Page 104 of Premonition of Peace

“Is that how you met Nathalie?” I asked as we waited for our drink to be made. “Buying buildings?”

He nodded. “It is. She’s helped me find a few. I just finished a new one on the east side of town. Old vampire den. Nasty place. Burned to the ground.”

I had an idea of where he was talking about, but I didn’t plan on sharing that just yet. “What is it now?”

“Group home for foster kids and orphans,” he said, smiling proudly. “I grew up in one, so this was a little close to the heart. I’m on the board, so this one is going to be significantly better than what I had.”

“I’m an orphan too,” I said softly. “I’m . . . happy to hear you did that. Built a place for them where they can be safe. The city needs more of that.”

He grinned, nudging me gently with his elbow like we were old friends. “If you’re working with Nathalie Le Fay and Piper Fallon, you’re doing it too. I know the changes they’ve made. It’s why I want to stay in New Chicago. I wanted to be part of it.”

“Thanks.” I blushed at the compliment and soft touch.Gods, I must have looked like a love-struck teenager. I couldn’t stop grinning like a fool. I had to look like a complete weirdo. We grabbed our drinks and headed outside, the warmth of the coffee cups contrasting with the cool breeze.

“So, I do have a site I need to oversee today,” Finn said, as we walked towards the corner of the street, “but would it be overstepping to say that I really want to see you again?”

“No. I feel the same way.” I flashed him a genuine smile. I was used to being seductive and getting my way with any man, but this one felt different somehow. Less like a game of attraction and morereal. He made me nervous and fidgety in the best way possible.

“Good, what about this evening? Dinner, my place. I’ll cook.” I grimaced at that.

“Sadly, I have a very…involved job, working with Piper. I’m pretty booked up until next week.” I thought about it for asecond before adding, “But I do have a family dinner on Sunday, if you want to go with me?”

“Family dinner, huh?” Finn said, his eyebrows raising. “You’re inviting me to meet your family already?” I would have felt embarrassed if not for the amused light in his eyes.

I laughed. “If you’re brave enough. My twin sister is likely to be a bit much . . .” That was putting it mildly. Sienna would be fucking ecstatic and planning a bonding ceremony before the end of the night.

“I’m not scared of meeting your family,” he quipped with a smirk. “What’s the worst that could happen?” Knowing my chosen people? Just about anything could happen, but I didn’t want to actually scare him off.

Besides, we were on a good six-month streak of nothing bad happening so far.

“I’ve gotta warn you my family is pretty eclectic. I hope you can handle them. But if you can’t . . . well, it’s better to know now.”

“Your doubt wounds me, Sasha,” he retorted, clutching his chest dramatically before chuckling. “I’m positive that I will love them and more importantly, they’ll love me.”

I laughed and it didn’t sound like the bitter wake that it had for years. Even to my own ears it was softer. More hopeful. “You sound sure about that.”

“I am.” He gave me an appraising look before his eyes met mine again. “What’s your number? If this work schedule of yours eases up at all, I’d love to have you over—or meet you somewhere—one day before then. If not, Sunday’s a date.” He winked.

Butterflies took flight in my stomach.Oh.That was new. “Absolutely.”

We exchanged numbers quickly before we both admitted that we’d both walked slightly in the wrong direction. “A fewextra steps never hurt anyone,” Finn declared with an easy shrug. “Besides, if I hadn’t walked with you, I’d have never won you over enough for that date.”

“You won me over in the coffee shop,” I admitted, surprised I’d just said it out loud. “So, I’ll see you next Sunday, then?”

“Sunday,” he confirmed. We hesitated for a second longer neither of us wanting to walk away before he tucked a stray lock of her behind my ear and said, “I’ll see you soon, Sasha.”

With that, he turned and walked away. I watched him go for several moments, feeling a smile spread across my face.

As I turned to head toward where I was meeting Piper, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. I had been right about this being a good day. It wasmorethan that. Like . . . fate. Somewhere deep down in my lonely heart, I had this iron-clad assurance, even though it made no sense. I shouldn’t be able to know after one chance meeting.

But I did.

It was finally my turn.

epilogue ii

NATHALIE

I leaned forward in my chair, fingers steepled beneath my chin as I listened to the ever-present debate between my others. In the months that followed my encounter with The Morrigan, my loci had slowly returned to normal. Or some version of it.

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