Author: Jessica Wayne; Meg Anne
Date: 2018-10-20 14:52:13+00:00
Description: Skye Giovanni was seven years old the first time death came to her. She has been haunted by visions of death since she was a child. It is her legacy and her curse. What good is power when you have no control over it?Detective Lucas MacConnell is being hunted. Crime scenes with ritualistic murders are starting to pop up everywhere, and the only thing Lucas knows for sure is that the mysterious Skye is at the center of it all. An ancient power rises determined to end them both. Thrown together by fate, and a destiny slowly spiraling out of their control, they will have to learn to trust each oth
Publisher: Independently published

Star-Crossed

Cursed Hearts Book 1

Meg Anne

Jessica Wayne

Star-Crossed
by Meg Anne & Jessica Wayne

Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved.

ISBN 13: 9781728958859

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places, or actual events is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Edited by Jessa Russo of Russo Editing

Proofread by Dominique Laura

Cover Design by Hell Yes Design Studio

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Sneak Peak!

From the authors

Meg’s Acknowledgments

Jessica’s Acknowledgments

About Meg Anne

Also By Meg Anne

About the Author

Also By Jessica Wayne

You don’t find love, it finds you. It’s got a little bit to do with destiny, fate and what’s written in the stars.

-Anais Nin

Chapter 1

Skye

Skye was only seven years old the first time she killed someone.

Now, twenty years later, as she stood on the balcony of one of Chicago’s most prestigious art galleries, looking up at a sky full of brilliant white stars, each gory detail of that night was etched in the recesses of her mind, like a sinister snapshot she could never forget. And why would she forget?

It had been her mother’s life that was lost.

A life snuffed out because she didn’t know how to control the curse she’d inherited the day she was born. Skye made a mistake, one she wished she could say she’d never repeated, and the woman who’d given birth to her paid the ultimate price. When she’d predicted her mother’s death, she’d assumed it was nothing more than a nightmare. After all, what seven-year-old had that kind of power?

She hadn’t warned her mother, and just like in Skye’s premonition, Marie Giovanni had been killed during a mugging outside of the corner grocery store in broad daylight.

Skye closed her eyes and tilted her head to the sky, trying to bring the stars closer while pushing the ghosts of her past farther away. Thinking on it now would do no good; if there was anything she’d learned over the course of her lifetime, it was that you couldn’t change the past.

No matter how hard you tried.

The stars burned brightly enough to be seen even in the middle of the city, illuminating the dark night with their brilliant light. Skye shivered, the fine hairs on her arms standing at full attention. It’s just the chill in the air. As Skye wrapped her shawl more tightly around her body, she couldn’t ignore the growing feeling of unease.

“It’s cold out here,” a man said behind her, his deep voice ripping her from her thoughts. Skye spun around, her hand pressed against her chest as her heart thundered wildly. “What the f—”

The stranger spoke over her, his hands lifting as he took a hurried step back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She looked up and down the stranger’s hard body, and couldn’t help but appreciate the way he filled out his dark suit. His jaw was strong but clean-shaven, and bright blue eyes shone out from beneath thick lashes.

“It’s alright.” She offered him a smile. “It’s no more than I deserve for getting so wrapped up in my own thoughts. A girl in Chicago should always know better than to lose track of her surroundings.” She turned back to look out at the skyline, thinking the conversation was over.

“It sure is beautiful tonight, isn’t it?” he asked, joining her.

Skye’s muscles stiffened at the unwanted company. “It is,” she agreed, her voice curt. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy the new view, but the reason she’d come out here in the first place was to get away from other people for a while.

He placed his hands on the railing. “What are you doing out here? Trying to get away from the ‘art’ in there?” He raised his hands in air quotes.

Skye smiled. “Not your cup of tea?”

He snorted, his lips quirking in a smile. “Not at all.”

Curious, she turned her head up to look at him. “Then why come?”

“My sister is a big art fanatic. She loves the artist who did all this tonight, and since her divorce, I’m her plus one.”

“That’s sweet of you.” Skye eyed him with new interest. Kind and sexy? Now there was a potent combination. She turned to face him fully, suddenly more willing to spend some time with the intriguing stranger.

“She’s my sister.” He shrugged, as if everyone had that kind of familial loyalty.

Skye bit back a snort; she sure as shit did not. At least, not since her grandmother’s death.

“Hey, where’d you go?” he asked.

Skye gave him a bland smile. “Dark thoughts.”

“I can see that. Want to talk about it?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Spill my deepest secrets to a complete stranger? No thanks, I’ll pass.”

He chuckled. “Sometimes talking with a stranger is easier than chatting with a friend. Less history to get in the way of the words.”

Skye couldn’t disagree, although she was no more inclined to share her thoughts with him, no matter how charming he was.

“Is this the part where I’m allowed to ask your name? Or are you going to take off one of those stilts and try to stab me with it?”

Skye couldn’t contain her snort of laughter. “I’m sorry, my what?”

He gestured toward her six-inch heels. “Your skyscrapers.”

She glanced down at her feet, twisting one leg to provide a better view of her buttery black leather Steve Madden stilettos. Metal studs covered the back of each heel. Shoes were her one indulgence—the higher the better. At five-foot-two, Skye approved of anything to help bring her up past other people’s chins.

“I don’t know how the hell you walk in those things.”

Skye smiled coyly, narrowing her gaze. “Oh, very well, actually.” She turned slowly and began walking back toward the door of the gallery, exaggerating the roll of her hips for his benefit. She paused at the door to glance back at him over her shoulder. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Heat blazed in his eyes. “Yes, ma’am, I sure do.”

Skye’s mouth dropped open. After that performance, he called her ma’am? “Ma’am? Jesus,” Skye sputtered, spinning around to face him.

She could see by the tight line of his mouth that he was trying not to laugh at her. “Where I come from, ma’am is considered polite.”

Skye stalked back to him. “Yeah, if I was sixty. No twenty-seven-year-old woman wants to be called ma’am.”

She caught a hint of a dimple as he replied, “Fair enough. So, what should I call you, then?”

Skye hesitated. She’d dropped her guard, breaking one of her many rules. Strict rules.

Always keep it casual.

No last names.

No phone numbers.

No complications.

She couldn’t afford complications. People had a habit of getting hurt around her and emotional involvement only made things worse.

He searched her gaze with fierce blue eyes, then he held out a hand. “I’m Lucas. Lucas MacConnell.”

It felt like a challenge, the way his eyes bore into hers while his hand remained steadily outstretched between them. One thing Skye couldn’t resist was a challenge.

“Skylar,” she said finally, lifting her hand to place it in his much larger one. “But I go by Skye,” she quickly added.

“Skye,” he repeated, enunciating the word slowly so that she couldn’t help but watch the way his lips rolled around her name. Damn, he’s sexy. Skye blinked at the unwanted thought. Trouble. This man was certainly trouble. That meant it was time to go.

“Well, I should probably get back in there,” she said, forcing her focus from his mouth.

That dimple flashed again. He was totally on to her.

“I’d rather you stayed out here a while longer.”

For the first time in a long time, Skye wanted that too. But years of instinct were hard to ignore, so she stepped back anyway. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

“Guess I’ll see you in there.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Not if I can help it.

A gust of wind sent her shawl slipping from her shoulders. Lucas’ hand was out in an instant, catching the soft material before it could fly away completely.

“Close one,” he murmured, stepping in to wrap it back around her shoulders. As he did, he let his fingers brush against the exposed skin of her arm. The gentle caress had Skye shivering for a whole new reason.

Her mouth went dry as he caught her eyes with his once more. She opened it to say something but stopped as the familiar tingle of a vision worked its way up her neck.

Skye thought she heard the word “Fuck,” but her eyes had already rolled back in her head and then there was only darkness.

Skye looked around, but she didn’t recognize the inside of the quaint diner. The color had drained from the world, letting her know this wasn’t reality—yet. Tables were situated in neat rows along the walls, and she continued searching for any clue as to where she was.

Lizzie’s Place was written in elegant scroll above the menu, and Skye watched as a young woman donning an apron stepped into the room. Her hair was pulled up into a tight bun, and she smiled as she went to work pulling baked goods from the glass cases on the counter.

The bell above the door rang and Skye turned to see who the new arrival was. A man stepped into the diner, and she struggled to make out his face. For the first time since she’d begun having visions, the details were blurry. Why couldn’t she see his face?

The woman greeted him with a warm smile. “I’m sorry, but we’re closed. We’ll open again at five tomorrow morning.”

The man didn’t speak. He stepped past Skye, and the chill that passed through her shook her to the core. It was as if the man knew she was there somehow, as if he sensed her and his subconscious was reaching out to hers with cool gripping fingers. That’s another first.

“I’m not here for the food,” he said calmly, stepping around the counter.

The woman reached for a knife and clutched it to her back. “Sir, you need to leave, now, or I’ll call the police.”

The man laughed. “I have nothing to fear from them. They are only men, and I am so much more than that.” He lashed out with his hand and knocked the woman to the ground.

“Stop!” Skye screamed, knowing they wouldn’t hear her. But they did, or at least he did. The man stopped his attack, leaving the woman trembling on the ground. He turned to Skye, his head cocked to the side, and the way he studied her made her feel as if she were an ant and he was holding the magnifying glass.

While she still couldn’t see his face, the intensity of his scrutiny made her stomach roll.

“Please don’t,” the woman begged, pulling his attention back to her.

“You know, I’ve been searching for you a long time.” He sneered as he raised his hand.

Skye closed her eyes and whimpered as the man slammed his hand down on the woman’s chest. The vision faded away, leaving Skye with a mixture of total helplessness and bone-chilling fear.

“Hey, you alright?”

She opened her eyes to find Lucas watching her with more than a little worry.

“I sent someone to call 9-1-1.”

“I’m fine. That happens occasionally.” She pushed past him and struggled to her feet. She wobbled, her six-inch heels feeling more precarious than they had only moments before. Skye’s hand shot out as she fought to keep her balance, her fingers colliding with a solid wall of muscle.

“Easy,” Lucas murmured, reaching out to help steady her, but Skye flinched away.

It would have been so easy to let herself curl into him and the promise of comfort in his eyes. As it was, she already knew he would be haunting her dreams, and she couldn’t afford wasting time thinking about him. Especially not now, when she knew that woman was going to die, and Lucas MacConnell was somehow associated with her. He wouldn’t have triggered her vision otherwise.

His eyes narrowed, not missing the way she dodged his touch. “You think passing out occasionally is normal?”

“Yup.” She moved farther away from him, her body already angled toward the doors. “Thank you, Lucas. It was nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, you too,” he responded softly, his brows low over his eyes.

Skye stepped back into the gallery and grabbed a flute of champagne off the nearest tray. After downing it in one drink, she replaced the glass and grabbed another. They didn’t make alcohol strong enough to wash away her visions, but she could still try.

“Skye, darling! I’ve been searching everywhere for you.” Maxwell Jaques breezed over to where she stood and wrapped his thick arm around her shoulders. “Where did you run off to?”

“I needed some air.”

“Well, after tonight, you can take all the air you want.” He leaned in, bringing his mouth to her ear. “My dear, you have sold every single painting.”

“Every painting?” she asked, her eyes widening with shock. She’d posted over three dozen new works for this event.

“Oh, yes, and you have a decent sized wait list for first dibs at your next lot.”

Her horror momentarily forgotten, Skye smiled and gave Maxwell a hug. He’d been her agent for the last two years, and he had helped her go from street corner artist to downtown gallery status nearly overnight.

“Thanks for everything, Maxwell.”

“Thank you, darling! My paycheck for this event is going to buy me some new shoes.”

“Same here.”

Maxwell stopped just before the stage and pushed her toward the steps. “They want a speech, honey, so give ‘em one.”

Skye made her way up onto the stage and did her best to push the lingering fear away. It would do her no good to dwell on her vision while art collectors still roamed the gallery.

“Hello, everyone, I am Skye Giovanni, the artist whose paintings you’ve been looking at for the last few hours.” She looked out over the impressive crowd, when her gaze caught a pair of bright blue eyes. Lucas was gaping at her with wide eyes as he shook his head in disbelief. She ignored the gentle tug in her belly and refocused on the crowd so she didn’t lose herself in his stare. “I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly amazed I am at the turnout tonight and the support from each and every one of you. Thank you all for coming. I hope to see you again soon.”

As the crowd cheered, raising their glasses to the star of tonight’s event, Skye smiled and left the stage, shaking hands with a few familiar faces on her way to the exit. Not looking back, Skye all but ran out of the building to her car. She couldn’t bump into Lucas again, not after what she’d seen. Who knew what role he was going to have in that mysterious woman’s death? His touch wouldn’t have triggered the vision if he wasn’t connected in some way.

Stay in your lane, Giovanni. Once she’d Seen a death, there was no changing the outcome; if she was lucky, she’d only succeed in delaying it for a while. Since she couldn’t do anything to prevent the inevitable, why bother intervening? Even so, something about this one had her reeling. The need to do something—anything—to help the victim was overwhelming, and Skye couldn’t help but wonder who the woman was, and if she’d be able to find her before she was killed.

Chapter 2

Lucas

Lucas watched the gorgeous brunette practically flee from the room. He’d taken one look at her standing on the balcony and known with a bone-deep certainty that she was waiting for him. His years on the force had taught him to always trust that instinct, so he hadn’t thought twice before walking over and talking to her.

She had been a vision painted in moonlight with dark hair falling in loose waves down her back. Lucas would have the image of her standing there staring up at the Chicago sky permanently imprinted in his memory for the rest of his life.

He’d thought she was beautiful before she had even turned around, but once he’d got a look at those wide amber eyes, framed by the longest eyelashes he’d ever seen, he knew he was a goner. She’d worn barely a hint of make-up, but he’d noticed the soft sheen of something on her pouty lips. Lips he desperately wanted to crush against his. Although kissing her would be an interesting matter of physics. She was tiny, even with her stilts the top of her head would barely reach his chin. Fuck, those heels were something else. His thoughts traveled back to the way her hips had swayed when she moved. Had he ever seen a woman move like that? Lucas bit back a groan as he imagined her wearing nothing but those shoes.

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. He hadn’t had a reaction this intense to a woman since Tinsley Carter in ninth-grade Geometry.

That wasn’t even the worst of it. Lucas couldn’t believe he’d gone and put his foot in his mouth by insulting the art on display. Her artwork. He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose to relieve some tension from the headache slowly building behind his eyes.

No wonder she wanted to run away from him, he’d completely insulted her livelihood.

What a schmuck.

Lucas stole a glance at one of the colorful pieces displayed on the wall to his left. Now that he knew the woman who created the piece, he was much more interested in studying it. The brush strokes were bold swipes across the canvas, red lines thick and luscious, while thinner black lines swirled among them, almost as if trying to contain the red ones.

Lucas shook his head; an art critic he was not.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Lizzie asked as she stepped up beside him.

“Yes, she is,” he answered without thinking.

“What?”

He blinked, pulling his gaze away from the painting to look at his sister.

Blue eyes, so like his own, narrowed with laser-like intensity.

Lucas shrugged, playing it off. “I said, ‘yeah, I guess.’”

Her eyes narrowed further.

Shit, she wasn’t buying it.

“Who did you meet tonight?” she demanded.

“No one.”

Lizzie craned her neck around, searching the room. “Is she still here? Did I meet her?”

“Fuck, Lizzie. You’re like a damn dog with a bone. Just let it go. I said no one, alright?”

His sister glared at him. “Have you forgotten who you’re talking to? Don’t use that tone with me, Lucas MacConnell. I’m not one of your recruits. I’m your baby sister, and Ma would have your balls if she could hear you right now.”

Lucas winced. She wasn’t wrong. “Sorry,” he said gruffly, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. “Just distracted. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

Lizzie pouted for a few seconds longer before breaking back out into her knowing grin. “So, seriously. Who was she?”

Years of similar conversations told Lucas he wasn’t going to get out of telling her, so he gave in. “I met the artist, but I didn’t know who she was, and I may have, uh… made fun of her art.”

“What?” Lizzie screeched, causing dozens of curious stares to turn their way.

Lizzie slapped his arm. “You go find her and apologize, Lucas. I mean it!”

“How do you propose I do that when she just left?”

“Did you make her cry?” Lizzie hissed.

Lucas frowned. He didn’t recall tears, just the way her body felt pressed against his when he’d caught her mid-faint.

“I don’t think so, and I did catch her when she passed out, so technically that makes me a hero.”

She slapped his arm again, her eyes practically bulging out of her head. “You made her pass out? Seriously, do you have any manners at all?”

He rubbed his arm where she’d smacked him, biting back a wince. He’d never admit it, but she’d gotten him good that time. “I didn’t know she was the artist,” he said, motioning toward the nearest painting, “or I wouldn’t have said anything.”

“I cannot believe you.” Lizzie scoffed. “We need to find her, so you can apologize.”

“I told you, she left.”

“You’re a cop, find out where she lives.”

“Yeah, Lizzie, let me just use police resources to track down a woman I met once to apologize. That’s not creepy or stalker-adjacent at all.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Hungry?”

He eyed her suspiciously. “You planning on poisoning me?”

“Not just yet. You’re safe for now.”

“Gee, thanks.” He followed her through the crowd and toward the car, but he still couldn’t get his mind off the terrified look in Skye’s golden eyes as they’d fluttered open, or the way they seemed to see through to the core of him.

He wasn’t sure how he was going to manage it, but he had every intention of seeing her again, and not just because his little sister demanded he apologize. Although… that was a convenient excuse. But he would have done it anyway. Everything inside of him ached for her, and they’d only spoken for about ten minutes. Just what in the hell was that about anyway?

He was so deep in his own thoughts, he barely heard his sister until they stopped on the street in front of her diner.

When their parents had passed away three years before, the inheritance they’d received had been substantial enough that by putting it together, they’d been able to purchase the tiny run-down space and turn it into a bustling shop. His sister had always dreamt of owning her own place, and since he hadn’t needed the money, investing in her future was just as satisfying to him as it was a dream come true to her.

Sometimes one dream coming true required walking away from another. Purchasing the shop is what finally pushed Lizzie to file for divorce. Her bastard ex had never believed in her. He’d said owning a restaurant was not only a bad investment, but they’d lose everything they put into it. It would be irresponsible, he said, to let her throw away ‘their’ money just so she could cook for and wait on people when she could stay home and do it for free. He then selfishly suggested they take ‘their’ money and fund his plumbing business rather than invest in ‘her little dream’.

When Lizzie refused, he’d nearly put her in the fucking hospital, and it had taken everything in Lucas not to put the asshole six feet under. He shook his head, trying to clear the angry thoughts from his mind. After two years, Lucas could still hear the horror in his little sister’s voice from the phone call the night she left her ex.

The bastard was still in prison, but there was no sentence long enough to remedy what he’d done to Lizzie.

It was part of the reason why Lizzie’s success was so bittersweet for Lucas. After everything she’d gone through to get here, she deserved every second of happiness it brought her. Their parents would have been just as proud of the business she’d built as he was.

Lizzie unlocked the door and flipped the lights on to reveal a bright space, decorated with a range of shades from red to pink. Tables lined the walls in neat rows, a different colored tablecloth on each one.

