But they did exist. The festival happened. I was there.
Which meant everything else might be real too.
I looked at Cateline with new eyes. She was still smirking, waiting for a response, completely unaware that she’d surprisingly helped me.
“You’re lying,” I said. My voice was surprisingly steady. “Percy danced with me.”
Her smirk faltered. “Excuse me?”
“At the festival.” The fragments were still blurry, but I remember the first vision. “He danced with me. Not you.”
Irritation twisted her features. She recovered quickly, tossing her hair over one shoulder with practiced ease.
“Well, I guess we’ll see who he chooses at the Founder’s Day celebration.” Her smile went cold. “Two weeks from now. And when he sees you for what you really are, a temporary distraction he felt sorry for, he’ll come back to someone who actually belongs with him.”
“Don’t fool yourself.” I leaned against the door frame. “You’ve probably asked him to events a dozen times by now. And he still hasn’t noticed.” I tilted my head. “That’s why you resorted to stalking, right? Following him to a cabin in the woods because asking nicely wasn’t working?”
Her composure cracked.
“At least I’m not some desperate slut spreading her legs for three men at once.”
The words hung between us, venom dripping from every syllable.
“What’s the problem?”
Solomon’s voice came from behind me. I turned. He stood in the hallway, arms crossed, those pale eyes fixed on Cateline with an expression that could freeze fire.
Cateline’s face went pale. “I was just leaving.”
“Good.” Solomon moved to stand beside me in the doorway. “And don’t let me hear you say the word slut to Mira ever again.”
I watched Cateline’s soul leave her body.
“This location stays private,” Solomon continued. “If word gets out about our place, I’ll know exactly who talked.”
Cateline retreated down the porch steps with one last glare at me but without another word. Solomon closed the door with a thud and I heard her car start outside.
The silence dragged between us.
My mind was still reeling from Cateline’s accidental confirmation. The fragments I’d been dismissing as trauma-induced hallucinations were actual pieces of a week they have been telling me about.
“I’ll cook lunch,” Solomon said, already turning away and I was pulled back to reality.
Then it hit me. My eyes squinted at him.
“Solomon.”
He stopped.
“You said you’re going for a run.” I kept my voice casual.
“Yes.”
“So how did you get here so fast?”
A pause. Barely noticeable, but I caught it.
“I told you I’d be quick. I just needed air, I’m not going to leave you here alone that long. I was already heading back.” He still wasn’t facing me. “Heard raised voices.”
