of those present only Callie and Don held the potential to possess the crown. The rest were too weak.
I came to Astrid and hesitated. She might work.
She would be a blood thirsty queen, but the realm would survive.
Seconds later, I moved on. I could do better.
I stopped in front of Liam, swaying toward him. My lover looked like he'd had a fine time. His face was coated in blood and his eyes gleamed.
His future started to unfold before me. I looked away so I didn't see. Some things needed to be a surprise.
I was selfish enough to know I wouldn't give him to this realm. Not for anything.
A deep chuckle sounded in my mind.
Next, I passed Arlan. He tipped an invisible hat to me as I paused.
Now, there was a strong possibility. He wasn't one of the Scattered but nothing said he had to be.
He had the power. It crouched in his middle behind diamond hard shields meant to protect it from people like me. What I'd seen before was only a taste.
He’d bring change and new beginnings to the world.
As I considered his worthiness, the twins drew close, their postures protective. Love moved between the three of them.
Their past came to me. Two boys in a dank cell, each taking turns protecting the other against the cruel adults who tormented them.
Baran and Breanden had been born after the fall of the realm, but they were still marked with its sigil. Their lives had been harsh and brutal until Arlan found and protected them. He was the one to seal their marks so no one would know what they were.