When she’d told him her idea as far as decorating the space, he’d told her she was crazy. There was no way all those colors were going to work together. If he remembered correctly, he had informed her that it would look like a box of Crayola had shit all over the place. But she’d done it anyway; that was his sister: as stubborn as they come. He’d also been forced to admit he was wrong, something that did not come easy, to say the least.

Her space was beautiful and unique, just like her. Of course, he’d never admit that either. There was apologizing, and then there was laying it on way too thick. No need to go and give her an even bigger head.

“What are you hungry for?”

“Food.”

“No shit, Sherlock, what type of food?”

“Do you treat all of your customers like this?”

She laughed. “Not when they pay.”

“Touché.”

He watched her start to work on a couple of sandwiches, when the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. The overwhelming feeling they were being watched had his hand itching to wrap around the Glock tucked into the shoulder holster he wore beneath his suit jacket.

He slid from the stool at the counter and walked to the window at the front of the shop. “Gorgeous night, isn’t it?” he asked his sister as a chill ran down his spine. Lucas peered into the dark but nothing accounted for the way his heart began to race in his chest.

What the hell? His eyes narrowed on a shadow that seemed out of place, but as soon as he blinked, it was gone.

“Lucas! Hello?”

He turned, frowning. “What? Why are you yelling?”

“You home in there?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

She gave him a long look before gesturing to the plates sitting on the counter with her head. “Sandwiches are ready.”

He nodded, still bothered by the feeling of being watched. After one last cursory check, he decided to let it go for now. Lucas walked back to his seat and let his thoughts drift to stolen moments on the roof and the haunting amber eyes he’d found there.

Chapter 3

Skye

What the hell am I thinking? Skye stared up at the small building before her, the early morning sun reflecting warmly off the glass. Whimsical gold lettering spelled Lizzie’s Place above the door.

In all the years she’d been plagued with visions, she’d never been able to stop the inevitable.

Why would this time be any different?

That relentless tug in her gut, the heavy weight of a fear she couldn’t shake, made this one definitely different. But why?

Skye rubbed her hands down her arms, trying to massage away the dread that lingered since last night’s vision on the rooftop. She trembled, unease settling deep within her bones.

Skye had seen many different types of deaths in her visions—hell, her own mother’s death was a gruesome murder—but nothing came close to the magnitude of last night’s vision.

She wasn’t sure whether it was the way the faceless man somehow sensed her presence or the helplessness in the woman’s eyes as she begged for her life that made this vision one Skye couldn’t ignore.

Standing in front of the quaint diner, indecision cemented her feet in place. Why am I even here? It’s not like she could actually do anything to stop the events she’d foreseen, so why bother? And what the hell was she supposed to tell the woman? ‘Um, excuse me, miss? You don’t know me, but, uh, I had a vision and just wanted to let you know to be careful because some mystery dude is going to try and murder you sometime soon’?

Yeah, that would go over really well. She’d have Skye’s ass thrown in a mental institution before she could blink.

Skye put her palm on the door and pushed. The heady, doughy scent of homemade baked goods mixed with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and Skye inhaled deeply as she stepped inside. She paused to soak up the joyful hustle and bustle of the early morning crowd.

“Have a good day, Mr. Peterson!” a woman called out as a man passed Skye on his way out the door.

Skye turned to face the woman behind the counter fully for the first time. The air left Skye’s lungs in a whoosh. It was the woman from the vision. Her honey blonde hair was pulled back into a neat bun, and her bright smile all but lit up the room. This was a woman who was clearly in her element. Skye couldn’t help but be caught up in the bright mood hanging in the air.

Kind blue eyes focused on Skye, and the woman greeted her with a welcoming smile. “Morning, hon, what can I get you?”

“Just a coffee, please. Thanks.” Skye took a seat at one of the counter stools and looked around. When the man attacked in her vision, the sky had been black beyond the diner’s windows, so there was no need for alarm at the moment. She’d read once that sometimes murderers liked to stake the place out first to get a feel for their target, so she searched the faces of the other patrons.

Oh, come on. She huffed. It’s not like she’d recognize him—the man’s face had been totally obscured.

“Here you go.” The woman set the coffee down, and Skye reached for her wallet. “Nope, first one is on the house.” She winked. “This is your first time in here, isn’t it?”

Skye nodded.

“I knew it! Are you from around here?”

“Not quite. I live downtown.”

“Nice. What brings you up here to our neck of the woods?”

Skye raised her mug. “I heard the coffee was great.” The lie seemed like a safe enough bet, and it had the added benefit of causing the woman to flush with pleasure.

“Well, I hope it lives up to its reputation.” She offered a warm smile, which brightened as she looked past Skye to the door of the diner. “Excuse me.”

She stepped away, and Skye glanced over her shoulder to see what had caught the woman’s attention.

The second her eyes landed on him, her heart began to pound in her chest. Butterflies pooled in her stomach, the treacherous insects leaving her squirming in her seat.

Lucas smiled, dragging his gaze slowly up Skye’s body as he hugged the waitress, then stepped around her. He took the seat beside Skye, and his cologne filled her nose, musky, with a hint of something spicy.

She fought the urge to inhale a deep breath of him.

“Well, isn’t this a coincidence,” Lucas said. His voice was just as deep and gravelly as she recalled, and her body reacted to him with a flood of heat low in her belly.

“You two know each other?” the waitress asked as she poured him a cup of coffee without waiting for him to order.

“Oh yeah, we go way back. You know her, too.” His full lips curved into a smirk. “Skye Giovanni, meet Lizzie MacConnell.” He turned to meet Skye’s gaze. “My sister.”

The blood drained from her face. Well that explains his connection to her; it had been his damn sister she’d seen die.

“Wait! This is the artist?” Lizzie’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh, I love your paintings! They are seriously amazing, and one day I will hang one in my shop.” She focused on an empty wall to the right of the long counter, her eyes glazing over momentarily. “Well, when I can afford to anyways. Not that you aren’t worth it! Because you totally are!”

“Easy, Lizzie, she’s just a person.”

Lizzie pressed a hand to her chest and forced out a breath. “I’m over here rambling.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you.” Skye smiled.

Too bad she was probably going to die. Skye’s stomach sank, the bleak thought making it difficult to maintain her smile. Skye covered it by taking a sip of her steaming coffee. Damn, it really was good. Turns out, her cover story was no story at all.

“Be right back.” Lizzie turned to talk with another customer, leaving Skye and Lucas sitting side by side.

He wore a dark blue suit and his face was clean-shaven, showcasing the dimple she’d admired the night before. He removed his jacket and laid it across the stool next to him, and Skye allowed herself a moment to appreciate the view before the glint of something silver at his hip caught her eye.

She glanced down at the badge. Skye inwardly groaned. Of course he’d be a cop.

It wasn’t that she had anything against the police, but with her visions, she tended to avoid first responders of any kind because they inevitably carried death with them wherever they went. A sad truth, but since she couldn’t do anything to prevent the visions, avoidance was her only means of self-preservation.

“So, you following me?” he asked with a grin.

“Hardly. Just heard the coffee was great here.”

“And?” He lifted his cup.

“It really is. Your sister seems kind.”

“She is a big ball of sunshine, that one. Always has been.”

“You older?”

He nodded. “Four years.”

“It must be nice having a sibling.”

“Only child?”

She took a drink from her mug. “Guilty.”

“What was that like?”

“Lonely.”

An awkward silence passed, the conversation lagging as Skye berated herself, Way to showcase your exceptional conversation skills, Giovanni. This is why we stay at home and play with paint. Less chances to offend people. What the hell did you think was going to happen here? It was a question without an answer. Skye still hadn’t figured out just how she was going to warn them, or if she even should. If it’s going to happen anyways, why make it worse by telling them beforehand? Or is it better to know what’s coming? Would I want to know?

This was an impossible decision to make.

Without a doubt, they would fight hard to try and keep her death from happening, and when it did happen, because her visions always came to pass, Lucas would carry the failure with him, even though he’d have nothing to do with it.

Her thoughts brought on another chill, and she trembled slightly.

“So, listen,” Lucas said, pulling her back to the present. “About what happened the other night… are you sure you’re okay?”

She offered him an empty smile. “I am. It happens when I get overwhelmed.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You were overwhelmed standing on a balcony with me?”

His lips twitched—he didn’t believe her for a second. She focused on those thick, full lips, and that flutter kicked up again in her belly.

Skye stood abruptly. Time to go. She wasn’t supposed to get involved, and here she was, staring at this beautiful man’s mouth like a lovestruck teenager. “I knew I was going to have to give a speech. Please tell your sister I was happy to meet her.” Skye turned to leave but stopped, taking a deep breath as she turned back to face him. She searched his gaze, gnawing on her bottom lip. “Keep an eye out for her. I know it seems like a safe neighborhood, but sometimes bad things can happen to good people for no reason at all.”

He frowned, opening his mouth to retort—

Skye gave a curt nod and headed to the door before he could drag her into his life any further than she’d already dragged herself.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Skye stepped out onto the sidewalk and started the long walk back to her apartment. How could I have been so stupid? To go there like that, and warn him in the creepiest way possible… what was she thinking?

Hell, she wouldn’t be surprised if something did happen and he came looking for her as the number one suspect! She probably would if the roles were reversed. Just what was it about this particular vision that had her sticking her nose in their business?

Murder. His sister’s murder. That’s what was different. This woman’s death would be no accident, no turn of fate. Hell, it wasn’t even a wrong place at the wrong time kind of thing. This would be cold-blooded murder, and Skye knew deep in her bones that she had to stop it.

Somehow.

Grim determination had her lengthening her strides. Whether or not Lucas heeded her warning, Skye couldn’t leave it up to him.

This one was on her.

There were going to be a lot of long nights in her future. Time to get some work done so that she could get a nap in before returning to the diner once the sun went down.

Chapter 4

Lucas

Lucas raced outside, searching the early morning commuters as they rushed past him to catch the bus or scurry off to one office building or another, but Skye was nowhere to be found. What the hell did she mean, keep an eye out for Lizzie? Isn’t that what he’d been doing since the day Lizzie was born?

If he hadn’t felt so uncomfortable last night, he might have considered her warning simply that: a warning. But the way she’d said it made him believe she knew something. And with her showing up here the very next day? No way there wasn’t some connection.

He stood on the street searching for her in the crowd and shook his head. He was not a man who put much stock into random coincidences. Something was off, and he had every intention of finding out what.

After stepping back into the diner, he made his way over to the seat he’d been sitting in next to Skye.

“Did you chase her off again?” Lizzie threw her hands on her hips.

“Why do you always assume it’s me? Maybe she just doesn’t like to stay in the same place for too long.”

“Well, let’s see… you insulted her artwork last night, and this morning, she bails as soon as you get here.” She tapped her finger against her chin, staring up at the ceiling. “Doesn’t seem too farfetched for me to believe you said something, again.” She leveled her gaze on him.

“I don’t suppose you’ll be letting me live that down anytime soon?”

She leaned close and grinned. “What kind of sister would I be if I just let you off the hook that easy?”

“The best kind?”

“Aren’t I already?” She winked. “You might want to think carefully before you reply. Your breakfast depends on it.”

Lucas groaned; he walked right into that one. There was nothing he could safely say if he had any hope of getting food before heading into the precinct. Instead, he picked up his coffee cup and drained its contents.

She laughed as she walked back into the kitchen.

“Women,” he muttered. It was only eight-forty and he’d already had a run-in with two of them that left his brain feeling more scrambled than his eggs would be. There wasn’t enough coffee in the world to help a man mentally prepare for a verbal showdown that early in the morning.

Lizzie set a heaping plate of eggs and bacon in front of him.

Lucas looked up at her, smiling.

She presented a small dish of her special cheese sauce. “You know I wouldn’t forget.”

“Give it here,” he demanded, holding out a hand for the coveted treat.

“Not so fast,” she said, holding the dish just out of reach. “If you want this, you have to promise me something.”

“Anything,” he said without hesitation.

“You find Skye and apologize properly. There’s no way she’ll want to be friends with me if you keep running her off.”

There were no two ways about it. Lucas pouted, going into full sulk mode. “I didn’t even do anything this time.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Lizzie—”

“Do you want to start making your own breakfast?”

“For fuck’s sake, fine. I promise. Are you happy now?”

Her smile was blinding as she handed him the little dish. “Very.”

“At least one of us is,” he muttered.

“What was that?” she asked, already making a move to pluck the dish from his hands.

He was about two seconds from turning into Gollum and hissing “my precious” at her. If she came any closer, he’d lose the battle entirely. “Nothing.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Once her back was turned, he stuck his tongue out, not caring at all that he was a grown-ass man and a highly decorated detective for the Chicago P.D. When it came to siblings, there were some things you were never too old to do.

Twenty minutes later, Lucas made his way up the stairs and into the old brick building that housed the Chicago Police Department. Once inside, he carefully navigated his way around the throng of people waiting to pay parking tickets or to bail out their unlucky relatives currently sleeping off a night of bad decisions behind bars. It was like a carefully choreographed dance that only a veteran could accomplish without spilling a drop of coffee.

Lucas stepped into the elevator behind two rookies coming off the night shift.

“Morning, MacConnell,” one of them said.

Lucas dipped his head in greeting but didn’t engage further. He had a bit of a reputation in the precinct and really didn’t have the energy to deal with a case of hero worship this early. That wasn’t necessarily just his own ego talking either. From his first few months on the force, Lucas quickly made a name for himself, finding leads and solving cases that had stumped long-time veterans. He made department history by getting promoted from a beat cop to homicide detective in just under six months. Such a quick rise was unheard of, but even so, no one had anything to say about ‘paying dues’ or ‘special treatment’. His record spoke for itself.

The elevator doors slid open as it stopped at the third floor. Lucas lifted his travel mug in farewell as he got out of the elevator and made his way toward his desk. The office was a bustling hive of activity, the phones ringing off the hook, and the various men and women that comprised Chicago’s finest busy answering calls in between bouts of note-taking or file searching. It was chaotic, but it was home. There was nowhere in the world where Lucas felt more himself.

Besides, it’s not like he had anyone to go home to. His closest relationships were with his sister and a pit bull named Lucy, which was depressing if he thought about it for too long. But after seven failed relationships in as many years, with women who seemed only interested in becoming the future Mrs. MacConnell and spending his money or sleeping with his friends, Lucas gave up on relationships and threw himself into his work. Working cases made sense. They were puzzles with actual solutions. Women… not so much. Except Lucy. Feed her, walk her, take her to the park to throw a ball around for an hour or two and she was happy. Why couldn’t all women be that easy to please?

“MacConnell!”

Lucas turned toward the chief. “Morning, Hank.”

“I have a live one for you. Come see me once you’re settled.”

Lucas raised a brow. It wasn’t uncommon for Chief Daniels to ask him to overlook a case that came in the night before, but there was something about the grayish cast to his mahogany skin that let Lucas know this was not a drug-deal-gone-bad kind of case.

“Be right there.”

Hank gave him a thankful smile that looked more like a grimace as he made his way to his office.

Setting his mug on his desk, Lucas fired up his computer and flipped through the messages that had come in while he’d been off. A couple of leads on one of his opens and a tip from his C.I. about a possible shooting suspect. Lucas made a mental note to follow up on those as he typed in a name. Sure, he had more important things to do, but he’d promised his sister, hadn’t he?

Skye Giovanni’s bio popped up on his monitor.

“Gotcha,” he murmured.

Address, date of birth, work address, and associated phone numbers. Lucas quickly jot down the info; he’d be able to find her when he had the time. Folding up the paper, he put it into his pocket and closed the browser before heading into the chief’s office.

Hank gestured for Lucas to shut the door behind him, and Lucas’ stomach tightened with the familiar tug of unease and anticipation each new case brought about. A closed door meant this meeting was for his ears only, solidifying the significance of what he was about to hear.

The door whispered closed with a click, and Lucas lowered himself into a faded burgundy chair. “What’s up, Chief?”

“We caught a double last night.”

Lucas nodded for him to continue.

“Deluca and Campbell answered the call, but this shit is way out of their league.”

Frank Deluca and Jonas Campbell were great cops, but they tended to make the easy arrest, which meant they didn’t spend time combing through messy details. They closed lots of cases, but there had been more than a few whispers that they didn’t always find the right man.

Lucas nodded slowly. “Alright, two stiffs. What’s special about them?”

“No IDs have been made.”

Lucas raised a brow. That wasn’t totally unusual in the first twenty-four hours, but the way Hank said it let him know there was more to the story. “We waiting for dentals and prints?”

Chief Daniels grimaced. “That’s impossible, unfortunately. The jaws of the victims were removed, and all fingers have been cut off.”

Lucas frowned, rubbing his chin.

“That was before the bodies were spit-roasted, at least as far as we can tell from the pictures.”

“Spit-roasted?” Lucas asked, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees.

Hank gave a curt nod. “Totally charred. No identifiable marks on either of ‘em. The M.E. is saying the fire burned hotter than anything she’s seen outside of a lab in her lifetime. No clue what the source was. Chemical maybe.” Hank scratched his head.

“So, what you’re saying is we have nothing.”

The chief nodded. “Pretty much.”

Lucas gave a low whistle.

“We have the scene roped off, if you want to take a look in person.”

“Matthews in yet?” His partner was notorious for being late, but Lucas didn’t really want to wait.

Hank nodded. “Got here just before you. Waited to talk to you before looping him in.”

Lucas was already standing. “I’ll fill him in on the way there.”

“Address has already been sent to your phone.”

“On it.”

“Oh, one more thing.”

“Yeah?” Lucas asked, looking over his shoulder.

“There was a message, looks like it was written in blood.”

A chill of foreboding ran down his back. This was definitely not their usual case at all. “What’d it say?” His muscles tensed in anticipation.

Hank shrugged. “Don’t know. Wasn’t in a language we recognized.”

“Great. The devil worship cases are always the most fun.”

Chief Daniels smiled, looking relieved that Lucas didn’t seem bothered by the details. “Keep me filled in.”

“Sure thing, Chief.”

Lucas’ smile dropped as he walked out of the office. He didn’t like the sound of this case. The amount of ritual incorporated into the crime scene told him there was no way this murder was a one-off. A shiver of foreboding ran through him, he had the sinking feeling that this was just the beginning.

Chapter 5

Lucas

The GPS led them to the warehouse district near Union Park, to a brand-new facility that hadn’t even seen its first renter.

Bet they have a hell of a time renting the place now.

Lucas looked up at the building as he and Matthews got out of the car, his veins thrumming with the low, familiar buzz of visiting a crime scene for the first time.

After stepping through the yellow crime scene tape, they pushed open the door and were immediately assaulted with the stomach-churning scent of charred skin and death. Given the chief’s description of the scene, Lucas thought he was prepared for what they would find, but no amount of information could have prepared him for the grizzly scene.

Blood spattered the walls, painting them a grotesque red. The bodies had been dismembered, and he sure as hell hoped it had been done once they were already dead. If that wasn’t enough, the victims were also burned beyond recognition, and he could all but feel the pain radiating from them when he knelt beside their charred corpses.

