“I see things thatcanhappen in the future,” Cody replied.
“What do you mean ‘that can happen’? I don’t understand. If you see the future, then how can it not happen as you see it?” asked Jackson.
“Variables can enter into the equation that I don’t know about.”
“Like what? Can you give me an example?” Jackson asked.
Cody hesitated before saying, “For instance, I saw your death and knew nothing could be done to save you. However, my vision did not tell me about the power Colton received so that variable changed the course of the future as I saw it.”
“Oh, Cody,” said Jackson, “why haven’t you said anything? What a tremendous burden to carry by yourself. Wait, you share a mind link with Colton and Carson. Do they know about your ability?”
“No, Mom had the Shaman teach me how to keep part of my mind…the part with the visions…blocked from them.”
“Why wasn’t I told?” asked Jackson.
“Because Mom was afraid someone would use me to gain an unfair advantage. After our Shaman told her everything about my ability, she had a witch cast a memory-wipe spell so she and I were the only people who knew.”
“And Oracle said the visions are getting stronger? Is that true?”
“Yes.”
Jackson was horrified. He never realized the suffering his brother was enduring. He could only imagine Cody’s pain when he saw Jackson dying. And who was there for Cody?No one!Because the only other person who knew about his visions was gone—killed in a massacre.Oh shit! Did Cody see that too?
“How long have you had these vivid visions?”
“Are you asking if I knew about the massacre and did nothing to stop it?” Cody asked angrily. Then his voicechanged as he said in a weary tone, “The answer is no. At that time most of my visions were more smoke than any real picture. I didn’t know who or what…only that the future would be painful. That’s how it was when I was growing up. It all changed when our family was killed.”
“Now your visions are specific?” asked Steel.
“Yes, they are.”
“What did you see today, right before I found you? Is that the reason you have to leave?”
“Leave? What do you mean ‘leave’?” asked Jackson.
“I don’t know any more other than Cody said he had to leave,” Steel said.
“Cody?”
Oracle spoke up, “Before we get into that, I think we need to talk about Dylon. He is important in Cody’s life.”
Jackson said, “Okay, but I’m coming back to your statement about leaving. Now, why do you think Dylon won’t want you?”
Cody’s jaw dropped.What the fuck? Wasn’t his brother listening?Shaking his head in disbelief, Cody was speechless and couldn’t reply.
Mystia spoke up, “I think Cody can’t believe his mate would want to take on someone like him.”
“You mean because he has visions of the future?” Jackson asked.
Cody could take no more. Jumping up, he shouted, “Of course like me! I’m a frigging sideshow in a carnival. ‘Come one, come all and get your fortune told by the nutcase who sees the future.’ How would you feel if your mate could tell the future?”
“Well,” Steel said, “I don’t know about Jackson, but me, I think it would be kinda cool.”
“Hush, lover,” Jackson said before turning back to Cody, “but Steel has a point. How do you know what Dylon will think unless you ask him? Or do you already know through a vision?”
“No, I don’t,” Cody said as he slumped back into his chair, “But how can I even possibly ask him to be shackled to me for eternity when he’ll feel my torment through our mind link? No, it’s better this way.”
“I don’t think you’re being fair to Dylon,” Jackson said. “You have taken away his right to make his own decision. I did that to Steel until Mystia showed me I didn’t have that right. Tell your mate the truth and let him make his own decision. Hell, maybe he has a bad habityouwon’t like…like farting in bed every night.”
