Page 32 of The Daughters of Nyx

The others were usually flashes. Scenes. But this had felt different, more real, and I wasn’t sure why.

“Though, the warning you got did sound an awful lot like the psychic, so I’m guessing with all the stress, you’ve just manifested her bullshit into your dreams.”

I released a shaky breath and tried to agree with her. “You know, you’re probably right.”

“Did you remember the tea?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, mother. Though, there isn’t going to be any left after tomorrow night.”

Thea groaned and pulled herself from the bed. “We’ll try another witchy place. And anyway, the dreamshaveslowed down. I wonder if it has something to do with our new neighbours.” She wagged her eyebrows, so I threw a pillow at her.

“Maybe the nightmares are finally coming to an end,” I replied, sitting up. “Last thing I want to do is rely on people I don’t know for that comfort.”

Thea smiled sadly and perched on the edge of the bed. “Howdidthe date go?”

I cocked my head. “Can I even call it a date if the intended date didn’t come but his best friend did instead?” As Thea opened her mouth to respond, a look of absolute delight and mischief in her eyes, I waved my hand. “Donotanswer that.”

My friend chuckled. “Fine. I’ll pass up on the absoluteperfectopportunity for a dirty joke.” She pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away. “Honestly? I’d say yes. You were with him for over an hour and a half. I couldn’t get a hold of you. And you were so…gooeywhen you got back. I literally

thought he’d broken you. So yes, date. Tentative first date, at best.”

I nodded. “It was good. Easy. Like I didn’t have to try to be something I wasn’t. When he looked at me, I feltdesired. And it was really fucking nice.”

“Well, you deserve that, because you looked hot. Thanks to me,” she added with a wink. “I will hold judgement until I am properly introduced, because I don’t trust either of those weirdly handsome men.”

I couldn’t help but giggle at that. Finally, Thea left my room in search of morning sustenance, but my mind still reeled from the nightmare.

Why had it felt so different? So surreal?

And what was that figure?

Shaking my head, I went through the motions of getting ready; jeans and a comfortable sweater, wool socks and a scarf. Throwing my hair up into a pony-tail to keep the wind from knotting it, I exited my room with my purse in hand.

“I need to go for a walk, so I’ll be back with coffee, my treat,” I said, not looking at Thea as I started for the door.

From the kitchen, I heard her mumble a reply.

As I slipped out of the apartment, I almost ran right into Rowan. “Oh, I’m sorry!” I gasped, stumbling back.

The handsome red-head blinked down at me for a moment, and a look of confusion filled his hazel eyes. “Why are you sorry? I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

I shook my head. “Neither was I.”

I waited for him to crack a smile or flirtatiously joke with me, but neither came. Had I been right about him all along, despite Adrian’s reassurances? Or had something happened?

“I missed you at coffee,” I said quietly, glancing away from the intensity of his stare. “But thank you for nottechnicallystanding me up.”

Rowan cleared his throat, and when I chanced a glance at him, he was rubbing the back of his neck. “I know Adrian told you…” he trailed off with a sigh. “I am sorry. It really was a migraine.”

“Are you feeling better?” I asked.

Rowan met my stare, pink highlighting his cheeks. “Yeah, definitely. It came and went pretty quickly, but I was out for a couple of hours.”

I nodded and gave him a sympathetic smile. “I’d like to try again, if you’d like to. Coffee, that is.”

I could see the hesitation in his eyes as clear as day. Uncertainty. Like he wanted to let me down gently.

Clearing my throat, I shook my head. “You know what?” I asked, the smile stiff on my lips. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you later.”

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