Lucas closed his eyes. He’d seen his share of murder scenes and not one of them was easy, but this was next level shit. What would drive someone to commit something so fucking horrible? There was no way in hell any sane person had done this—this crime had been the work of a deranged psychopath. He was sure of it.

Matthews had taken the call from the M.E. on the way in; she’d been able to determine the gender of the victims. Both were male and, from bone density, she placed them in their late twenties. Lucas grimaced as he looked down at what was left of the two men, so close to his age with so much life still ahead of them. What a damn shame.

He would get to the bottom of this. He’d find out who had killed them and why, then put that bastard away for life and then some.

“This is fucking disgusting.” Matthews kneeled on the ground to examine the burn marks on the otherwise unmarred concrete. “Now, how the hell does a fire burn this hot and not torch the entire place?”

“You got me.” Lucas studied the black char and shook his head. Strange.

“Why would someone do this?” Matthews asked, although it wasn’t clear whether or not he was looking for an answer.

‘Sometimes bad things can happen to good people for no reason at all.’

Lucas frowned as Skye’s warning floated across his mind. He looked around the room, searching for some method to this madness.

In all his years on the force, he’d learned one thing: to trust his own instinct. And right now, that tug in his gut could not be ignored.

“There’s the message.” He gestured to the far wall opposite the door. “Chief said it’s not in any recognizable language.”

Matthews looked up, his lips curling as he tried to make out the words written in caked blood.

Lucas smiled, looking down at his partner. “Ready to go find out what our killer wanted us to know?”

“You go on ahead. I’ll keep looking around.”

“You know CSI has already been through here, right?”

Matthews nodded. “Yeah, but maybe they missed something.”

“Yeah, okay, chicken shit.” Lucas chuckled.

Matthews was a damn good partner, and someone Lucas could always count on to have his back, but the man’s aversion to blood wasn’t the greatest trait for a homicide detective. Still, they made it work, with minimal teasing.

Lucas turned and moved closer to the wall marred with blood. Runic designs were arranged in a seemingly random pattern, spelling out something important enough to have been written in what appeared to be the victims’ blood. The killer obviously wanted to send a message, so why write it in another language?

He stepped closer to get a better look at the symbols. The drips of blood made it hard to determine where one ended and the next began. What the hell did they mean? His vision began to waver as a buzzing sound filled his ears. His pulse pounded, and he reached forward to press his fingers to the wall. Just before they made contact, Matthews pulled him back to reality.

“You ask me, this whole case screams ritual murder.” His partner moved to stand next to him and tore Lucas’ focus from the message on the wall. “Any idea what it says?”

“Not a damn clue,” he responded as he took out his phone to snap a picture. “You see anything that was missed?”

Matthews shook his head. “Nope. CSI combed this place thoroughly. You get what you need?”

“Yeah. What do you say we get the hell out of here?”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

The two men made their way to the door, taking time to ensure that they re-sealed the crime scene before heading back downtown.

Chapter 6

Skye

Someone banged on her door, and Skye shot out of bed.

“What the hell?” she grumbled, reaching for her phone to check the time. Four in the afternoon. She’d been asleep for nearly three hours already and had hoped to sleep for at least another two hours before heading to watch the diner for the evening.

Another knock.

“This had better be good.” Skye pulled her wrap tighter around herself to cover up her tiny shorts and tank.

She checked the peephole, her mouth falling open at the sight of Lucas’ bowed head. How had he found her? What was he doing at her apartment? He had a drink carrier in one hand and was checking his phone with the other. He wore the same dark suit as earlier, but he’d taken his jacket off and rolled up the sleeves of his gray button-up. Skye was a sucker for rolled-up sleeves. There was something deliciously sexy about a man’s forearms, and Lucas was no exception. The fine blonde hairs on his tanned arm caught the light from the hallway, distracting her and keeping her frozen in place on her side of the door.

“I know you’re in there. I can feel you fuming on the other side of the door.”

“Sonofabitch,” she cursed under her breath, resting her head against the wood for a few seconds.

She opened the door and ignored the way the sight of him made those tiny wings flutter in her chest. “What can I do for you?”

Lucas grinned, releasing that small dimple in his left cheek, and held up the white to-go cups. “I brought you coffee from my sister’s place.”

Skye took the offering and stepped aside to invite him in. She tended to not invite strange men into her apartment—or any men, actually—but something about Lucas set her at ease. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s a cop. He probably wouldn’t kill her. Right? She shut the door behind him.

He looked around the living room, nodding slowly. “Nice place.”

“Thanks.” Her apartment was decorated in the warm shades of sunset: red, gold, orange, and yellow. The color scheme made her feel relaxed, and while she knew that was probably due to the Gypsy blood in her veins, it was one part of her heritage she fully embraced. “So, any particular reason you felt the need to look up my address and bring me coffee?”

He turned around, a slight smile to his lips. “My sister sent the coffee; I’m here to apologize.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Apologize for what?”

“Being a grade-A ass.”

Skye snorted. “When were you an ass?”

“Last night when I told you your art sucked.”

She couldn’t help herself, she burst out laughing and took a seat on her couch. “You’re hardly the only person in the world who doesn’t like my art. Hell, you weren’t even the first person to mention it at the show last night.”

He settled on the couch beside her. “Yeah, but I’m probably the only person who’s said it to your face.”

She raised an eyebrow and waited for him to realize what he’d implied.

“Wait. That’s not what I meant.” He covered his face with his free hand and groaned. “I’m messing this all up again.” Lucas looked back up at her, and Skye fought to ignore the jolt of attraction that shot through her. “My sister loves your work, she sent me over here to apologize for being such an inconsiderate ass, in hopes that you two could still be friends.”

“I wasn’t aware we were friends.”

He smiled. “Not yet, maybe, but if Lizzie has her way—and trust me, she usually does—you will be.”

“Well, then. In that case, I promise to not hold your bad choice of words over your sister’s head.”

“Thanks for that. She’ll be thrilled to hear it.” His blue eyes crinkled as his smile grew, but Skye could still see the deep lines bracketing his mouth. A crease she hadn’t noticed that morning was etched between his brows.

The question left her lips before she could stop herself. “Long day?”

“I’m a cop; most of my days are long.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

He shrugged. “Comes with the job. That your latest work in progress?” He gestured to the canvas she’d started working on that morning.

Swirls of blue and purple paint covered the white material in what would be the backdrop of a night sky. What she would never admit, especially to him, was that it was inspired by the sky she’d seen the night she and Lucas met on that balcony. The night that led them to this very moment, sitting on her couch like two old friends.

“It is. You want to point out how much you hate that one too?” she teased, enjoying the way the tips of his ears turned red with his embarrassment.

“No, I was actually going to say it looks good.”

She studied him for a moment, not sure whether or not he was being sincere, but there was no sign of deception in his eyes. “Good.”

He nodded. “Not great, though, because I don’t want the compliment going to your head.”

Skye’s lips quirked up as she shook her head. “We wouldn’t want that.” Their eyes met, and her breath caught in her throat. From this distance, she could see varying shades of blue in his irises and the way his thick eyelashes were tipped with gold. Her fingers twitched, eager for her paints.

Needing a distraction, she took a sip of her coffee and nearly groaned. Damn, his sister knew how to brew a good cup of coffee.

“Have any plans tonight?”

“Working.” It wasn’t really a lie. After all, she did have a job to do, but it wasn’t like she could tell him she was going to be staking out his sister’s diner in hopes of thwarting a cold-blooded killer. “You?”

“Probably the same. We’ve got a case we’re working; double homicide.”

“That’s too bad.”

His eyes narrowed as he searched her gaze. “Loss of life is rarely good.”

What is he looking for? “Rarely?” She frowned. “I would say never.”

Lucas shrugged. “Honestly, when you’ve seen what I have, you can’t help but wonder if the world would be a better place without certain people in it.” He took a sip of his coffee. “You from around here?”

“Born and raised.”

“Family still nearby?”

She shook her head. “Just me. My parents died when I was young, so my grandmother raised me. She passed away a few years back.”

His jaw tightened, and he reached out like he wanted to touch her but stopped short when she pulled back. “Sorry to hear that.”

She shrugged it off, not wanting to dig back into that pain that still felt so fresh after all these years. “Thanks. What about you?”

“My parents were in an accident a couple years ago, so it’s just my sister and me.”

“Seems we finally have something in common.”

“I suppose we do.” He fiddled with the lid of his coffee cup.

Skye wished he would just spit out whatever it was he was thinking. It was impossible to ignore the effect he had on her when he was this close.

“Can I ask you what you meant this morning?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” She feigned ignorance, hoping the alarm bells going off in her head weren’t obvious on her face.

“When you told me to watch out for my sister.” His eyes narrowed, and he set his coffee cup down, turning to face her completely.

“What about it?”

“Why would you say something like that?”

Skye paused, trying to think of an answer he would believe. “Because being a single woman in a big city can be dangerous. I’ve had my own run-ins with bad people, and I just get the feeling that your sister is a kind soul. The type who would trust easily. I didn’t mean anything by it, just a ‘be safe’ type of thing.”

He nodded, but the way his mouth compressed into a flat line showed her he didn’t fully believe her response. Great. The last thing I need is a cop on my ass. Hopefully he would at least take her warning seriously.

“Well, in that case,” he stood quickly, retrieving his cup from the small coffee table, “you be safe, too, Skye.” He crossed her living room in a matter of strides, wrapping his hand around her antique doorknob. Glancing over his shoulder, he smirked. “It was great to see you again. I appreciate that you didn’t run off the first chance you got.”

She motioned to their surroundings. “Hard to run when I’m already home.”

He smiled widely, flashing twin dimples. Skye’s breath caught in her throat. Holy dimples, Batman. Those things should come with a warning label.

He cleared his throat, and she raised her gaze to look at his eyes. She’d missed whatever he’d said after blinding her with those matching dimples.

His lips quirked. “ I hope you can forgive me for the art insult—”

“Insults,” she corrected.

He chuckled. “I hope you can forgive me for the art insults and be friends with my sister. I’d really like to continue eating breakfast at her diner.”

Skye let out a laugh and joined him at the door. “You’re off the hook. I was never upset to begin with. Please thank her for the coffee.”

“Will do. See you around, Skye.” He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

She thought she heard him singing softly under his breath, but she didn’t catch the words.

When he disappeared into the stairwell, she closed her door slowly, resting her back against it and closing her eyes. Her stomach buzzed with nerves and her heart fluttered around in her chest. Her head hit the back of the door with a soft thud.

“I am so fucked.”

Chapter 7

Skye

Skye pulled her coat closed more tightly, taking a moment to make sure her hair was mostly covered by her new dark blue beanie. She attempted to look inconspicuous but also not like she was casing the joint. To that end, she opted for what she’d considered stake-out-chic, her outfit a blend of midnight blues and charcoal rather than the traditional black. Who knew trying to save someone’s life would turn into a fashion crisis?

That said, she did sort of love the new scarf she’d found when she was out shopping. It was almost as soft as cashmere, but given the ten-dollar price tag, she was more inclined to believe it was some kind of synthetic blend. It felt like she had a cloud wrapped around her neck, and she kept catching herself cuddling into it. I wonder if I could replicate the way this feels with paint… acrylic maybe, something heavy and textured…

Focus, Skye.

As each hour passed, it became more and more clear that Skye did not have what it took to make a career out of being a stalker. Or really anything that required staying still and quiet.

Within twenty minutes of getting there, she was already itching to go home. After three hours, she was ready to shank somebody for their coffee. The aroma wafted out of the diner each time someone entered or left the building.

Skye’s stomach growled with envy.

The real problem was that absolutely nothing out of the ordinary was going on, besides the pseudo-stalker in the soft new scarf.

Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zippo.

People happily went about their business, grabbing a quick bite or something sweet to eat before heading back out to enjoy the rest of their evening.

She stomped her feet on the ground, trying to wake herself up. She was trying to save a life here. No time for distractions. Checking her watch under the dull yellow glow of a nearby street light, she saw it was ten-thirty. Must be close to closing time.

She looked up again as Lizzie flipped the little handwritten sign from “Come in we’re open!” to “Sorry we’re closed!” There were still a few customers in the shop with her, finishing their drinks and desserts. Lizzie laughed and joked with them as she went about cleaning up.

Another twenty minutes passed while the handful of patrons trickled out, and Lizzie’s sole employee finally waved goodbye and headed for the door, leaving Lizzie alone in the still brightly lit diner.

If tonight was the night, the mystery man should be arriving soon.

A few more minutes crawled by, and Skye started to yawn. A flicker of shadows to the right caught her eye. Her adrenaline spiked, her pulse roaring in her ears as her eyes narrowed in on the corner of the brick building, trying to see what the shadows concealed. She was utterly still with the exception of her pounding heart.

“Easy, girl,” she whispered, taking a shaky breath.

She waited for the space of two more heartbeats. Tha-thump. Tha-thump… nothing.

“You’re too late,” a deep voice greeted her.

Skye screamed, spinning around and hurling the first thing her hand could find in her bag at the direction of the voice.

“Whoa! What the fuck!” Lucas shouted, jumping out of the way of a… tampon?

It bounced off his shoulder and landed on the ground. The gods must be laughing at me right now. Only she would try to save herself from a would-be attacker with a feminine hygiene product. And it wasn’t even one of the big boys either, for fuck’s sake.

Lucas crouched to retrieve the tampon, then took a few hesitant steps toward her. “Did you, uh, want this back?” His lips twitched.

Skye snatched it out of his hand, refusing to make eye contact with the bastard who just scared the ever-living crap out of her. Wasn’t she supposed to be the stealthy one? Just more proof that she was nowhere near competent enough for a stakeout.

“Do you make a habit of sneaking up on people?” she snapped, the shock causing her voice to tremble slightly.

He stepped toward her slowly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I thought you were trying to grab a late-night snack, and I was just saying that you were too late.” He motioned to the diner. “She’s closed. I bet I could talk her into heating something up for you, if you ask nicely, though.” He grinned, his dimples flashing and his eyes showing more understanding and sincerity than she thought was fair considering he was the one that just gave her a heart attack. “That is why you’re here, right?” he asked when she remained silent.

Skye opened her mouth to agree, but the sinking feeling in her stomach had her snapping it shut. It didn’t feel right lying to him.

Something flickered in his eyes, and his smile faded. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re doing outside of my sister’s diner the same night you warned me to keep an eye on her, Ms. Giovanni?”

“Oh, I’m Ms. Giovanni now, Detective?”

“Act like a suspect, I’ll treat you like one.”

Skye glared at him. So much for wanting to tell him the truth. “It’s like you said, Detective. I was burning the midnight oil and wanted more go-juice.”

He narrowed his eyes as he crossed his arms. “Want to try that again? Maybe with the truth this time?”

Skye held her arms out and shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a convert. One sip this morning and I’m hooked. Nothing else will scratch that itch, know what I mean?”

His gaze dropped to her lips and his pupils flared. “Mmhmm,” he finally murmured, pulling his eyes up to hers.

She swallowed hard. He was looking at her like she was an ice cream sundae and he wanted to devour her. “It’s just a gut feeling. I was worried about her and wanted to make sure she got home alright.”

Lucas blinked, clearly surprised by her answer.

Skye squeezed her eyes shut and groaned. “I swear I don’t make a habit of spying on people. I just have a really bad feeling I can’t shake, and I…” Skye trailed off helplessly. “I would feel terrible if something happened because I was too much of a chickenshit to do anything about it.”

“You warned her brother, who also happens to be a cop,” Lucas pointed out, not unkindly.

Skye crossed her arms and stared in the direction of the diner, refusing to look at him. “Yeah, as much good as that did. It’s hard to make someone take your warning seriously when your only proof is your intuition.”

“I wouldn’t be alive today if I didn’t trust my instinct,” he said, his voice warm. It reminded her of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, totally decadent and irresistible.

She risked a glance up at him.

“Scouts honor,” he said, holding up his fingers.

She snickered. “Somehow I can’t picture you as a boy scout. You’re a little too rough around the edges. Even for a cop.”

He put his hands over his heart, miming being on the receiving end of a blow. “You wound me, Giovanni.”

“You’ll live, Detective.”

“Can you call me Lucas? Detective sounds so cold coming from you.”

Skye lifted a brow. “I don’t know, can I? You started it with all of your Ms. Giovannis.”

“Fair enough. I’ll stop if you will.”

She pretended to consider, narrowing her eyes as she looked up at the night sky. “Alright, fine. You can be Lucas again, but for the love of God, will you please stop sneaking up on me in the dark?”

He chuckled and had the grace to look embarrassed. He scratched the back of his neck. “Uhh, yeah. You might have me there. Sorry about that.”

“I’ll consider forgiving you if you make good on that coffee.”

“You drive a tough bargain.”

Skye shrugged. “You gave me a heart attack, it’s the least you could do.”

His lips quirked, and she could tell from the way his cheek dipped inward that he was biting down on it, like he was fighting the urge to say something.

Her eyes narrowed. “What?”

He shook his head.

“Spit it out.”

“Nothing, honest.”

“Liar.”

He rolled his eyes. “I was just thinking that it’d be nice to make your heart race in the dark for other reasons.”

Skye’s mouth fell open on a gasp. That was definitely not what she’d been expecting him to say.

She started to speak, but a loud crack cut her off. They both spun in the direction of the diner. All the lights were off and one of the windows had shattered, pieces of glass still raining down onto the sidewalk.

“Fuck!” She broke into a sprint, but Lucas grabbed her elbow.

“Wait, Skye,” he ordered, pulling out his gun. “Stay here.” He raced across the street, not stopping until he barreled through the diner’s door.

“The fuck I will,” she said, running after him.

Chapter 8

Lucas

Lucas burst through the door, not stopping to survey the scene before him. There was no time—not when his baby sister could be in danger. Heart hammering in his chest, he peered into the dimly lit diner searching for any sign of Lizzie.

His eyes landed on a shadow launching toward a figure on the ground. He recognized Lizzie’s bright pink converse and his heart dropped. “Stop right there, asshole!” he yelled, trying like hell to keep his voice from cracking with the bone-chilling fear he felt seeing her crumpled on the ground.

He heard Skye come in behind him, Dammit! Hadn’t he told her to wait? Torn between telling her to get the fuck out and use the back-up, he decided on the latter. She probably would have ignored the order anyway, seeing as how she already disobeyed him once.

“Skye, get the light,” he ordered. He had no intention of taking his gun or attention off this perp for even a second.

Lights flickered on, and Lucas got the first glimpse of his sister’s attacker. The only part not concealed by a dark cloak was the man’s mouth, which was currently turned up in a sinister smile aimed not at him—but at Skye.

He glanced behind him and saw that she’d gone completely pale. What the hell? Did they know each other? His sister’s face was red and tear-stained, and she was plastered against the floor, staring up at the bastard, her eyes wide with fear.

“I was wondering if you’d show up,” the man growled. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that spying was rude, Seer?”

“But murdering innocent women isn’t?” she retorted. Had Lucas not been packing a truckload of adrenaline, he might have given her some credit for keeping her voice steady.

“This little bitch is hardly innocent.”

“Watch your fucking mouth,” Lucas warned, his weapon still aimed at the man.

The cloaked man focused that sinister grin on him, and Lucas nearly dropped to his knees as the same harsh buzzing he’d experienced at the crime scene returned.

