Page 56 of Premonition of Peace

“Oh, come on,” she insisted, using a coaxing tone. “It’ll just be a quick coffee date. I promise I won’t keep you too long.”

I was reluctant to agree, but she was without her sister, and I needed to keep an eye on her until I figured out why.

“Okay, yeah. Let’s go. I know a great place.” The truth was, Real-Sasha knew the great place. It was a small shop owned by a succubus that Sasha had introduced me to.

Internally, the Nats were buzzing with concern. Why was she so insistent on spending time with me? What did she hope to gain? Where the hell was Sienna? Was Kat still alive? All valid questions.

Not-Sasha’s presence was like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Every word, every gesture felt calculated. Just a performance for my benefit. I wondered what The Morrigan wanted. The air between us was thick with unspoken tension, a dangerous game of pretending everything was normal when it was anything but.

As we walked, Not-Sasha glanced at me, her eyes glinting with something I couldn’t quite place. “Have you seen your sister lately?” she asked casually.

“Which one?” I asked. I wasn’t sure if she knew that I was aware Carissa died. I’d rather give nothing away if I could help it.

“Katherine?”

I scoffed, answering in a way that should be expected. “Thankfully, no. Not that I prefer Carissa’s bitchy attitude over Kat’s. The longer I go without talking to either of them, the happier I am.” Not-Sasha made a sound of sympathy, her eyes scanning my face as if searching for something.

“It’s a shame, really. Family bonds are so important.”

I resisted the urge to snort at the irony of that statement coming from Morgan LaFey of all people. I forced a smile,feeling the weight of the charade bearing down on me. “Speaking of sisters, where’s Sienna?”

“Here and there,” she answered vaguely. “She’s been hovering since I came back. Trying to make sure I’m okay, but I’m ready to do my own thing again. You know how I am.”

“Ready for anything,” I said, keeping the tone of the conversation light.

She fell silent, seemingly lost in thought for a moment before shifting the conversation. “And how are you and August?”

I felt myself stiffen, but I released the tension quickly. “Oh, you know that’s a weird topic to discuss with you. I’d rather do it another time. After all you’ve been through . . .”

“What better time than the present?” She shrugged. “I’m over him. The veil made me see things more clearly. Truly. You should take him for yourself.”

“I . . . will think about it.” I wasn’t sure what else to say, but she had an agenda and wouldn’t drop it.

She playfully elbowed me. “Enjoy all the perks of an aurae bond, Nat. How lucky are you? I mean, he can give you so much more than Lucifer ever could.”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Lucifer. What was her point? “How so?”

Not-Sasha chuckled. “Please. He’s the devil. He’ll never change. He’s better suited to finding someone that can feed that desire. It’s his magic, after all. The witches he’s had in the past? He just uses them up until he’s bored. I’d hate to see him do the same to you.”

I couldn’t help myself from feeling territorial, but I shoved it down as deep as I could. This was not my friend speaking. “Hadn’t thought of it that way.”

The coffee shop came into view as we rounded a corner. It stood out vividly against the otherwise muted tones of the street. Its exterior was a burst of cheerful color, with brightteal walls adorned with whimsical, hand-painted flowers and vines that seemed to dance up toward the roof.Perk & Petalwas emblazoned in bold, golden letters on a rustic wooden sign that hung above the entrance. A few small tables and chairs were arranged outside on the sidewalk, each set adorned with a tiny vase holding fresh flowers, adding a personal touch to the scene. The windows were large and inviting, allowing passersby to glimpse the cozy interior filled with soft lighting and comfortable seating. The door was painted a sunny yellow, standing open to welcome patrons with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods. It was a bright spot in the city, really focusing on bringing back some beauty and charm into New Chicago.

It only took a minute before I was holding the door open for Sasha, allowing her to enter the coffee shop ahead of me. The familiar jingle of the bell greeted us as we stepped inside. It was packed, and I cursed internally. The girl at the counter, a young werewolf with blue streaks in her hair and a septum piercing beamed at me.

“Hey, Nat.”

“Hey, Melinda,” I greeted with a forced smile. Melinda looked at Sasha expectantly, but of course, the imposter had no knowledge of their previous interactions.

Not-Sasha noticed the lull in conversation and proceeded to start asking about the menu without missing a beat. While she focused on that, I swiftly texted Piper and Ronan:Sasha with me. At P&P.I tucked my phone into my pocket just as she finished ordering and turned around, both of them looking at me.

“I’ll have a cinnamon dolce latte, please,” I requested, catching a flicker of surprise on the barista’s face. It was fleeting, quickly replaced by a practiced smile.

“Sure thing,” she replied smoothly, punching in my order. “Want me to put it on your tab?”

“That’d be great.” I gave her a subtle nod.

Sasha had already moved to wait for our drinks, her attention momentarily captured by something on her phone. There were a good number of people in the seats, but I watched surreptitiously as a barista began moving from table to table. People were calmly standing and gathering their things to leave, keeping cheery tones as they waved their goodbyes.

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