Page 15 of Mostly Shattered

It’s not exactly an apology.

I want him to leave. “My parents?—”

“I didn’t come for your parents.”

“Then… Anthony?” I gesture toward the library door. “He’s probably with my parents.”

Or in my father’s office, looking for shipping schedules to get us out of the country. Initially, I thought the idea was crazy, but the more I think about it, the more onboard I am with the plan. Leaving holds great appeal.

“I came here for you.” His hand lifts toward me.

I jerk back, taking a step to avoid making contact. “Uh, why?”

“I gave you time to grieve, but it’s time.”

“Time for what?”

“The prophecy.”

Is this some kind of strange vampire come on line? Why is he looking at me like I know what that means?

“George’s prophecy,” he insists.

A memory tickles the back of my mind of Costin and my grandfather, but the complete form of it eludes me.

The paranormals are always going on about spells and prophecies and magical duty. None of it has anything to do with me. I’m in their world, but I don’t matter to it.

“I’m not interested.” I want less supernatural in my life.

I want to be normal.

I want Paul.

I don’t want a sexy blood-driven vampire.

What’s that stupid quote? Methinks the lady doth protest too much?

“You mean now is not a good time?”

“No. I’m not interested. Ever.”

He visibly stiffens. “It does not matter if you are interested. That is not how destiny works.”

I think of all the things the supernatural world has taken from me. I wish I never knew it existed. I wish I were never born a Devine. “I’m mortal. I’m not special. But that does not make me an idiot. I’m not part of some grand prophecy. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I grew up around this bullshit, and I’m clean out of shovels. Go away, Costin. I’m tired.”

“George didn’t tell you?” He crosses his arms and lowers his chin toward his chest to give me what I assume is supposed to be an imposing look. “This isn’t a game. Far from it. You’re needed.”

I automatically reach to touch the amulet aroundmy neck, but it’s never there. I remember its broken pieces in the pouch now tucked away in my room. There are many things my grandfather didn’t tell me before his death. The last secret I tried to uncover led me to my birth mother, who I lost alongside Paul and Diana. Now Conrad is haunting me, and it’s all I can do to keep it together.

I’m not going on another magical adventure.

I wish everyone would just leave me alone.

The need to scream fills my chest and burns my throat. I suppress it.

He reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a small leather-bound book from his inner pocket. He tries to hand it to me.

I shake my head and take another step toward the door. If he’s not going to leave, I will. “I don’t want it. I’m not pulling a sword out of some stone to become king or stopping the world from ending or giving birth to the destroyer of the universe or whatever scheme has been cooked up by bored elders at a dinner party. At best, this is a prank. At worst, the prank kills someone I care about. So, thank you for the offer to be the butt of your joke, but I’m going to have to decline.”

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