“I’m coming for you, Lucas MacConnell. Once everyone around you lies bloody and burned, you’ll be next.” The menacing voice had the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Before he could reply, the man vanished. One second he was there, the next he was gone, leaving everyone standing terrified and confused as hell in his wake.

“Lucas?” Lizzie whispered from the floor, her voice trembling.

He holstered his weapon, then helped her to her feet. “Call 9-1-1,” he ordered Skye and turned his attention back to his sister as he helped her sit in one of the chairs. “Where are you hurt, Lizzie?” He scanned her body for signs of injury.

She had a small scrape on her forehead and a deep cut on her hand, but other than that, she seemed okay.

“I-I-I’m-m-m f-f-ine.” Her voice cracked, and her entire body began to shake uncontrollably.

Lucas wrapped his arms around her and rubbed a hand over her hair. His sister had worn her hair in a high bun since they were kids, convinced that it would help her become a ballerina. The desire to dance had faded as they grew older, but never the habit. It physically hurt him to see her usual pristine bun listing drunkenly to the side.

“Shhh, Lizzie. It’s okay,” he murmured against the top of her head. “You’re safe.”

As the adrenaline began to dissipate, Lucas’ resolve started to crack at the seams. He’d almost lost her. If he’d walked in only two minutes later, he would have had to bury his baby sister.

Other than their grandfather, who they had little to no contact with since he lived in Scotland, she was his only family and his best friend. They were so close in age that they’d been through everything together and life without her just wasn’t an option.

He glanced to the side to check on Skye. She stared, unblinking, at the place where the man disappeared. Her face was pale, and her arms were wrapped around her trembling body. How did she, an artist he’d just met, fit into all of this? How had she known someone was going to attack his sister tonight? Was it a coincidence, or something more?

The police showed up within minutes, and Lucas was grateful to see both Chief Daniels and Matthews amongst them. After guiding his sister to the ambulance parked outside, he headed back into the diner where he’d nearly lost the only person he loved.

“Hey, Chief, thanks for coming out.” He shook Hank’s hand and then folded his arms across his chest.

“Don’t mention it. Your sister okay?”

Lucas nodded. “Physically, she’s fine, other than some cuts on her forehead and hand.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I can’t help but think what might have happened if I walked in any later.”

“You didn’t,” Matthews reminded him with a light slap on the arm. “On a date?” He gestured to Skye, who was busy giving her statement to one of the detectives.

“No, just a random coincidence,” he responded without taking his eyes off her. He had no intention of telling anyone about her cryptic warning, or about how it came to fruition. Not until he’d had a chance to speak with her himself.

The cloaked man had called her a Seer; what the hell did that mean? Seers and magic were things from fiction, not reality. Then again, the man had disappeared in an instant, so perhaps fiction wasn’t too off.

“Any ideas as to who her attacker was, or why they were here in the first place?”

Lucas looked up at the chief, shaking his head. “Not a single one. I was standing out front talking to Skye and heard the glass break. We ran in here and he already had her on the ground.”

“I’ll go check in with Lizzie and see what she might know,” Matthews said, turning toward the door.

“I’ll leave you two to talk.” Chief Daniels nodded at Skye, who had finished up with her statement and was now standing awkwardly off to the side.

“Thanks, Chief.” Lucas shook his hand again and turned to face the woman who seemed to have more secrets than Area 51.

“How’s your sister?” Skye asked as he approached.

“She’ll be fine.” He couldn’t control the anger seeping into his voice. His sister was just attacked by a man who somehow knew them all. An attack that this mysterious woman supposedly had a ‘bad feeling’ about. Shit had better begin making sense or he was going to just start arresting people. Or shooting them. Maybe both.

“I’m glad.”

“Feel like telling me the truth now,” Lucas said, his voice just above a whisper. “Seer?”

Her body stiffened, and she looked up at him with fire in her eyes. “Don’t you ever call me that again or I’ll be done helping you.”

“So that’s what you were doing? Helping me?”

“I warned you that something was coming, didn’t I? She’s alive right now because I warned you and you were here.”

“And exactly how did you know he was going to be here? In my line of work, coincidences like that just don’t happen.”

“Could you stop being a detective for, like, five minutes? This is an entirely new realm of shit that you have no idea about. That man who attacked her tonight was a Druid. And a motherfucking powerful one at that. He saw me in my vision, something that has never happened to me before. Not once. Perhaps you should be more focused on figuring out who he is and why he’s after you than questioning me.” Skye straightened, her amber eyes narrowed into slits.

Lucas put his hands up. “Whoa. Back the hell up for a second. Visions? A Druid? Are you fucking kidding me? What in the actual hell is a Druid?”

He glanced down to see her hands balled into fists. She might be fun-sized, and he towered over her, but she looked like she was ready to knock him out. Even angry, and apparently bat-shit crazy, she was still hot as hell.

“A Druid is a human capable of performing powerful magic.”

Lucas laughed, he couldn’t help himself. A fucking wizard? This wasn’t Harry Potter! “Look, I don’t know what the hell you’re aiming at here Skye, but magic is not real.”

She scoffed. “If you honestly believe that, then you’re about to have one hell of a rude awakening. Goodnight, Detective.”

She spun and stormed away, her boots crunching over shards of glass. When it came to Skye Giovanni, it seemed like there were always more questions, and rarely any answers.

Chapter 9

Skye

Men. Skye adjusted her scarf as she made her way out of the diner and into the dark. Her body started to shake now that the adrenaline had worn off. She picked up the pace, eager to get home.

Was it smart to be walking in the dark alone the same night she’d interrupted a Druid attack? Probably not. But being in that small space with the arrogant, hard-headed Lucas MacConnell was more than she could handle right now.

I warned him, didn’t I? Doesn’t that count for something? So why the hell does he keep treating me like I’m a damn suspect!

“You won’t stop me.”

Skye skidded to a stop, her body going rigid as she turned to the direction of the voice. Standing about four yards away was the Druid, still completely hidden by his cloak.

“Who are you?”

“Someone you don’t want to mess with, little Seer. You can’t stop me. Back off before you get yourself killed.” He disappeared, and Skye’s jaw tightened. A death threat from a Druid. What a great fucking way to end the night.

Deciding her stubbornness wasn’t worth her life, she all but ran back to the diner to get a ride home from anyone other than Lucas MacConnell.

Skye added deep shades of blue to the painting she worked on. It wasn’t something she’d ever let see the light of day, but after the nightmares that plagued her during the two hours she had actually been able to sleep last night, she’d needed to get something onto a canvas. Anything to purge the memory from her mind.

The fear and helplessness she’d felt seeing Lizzie knocked down by the Druid had followed her into her dreams. That combined with her late night personal interaction with the bastard blended together to create the mother of all nightmares.

Skye had always been one to believe in fate. Watching countless deaths become reality, even after she’d thought she’d prevented them, made it impossible not to.

Every person had a destiny, a thin tapestry that laid out their lives within the finely woven strands; change one thing, and the entire fabric could unravel.

Was that what happened last night? Had she plucked the wrong string and now everything was about to come crashing down around her? Dammit, Skye, this is why you don’t get involved!

She took a step back to study the artwork before her.

The Druid stood in the center of the painting, his mouth pulled up in a deadly grin as he looked out from the canvas. There were dark swirls around him, which contained ancient runic letters she’d only ever seen in her grandmother’s journals.

“Never trust a Druid, Skye,” Her Gran warned. “They have no love for the Gypsies. If you meet one, you must run, baby. Run and never look back.”

“Great,” Skye muttered. Trusting the asshole was definitely out of the question, but she worried she was in too deep to run now. If she left, Lucas and Lizzie would die; she knew it with every fiber of her soul.

A knock on the door had her jumping, and she nearly spilled the paint she held. “Coming!” she called, quickly turning the easel around to hide the painting of the Druid. If it was Maxwell, she had no interest in him seeing her current project.

She checked the peephole and inwardly cursed. I do not have the patience today. She briefly considered not opening the door, but the thought was fleeting. If it were just Lucas on the other side, she might have left it closed. It would serve him right for laughing at her. After taking a deep breath, Skye pulled open the door to Lizzie and an incredibly irritated looking Lucas.

“Here.” Lizzie held up a coffee and a basket with muffins piled inside.

“Thanks.” Skye took the offering and stepped aside so her unexpected guests could come into her apartment. “What can I do for you two?”

“I’m not here,” Lucas said stiffly, closing the door and leaning against it.

Skye rolled her eyes. “Alright, Casper. Thanks for the warning.”

“Ignore him; he’s in a mood this morning.” Lizzie shot Lucas a glare, and Skye bit back a grin. “I am here to say thank you.”

Skye frowned. “Not that I don’t appreciate the treats, but what for?”

“For saving my life.” Lizzie’s eyes were the same bright blue eyes as her brother’s, but instead of glowering at her like Lucas was, Lizzie’s shone with emotion.

“I hardly think I was the one who saved it,” Skye protested.

“Lucas told me about your warning, and that you were standing watch outside the diner last night.”

“I just had a bad feeling, that’s all.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” Skye took a sip of her coffee.

“Why did he call you ‘Seer’?”

Skye nearly spit the hot liquid out.

Lucas took a step toward them. “I’ve been wondering that, too. He seemed to know you.”

“I assure you, I’ve never met him before last night.”

“So, how did you know what he was?” Lucas pressed.

And now we’re on to the interrogation. “My grandmother told me about Druids. She was big into the lore.”

“And you? You said he saw you in your vision. Mind telling me what the hell that means?”

“I was tired, Lucas, tired and scared. I meant he saw me right then while I was looking at him.”

“But you called him a Druid.”

“In case you weren’t paying attention, I just told you that my grandmother told me about them.”

Lucas crossed the room in three quick strides, towering over her. “Can you do us all a favor and stop fucking lying?”

Being short had never been such a disadvantage as it was right now because all Skye wanted to do was stand nose to nose with him. She balled her hands into fists and tilted her chin up, refusing to so much as blink. If he wanted to intimidate her, he was going to have to do better than this.

“Whoa, easy, you two!” Lizzie stepped in and put her hand on Lucas’ chest.

They stared at each other a moment, the air packed so full of tension Skye could all but feel it suffocating her. She finally took a step back and coupled the maneuver with a deep breath.

“If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t believe me.”

“Try me,” Lucas growled.

Skye’s jaw tightened, there was something primal in the way he studied her. A hunger that had the irritation transforming into something she wasn’t ready to study too closely. The way she saw it, she had two choices: tell them the truth and they think she’s crazy, or tell them the truth and they believe her.

“He called me Seer because that’s what I am. My grandmother was one too. It runs in my bloodline. I can see the future—”

Lizzie let out a shocked gasp. Skye glanced at her, already anticipating the next question out of her mouth.

“Unfortunately for me,” Skye continued, “my line only has the ability to see death.”  And I can’t do anything to stop it. They didn’t need to know this was probably all pointless.

“So, you saw me die.” If possible, Lizzie’s already pale face leeched of even more color.

Skye nodded. “Yes.”

Lucas scoffed. “You expect us to actually believe you can see the future, and that we are being hunted by a wizard?”

Skye rolled her eyes. “A Druid, not a ‘wizard.’ They aren’t remotely the same thing. Druids are primitive, powerful beings with magical abilities beyond your comprehension. It’s an ancient power tied to their bloodline, making each generation just as strong—if not stronger—than the one that came before.”

“So, let’s say I believe you, which I don’t. But let’s say I do… why would he be after us?”

Skye shrugged. “I’m not a Druid; therefore, I have no clue.”

“How do we stop him?”

“Again, I have no clue. My grandmother always warned me that if I saw one I was to start running and not stop until I was sure he was gone.”

“This is just great.” Lizzie took a seat on the couch.

“Lizzie, it’s a fairytale.”

“Then how the hell do you explain him just disappearing?” Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Lucas, he hated me. I don’t know why, but I could feel it radiating off him.”

“Why would a random stranger hate you? This is just insane.” He took a step further into the apartment. “Wait.” He stopped, turning slowly to face his sister. “Is it possible Jeff got out early?”

Lizzie stared at her brother wide-eyed. “We’d know, wouldn’t we? That’s not possible.”

“Maybe not, but he’s a real flesh and blood man, not some ancient primordial Merlin or whatever.” Lucas shot Skye a glare, and she rolled her eyes.

“Jeff is my ex-husband,” Lizzie explained. “He’s in jail right now.”

“For attacking her,” Lucas added.

“Oh, fuck,” Skye said, turning her back on him to focus on Lizzie, who was bone-white. She reached for Lizzie, but stopped short when Lucas cursed.

“What now?” she snapped as she spun to face him.

“What the hell is this?” He held up her painting, and Skye groaned.

She should have hidden it better.

“Something I did this morning to try and alleviate some stress.”

“What are these?” He gestured to the symbols.

“Runes.”

“Runes?” he repeated.

Skye nodded.

After setting the painting down, he pulled a cell phone from his pocket and thrust it in her face. “Are these the same thing?”

Skye studied the picture. Blood had been used to paint runes on a wall. While she couldn’t read the symbols, she did recognize them as a spell. This Druid had performed a ritual of some kind, and Skye knew it wouldn’t be his last. He wouldn’t stop until the other two people in this room were dead.

“It’s a spell of some kind.” The words were as shaky as her legs. Skye sat down heavily beside Lizzie and closed her eyes as her vision swam. Everything about this situation screamed wrong.

“A spell?” Lucas spat out the word as if it was tainted. “Seriously, Skye?”

She forced her eyes open and looked up at him. “Did I stutter?” She had no idea where the bravado came from. Inside, she was losing her shit.

Lucas was losing the hold on his temper. His jaw was clenched, the tendons in his neck jutting out as he ground his teeth. Red was creeping its way up his neck as he glared, his blue eyes glacial. Despite his obvious anger, Lucas didn’t raise his voice. If anything, he spoke more softly. “What. The fuck. Does. It. Say?”

Skye sat very still, a primal part of her recognizing the danger that was rolling off him. Since she was the one with answers, his anger was currently directed at her. Unfortunately, what she was about to say was only going to enrage him further. “I don’t know.”

“Stop fucking around. You say it’s a spell, how can you know that and not what it says?”

Skye jumped out of her seat and shoved her finger in his surprisingly solid chest. Ouch. “Because of how they are positioned, asshole.”

Lucas glanced down at where she had poked him and then back up, his eyes widening before he straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. It was unclear who was more surprised by her outburst.

She was sick and tired of him accusing her of lying to him. She wasn’t purposefully withholding information; she’d tried to help as much as she could. The fact was, she really didn’t know. This was way beyond what her grandmother had taught her before she passed.

Skye rubbed at the base of her neck, the muscles there knotted with tension. None of this was their fault, they just wanted answers. They are just as terrified as I am, perhaps more so since it’s their family that’s under attack. She took a deep breath before explaining. “There’s purpose in the way the runes interact with each other. It’s like math; placement matters. You can recognize something as a formula without understanding what it’s for. Anyone who ever sat through basic algebra could tell you that.”

“Ancient magical math. Great.” Lucas’ shoulders sagged, and he sat down on her loveseat, taking up almost all the space. He looked silly and out of place surrounded by her sunset-colored pillows and blanket.

“He’s not going to leave us alone, is he?” Lizzie asked.

“I don’t think so, you two aren’t just some random targets. There’s something he wants from you.”

“Is there a way for us to translate these?” Lucas asked without looking up.

“There are historians that study that kind of thing. We might be able to find an expert or two that could shed some light on it.”

“Do you know any?”

“Not off hand. I mean, I work with artists, not academics, but I can check around.”

“Great. I’ll be in touch, then.”

“Of course you will. You can’t seem to leave me alone.”

He scowled, which had her biting back a laugh. If nothing else, baiting him was a lot of fun. It helped that he was also nice to look at, all those muscles showcased in fitted jeans and a black Henley. Not that Skye noticed. Not even a little bit.

“Let’s go, Lizzie.”

Lizzie stood up and wrapped her arms around Skye in a brief but tight hug. “Thank you again, seriously. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

Skye patted Lizzie’s back a couple of times, not entirely comfortable with the friendly embrace. Casual touch was always so foreign to Skye because she’d spent the last twenty-plus years trying to avoid it as much as possible. Thankfully, not all her visions were initiated by touch or she might be permanently curled up in the fetal position, but physical contact was the one trigger she could positively identify. Unfortunately, Skye had absolutely no idea why touch only triggered a vision in some cases, which meant that she was never prepared when it happened.

Lizzie squeezed her a final time and started to step back as familiar tingles worked their way up Skye’s neck.

“Not now,” Skye groaned, but the world was already fading away.

Chapter 10

Skye

The dark alley was suffocating, and Skye sucked in a deep breath, trying to alleviate some of the pressure. It felt as if the brick walls were closing in on her, trapping her in whatever horror she was about to witness. It’s only a vision, but the way her heart raced, and the panic she felt deep down in her soul, was real.

She searched frantically for the subject of her vision and spotted Lizzie walking past the alley in the middle of a busy day. Surely he wasn’t going to get her here? Out in the open!

The Druid took shape inside the alley, and Skye opened her mouth to scream. He pulled Lizzie into the dark with him, no one noticing the attack.

Why did no one step in? Why isn’t anyone helping her?

“You see?” he sneered, his hand over Lizzie’s mouth.

Her eyes were wide with fear as she searched for Skye in the alley.

Skye knew the Druid spoke to her even though she still didn’t understand how he could see her.

“See what? That you are a monster?”

“That I am going to win.” His smile was cruel as he said the words with almost seductive gentleness. He snapped Lizzie’s neck, and she crumpled to the floor. “Your detective is next.” He disappeared, leaving the words to echo long after he was gone.

“I’m so sorry!” Skye cried out, rushing to Lizzie, who lay in a puddle on the concrete, her eyes frozen open in death.

The vision faded away and she blinked up into two pairs of worried blue eyes. Lucas helped her sit up on the couch; his earlier anger absent. There was no trace of it in way his eyes searched her face or the gentle way he touched her.

“What did you See?” he asked, his voice deeper than she had ever heard it.

Well would you look at that. Seems that I finally found a way to scare the shit out of him for a change. Not liking where that train of thought was heading, Skye answered his question with one of her own. “Oh, so you believe me now?” Her voice came out in a rasp, taking some of the sting from the words.

“We believe you, Skye,” Lizzie assured softly.

Skye looked up into Lizzie’s kind eyes, so much like her brother’s. How was Skye supposed to tell her that death was coming for her like a freight train? This is just fucking great. I make a friend and now she is going to die, and there is probably nothing I can do about it.

“Lizzie, can you go get Skye some water?” Lucas asked his sister without taking his eyes off Skye’s face.

“Of course. Do you need anything else, Skye?”

“Some ibuprofen, please. Cabinet over the sink,” she told her.

“You got it.” Lizzie stood and walked to the kitchen.

Lucas leaned in close. “What did you See, Skye?” he whispered.

She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. How the hell am I supposed to tell him that his sister is scheduled to die? Again? “He hasn’t given up. He is coming for you both. Lizzie first.”

“Fuck.” A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Did he see you again? Like last time?”

