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Nothing and no one would ever make me feel small again. I had let myself suffer for far too long.

Whether they wanted it or not, I would find out what had happened to Alaister Westcode. I deserved to know the truth. He was my father. His blood ran through my veins, whether I wanted it to or not. Whether they wanted it to or not. And if they were afraid of him, he must have been powerful.

I felt my thoughts helping me to channel my energy.

My hand moved almost on its own, and I watched as a pattern of ice crystals, which at first seemed gentle but grew more jagged with every passing second, formed around the crystal ball.

Rebecca began to nod. A glint flashed in her transfixed eyes as one corner of her mouth turned up almost imperceptibly.

“That's better.”

Restless Spirits

Gustavo Santaolalla

I had spent just under an hour with Harlow and it was already almost eight o'clock.

The others were probably waiting, and I also wanted to know what Bayla had found last night. It had to be something important, because she had scheduled the meeting as early as possible, texting that it was urgent.

“You seem to love putting yourself in danger.”

I flinched and wheeled around in the dimly lit side corridor, illuminated by traditional glass globe lamps encased in Victorian metalwork and built into the sandstone ceiling.

Mixed feelings washed over me when I spotted him in front of me. He looked threatening, but I suppressed the urge to take a step back. Instead, I looked into his dark eyes, scrutinizing his angular face and jet-black hair.

“Adrian.” I tried to sound as normal as possible. What came out was a mixture of mistrust, coldness, and surprise. “Are you following me?”

He had his hands behind his back.

“I was looking for you.”

The man in front of me seemed cold, matter-of-fact, and emotionless, which made it easier for me not to read anything into his expression.

“And interestingly, I find you here, all alone.”

“I feel comfortable in the dark,” I replied so honestly that it surprised even me.

Adrian just stared at me, a shadow flitting across his face.

“And that despite the fact that danger lurks everywhere here.”

His gaze pierced me.

“A murderer is on the loose.”

I was aware of that. No one knew who was responsible for the death of Julian’s father. And since it wasn’t Quatura’s business, I didn’t know anything else about it.

“It’s very unlikely that he wants me.”

Even though I knew the one who had killed Julian's father could be the same person who was responsible for young, petite women like me disappearing in the Blairville woods.

“You seem to be forgetting that you are part of the prophecy.”

Miles' words flashed through my mind. He had warned me about Adrian.

My stomach tightened slightly.

“Are you planning to kill me?”