I was trying not to tense up, not to react. What she said was sweet, but it didn’t change the position I’d taken that went against everything she was saying. In reality, my brain was stuck on the fact that Vada had known about me for over a century, and we had no correspondence until she moved here. I was shocked at the revelation, but also a little pissed off by it. I didn’t trust that what she was saying was true. I’d already found, and lost, my mate.
My little black heart melted a little bit, though. I didn’t think anyone had everseenme as quickly as she had, and the tingles along my skin were good. It felt right. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I did know that my future seemed brighter now that I was aware of her existence, even if she wasn’t my mate.
Vada went on to tell me about what happened the night before I woke up in her bed. She recited every last detail about me blacking out and murdering two men. About me sleepwalking into her bedroom and straddling her. About how Medb helped her remove the video and the bodies before anyone found out, though the witches discovered them before they were able to remove them from the premises.
I still had no idea why I blacked out that night, but now I was doubly concerned. I should’ve been able to still function, even being drunk on human alcohol. It didn’t affect us like humans. I thought I might’ve been drugged, but by what, I couldn’t tell her. If these murders had any connection to the portals opening, were these blackouts me doing somethingatrocious in the name of whoever was starting shit with thePax?
We finished up in the shower, and I handed a towel to Vada before drying myself off. I started my after-shower routine of putting on lotion and spraying products in my hair to keep it from frizzing too badly. I got dressed quickly before noticing Vada standing in the doorway in nothing but a towel, her hair up in another towel, and my knees threatened to give out as I was once again blown away that she was fated to be mine.
“Do you want to borrow some clothes? I think I have something that would fit you, since you’re taller than me. Most of my clothes have to be hemmed or rolled up,” I said, though I just wanted her naked in my bed.
She smiled. “Yes, please. I’d put my other clothes back on, but I think they might be ruined.”
I laughed as I tossed another pair of black leggings her way, then gave her the pick of my closet for tops. She was bustier than I was, so I didn’t have any bras that would fit her. She grabbed an old band tee I think I’d had since the ‘70s and tossed it on.
“Heart, huh? Nice,” she said, pulling her hair through the top of the shirt.
“That was a good tour,” I replied, remembering that night with nostalgia as I stared at the practically threadbare shirt. “It’s one of my favorite shirts. It looks good on you. I’d prefer you naked in my bed, though.”
“I think I’d prefer the same,” she said, laughing. She got serious just after that, and I stopped trying to awkwardly joke around, sitting down on my bed to watch her. “Now that you know why I’m in St. Louis, I need to tell you how I figured it out.”
“Okay,” I started slowly. “I figured I just missed the signs, and that you knew what to look outfor.”
She smiled timidly. “I think I would’ve known anyway, but it was because of a prophecy.”
I sat a little straighter. “Prophecy? Oh, fuck. Please don’t tell me…”
“I’m afraid so, sweet girl,” she started. Vada told me about the night she’d spoken with Baba Yaga before asking me, “Are you ready to hear it?”
I barked out a laugh. “Are we ever ready to hear a major prophecy?”
She smirked, and said, “You’re probably right,” before she proceeded.
“When love prevails and all is lost
The driven must now pay the cost
The lovers lost to ruin and fate
A dream desired, that cannot take
‘Til one and one make three again
The world is lost to hate and sin
The worlds collide on a direct path
The portals’ strength will then collapse
So on and on the great war begins again
To purge the worlds of what has been stolen
A hero must not take bait
There is still hope within this fate
A mountain will divide the weak