She nodded. “I don’t know how he’s doing it. It must be some kind of spell.”

“Maybe the one he put on the wall of that warehouse?”

Skye shrugged. “It’s possible.”

“Do you think he will come after you? Because you can see him?”

It was something she hadn’t considered before, but after seeing the gleam in his eye—the way he’d seemed almost excited about the fact that she could see what he was about to do—she didn’t think he would take her out just yet. “I think he enjoys making me watch.”

“Twisted motherfucker,” Lucas snarled as Lizzie returned.

“Here, Skye.” She offered her the water and pain reliever. “So, what did you See?”

Skye was really starting to hate that question. She’d always wondered what it would be like to have someone know about her visions. Now, she wished she could go back to the secrecy if only to avoid having to suffer through them a second time during the retelling.

“You aren’t to be alone. Ever.” Lucas’ voice held no room for disagreement.

“It was me again?” Lizzie asked, wrapping her arms around herself.

“He’s not going to get you, Lizzie.” Lucas rubbed her back, and she leaned against him.

“What about you, Skye?” Lizzie asked. “Do you think he’s going to try and hurt you since you saved me?”

She hadn’t told them about last night when he’d found her in the alley and threatened her. What was the point? It’s not like they could stop him. While she didn’t know much, she at least had some basic knowledge of Druids. Still, she had no fucking clue how she was supposed to keep them both safe.

“Neither of you should be alone.” Lucas got to his feet. “You can both stay at my place, I have two bedrooms and I can take the couch.”

“Excuse you?” Skye stood. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I will not be staying at your apartment.”

“Yes, you will,” he growled. “I have no interest in adding your death to my conscience, and I’m certainly not going to let my sister die.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, he isn’t targeting me. It’s the two of you who are in danger. If anything, being near you both is dangerous for me.”

“Are you saying you aren’t going to help us stop him?” Lucas asked, the underlying threat to haul her to jail twinkling in his eye.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Good, then it’s settled. Pack a bag.”

“It is not settled. I am staying here, end of story.”

“So, you’ll be able to live with yourself if Lizzie is killed because of your stubbornness?”

Skye jerked back. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Lucas!” Lizzie protested.

“If I have to worry about you, too, I won’t be as focused. Especially if I have to come here to check on you every day.”

“That’s a low fucking blow.”

He shrugged, but there was nothing relaxed about his stance. “I’m not going to fight fair when my sister’s life is on the line. I’ll use whatever means necessary to keep her safe. Besides, it’s true.”

“Lucas, leave her alone,” Lizzie interjected. “If she doesn’t want to come, she doesn’t have to.”

“Then I guess I’ll just have to leave you alone to come check on her.”

“Damn you,” Skye spat. His stubborn ass absolutely would come check on her, and if something happened to Lizzie during those times, Skye wouldn’t be able to live with herself. She pulled in a deep breath and shook her head, not believing what she was about to agree to. “I’ll go pack a bag.”

Lucas stood, smiling smugly as he crossed his arms.

Yeah, you keep it up. See if I want to save your ass. Hopefully she wasn’t making a huge mistake.

Chapter 11

Lucas

Lucas had not thought this through. Not at all. He watched Skye sitting on his couch, petting his dog, and realized what a horrible idea bringing her here had been. Not horrible in the sense that he regretted it, but horrible in that she had already gotten under his skin and having her in his space was only making her more irresistible.

Especially the way she loved on Lucy.

Skye looked over at him and raised an eyebrow. “So, your dog’s name is Lucy?”

“Yes.” His blue eyes locked onto hers, and he wondered why the hell she was asking him that when he’d already introduced them.

“Would you say that you love Lucy?”

Lucas caught the gleam in her eye, and the way she bit down on the inside of her cheek, but he was drawing a blank. “Of course I love Lucy.”

Skye glanced at Lizzie, and they both started laughing.

“What?” he snapped. What was so funny? He loved Lucy… so? Oh. Dammit. He fought a smile.

Not only had Skye cozied up to his dog, but now she cracked jokes with his sister. He really hadn’t thought this one through. How was he supposed to get her out of his system and focus on saving Lizzie?

“Very funny, because you know, that’s the first time I’ve heard that one.” He took a seat on the couch. “You two okay with pizza tonight? I have no interest in cooking.”

“Sounds good to me,” Lizzie replied, curling her feet up underneath her body. He saw the exhaustion in the dark circles beneath her eyes. He wondered if she was feeling helpless, because he certainly was.

How the hell were they supposed to stop a man with supernatural powers?

Lucas ordered the pizza and flipped through the channels until he found a movie to play in the background. Lizzie focused on the television, while Lucas focused on Skye.

“You have a nice place,” Skye commented with a lift of her brow, as she glanced around at the unopened boxes littering the room. “Did you just move in?”

“Thanks,” he laughed. “And, no, I didn’t just move in.”

“Oh.” Skye looked around once more, her eyebrows slightly bunching in the middle.

“Job takes up most of my time…”

Skye met his gaze, offering a small smile.

“Lizzie can take the credit for anything that’s actually decorated.”

“Does she live nearby?”

He nodded. “Down the hall.”

“That must be nice to have her so close.”

“It is.” His voice was strained, and he tried to curb his tone. Skye had done nothing to deserve his being short with her.

His entire body was on edge after the events of the day, and it begged for release. Usually, after a particularly rough day, he’d stop at the gym and let off some steam, but there hadn’t been time with everything that was going on. Perhaps that explained the reaction he was having to the woman sitting across from him, because as he sat there beside her, all he wanted to do was pull her close and devour that snarky mouth that both turned him on and drove him insane.

The timing was all wrong, but that didn’t make him any less attracted to her, and the more time they spent together only made her harder to resist.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier,” Skye said, pulling him out of his thoughts. “And called you an arrogant asshole.”

His brow quirked. “You never called me an arrogant asshole.”

“Not out loud, anyway.” She grinned, and the brightness of her smile lit up his space. Damn it she’s gorgeous.

Someone rapped lightly on the door.

Lucas got to his feet to answer it. “Must be the pizza.” He pulled it open, expecting to see the delivery guy, and was startled to find his partner instead. Matthews was dressed casual, in jeans and a dark jacket.

“Hey man, thought you could use a drink.” He held up a bottle of good Scotch, and Lucas accepted it without hesitation.

“You thought right, come on in.” Lucas stepped to the side to let his partner inside.

“Hey, James,” Lizzie greeted him with a tired smile.

Matthews returned it with one of his own. “Hey, Lizzie. How are you?” he asked, walking over to the couch where she sat.

“I’m okay, a little shaken up.”

“I bet.”

Lucas watched Matthews take a seat next to her, and his hand reached out to touch her leg. Lucas cleared his throat, stopping Matthews’ hand in mid-air.

Matthews may be his partner, but Lucas would be damned if Lizzie became the next notch on his bedpost.

“Why are you here?” Lucas asked.

“We didn’t get any prints off your sister’s diner. There weren’t any at the warehouse either.”

Lucas nodded. While he was disappointed, he hadn’t thought they’d find any. Do Druids even have fingerprints?

“We ordered a pizza,” Lizzie offered. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”

Matthews looked up at him, and Lucas cursed inwardly but nodded. He liked his partner, just not in the same room with his baby sister.

“That’d be great, thanks.” Matthews smiled and noticed Skye for the first time. “Ms. Giovanni, it’s great to see you again.”

“You, too, Detective.”

“James, please.”

“Only if you call me Skye.”

Matthews winked at her. “Fair enough.”

Lucas set the bottle down on the counter before taking a seat next to Skye. He sat closer than he normally would have, feeling the inane need to claim his territory. He put his arm across the back of the couch, so it rested just behind her shoulders. Lucas was perfectly aware that he was turning into a caveman, but he couldn’t care less. The woman was getting under his skin and tearing down all the carefully erected walls he’d built to keep himself from getting too close to anyone again.

His cell rang, and Lucas checked the ID before answering. “MacConnell.”

“We got another body,” the beat cop on the other line informed him. “Chief said to call you in. It’s like the scene at the warehouse.”

Lucas’ blood chilled. “Where?”

“I can text you the address.”

“Okay.” He ended the call and looked to Matthews. “We’re up. They found another body.”

“Like the warehouse?”

Lucas nodded, his jaw clenched.

“Alright.” Matthews started to get up—

“Actually, can you stay here with Lizzie?” He may not want his partner to put the moves on his sister, but there was no one else he trusted as much with her safety.

“You’re going to go by yourself?”

“No, Skye is a historian. She thinks the symbols might be tied to an occult ring,” he lied and ignored the way his stomach flipped with the weight of it. He hated lying, especially to his partner.

Skye looked up at him with wide eyes, but she didn’t contradict him, a fact for which he was thankful.

“Alright. At least there’s pizza,” Matthews agreed, settling back into the couch.

“Pizza better be the only thing you’re having.” Lucas glared at his partner who grinned up at him.

“That’s the only thing on the menu, isn’t it?” he joked.

“If you value your dick, it is.”

Matthews winced and placed his hands protectively in his lap.

“You going to threaten him with your shotgun too, Dad?” Lizzie snapped as she folded her arms.

“I think I made my point, but I can if you want me to.”

“Fuck off,” she muttered, turning her attention back to the TV.

“You ready?” Lucas asked, turning back to Skye.

She got to her feet and followed Lucas out into the hallway. “You’re taking me to a crime scene now?”

He closed the door to his apartment, turning to look at her. “Look.” She looked up at him, fire behind her whiskey-colored eyes, and his breath caught in his chest. “I need you, Skye. You said earlier that this isn’t my world, and you’re right. It’s not; I’m in way over my head.”

Her eyes softened. “Fine, but no more treating me like a criminal.”

“You got it.” He brushed a stray strand of dark hair from her face and briefly considered pressing his lips to hers. What would she taste like? When her mouth parted slightly, he tilted his head, desperate to lean down and discover the answer to his question.

His phone rang, killing the moment. Horrible fucking timing.

Lucas sighed before answering, “MacConnell.”

Chapter 12

Skye

Skye watched as Lucas took a couple of steps away and spoke into the phone. Her breath left her body in a whoosh. What the hell was that? For a second there, she thought he had been about to kiss her.

And she was going to let him.

But that made no sense.

Sure, he was gorgeous—she wasn’t blind. But he was also infuriating, judgmental, and way more than she could emotionally handle. Lucas MacConnell seemed like the type of guy to chew a girl up and spit her out. Not that she wouldn’t enjoy the ride while it lasted, but...

Skye sighed. She just knew that after even one taste, she’d never be the same again. Relationships were messy enough as it was. Getting involved with him was just asking for trouble, and there was more than enough of that on her plate right now. No need to complicate things further.

That meant no kissing, no matter how tempting the sinfully sexy detective was. She’d help him and his sister with the Druid, but that was it.

Resolve strengthened, Skye turned her attention back to him as Lucas put his cell back in his pocket.

“More good news?” she asked.

He let out a breath. “They found two more bodies, a few blocks away from the other. This guy is on a spree.”

“Oh,” Skye said, her stomach sinking. “That seems... excessive for one night, doesn’t it?”

Lucas’ eyes were dark when they met hers. “You could say that. Most psychopaths tend to be a bit excessive.”

“He’s trying to distract you,” Skye stated.

“It’s working.” Lucas ground his teeth together, making the veins stand out along his neck.

Skye forced herself to look away, entirely too distracted by the flexing muscles in his arms as he ran both hands over his head. Even so, she couldn’t fight the impulse to try and comfort him.

“Listen, for better or worse, we’re in this together. One thing this asshole didn’t count on was me. I’m like your secret Gypsy weapon!” She tried to infuse her voice with reassurance but sounded more like a manic cheerleader than confident sidekick.

He gave her a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “True. I’m just worried about the body count that we’re going to rack up while we figure this out.”

Skye sighed. There really wasn’t a silver lining to this particular storm cloud.

“Are you sure there’s nothing else you can think of?” he asked, searching her gaze. “Anything that could help us find this bastard?”

She shrugged helplessly. “I’ve told you everything I know. I mean, I could try and look through my Gran’s diaries. There might be something in there that would point us in the right direction.”

His eyes brightened with excitement. “You couldn’t remember those existed before now?” He grinned at her.

She stuck her tongue out at him. “You’re lucky I remembered them at all. It’s been years since I’ve even looked at them. I will get them tomorrow.”

“I can come with you,” he offered.

Skye lifted a brow. “Do you really have the extra time to run errands with me while this psycho is on the loose?”

He shrugged. “It’s part of my investigation. And it keeps you from being alone.”

“I’m not the one he’s targeting,” she reminded him.

“Lizzie will be safe at work. I’ll make sure Matthews or a uniform is stationed there so that she’s never alone.”

“If you say so, Detective,” she teased.

“I told you to stop calling me that.”

“Bite me.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Ms. Giovanni. I just might take you up on it.”

Her cheeks flushed and heat pooled low in her belly. Skye swallowed audibly. Well that just royally bit me in the ass, she thought as she tried and failed to get the image of his hot lips brushing against her body off her mind.

He licked his lips, dropping his gaze to her mouth, then smiled knowingly, those evil dimples flashing.

Skye grit her teeth. Keep it together, girlfriend. “Let’s get this over with.”

“First crime scene?” he asked, leading the way down the hall.

“Uh...” Skye trailed off. It wasn’t, actually, if you counted all of the visions that she’d had in her twenty-seven years. But it would be the first time she’d have to deal with the gruesome scene in person. “Kinda.”

He shot her a quizzical look over his shoulder as he pushed the button for the elevator. “Care to elaborate?”

“Nope.”

“More of that hocus pocus stuff?”

Her lips quirked. “I’m not a witch, Lucas.”

“You sure as shit put a spell on me,” he muttered under his breath.

Skye pretended not to hear him, but her smile deepened and her heart gave a little flutter. Proximity was not helping her keep her promise to keep her distance. From this close, she couldn’t ignore the intoxicating scent of him. She couldn’t place the cologne; it was a combination of amber and cedar. Something woody with a little hint of smoke. Maybe that explained why she was suddenly burning up.

“You gonna be okay seeing the bodies?”

Her stomach gave a little lurch. “Maybe?” she answered honestly.

“Just say the word and I’ll get you out of there. No questions asked. I really just want your eyes on those—what did you call them?—runes?”

She gave a quick nod.

“You can stay outside with the uniforms if you want. I can snap a picture and we can do it that way.”

Skye appreciated his concern. “It would be good to see it in person, if possible. There might be something about the”—she grimaced—“bodies that provides more context to the runes.”

He nodded, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “You’re tougher than you look.”

“Dreams of death tend to do that to a person.”

“No kidding,” he said, his voice filled with understanding.

He really does know what it’s like. Skye had had nightmares for years about all the people she couldn’t save. Visions of their sometimes-mutilated corpses would haunt her even decades later. Why would it be any different for Lucas, who had probably seen sights ten times worse than she had?

“How do you cope?” she asked, her voice soft.

There was a flicker in his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came. He opened his mouth, like he was ready to rattle off some rote answer, but he closed it and shrugged. “Honestly? You don’t. At least, I don’t. I compartmentalize and remind myself that there are families out there that deserve answers. I don’t stop until I get them.”

The elevator let off a soft ding as it arrived, and they both stepped past the open metallic doors.

“And coffee. Lots of coffee,” he added as an afterthought.

“To escape the nightmares?”

His eyes softened. “You too?”

She nodded. “That’s what I was painting before you guys showed up earlier. I was trying to exorcise the demons, so to speak.”

He pointed to himself as he said, “Punching bag.”

“To each their own.”

“You create; I destroy.”

She shivered at the words, feeling something prophetic in them. “Two sides of the same coin.”

He tilted his head as he studied her. “Yeah, I guess they are.”

Skye would have sworn she heard the word ‘we’ instead of ‘they.’ Perhaps it was the same thing. She focused on the red numbers that flashed above them as they descended until they reached the garage with another soft ding.

“I’d like to see more of your artwork sometime,” Lucas said casually, not looking at her as he led the way to his car.

Her laughter sputtered out of her. “You would?”

His smile was slightly self-deprecating as his gaze met hers. “If there are more like the one from tonight, I think there’s something we might find in them.”

“Lucas MacConnell, admitting there’s something he can learn. There’s a first.”

“You say that like you know me.”

“Oh, Lucas. It didn’t take long at all to have you catalogued and sorted.”

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face her. “What the hell does that mean?”

Skye snickered. “You’re as typical as they come.”

His eyes flared with blue fire. “Oh, sweetheart, if you believe that, then I feel sorry for you.”

She licked her lips nervously, his eyes tracking the movement with a predatory gleam. “Wh-why’s that?” she muttered.

He flashed a wicked grin, leaning in to bring his lips to her ear. “Because you’ll never see me coming.”

Well, fuck.

He turned quickly and sauntered away, stopping to unlock the door of a shiny black ‘67 Chevy Impala.

She let out a low whistle. “That’s not exactly a practical car for a Chicago winter, or a cop for that matter,” she babbled, running her fingers along the roof almost reverently.

He raised a brow in surprise. “You a gearhead?”

Skye lifted a shoulder, still checking out the car. “Not really. I just love American muscle.”

He chuckled, and she looked up at him, too late, she realized the double meaning in her words.

Heat suffused her face. Great, flustered yet again in his presence, she scowled. “Just drive, jackass.”

“Buckle up, sweetheart. She’s as fast as she looks.”

“Must be nice not to worry about getting pulled over.”

“Gotta enjoy the perks where you can.” He grinned, the engine coming to life with a roar.

Skye shook her head, biting back her own smile. No need to encourage him.

He raced out of the garage, and Skye closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of flying.

Chapter 13

Skye

Skye stepped out of the car and onto the pavement in front of an office building. The night wrapped around her like an old friend but she shivered, and not from the cold. The air was heavy, and her stomach did a somersault. Something was off tonight; she could feel it.

Was the Druid watching them from the shadows? Or were her nerves just a reaction to the violence that had taken place here? She moved closer to Lucas, as if he could shield her from the fear taking root.

“Come on.”

Skye followed him into the building’s lobby and over to the elevator. The numbers illuminated as they ascended to the eighth floor, dread settling in her stomach like a bunch of bricks as they climbed closer to what she imagined was a gruesome crime scene.

“You okay?” Lucas asked, gently touching her arm.

She nodded. Not even the heat from his touch was able to break through the ice in her veins.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened, revealing a long hall with officers and crime scene tape. Skye could see the unease of the officers around her. It was evident in the way they paced, the nervous glances they shot toward a marked off door, and the paleness of their faces. Witnessing the reaction to the scene did nothing to help her already frayed nerves.

Lucas showed his badge to a shorter man in uniform who nodded and stepped aside. As they started to duck under the crime scene tape, the man put his hand up to stop Lucas.

“Detective, just a fair warning, it’s bad in there. Two of my guys ended up losing the contents of their stomachs.” He nodded toward Skye meaningfully.

She couldn’t even be irritated at the man’s lack of faith. Truth was, she wasn’t entirely sure she could handle it either.

“She’ll be fine,” Lucas assured him, and they were ushered inside the now empty office room.

