Page 91 of Forever Touched

“Good. That’ll leave no question in the Faircroft’s minds that you expect Adalyn to be there. She’ll be fine, Everett. You’ll see. Now, how about you start preparing for the speech you’re going to give when she arrives?”

I blinked up at her. “Speech?”

“Theproposal, man,” Noah drawled in that annoyingly sarcasticway of his.

When I scowled at him, Kade burst out laughing. “The poor sod doesn’t even know, and it’shisparty! This is way too good.”

He let out anoof!as Isla elbowed him in the side and hissed, “Behave.”

“Iambehaving.”

Sighing impatiently, I said to no one in particular, “Can someonematuretell me what the hell is going on?”

Loch and Bill exchanged smirks but frustratingly kept quiet.

Rolling my eyes, I focused on my only remaining hope. “Well?” I questioned him, knowing by the look on his face that he was in on it as well. Whatever“it”was.

Thankfully, he didn’t keep me waiting long.

“The ball, my son. Possible coup aside, it’s the perfect occasion.”

“For what?”

My father grinned at me a mile wide. “To publicly announce your intention to marry your soulmate.”

29

ADALYN

I couldn’t stop shaking, and not only because of my nerves.

Everett hadn’t been able to give me any venom last night. It had been two whole days since my last dose, and although my cravings had lessened this past week with his help, I desperately needed a fix.

I’d been naive and incredibly stupid to think that Mistress wouldn’t find out about our secret nightly rendezvous or about Pepper. She had me exactly where she wanted me, and I’d never felt so small. Sohelpless. Pepper was locked away in Octavia’s room, and I was currently locked in the basement. I’d reached out through our bond countless times to make sure she was safe, but knowing hadn’t made me feel any better.

This was all my fault. I never should have quit the club. Never should have allowed a grumpy, green-eyed prince into my life. Never should have dared to wish I could be anything but an indentured blood whore.

Because of my rash behavior, everyone I cared about was in danger. If anything happened to them, I wouldn’t survive. I wouldn’t want to.

Quit it, Adalyn. You’re not to blame for any of this. And if you keep thinking so loudly, your mate is going to overhear and start asking questions.

At Pepper’s scolding, I clasped my trembling hands in my lap with a sigh.He’s going to hate me after this. I’m about to ruin everything.

Pepper snorted.That boy is head over heels for you. And if I’m not mistaken, you feel the same way about him.

I do care about him. A lot. But that’s the problem. He’s trying to save me, and I’m about to betray him.

That premonition isn’t set in stone, Ada. It will only happen if you allow it to, if you don’t fight to change your fate.

I’d woken up drenched in sweat this morning, the same dream of me stabbing Everett in the heart racing through my mind. Pepper had felt my panic, and I’d finally told her about the premonition. She knew how my magic worked even more than I did. On the spirit plane, she’d spent centuries honing her skills, using magic in ways I couldn’t even fathom. I’d only been allowed a few short years to practice my Oracle magic before Mistress had forced me to lock it all away, save for one ability.

An ability that had been twisted into something ugly, all in the name of survival.

You’re stronger than you think, Adalyn, Pepper gently continued.You had a premonition, and that’s an encouraging sign. It means you’ve taken back some of your control. Tonight is your night to change your fate. You might not believe it, but I do. Now go get your prince charming and stop worrying about me.

But—

Imeanit, Ada. I might be small, but I’m a survivor like you. Trust me to look after myself.

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