Page 48 of The Shadows of Excess

It was his way of apologizing, but I knew how he felt about the supernatural. I couldn’t help but wonder if Dad was ashamed of Mom’s abilities, and that’s why he never told us. If he found out about my new ability, would he be ashamed of me, too?

Damon parked the car in front of The Crystal Oracle. A hand turned the closed sign to open.

“Guess he knew we were coming.” Damon unlocked the doors and tilted his head. “Let’s go get our palms read.”

As I exited the car, I hesitated as I caught my reflection in the rearview mirror, and my golden eyes stared back at me. What if Elijah sensed I was going dark-side? Or that I was slowly losing my soul to the demon?

Justice stepped closer, his presence a comforting warmth at my side. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

I couldn’t meet his eyes, my gaze drifting to the ground. “I don’t know if I can face Elijah,” I admitted in a whisper.

He gently lifted my chin with his fingers, encouraging me to look at him. “Because you think he’s going to tell you something you don’t want to hear,” he commented, understanding shining in his eyes. His voice was a soothing balm that caressed my troubled thoughts.

I gave a small, helpless shrug, the weight of my unspoken fears pressing heavily on my heart. I couldn’t voice the dread that gnawed at me. What if I was changing forever? What if I was becoming the very thing we hunted?

Justice’s hand lingered, cupping my face tenderly. He didn’t need to hear the words. His eyes told me he understood. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us bound by an unspoken understanding and a growing intimacy beyond words.

He stepped forward, enveloping me in a gentle embrace. His arms wrapped around me, and the rest of the world momentarily fell away. “I promise I’ll always protect you,” he murmured against my hair.

The sincerity in his tone resonated within me, stirring relief and newfound strength. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to fully lean into his embrace, feeling a sense of security and warmth that I hadn’t realized I was craving.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The sound of someone clearing their throat caught my attention, and I recognized the deep, authoritative tone as Damon’s. I instinctively lowered my head in a submissive gesture.

“Are you two coming?” His irritated tone left little doubt I had crossed the line. “It’s countdown time, and you’re acting like we’re at the prom.” His disapproving gaze flicked between me and Justice, making it clear he didn’t approve of our growing closeness.

Justice reached into the car and pulled out the book. I wanted to tell him I didn’t want to be anywhere near that thing, but it was why we were here.

I knew one day I would have to choose between my loyalty to my family and my love for Justice, but today was not that day. With a heavy sigh, I shut the car door and followed Damon into The Crystal Oracle, feeling Justice’s presence close behind me.

Elijah greeted us with the poise of someone accustomed to luxury. He was impeccably dressed in a three-piece suit, the fabric expensive and tailor-fitted. His hair was perfectly combed, not a strand out of place, lending him an air of calculated elegance. In his hand, he casually held an espresso cup, the aroma rich and strong. He sipped it leisurely like a magnate surveying his domain.

Perhaps he was a millionaire, for all I knew. I suspected his clientele included those from the highest echelons of society, the jet-set type who seek rare and exclusive services.

He cocked a slender eyebrow and put the cup down on the counter. “Sawyer, I see you’ve finally blossomed.”

I couldn’t move. Justice put his hands securely on my shoulders.

Damon’s brows deepened into an angry scowl. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Elijah gave Damon a curious look. “She’s a psychometrist like her mother.”

Damon turned his head as if swearing under his breath, then faced Elijah. “You knew about this crap?”

“Of course. I’m a psychic,” Elijah responded, raising his palm as if to ward off further questions. His voice took on a solemn tone. “But I couldn’t tell you about your abilities. All psychics must awaken in their own time. Premature revelation only leads to denial, and denial can be…” He paused, weighing his words carefully. “Harmful.”

The heaviness in his tone echoed memories of Mom, stirring a sense of foreboding. “Elijah, are you suggesting that my mom…”

He met my gaze steadily, unflinching even under the intensity of my and Damon’s scrutiny. “Your mother was an immensely powerful psychic who chose to suppress her gifts. When such power is denied…” He sighed, a trace of regret in his eyes. “It seldom leads to anything good.”

Damon’s jaw clenched, his frustration palpable. “A vampire killed our mom,” he asserted, his voice edged with bitterness.

Elijah clasped his hands behind his back, his expression somber. “Yes, but did you ever question how? Your mother was not only a formidable hunter but also a psychic. That vampire exploited her, twisting her abilities against her.” His focus shifted to me, intent and earnest. “To survive, Sawyer, you must embrace your powers. No matter who implores you otherwise. Our abilities are gifts, but when we deny them, they can become our greatest vulnerabilities.”

A wave of nausea washed over me as Elijah’s words sank in. The revelation hit me like a physical force, leaving me breathless. Mom was a psychic, like me, but she had denied her powers, leading to her manipulation and eventual death at the hands of a vampire. The room seemed to spin as the implications crashed down on me. Was I unwittingly walking the same treacherous path she had?

Panic clawed at my chest, my heart racing with fear and deep, aching sorrow. The lump in my throat grew, almost choking me as a storm of emotions threatened to overwhelm my senses. Tears blurred my vision as the horrifying parallel between my mother’s fate and my own potential future became terrifyingly clear.

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