The stench of what must have been death assaulted her senses and had her gagging. Her eyes watered and it was hard to breath around the bile that churned in her stomach. She swallowed hard. Skye had not come all this way to throw up, especially in front of Lucas. He needed her, so no matter how badly she wanted to run away and curl up in a ball, she had to get through this.

“Remember, if it’s too much, we can leave,” Lucas offered.

She shook her head. Skye Giovanni was no quitter, and she certainly wasn’t going to start now. She needed to see the runes.

Two bodies were covered in white sheets, but from the acrid stench that hung in the air, she doubted there was much left of them. Charred carpet surrounded the sheets, and when she walked further in, she zeroed in on the runes painted on the wall.

Lucas focused intently on the symbols, and she lightly touched his arm. He shook his head, as if trying to wake himself from some sort of trance.

“Sorry, it was the buzzing.”

“Buzzing?”

“You don’t hear that?”

She shook her head. “Maybe you should let me look at these,” she offered, curious why he was so affected by the runes. Was that the spell?

“Yeah,” he agreed, still a little out of it. She waited for him to turn away before giving the markings her full attention.

The symbols were similar to the ones he’d shown her in the photograph of the first crime scene, and the ones that were painted on her canvas at home. But the arrangement was different. She stepped closer and cocked her head to the side. Something was missing. She wasn’t sure what it was, but something was off about the way they were painted. Her mind drifted back to a past conversation she’d had with her Gran. One she hadn’t even remembered until now.

“Skye, do you see the way these symbols are arranged?” Janice Giovanni gestured to the runes she’d drawn on a sheet of paper.

“Yes, Gran,” ten-year-old Skye acknowledged, studying the symbols more closely. The arrangement felt wrong to her, as if her subconscious was screaming ‘DANGER,’ but she didn’t understand why.

“These Druid symbols are deadly to others of their line. They use them to trap each other in the Wasteland.”

“What’s the Wasteland?” she asked in a horrified whisper, her young brain conjuring up something appropriately creepy.

Janice shook her head sadly. “The worst type of place, my darling. It’s not like heaven or hell, but rather an in-between place where they become frozen. Madness will take over, and even if the Druid ever manages to escape, they are never the same.”

“But why would a Druid send their own to such a horrible place?” She wasn’t a fan of her cousin Bobby, but even he didn’t deserve to be sent to a place like that.

“Because there are Druids out there who want nothing but power. It means more to them than anything, even their family. They want to absorb the power from the generations that came before them and keep it all for themselves. Even if it means that someone else has to die. Because as each Druid dies, their magical essence is passed on to those that remain. It is spread evenly through the line so that they must rely on each other, and not bear the magical burden alone.”

“How can magic be a burden?”

“It was never intended for one person to have that much power.” Her grandmother’s face was completely serious, something Skye had never seen before. “That kind of power, little one, can twist a person’s very soul.”

“Oh no,” Skye murmured, as the runes before her swam back into focus. She turned to Lucas to warn him, but while she’d been lost in her memories, he’d somehow managed to get close enough to reach out and touch the runes. His fingers were mere inches away, and she panicked as she lunged for him.

“Lucas, no!” she screamed, tackling him to the ground.

“What the fuck, Skye?” he shouted, pushing her off of him and jumping to his feet.

“What the hell do you mean, ‘what the fuck, Skye?’ I should be saying that to you!”

“Why? I’m not the one tackling people.”

“Lucas, you were trying to touch the runes.”

“No, I wasn’t, I was over there—” He gestured to the far side of the room, his eyes wide with confusion. “How the hell did I get over here?”

“I know what these runes are, Lucas. You need to get out of this room. Now.”

“Why?”

“I’ll explain later.” She pulled out her phone and snapped a picture. “Right now you need to get as far away from these as possible.”

“If you cross paths with a Druid, Skye, you must run as far away as you can.” Her grandmother’s warning surfaced in her mind. Skye now knew why the Druid was hunting the MacConnell siblings, and the reason had her blood running cold.

Chapter 14

Lucas

Lucas made his way down to the car. Skye walked behind him, but she kept her distance, and that concerned him. His thoughts were coming to him rapid fire, one after the other, as he tried to make sense of what was going on. She’d said she figured out what those runes were for; had the answer scared her? Or is it me she’s scared of?

But why? Was she worried about becoming more of a target herself?

No, that didn’t work. Skye wasn’t someone who was easily discouraged. He’d seen the fire in her eyes and knew she didn’t back down often, if at all.

Since he couldn’t solve the puzzle that was Skye Giovanni, his thoughts turned back to the runes. What the hell had happened back there? He had wanted to touch them. His mind had filled with a buzzing more intense than the buzzing he’d experienced at the first crime scene, and the symbols seemed to beckon him closer. Why are they having such an effect on me? Is it because the Druid is targeting me? Is he trying to lure me out, so he can kill me? Is that what this is all about?

“We need to go to the second crime scene,” he said when they reached the car.

She shook her head, her mouth in a firm line. “You aren’t going anywhere near those runes, Lucas.”

He stopped. “Why? What the hell did they say? I thought you couldn’t read Druid.”

She scrunched her nose and pursed her lips at his terminology, but she didn’t bother to correct him. “I can’t read them, but I know what those particular ones are.”

“How?”

“Because my grandmother taught me about them a long time ago.”

“Then tell me what they say.”

She looked around. “Not here.”

“Fine, in the car then.” He pulled her door open and she grudgingly climbed in. Lucas made his way around to the driver side and got inside. “So?”

He forced his eyes to her face and did his best to ignore the rise and fall of her chest as she inhaled a deep breath, but it was damn difficult. Not the time, MacConnell.

“That was a transport spell.”

“So, we’re back to the spells… I thought you said he wasn’t a wizard?”

She gave him a long-suffering look that promised retaliation if he didn’t stop referring to the monster as a wizard. “Yes, spells. One that is specifically aimed to move its target to another place.”

“What place?”

“The Wasteland.”

“What the hell is that?”

She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, distracting him yet again. Fuck, I need to get laid. Even as he had the thought, he knew there was only one woman he was interested in. As it was, keeping himself from devouring her was getting more and more difficult.

“My grandmother explained it to me as a sort of purgatory for Druids. A place where they are trapped and lose their minds trying to escape.”

“Why would the Druid cast a spell to send himself to purgatory? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“He wasn’t trying to send himself.”

“There’s another Druid?”

She nodded.

“What, so you think we’re in the middle of some Druid turf war?”

“In a sense.”

Her back was pressed against the door, her hand near the handle. Lucas scowled. Why was she sitting so far away? “What do you mean ‘in a sense’?”

“You heard buzzing?”

“Yes.”

“Which you also heard at the first crime scene?”

“Yeah... what does that mean?”

Skye pulled the handle and jumped out of the car. Lucas did the same, running to the other side to grab her. “Skye, what the hell?”

She tried to yank her arm from his grasp. “Get away from me!”

“Just hold on a second and tell me what the hell is going on!” he roared, concern and shock warring with his desire for answers.

She stopped struggling and stared up at him. “Don’t you see?” When he didn’t respond, she continued, “You are the one he is targeting. You are who the druid meant to send away.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“You sure about that? Think about your reaction to the runes, Lucas. Why else would he target your family specifically?”

A whirlwind of thoughts nearly knocked his breath right from his chest, but none of them got to him like the fear plastered on Skye’s face did. Her eyes were wild as she stared up at him. Is she seriously afraid of me?

“Why the hell are you running from me?” he asked, afraid to let her go because he knew she would bolt the first chance she got.

If she was going to run, he damn well deserved to know why.

“You’re a Druid, Lucas. Druid’s kill Gypsies.”

Lucas dropped his hands, his limbs feeling leaden as her words took root in his mind. Skye used the opportunity to take a few tentative steps away from him.

He gave her an incredulous look. “I’m sorry… you want to run that by me again, because I thought I just heard you say you think I’m one of those wizard fuckers.”

Skye’s eyes flashed with golden fire. “It’s Druid, not wizard, asshole. Feigning ignorance is not going to make it any less real.”

He crossed his arms as he stared her down. “If I have any powers, don’t you think they would have manifested, or whatever the fuck it’s called, before now?”

Skye shrugged. “Not necessarily, although they may have, and you are just so used to them being ‘normal’ you never stopped to think they could be something more.”

He rolled his eyes. “I think I would know if I could cast spells and shit. And never once have I started scribbling weird symbols on anything.”

Skye looked down. Her hands were on her hips and it still looked like she was ready to bolt, but he could see she was chewing on the inside of her cheek as if she were debating something. When her eyes met his again, they were resigned. “Is there something that you are inexplicably good at? Like something that everyone always comments on, although it has always come naturally to you.”

Her words rang true, but he decided to play dumb. “Like knowing it’s going to rain because an old football injury starts to tingle?”

She stared him down, clearly unimpressed with his joke. “Do you have an old football injury?”

Lucas scowled. “I played hockey, not football, and for the record, I was the one that injured people, not the other way around.”

“Of course you were.”

“What does that mean?”

She held up a hand. “I’m not trying to pick a fight. Not this time, anyway. Be real with me, Lucas. This is no fucking joke. Both of our lives are riding on this.”

Lucas thought back to video games some of his friends played when they were in high school, recalling what he could about the Druid characters. “It’s not like I can talk to animals or anything. And I sure as shit can’t keep anything alive. I’m whatever the opposite of a green thumb is.”

Skye snorted.

“But I mean, there are things I just know.”

She nodded. “It helps you solve your cases, doesn’t it? The knowing?”

Lucas shrugged, wholly uncomfortable with her assessment. “I wouldn’t go that far. It’s just logic and problem solving. You know, being able to put the pieces together in the right order.”

“But you can see patterns where no one else can,” she stated. “You see patterns where others see chaos. There’s a natural order that is instinctive to you.”

Lucas shrugged, at a loss for words.

Skye’s head fell back as she stared up at the sky. “My grandmother would disown me if she could see me now.”

“Lucky for you, she can’t, or do you believe in ghosts, too?”

“Fuck you,” she snapped, her amber eyes finding his.

That was a dick move. “Sorry,” he muttered, instantly chastised.

“Your powers could be latent. Without someone to teach you how to access them, it’s possible all but the most passive of power has lain dormant for years.”

Lucas fought the urge to waggle his fingers at her. “So… you’re saying I can do that spell shit too?”

“Honestly? If that dude is after you, it’s entirely possible that you can do way more than just cast some spells.”

“What do you mean? What else is there?”

She shrugged. “You’re the first Druid I’ve ever actually met, so I can only guess, but with what I’ve been told, we’re talking water to wine epic-level shit.”

Lucas snorted. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a wino.”

“Can you please be serious for more than two fucking seconds? God, you’re worse than dealing with a child.”

His smile dropped. “I’m far from amused, Skye. From where I’m standing, you are saying complete and utter bullshit. Magic and spells and all that crap just do not exist in the real world.”

“Are we really back to that again? You’ve seen for yourself that they do!”

He knew that he was backpedaling, looking for any excuse that would make what she said untrue. So, even though he was probably wrong, he held onto the lie. “It’s the truth.”

“Says who?” she challenged.

“Literally everyone.”

She cocked a brow, her hands back on her hips. “So, how do you explain all of the stories then?”

“Uh… creative genius?”

She shook her head. “You know, for all your faults, I never pegged you for being small-minded. That might be the worst of them all.”

He was instantly offended. Who the hell was she to call him small-minded? “I am not small-minded. I’m practical. I’ll give you that people truly believe in this woo-woo shit. I’ll even agree that people believe that they are really performing spells. But magic, at the kind of level you’re talking about... It. Doesn’t. Exist.”

“Yes. It. Does,” Skye grit out. “How else do you explain my visions?”

She had him there. He shrugged, at a complete loss for words.

“I wouldn’t lie to you about this, Lucas. Not when my life is on the line.”

“You don’t have anything to fear from me, Skye.”

“You say that now…”

“You don’t really believe that, right?” He held his breath, her answer meaning more to him than he dared admit to himself.

She paused and shook her head, letting out a deep breath. “No, I don’t. It’s the only reason I’m still standing here talking to you.”

“I’m willing to admit that this guy believes that I am the guy he’s looking for, but that’s it.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he raised his hand.

“I don’t have magical powers, Skye. I’m just a cop with a good track record.”

She shook her head. “There’s nothing to be gained by you denying your heritage.”

Heritage? Jesus. He ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s just take this one step at a time, alright?”

“Alright,” she agreed, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her beat-up hoodie. “So, what now?”

“Same plan as before. We find someone who can tell us more about those runes and why someone would want to use them. It should help us narrow down our candidate pool to zero in on our unsub.”

If the lingo threw her, she didn’t let on. “After you, Detective.”

He went to correct her but noticed the subtle gleam in her eye. Instead, he shook his head and grinned. Better she call him detective and stay, than Lucas and run.

“Just get in the fucking car, Giovanni.”

Chapter 15

Skye

They pulled up to the apartment complex, and Skye stepped from the car quickly, desperate to get out of the enclosed space with his brooding ass. Why the hell was it her fault he couldn’t seem to grasp what was practically banging him on the head?

“Skye.” His deep voice simultaneously lit a fire in her and grated the last of her nerves.

She whirled on him, ready for an argument she imagined was coming. “What?”

His eyes darted away from hers, before focusing back on her face. “We good?”

“You planning on apologizing and admitting I’m right?” She put her hands on her hips and watched as he folded his arms. Stubborn ass.

“I’ll admit that there’s something weird, but I’m not a damn Druid, Skye. Don’t you think I would have known it before now?”

She snorted. “Oh, because you’re so open-minded?”

“I just want to know that we—” he gestured between them, “are good. That you and I are still on the same team. The rest can come later.”

“Why does it matter to you what I think? I can see in your eyes that you don’t believe a damn word I’m saying.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh? Then tell me, Detective, what do you believe?”

He unfolded his arms and stepped closer to her, until he was only an arms length away. “I believe that you and I both have a part to play in this insane fucking situation we’ve found ourselves in. And I believe, Miss Giovanni, that I will find a way to stop this bastard from killing my sister.”

Skye swallowed hard, the heat of his gaze boring into her. “Then I think we’re on the same page, because I will do whatever I can to keep him from killing her too.” She spun on her heel and walked back up to his apartment.

His steps were heavy behind hers, but he didn’t try to talk anymore. Thank goodness. She was exhausted, disgusted by what she’d witnessed at the crime scene, and frustrated as hell that she wasn’t more irritated with him.

One step at a time. She thought back to his earlier words and inwardly agreed with his logic. But when it comes time to say I told you so, I will absolutely be doing so.

Skye stepped to the side so Lucas could unlock the door. He waited for her to go in first, and then walked in behind her.

James was asleep on the couch, his head back and mouth slightly ajar. His hand was on Lizzie’s shoulder, and she was asleep—her head resting in his lap. All in all, it made up a rather adorable picture.

She turned to tell Lucas just that, but the words died in her throat when she saw his face. His cheeks had reddened, and his jaw had gone rigid as he looked down at them. What the hell was his problem? They’re both grown adults.

“Fucking ass,” he muttered under his breath.

“Lucas, they’re both adults.” Skye rolled her eyes as she voiced her thought from only seconds before. “Clearly neither of them are complaining.”

“He’s my partner, she’s my sister. No fucking way that’s happening.”

Skye thought about mentioning that she was pretty sure he couldn’t do a damn thing to stop them, but decided it was a bad idea and kept it to herself. He’d dealt with enough today.

Lucas made his way over to them and kicked James’ foot. James jolted upright, his sleepy eyes blinking.

“What the hell man?” James grumbled.

“How’d it go?” Lizzie yawned as she sat up.

“Dandy. Your turn to go deal with dead bodies,” Lucas told his partner. “Got a call on a second crime scene, and I’ll text you the address.”

“Was the one you went to the same as the first?”

Lucas nodded. “Keep away from the symbols on the wall until we know what they mean.”

Skye rolled her eyes; James clearly wasn’t a Druid so they weren’t going to affect him. But hey, if it made Lucas feel better to warn him, who was she to stand in his way?

“Sure.” James yawned and looked down at Lizzie. “Night,” he said with a grin.

“See you around,” Lizzie said, getting to her feet. “I’m heading to bed, night Skye.”

“Night Lizzie,” Lucas called after her, but was only greeted with a small wave as she walked away.

“I’ll let you know what I find,” James said as he made for the door.

“Call me in the morning.”

“You got it.”

Lucas closed the door behind him and turned around to face her. Skye stared at him, a grin on her face. “So it’s not just me you’re stubborn and closed-minded with?”

“What the hell does that mean?”

Her grin widened, and she stepped forward. “Your sister is allowed to have a life, Lucas.”

He let out a laugh. “I guess I might have been an ass right there. But still, Matthews and Lizzie? Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s my little sister, and she has had horrible luck with men.”

“So, shouldn’t you be happy she’s interested in someone as kind as James?”

His brow lifted. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in him too.”

She shook her head. “He’s not the one I’m interested in.”

“Oh?”

“Apparently I have a thing for stubborn asses.” She turned and headed toward the bedroom, calling over her shoulder, “Goodnight, you stubborn ass.”

The next morning, Skye tightened her robe and tiptoed out of the guest room. If she didn’t get some caffeine soon, she might actually lose her damn mind. Thoughts of death combined with the nightmares she’d suffered through all night had her stomach twisting into knots.

Unlike her visions, last night’s dreams of death were only her fears. The few minutes of shut eye she’d actually gotten were filled with the deaths of herself and her new friends. She’d been forced to watch helplessly as they were slaughtered, victims of the Druid’s quest for power.

Lucas could deny it all he wanted, but Skye knew the truth; she was standing in between a Druid who was trying to kill another Druid.

What a lovely fucking place for a Gypsy Seer to be.

Did she have a death wish? Because, honestly, after sticking around once she’d realized who Lucas truly was, she must.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled her nostrils as she stepped into Lucas’ small kitchen. Two clean mugs sat next to the pot, and she glanced over to see Lucas still asleep on the couch. His arm was propped up behind his head, and the steady rise and fall of his chest was almost hypnotizing. She turned away and walked to the pot.

Lucas’ sister was a magician when it came to brewing coffee. Skye was almost giddy as she poured herself a cup, but that could have also been the lack of quality sleep.

After taking her first sip, she started to head to the balcony, but she stopped next to the couch to study Lucas again. He was still sleeping soundly, a blue T-shirt stretched over his broad chest. He hadn’t shaved in a couple days, so the gruffness of a beard had started on his face. She wanted to reach out and run her fingertips across the roughness of it. Skye bit back a groan and clenched her free hand at her side, using the bite of her nails against her palm to center herself.

A light blanket was tossed over his legs, and with the arm up behind his head, she got a nice look at his impressive biceps. Keep it in your pants, Giovanni, she reminded herself. He’s your natural born enemy. So why didn’t it feel like he was? And why was she so damn sure she was destined to help him? Skye had walked away from men easily enough in the past, but she couldn’t seem to walk away from him. She’d tried, hadn’t she? First that night on the balcony, and then again at the diner… but something was different when it came to Lucas MacConnell, and she’d yet to figure out what it was. Had everything that ever happened in her life led her to this place, to this man? Or did it only seem that way because of her attraction to him? Ugh, that is entirely too many unanswered questions for this early in the morning. Especially without the proper amount of caffeine.

