“You and Robert are, of course, invited,” Mom added.“It will be a strategy session.”
Elizabeth looked between her two children and their very serious expressions, saying, “Of course we’ll be there.”
I was struck with a strange foreboding that had me clutching the pearl around my neck.“Aunt Elizabeth?”I moved away from Declan.I needed this message to be clear.Closing my eyes, I let out a long breath.“This isn’t a vision,” I said, shaking my head.“It’s a feeling, a premonition, maybe.”I opened my eyes, studying both Frank and Faith.As I moved closer, I saw fear jump into Elizabeth’s eyes.
“What is it?”she begged.“What do you see?”
I stood in front of Faith and waited.Nothing.I moved to her brother and pain flared in the side of my head.
He caught my wince.“It’s me, huh?”he whispered.
I nodded.
SEVENTEEN
I’m Thinking…Burglar?
Elizabeth gasped.“What is it?”
Frank, taller than his mom, wrapped an arm around her shoulders.“We’ll figure it out.Don’t worry.”
I rubbed my forehead.“Let me work on it, okay?”
Elizabeth looked panicked.“Touch him.Read him.”
Frank gave me a sad smile before speaking to his mother.“It hasn’t happened yet.And whatever might happen isn’t my doing or Arwyn would already have her glove off.”
I nodded.“You have brilliant children,” I told her.“I need some time to—” I reached out and put my gloved hand on Frank’s arm, trying to interpret what I was feeling.“Don’t trust…someone.”Frustrated, I closed my eyes.“It’s going to seem completely normal.”I opened my eyes and glared at him, drilling my finger into his chest.“But you’re going to think it’s odd.This person hasn’t asked or offered whatever it is before.You’re going to want to write it off as you being too uptight or suspicious or something.If you ignore your gut, something bad happens.Don’t do that, okay?Be suspicious as hell of anyone offering you anything.”
“I promise,” he said.
Stupid tears.I wiped my face.“Don’t do anything until I figure it out.”
“I won’t.”He took in his mom, who was about to lose it, and said, “Let’s go home.We’ll give Arwyn the time and quiet she needs and we’ll all get together Monday night at their new place.”He pulled her toward the door.“Come on.”
“Wait!”I said louder than I should have.“The Three haven’t warded your car or house yet.Now that Faith is one of the Three, there will be threats.”
Faith’s eyes went big.“Is it my fault?”she breathed.“Is what happens to Frank because of me?”
That question set off a new round of emotions rolling through my body.I heard Frank give her a murmured,Of course not, but I was too busy trying to find the answer to comfort her.
When I finally looked up into her glassy eyes, I said, “Not you.It might be me, though.”
I turned to Frank.“I want to roll you in bubble wrap and hide you away somewhere until I know you’re safe.”
His lips kicked up on one side.“I trust you.If anyone can keep me safe, it’s you.”
I waved my mom forward and said, “Bracken, can you hide us while we ward the car?We can do that now.We’re all here.Then we’ll meet at the house and ward that.”
Elizabeth nodded, holding both her children’s hands as she followed Bracken out the back door of the gallery and across the deck to the parking lot.
Mom took my hand and asked on a whisper, “Darling, what did you see?”
I touched the side of my head.“So much pain.I don’t know if he survives it.”
She pulled me along.“No more.”She shook her head fiercely.“No more death.We’re not losing anyone else.Let’s get to work.”
Declan and Carter trailed us with Hester following.
