Page 56 of Forever Touched

Everywhere I looked, there was a face hidden by a mask.

Gold glittered. Skirts swished. Bodies twirled in sync to a haunting strain.

At the center of it all stood Prince Everett. Even with a dark mask on, I knew it was him.

He suddenly reached up and removed the mask, then gestured for his dance partner to do the same.

Her back was turned to me, but I saw her remove a silver mask.

The prince smiled as she revealed her true identity.

But as she did, I saw what she hid in her other hand.

It caught the light, its silver surface flashing wickedly.

She abruptly swung her hand in an arc, thrusting it toward the prince’s chest.

The knife sank deeply into his heart.

He stared at her in shock. In disbelief.

As the light started to fade from his eyes, she turned and ran.

I jerked awake, my heart thundering wildly. As the dream replayed in my head, I tried to shrug it off. It was just a dream. Adream. But deep down, I knew better.

It wasn’t a dream at all, but a premonition.

Out of the five kinds of witches that existed, Oracles were theonly ones with the natural ability to foretell the future. I used to have visions all the time while in magic school, but most of them had been vague. For the past six years, though, Mistress controlled what my magic could or couldn’t do. I hadn’t dreamt inyears, let alone had a premonition.

Until the day I’d met Everett.

Something was changing in me. The invisible leash Mistress kept on me at all times didn’t feel as tight. She was still in control of my magic, but it was starting to act out. To breakfree, if only a little. The premonition still swirling through my mind was definitely the clearest one I’d ever received. There was no mistaking Everett’s presence. Or mine.

Or the knife I’d plunged into his heart.

Myknife.

But I wouldn’t do that to him. Icouldn’t. Not since I’d stopped seeing him as a cruel, bloodthirsty vampire. The premonition had come too late. My need for revenge didn’t involve him anymore—or his family, for that matter.

Which ruinedeverything.

He really had ruined me, in more ways than one. Nothing made sense anymore. My feelings. My job. Mylife.

Feeling lost again and desperately needing a liferaft, I reached for Everett on the bed beside me. Alarmed when I found the space empty, I sat up straight and searched the room for him. The bedside lamp was still on, revealing that I was alone. With the heavy curtains drawn, I had no idea what time it was, but it still felt early.

The premonition reared its ugly head again, and I struggled to breathe. It was too late. Toolate. My magic must be on the fritz after so many years of repression. Still, all I could think about was making sure Everett was okay, so I ignored my protesting body and scrambledfrom the bed. As I hurried to the door, I heard a noise and paused to listen. Some of my panic instantly faded. Changing direction, I headed for the bathroom.

The door was closed, so I silently tested the handle. When it easily gave way, I opened it without knocking. If he’d wanted privacy, he should have locked it. Stepping through the door, I immediately found him in the shower. His back was turned to me, and as I entered, he visibly tensed.

“Sorry if I woke you,” he said, his voice extra gruff. When I shut the door behind me, he tensed even more.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked, letting my gaze travel the length of him. The semi-frosted glass obscured his lower half, but I gobbled up what little I could see. He was made of pure muscle, and I had a sudden urge to touch him. Every single inch.

“Please don’t do that,” he quietly groaned.

I frowned. “Do what?”

“Whatever it is you’re doing.”

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