“It really is beautiful,” Remy admitted, relaxing a bit as he reached up to stroke a hand over the wings on the fairy statue. He pressed a kiss to Starla’s forehead. “It looks just like you.”
“It really does,” Ava confirmed. “I knew it was meant to be yours as soon as my brother told me he met his mate.”
“So, you are a prophet?” Lana asked, intrigued. “That’s cool. I’ve never heard of a shifter prophet before.”
Ava blinked. “What? No, it’s nothing like that.”
“But this looks exactly like my favorite tree I used to nap on back when I was a pixie in the Fairy Realm,” Starla told them. “You even recreated the notches I made on my day of birth each year.”
“That’s…that has to be a coincidence,” Ava sputtered. “I can’t be a prophet.”
Claudia tapped a fingernail against her lower lip. “It could be a new power. After the shifters got our magical upgrades, my cousin was suddenly able to predict the weather. Like, days in advance, which is not exactly a normal ability for snow leopards.”
Kyler frowned. “But it can’t just be a future thing, right? If she created that sculpture based on something Starla did beforeshe became a fairy, that means Ava saw the past. But I thought prophets only predict the future.”
“I think it would be more accurate to call her a soothsayer since they can see glimpses of the future or the past,” Jessica clarified. “From what I read, those glimpses mostly come through visions or dreams, but in this case, it might present as inspiration for your art. This is really exciting. Soothsayer abilities are rare. I recall that the powers can manifest unexpectedly, sometimes triggered by strong emotions or significant life changes. So, it would make sense that you suddenly developed this new ability after your magical upgrade.”
“This is making my head hurt,” Ava groaned.
“Think of this as a good thing,” Jessica encouraged. “Soothsayers are valued for their unique insight and perspectives.”
“Your visions might help unravel mysteries or even prevent future accidents or disasters. Fairies with the sight are revered and highly respected,” Starla explained. “I have even heard rumors that the Fairy Queen has a touch of the sight and that is how she has remained in power for so long.”
“I’m just a sculptor,” Ava insisted. “I don’t want to predict the future.”
“I don’t think you have a choice,” Remy pointed out dryly.
“Why didn’t you get this ability?” Ava growled. “Why me?”
“Maybe it’s because you suck at using magic, so the universe tried to take pity on you and gave you something extra?” he taunted.
Before they could continue arguing, Liam cut in. “Has this happened before? Has anything you’ve sculpted or drawn come true?”
Ava blinked. “I…ah, let me think. I don’t think so…wait! I just remembered I did a sketch of a panther with two white paws a few months ago. Right before we came back to school, a panthershifter named Jeremy joined our pack. I didn’t know he had white paws until he shifted during one of our pack runs.”
“What about those drawings of the water fae and demon fighting?” Anton asked. “I thought those were cool sketches that looked like they would have made a cool manga series or something. A few weeks later, we encountered those assholes tearing up Jackson Square, and the fighting sequence was identical to what you drew.”
“Thankfully, people just thought it was some sort of magic show,” Remy stated.
“Interesting,” Damien murmured. “I don’t know much about this stuff, but there is a young soothsayer enrolled at Aegis Academy right now. Perhaps you can get in touch with her. Or perhaps there is a professor who can help you develop your ability. Let me ask around to see if I can find someone here in Mystic. Right now, it would probably be best that we keep your new power a secret. Otherwise, the wrong person might try to use you to predict something.”
Ava shivered. “That’s a good point. Thanks, Damien.”
“Now that we’ve figured that out, can we order?” Anton pleaded. “I’m freaking starving.”
“You ate most of the appetizers,” Kyler accused.
Anton bowed his head in shame. “I missed lunch today.”
“I had a special menu prepared for tonight,” Damien said. “They are sending the food up now. And don’t worry, there should be plenty of it. I know how much you guys can pack away.”
That perked Anton up. “That’s why I love you.”
“Keep it contained, wolf.” Damien brushed off an imaginary piece of lint from the sleeve of his black suit jacket. “I can’t stay for dinner since I have some other things to take care of this evening, but I wanted to stop by to give you an update on whatI discovered about the potion Starla had been dosed with at the party.”
That gained Remy’s full attention. “You found the bastard who spiked her drink?”
“Of course, I did.”