Lucy sat up, resting her large head against Skye’s leg. “Hey, girl,” she whispered to the dog, who thought she was more human than animal. Her kind lupine eyes stared up at Skye, one blue, one brown, and Skye smiled.

What a unique dog for a unique man.

“Morning.”

Skye jumped slightly at the voice and spun to see Lizzie peeking in from the balcony.

“Hey,” Skye greeted, her voice pitched low in deference to the sleeping man beside her. She gave him a final glance, savoring the picture he made, her fingers already itching to go a few rounds with her sketchbook. She forced herself to turn away and join her new friend.

“How’d last night go?” Lizzie asked.

“I’ll let Lucas fill you in,” she said simply. It wasn’t her secret to share. She had no intention of being the one to relay the fact that Lucas was a Druid. Not to Lizzie; not to anyone. She had enough on her plate, and it was up to Lucas how much he wanted to tell his sister.

“So how did things go last night with James?” Skye wiggled her eyebrows.

Lizzie smiled shyly. “I see you’ve discovered my secret.”

“That you have a thing for your brother’s partner? Yeah, it was pretty obvious.”

“I can’t help it. He’s just so... you know.” Lizzie trailed off, her cheeks flushing with color.

“Let’s pretend I don’t know,” Skye said, taking a sip of her coffee before smirking at Lizzie over the rim. It had been awhile since she’d indulged in girl talk, and the dreamy cast of the other girl’s face peaked her interest.

“Hot.” Lizzie grinned. “And sweet, and considerate, and literally everything I could ever want in a man.”

Skye thought back to Lucas’ partner, who she’d briefly met. He was tall like Lucas, with a muscular build and dark hair. His eyes were hazel, and his nose was a little crooked, as if it had been broken a time or two. He was definitely attractive, she’d give him that, although he didn’t set her body on fire the same way a certain other detective did.

“So why not tell him?” Skye asked, stealing another sip of her coffee.

“Yeah, okay, and piss off my brother? No thanks. I don’t need that drama in my life.”

“Your brother only wants you to be happy, Lizzie. He’d get over it.”

“Before or after he kills James?”

Skye laughed. “Somehow I doubt it would go that far.”

They stood in companionable silence and watched the sun continue its rise over the city. Lucas’ apartment looked over Millennium Park. As she watched, the early morning colors started to bring the street side artwork to life. Chicago truly was a beautiful city.

“I just think life is too short to not go after what you want,” Skye said.

“Like you and my brother?” It was Lizzie’s turn to wiggle her eyebrows.

Skye snorted. “Please, you couldn’t be further off on that mark.”

“Bullshit. I see the way you look at each other when you don’t think the other is watching. I’ve never seen my brother more protective of another person in his life. Other than me, I guess. He cares about you.”

“In a friendly way, I’m sure.”

“Oh, I think it’s a friendly way, but more of a ‘I want to get you naked and jump your bones’ friendly than a ‘I’ll send you a Christmas card this year’ kind of friendly,” Lizzie teased.

Skye gaped at her assessment, trying to play it off with a shake of her head and another sip of coffee. Even if what Lizzie said was true, a relationship between her and Lucas was never going to happen. She sighed inwardly, annoyed at life’s little ironies. This was the first time she’d been more than mildly attracted to a man, and before she could act on it, it turned out a relationship between them was more than impossible.

Is that the way life works for everyone, or just me? It dangled something in your face that you desperately wanted but could never have? How the hell was that fair?

“It’s impossible,” Skye whispered.

“What’s impossible?” Lucas asked from the doorway.

Skye could feel the heat radiating off his body. The warmth curled around her, bringing with it a sense of rightness she didn’t fully understand. It was as if his soul called to a part of hers that had been dormant until now.

“Nothing,” Lizzie said pointedly, looking at Skye. “I’m going to go grab a shower.” She smiled and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “Morning, brother of mine.”

“Morning, Lizzie.” Once she was gone, he leaned against the railing and faced Skye. “What was that about?”

“Girl talk.”

“You still mad at me?”

Skye sighed. “No.”

“Good.” Lucas closed the distance between them so fast, Skye barely had time to react. One minute he was standing next to her, the next his body was caging her against the balcony railing, inciting all sorts of impossible thoughts in her head.

Skye gasped. “What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly. It took everything in her to not press against him to feel his delicious hardness against her body.

“I dreamt of you.” His eyes darkened and seemed to devour her as he said the words.

Her mouth went dry. “Lots of people have dreams.”

He lowered his head so that their lips were only a breath apart. “Not like this,” he whispered. “You do something to me, Skye. Something I haven’t quite figured out yet.”

When his eyes traveled down to her mouth, her traitorous tongue shot out and licked her bottom lip. The fire in Lucas’ eyes roared to life, and its twin began to rage inside her veins. She wanted his mouth on hers, wanted to feel his body press up against her own. Desperately. What the hell did that say about her? A Gypsy who was about three heartbeats away from jumping a Druid? Her ancestors would be incredibly displeased, to say the least.

“I want you, Skye.”

Her heart stuttered at the words. He said them so openly. No games. No hidden agendas. Just truth. They were potent in their sincerity, and an answering heat pooled low in her belly.

He leaned down even closer, and she knew if she so much as breathed, his lips would be on hers.

“I—”

“I know you aren’t ready yet. But when you are, you know where I stand. You have invaded my mind, my senses…” Lucas looked up from her lips and back into her eyes. “I’m not entirely sure how you did it so quickly, but I’m not about to question it.” He stepped away then, and her skin pebbled from the rush of cool air that caressed her as it filled the space his body had vacated.

I am so fucked, she thought as her heart continued to race. You aren’t yet, but you wish you were, a more wicked internal voice pointed out. Her coffee was entirely forgotten as she watched him walk away from her and back into the apartment.

What could she say? Her subconscious wasn’t wrong.

Chapter 16

Lucas

Lucas made his way back inside his apartment, his muscles taut from self-control. When he’d woken up, she’d been the first person on his mind, probably because of the dreams he’d had of her all night. Dreams where she was beneath him and he was finally doing all the things he’d wanted to do to her since he discovered her on that balcony during the art show.

When he’d stepped out and seen her standing on the balcony, sleep-mussed in one of his T-shirts, bathed in light from the sunrise, he’d nearly lost all control. Shit, had his sister not been in the apartment with them, he might have said fuck it and just carried her off to bed.

He knew she’d have gone willingly. He’d seen the way his words affected her. The way her lips had parted and those gorgeous eyes had stared up at him. Eyes that could get him drunk if he looked in them long enough. Fuck. He ran his hands through his hair and leaned against the counter. What the hell was he supposed to do?

There was no time for distractions, and yet, for her, he’d be willing to make an exception. He wouldn’t mind losing himself in Skye Giovanni for a while.

Lucas forced himself to think of Lizzie—her life was on the line, and she needed him focused if he was going to keep them all alive. If he was the only one being targeted, he might have allowed something to happen with Skye. But he couldn’t take that risk, not with his baby sister. Not even for Skye.

Lucas poured a cup of coffee and his cell began to buzz. He pressed the talk button. “MacConnell.”

“Morning, Sunshine,” Matthews’ cheerful voice sounded on the other end of the line, and Lucas nearly growled. Cocky son of a bitch. He slipped on some shoes, and after hooking Lucy’s leash to her collar, stepped out into the hall.

“What the hell do you want?”

“I see someone pissed in your bowl of Wheaties this morning.”

“Is there a point to this phone call or do you just want to piss me off?” He really did like his partner. Other than Lizzie, Matthews was his closest friend. But therein lay the problem: Lizzie. His sister seemed to have a thing for his horn-dog partner, and that was something that couldn’t happen.

“Just wanted to let you know I’ve got a file with the images from last night’s second crime scene. You wanted to see pictures of the symbols, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I can bring it by on my way to the office this morning.”

Lucas’ grip tightened on the phone. He needed to set up an appointment to meet with a historian about the runes, but Lizzie was insisting on going into work. Like it or not, he needed someone to watch over her, and unfortunately, there was no one other than himself and Matthews that he’d trust with that job.

“I actually need your help today.”

“With?”

“I need to see about taking Skye to meet with some historians about those symbols, but… Lizzie wants to go into work.”

“And you want me to watch over her?” Matthews concluded, his voice entirely too pleased for Lucas’ liking.

Lucas grit his teeth, counting to three and releasing his breath before replying, “Yes. Keep her safe, and if anything weird happens, call me.”

“You got it. I’ll be there in fifteen to pick her up.”

“Make it thirty.” He ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.

Thirty minutes would give them enough time to get ready so that he and Skye could leave when Matthews and Lizzie did. The choice had nothing to do with needing to chaperone Matthews around Lizzie, but everything to do with not being left alone in his apartment with Skye. He just didn’t trust himself to be alone with her. Especially not with a bed in close proximity.

Or a couch.

Or a table.

“Dammit,” he said under his breath. It was definitely time for a cold shower. He brought Lucy back inside, put some food down, and went to freeze his ass off before starting the day.

Thirty minutes later, Matthews knocked on the door. Lucas pulled it open, grateful to have a few minutes alone with his partner while Lizzie and Skye were still getting ready.

“Here.” Matthews handed him the file, and Lucas opened it to see the runes in the first image. They were arranged the same way as the ones in the previous apartment, but some of the symbols were different.

Strange. “Was there anything else different at this scene?”

“Nope. Bodies were burned beyond recognition using an impossibly hot chemical fire like the others, weird ass symbols on the wall, and no witnesses who can place anyone in or near the building at the time of death.”

Lucas nodded, he had expected as much.

“Morning, James.”

Lucas turned to see his sister walking into the kitchen wearing more makeup than usual. Lucas swore she did it just to piss him off. She knew how he felt about her hooking up with his partner. What made it worse, and very nearly had him changing his mind, was the look on Matthews’ face when he saw her.

Lucas recognized it, because it was the same one he gave Skye.

“Morning, Lizzie.”

“Okay, you two. Straight to the diner and don’t leave unless I tell you to.”

“Yes, mother,” his sister responded.

“Morning, James,” Skye greeted as she walked in, nearly knocking the air out of Lucas’ lungs in the process.

It just wasn’t fair that she was allowed to look like that so early in the morning. How the hell was he supposed to resist her? What would those legs feel like wrapped around his waist while he—focus, MacConnell. Lucas shook his head to clear it. So much for the cold shower.

“We’ll be downtown at the University if you need us,” he said tightly.

“We won’t,” Lizzie all but sang as she and Matthews headed out. Now she was purposely trying to fuck with him. “Love you, brother!” she called back into the apartment.

“Ready?” Skye asked after they were the only two still in the room.

Lucas studied her for a moment, his eyes traveling up her perfect body as he catalogued every luscious curve. He knew he must look damn near feral because Skye straightened in response, her cheeks flushed with color and her eyes wide. When all of this was over, they were going to spend an entire week alone in his apartment.

He had until then to convince her it wouldn’t be a huge mistake.

Chapter 17

Skye

Skye was still reeling when they got into the car. She eyed Lucas warily, not sure how to act around him now that he’d laid it all out there. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested, because clearly, she was. It was just… anything between them was doomed.

Skye closed her eyes and immediately snapped them back open when visions of Lucas making good on his promises filled her mind.

Nope. Nope. Nope. Not going there, Skye.

“Does this guy know we’re coming?” she asked, trying to get some sense of equilibrium back.

Lucas strummed his fingers on the steering wheel, not taking his eyes off the road. “He does.”

Skye nodded, and silence filled the car. It wasn’t uncomfortable, per se. There was just so much unresolved between them that she was desperate to distract herself with conversation so that her mind couldn’t wander back to wanting what she couldn’t have.

“Does he know why?”

“Mmhmm. He was a bit surprised when I said we were looking for his expertise to help with a case. He wasn’t sure how ancient runes would tie into a homicide, but when I said there were pictures, he seemed eager to take a look.”

Skye shuddered.

“Cold?” Lucas asked.

“No. Well, not like that. Just the thought of willingly studying something so evil makes me nervous.”

“Well, you said it was like math, right? Numbers in and of themselves aren’t evil.”

“True,” she said, considering the point. “Although there are some that would disagree. Think of the superstition around the number thirteen. It’s considered so unlucky most hotels still don’t have a thirteenth floor in their buildings.” Skye stopped, a new thought coming to mind. “I wonder if our Druid believes in numerology.”

“Numer what now?”

“Numerology. It’s sort of like astrology, but with numbers. People believe that there is a divine or mystical connection around specific numbers and their relationships with an individual or events.”

“I’m not sure I follow.”

Skye racked her brain, trying to think of an obvious example. “Take the number three. It’s tied to Christianity via the Holy Trinity. It is also believed to be the number of times Jesus asked God if there was a way he could avoid crucifixion.”

“Really? Wow, I had no idea.”

“I’m hardly an expert, I know very little about the actual practice.”

“How do you think it plays into our crime scenes?”

“It’s just a hunch, but I’m curious if there’s a correlation between the types of runes that are used and when the murders take place, like the time of day or day of the week. Or if even the number of bodies matter. At your first scene there were two bodies, and then the next day there were three. It could all be a coincidence, an escalation meant to taunt you, like you were saying, but what if there’s something there?”

Lucas nodded. “Couldn’t hurt to check. Might shed some light on what to look for next.”

Skye nodded absently, her thoughts following that train of thought and taking a dark turn. She gasped, her hand swinging out and clutching his arm without conscious thought. “Lucas!”

“What?” he asked, glancing around like she had seen something in the road.

“Is it possible there’s another crime scene? One you haven’t heard about yet?”

Lucas frowned. “What do you mean?”

“If there’s a scene with two bodies, and then three… do you think it’s possible—”

“That we haven’t found the first murder yet,” Lucas cut in. His eyes widened as he turned to face her. “You think there might be another body out there? One we haven’t discovered?”

Skye shrugged. “I think it’s possible, given the pattern that might be emerging. I don’t know. Is that dumb?”

“I’ve solved cases with worse hypotheses than that. At the very least, it’s worth looking into.”

Skye was pleased Lucas was taking her hunches seriously. It helped push away the lingering sense of fear all thoughts of the Druid caused. “I’ll add it to our to-do list.”

He chuckled, but the expression on his face remained serious. The fact that this guy was out there murdering people to get to him was not sitting well with her handsome detective. Before she could say anything further, Lucas signaled and they were turning into the drive that would take them to the Celtic Studies Department of Chicago University.

Skye’s head pounded like a snare drum from the intensity of her headache. Not just any headache, it was a borderline migraine and showed no signs of easing up anytime soon. What was worse, she’d left all her meds back at her apartment. She hadn’t had a bad migraine in nearly six months, so it had completely slipped her mind to grab them. Skye pinched the bridge of her nose as the symbols in the books in front of her began to dance on the page.

They’d been at this for nearly four hours. Since the professor couldn’t meet with them right away, Skye had suggested they hit up the library for some research. Why she thought that would be helpful, she had no fucking clue.

Skye spent the time searching through an ancient text, trying to locate the runes from crime scene number one. Meanwhile, Lucas studied the photos his partner had brought him from the latest crime scene.

So far, they’d found nothing.

No wonder she hadn’t finished college; the whole studying for what felt like eternity thing wore her out.

“This is awful,” she groaned.

Lucas didn’t seem to notice. He was intently focused on the crime scene photos that James dropped off. What does he see?

“Hey.”

He looked over at her for the first time, worried creases between his brows and on either side of his mouth. “What’s up?”

“Why don’t we get out of here for a while? We can’t meet with Professor Zane until two, so let’s grab a bite to eat.”

His eyebrow lifted, amusement replacing the worry on his face. “You asking me on a date, Giovanni?”

“It’s just lunch, so don’t get too excited. Everyone knows lunch dates are relationship enders.”

“So we’re in a relationship, huh?”

She cocked her head to the side. “A working relationship.”

“Ah yes, how could I forget.” The playful smile that had started to grow during their banter faltered, and Lucas sighed, some of the light dimming from his eyes. She blinked, and his smile was back in place.

“Where do you want to go?” She forced her voice to be chipper as she closed the tome that had sucked some of her life away for the last four hours.

“It’s a college campus; I’m sure there’s a café or coffee shop within spitting distance.”

Skye laughed. “I mean, I’m sort of in a monogamous relationship with your sister’s coffee these days, but I could definitely do with a caffeine infusion.”

Lucas’ grin widened, flashing her those twin dimples. Skye sucked in a breath as their eyes met and held. How bad could sleeping with him really be to their current situation? Maybe it would give them a new perspective if there wasn’t all this sexual tension between them.

“Skye,” he warned. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts to notice the expression on his face. It wasn’t until the chill raced up her spine that she realized they weren’t alone in the archive section anymore.

“Isn’t this a nice surprise?”

The deep voice triggered a surge of terror. She spun to see the Druid standing just behind her. Lucas drew his weapon, and Skye backed up until she was next to him.

“Easy there,” the Druid mocked, “wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

“I think you have that backwards,” Lucas snapped, his voice cold.

“Perhaps, but I’ve been at this a lot longer.”

“And just what is ‘this’?”

“Magic, you fool,” the Druid snarled, his lip quirking up from beneath the black hood. Like before, it was the only part of his face that was visible. “I assume that since you’re here, you are looking for a way to stop me.”

He took a step toward them, and Lucas used one of his hands to pull Skye behind his body.

“You should know,” the Druid continued, “it won’t work. I will kill both you and your sister. This Gypsy cannot stop me.” He turned his hooded head, and even though she couldn’t see them, Skye felt his eyes bore into her. “Perhaps I will take her as my own. It seems she has a taste for Druids. Seer, would you like to be my pet?”

“You will not fucking touch her,” Lucas growled.

“You won’t be able to stop me once I end your life.” The Druid turned to address Skye directly. “I will see you soon, Gypsy.” He disappeared, and Lucas lowered his gun. He pulled Skye against his body, and she held on as she began to shake.

How the hell had he caught them in here? So off guard?

“You okay?” Lucas asked, not letting her go.

“I’m fine.” She pushed away and straightened her shirt.

“I won’t let him take you.” His blue eyes were serious and filled with emotions she just wasn’t ready to confront, even with her earlier thoughts of sex.

“And I won’t let him kill you.”

He smiled, but it was empty. “Then I suppose we have some work to do. Still want that coffee?”

“We’ve gone far past want and have arrived directly in the need category.”

“Then let’s go.”

Chapter 18

Lucas

The campus was bustling as they walked out of the library. Lucas checked his watch; it was just past one o’clock, which meant they had a little less than an hour before their meeting with the professor.

Skye stood next to him, twisting her hair into a braid to keep the long strands from flying into her face due to the force of the wind.

“They don’t call it the Windy City for nothing,” he quipped, instantly regretting the terrible joke.

Skye stopped and threw him an incredulous look, her hands still holding her hair in place. “Seriously? That’s what you’re going to go with?”

Blood rushed to his face, its signature heat creeping up his neck. There was no getting around it, so Lucas just shrugged and looked away.

“I didn’t peg you for a dad joke kind of guy,” she teased, keeping pace with him as he headed to a small coffee shop in the next building.

He’d take her ribbing about bad jokes over the fear-induced adrenaline surge he’d felt at the sight of the Druid any day. Lucas couldn’t believe that bastard had snuck up on them. Again. It was really hard to see the enemy coming when he could just appear and disappear at will.

“That guy needs a fucking bell,” he muttered, shaking his head.

Skye laughed. “Like a cat?”

“Exactly. I’m tired of him just popping up without warning.”

Skye didn’t respond right away, so he snuck a glance at her face. Her eyes had a faraway cast to them, like she was lost in a memory.

“You okay over there?”

Skye blinked a couple of times before looking at him. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked if you were okay.”

“Oh, yeah. I was just thinking. Your words reminded me of something my Gran mentioned once. I was trying to see if I could remember the conversation or context, but no dice.”

Lucas lifted a brow. “Suggesting the Druid wear a cat collar reminded you of your grandmother?”

Skye laughed. “It was more of the ‘without warning’ piece. I remember her mentioning something about Druid wards once, but that’s it.”

“Great. More magic we don’t understand.”

“I’m doing the best I can,” she protested.

“Hey, I’m not saying that as a slight at all. Your insights have been invaluable so far. Without you, he’d have already won. We’ll just keep following our leads until they take us right to him. It’s always worked for me in the past.”

“The MacConnell tried and true method, huh?”

“No reason to mess with a good thing,” he said with a grin as he held the door open for her.

She just shook her head and moved past him into the coffee shop.

There was little in the way of food to choose from, just a few pre-packed sandwiches and salads that had seen better days. Skye wrinkled her nose and put a sandwich back in the case.

“We’ll stop by Lizzie’s for dinner once we finish up here. My treat.”

“That sounds amazing!” She gave him a thankful smile and grabbed a protein bar from a small jar.

They placed their order with a barista who completely butchered their names. Lucas and Skye were still laughing when they sat at a small table in the corner of the shop.

“How exactly did Skylar turn into Twyla?” she asked with a snort.

Lucas shook his head. “No clue, I’m still trying to figure out how Lucas turned into Loomis. Is that even a name?”

Skye shrugged. “All I know is that you are officially Detective Loomis now.”

“Don’t you dare.”

She gave him an impish smile and took a tentative sip of her Americano. She grimaced but took another anyway. “Your sister has ruined me for all other coffee. If I wasn’t in dire need, I wouldn’t even bother.”

After trying his own, Lucas was forced to agree, although he’d had far worse at the precinct.

“So, tell me something about you.” He set the coffee down and folded his arms.

“What do you want to know?” Her fingers fidgeted with the cardboard coffee sleeve, which allowed him to freely study her. Her dark hair was pulled up, but strands had escaped in the wind and were framing her face. Skye was looking down at her cup, so he couldn’t see her eyes, but her long lashes cast shadows on the tops of her cheeks. The bite of the wind had brought a hint of color to her cheeks, giving her an almost youthful glow. His eyes drifted to her lips, which looked even more delectable than usual in her dark red lipstick.

“Lucas?” Skye asked.

He blinked. Busted. “Something not many people know,” Lucas answered quickly. He watched as her brows drew together while she considered his question. She fascinated him, something no woman had ever done before. Most were entirely too predictable.

Skye Giovanni was anything but.

“I hate matching socks.”

Lucas’ brows rose, and he repeated the words, uncertain he’d heard her correctly. “Matching socks?”

“Yes.”

He looked down under the table at her feet. “I’ve only ever seen you in heels; do you wear socks often?”

“Often enough. I just keep them in a drawer and pair them as I go.”

“You don’t fold your socks?”

Her head snapped up. “Who the hell folds their socks?”

“Um, I do, along with ninety-nine percent of the population. It’s much better than the alternative, which is sock chaos.”

“I like a little chaos.” She grinned, and he had the urge to reach across the table and claim that snarky mouth with his. “Tell me something about you.” She took a drink of her coffee, and Lucas pulled his eyes away from her lips.

“There really isn’t much to me. I don’t live life dangerously in mismatched socks.”

She pursed her lips, but he could see the amusement dancing in her eyes. “What about your apartment?”

“What about it?”

“Well, you’ve lived there for some time, and you have a dog.”

“Yeah.”

“But you still haven’t unpacked everything.”

He shrugged. “I get busy.”

“Too busy to get settled?”

“I just don’t see much of a point. The things I use are put away, and the stuff I don’t need I left in the boxes.”

“Then why not get rid of that stuff?”

He took a deep breath. It was a simple question with a complex answer. “It’s stuff I couldn’t part with after my parents died. I don’t really want to go through the boxes. It was hard enough to pack them up when we sold their house.”

She reached across the table and touched his hand. “I’m so sorry, Lucas. I didn’t know. I shouldn’t have pushed.”

He liked the feel of her hand on his, so he covered it with his other one and rubbed small circles with his thumb against her soft skin. “It’s alright.”

They sat there for a few minutes, his thumb continuing to brush against the back of her hand. From the outside, Lucas knew they appeared like any other couple. Just two people stopping for a quick caffeine boost together. No one would suspect that she was a Gypsy Seer haunted by visions of death, or that he was a homicide detective being hunted by a Druid who wanted to murder them both.He nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all.

He glanced down at his watch. “Oh shit, we better go.” Not wanting to release her, he linked their fingers as they stood up and stepped out into the wind again.

Chapter 19

Skye

Skye glanced down at their inter-linked fingers and nearly sighed. Damn. If he was irresistible from afar, it was even worse when they touched. The combination of his vulnerability and closeness had her damn near swooning.

She sensed that he needed the physical contact after their encounter with the Druid, and if she were completely honest with herself, she wanted it as well. Unfortunately, nothing short of being naked and beneath her sexy detective would curb the cravings she had for him.

Or on top.

Hell, at this point, she’d settle for a light pat down.

They walked along the campus until they reached a large red brick building toward the back. When they stepped inside, the smell of old books welcomed them. She inhaled deeply, smiling as the musty scent filled her lungs. She might hate studying, but she loved that smell. There was something so incredibly wonderful about it.

Lucas led her down a hall, dropping her hand when they stopped in front of a frosted glass door with Dr. Benjamin Zane, PhD in bold black letters.

“Here we go,” Lucas muttered as he opened the door.

At first glance, Professor Zane looked more grandfather than academic. He was a shorter, portly man in his late fifties. His short white beard matched the hair on his head, and he wore a sweater that was clearly made for him by his more enthusiastic than talented significant other. Skye was immediately charmed.

When they entered his office, he smiled widely. “Detective MacConnell, I presume.” He removed his glasses and stood to shake their hands.

Lucas grasped the man’s hand with his. “Thank you for meeting with us, Professor.”

“Oh, please, just call me Ben.” He turned his grin to Skye. “Who is this lovely young woman?”

“Skylar Giovanni, but please, call me Skye.” She smiled as she shook his hand.

“Giovanni, huh?” He paused to scratch his head. “That’s an Italian name if I’ve ever heard one, and you have the look of a Gypsy.” He winked lightly at her, but Skye felt some of the color drain from her face.

“Why would you assume I’m a Gypsy?”

“I only said you have the look of a Gypsy, but based on your reaction, I’m guessing there is some of it in your lineage. Dear, not only do I study Celtic history, but the history of the world’s greatest Seers. I’ve met quite a few Gypsy women in my days.” He winked and sat back down behind his desk.

Skye and Lucas shared a look before taking seats opposite of him.

The look of a Gypsy? What the hell did that mean? Was it her dark hair or maybe her eyes that gave her away?

Once he was settled, Ben rested his hands on the mahogany surface and peered at them curiously. “So, what can I do for you both?”

“We have reason to believe someone is using Druid runes in occult type murders.”

The smile fell from Ben’s face. “That’s unpleasant.”

“You could say that again,” Skye muttered, not noticing the intent way the professor watched Lucas.

“You mentioned photos on the phone? May I see them?”

“Here’s what we have.” Lucas pulled out his cell phone and held it up for the professor to see.

Ben peered at the screen closely, his eye’s flaring wide as he scrolled through the pictures. “These are very unpleasant indeed.”

“Do you know what they mean?” Skye asked, leaning forward.

“I can tell you that this is ancient magic, and powerful too.”

“Magic?” Lucas asked, earning a slight glare from Ben.

“Yes, Detective. Magic. Although I will have to presume that since you contacted me, you already assumed so. This kind of magic has been around for centuries, probably since the beginning of time itself. Druids used spells to heal the sick and protect their people, but as in any society, there were also some who sought to rule and destroy. These runes are involved in some of the darkest Druid magic I’ve ever seen.”

Skye shivered. That’s what she had been afraid of.

“How so? What do they mean?” Lucas asked.

“Well, based on the structure of the runes, whoever committed these murders is trying to trap another Druid. But what I don’t understand, is why they are being used today.” Ben’s focus never left the image on the screen. Troubled creases deepened around his eyes and his mouth was drawn into a tight line.

“What do you mean today?”

“These are ancient symbols, ones that haven’t been taught in, oh… at least a half century.” He cleared his throat, and Skye caught the way his eyes darted up to Lucas and back down to the image.

“A copycat maybe?” Lucas suggested.

“I doubt it. As I said, this isn’t even in the most detailed of history books. Only a true practitioner would be familiar with this kind of spell.”

“But you know what they are,” Lucas pointed out. “Doesn’t it stand someone else might as well?”

Ben shook his head. “When I first got started, I studied with a man in Scotland who was rumored to be the last remaining pureblood Druid. He showed me different types of runes that aren’t known anywhere in the world, because they were hidden from those who sought to use them for evil. Dark magic should never be touched, Detective. It corrupts; and once that process starts, it’s nearly impossible to stop.”

The warning in his voice sent a chill down Skye’s spine.

“Tell me about the other aspects of the murders,” Ben said as he handed Lucas back his phone.

“The bodies were burned beyond recognition and, so far, my people haven’t been able to determine what was used to cause the fire to burn so hot.”

Ben stood and began to pace behind his desk. “No, they wouldn’t be. I doubt they’ll ever be able to figure it out. It would be nearly impossible to determine—”

“To determine what?” Lucas interjected.

“How many bodies?” Ben stopped and faced them. “How many dead?”

“Two at the first crime scene, and three at the next.”

The man’s face went pale. “Can you send me copies of those images? I would like to know how the bodies were arranged.”

“What are you thinking?”

The man shook his head. “Not until I’m sure.”

“Professor,” Skye said softly. “Anything you can tell us could make the difference here. Please, give us something.”

The man’s crystal blue eyes looked up into hers. “I think you are dealing with something beyond your comprehension, my dear. Something that might get you both killed unless it’s dealt with in the appropriate manner.”

“Can you at least tell me what the symbols are?” Lucas stood and folded his arms.

Skye could feel the tension rolling off him, and she reached up to touch his elbow in a silent show of support.

“Together, they make a spell. It appears that your murderer was trying to cast another Druid out of our plane of existence and into a much darker one.”

“The Wasteland,” Lucas murmured.

Ben’s eyes zeroed in on him. “How do you know about that place?”

“My grandmother used to tell me stories about it,” Skye responded, pulling his gaze back to her.

The older man nodded. “I told you I could spot a Gypsy.” He smiled at her briefly before turning his attention back to Lucas. “Please send me the images from every angle you have. I will study them and see if my hunch is right. Once I have all of the information and do some calculations based on the locations and the number of bodies, it’s possible I might be able to determine the pattern.”

“And what would that tell us?” Lucas asked.

“If we have the pattern, I may just be able to tell you what’s coming next.”

Ben started to usher them from his office but stopped Skye just before she left. “Be wary, Ms. Giovanni. If this is in fact a Druid, they don’t have a reputation of kindness when it comes to your line.”

“I will be.” She smiled softly “Thank you for helping us.”

He smiled. “I’ll be in touch,” he called as she followed Lucas into the hall.

“So,” he said as she joined him. “It appears your numerology hunch was correct after all.”

“It certainly seems that way, doesn’t it?” If that were the case, then there very well could be another body somewhere, and they had better find it soon before even more turned up dead.

Chapter 20

Lucas

The diner was busy as usual, and Lucas smiled at the sight of his sister doing what she loved. Lizzie had always been a people person and being the owner of a customer service establishment suited her.

He guided Skye inside and over to the corner where Matthews had taken post.

“What’s up, study buddies?” his partner joked.

Skye smiled and rolled her eyes.

Damn, Lucas would never get tired of seeing her lips quirked up.

“Anything happen today?” Lucas asked.

Matthews shook his head. “Been smooth sailing. What about with you?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Lucas muttered.

“I think you’d be surprised,” his partner responded. “I’ll be here when you decide to stop beating around the bush.”

Before he had the chance to respond, his sister stopped in front of them. “Hey, guys! Coffee?”

“Yes, please,” Skye groaned.

“Same. Thanks, sis.”

She smiled and went to grab some mugs for them.

Skye dropped into an open bar stool next to his partner. She dipped her head forward and began to roll her neck from side to side.

Lucas lifted a hand to run over the smooth skin without conscious thought. “You doin’ okay, Giovanni?”

She shivered at his touch and looked up at him from beneath thick lashes. “It’s been a day.”

“I can think of a few ways to make it better…”

“You two should grab a room,” Matthews said, his eyes ping-ponging between the two of them like he was watching a tennis match.

Lucas scowled at his partner, the moment lost.

Lizzie sailed over with the coffee and let out a breath. “Whew, it’s been busy. Apparently, when people see police tape, they get nosy.”

“Any issues?” Lucas asked.

Skye took a long sip, then let out a moan.

Lucas turned his focus to Skye.

Her cheeks flushed. “What? This is amazing, and I’ve missed it,” she said defensively.

“I’m glad,” Lizzie said with a laugh, looking back at Lucas. “Nothing to report today, Detective.” Lizzie had taken up using Skye’s nickname for him, causing him to roll his eyes and make a face at her as she continued her report. “Everyone has been especially kind, and business has been good.” She leaned forward. “No weird cloaked men hanging around.”

“That’s good.”

“How about you two? Any luck?”

“We can talk about it later.” Lucas glanced at Skye, then back at Lizzie. “We did work hard though, so food wouldn’t be turned down...”

Lizzie raised an eyebrow. “You would never turn food down.”

“You have me there. Cheeseburger, please.”

“You got it. Skye?”

“I’ll have the same. But onion rings instead of French fries, please. And lots of ranch.”

“Coming right up.”

Matthews let out a low whistle. “Glad to see you’re a woman with an appetite.”

“Hands off,” Lucas warned.

“You two do realize that I’m sitting right here, right?” Skye interjected with an annoyed huff.

Matthews laughed before turning his attention back to Lucas. “So, you really aren’t going to fill me in on what happened today? It’s my case, too.”

“I will, but not here. When you bring Lizzie home, we can all sit down and go over it.”

“Alright.” Matthews dropped it and looked back down at the book he’d been reading when they walked in.

“What’s next for us?” Skye asked.

“I say we head back after we eat and see if we can’t figure out the pattern.”

“You don’t want to leave that up to Professor Zane?”

Lucas shook his head. “I want to look into it myself. While I will appreciate any and all help he gives us, I want to be sure I’m covering all the bases.”

“I can understand that.”

“You okay staying with me a little while longer? At least until we get this guy?”

She nodded. “I won’t leave until I’m sure it’s safe for you two.”

Until it’s safe for you, he mentally corrected. He’d seen the way that Druid had leaned toward her. While he hadn’t seen his eyes, Lucas knew they had rested on her delicate frame. The look would have been feral, he was sure of it. And there was also the warning the professor had given her. It perfectly echoed what she’d told him the night she’d ripped him away from those runes. Druids didn’t have a history of being kind to Gypsies.

Skye was one Gypsy that bastard wasn’t getting his hands on.

Skye was one of his people, at least for the time being, and he would protect her with his life.

Chapter 21

Skye

The food had been just as delicious as the coffee, leaving Skye both sated and relaxed as she and Lucas made their way up to his apartment. James stayed behind, waiting to help Lizzie close up at ten, and then bring her safely home. Since there was nothing for them to do besides be in the way at the diner, they’d gone ahead and headed back to Lucas’ apartment to get started on the timeline. According to Lucas, that was the first step in figuring out a pattern.

They stepped inside the apartment and were immediately greeted by a tail-wagging Lucy.

“Hey, baby!” Skye crooned, bending down to scratch behind her ears.

“I’m going to take her out, but I’ll be right back,” Lucas said, grabbing the leash off a table.

Skye waved him away. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll start compiling a list while you two enjoy your walk.”

Lucas threw a grin over his shoulder, his dimples flashing, as Lucy bounced out of the door. The door slammed closed behind them.

Chuckling, Skye shook her head and sat on the couch. “Someone didn’t need to be asked twice.” She pulled an old sketchbook off the table where she’d left it, flipping through the creamy pages until she found a blank one. Skye twirled the pen with her fingers before writing the numbers one through ten along the side of the paper.

She bounced the tip of the pen on the page a few times, the purple ink leaving tiny dots in its wake. Skye frowned. What am I supposed to be writing? This was definitely Lucas’ wheelhouse, not hers.

As if the name conjured the man, his face rose in her mind. She was becoming familiar with many versions of the sexy detective. There was stubborn Lucas, when his lips flattened and his eyes narrowed with laser-like intensity as he stared his opponent down. There was also annoyed Lucas, where his brows tilted in a deep V over blazing sapphire eyes, lines bracketing his full lips as he frowned. He usually saved that one for her when she was disagreeing with one of his many opinions.

But her personal favorite, and the one she was thinking about right now, was laughing Lucas. It was her favorite because it was the rarest of them all. A small smile played about her lips as she began to sketch, his features quickly taking shape on the page.

She started with his eyes. Such kind eyes. They were a bright blue, the color of a calm lake under the summer sun. Little flecks of gold speckled around the iris. And those lashes, so thick and long that they tangled at the tips. His eyebrows were dark blonde with a small scar over the arch of his left eyebrow that gave the impression of a tiny bald spot. The imperfection only made him sexier, since it alluded to past danger.

Skye began to shade in his nose; the straight lines flaring only slightly at the tip. Then his cheek and jaw bones. She spent extra time on his lips, wanting to get the curve of his smile just right. Once she was satisfied she’d captured the moment perfectly, she sighed, heat starting to pool in her stomach.

She’d drawn the moment when his smile grew just to the point those fucking dimples started to peek out. That usually happened a second before her ovaries damn near imploded from the flood of lust-fueled hormones that those devilish fuckers caused.

Every.

Damn.

Time.

Skye traced a finger over his lips, wishing it was the man and not the drawing she caressed. He was prettier than a man had any right to be. Skye scrunched her nose at the word. That wasn’t right. Lucas was entirely too masculine to be ‘pretty.’ Not only was it too dainty a word, but it didn’t do anything to capture his sheer magnetism.

Lucas walked into a room and heads turned to stare. Not just female ones either. While the girls were busy trying to think of how they were going to convince him to impregnate them, the men were eager to ask his opinion on anything and everything. He was a natural leader; he had an easy confidence and innate goodness that just pulled others in. Especially her. Seeing the way he interacted with Lizzie, his teasing mingled with unwavering love and support… Skye sighed. It would have been so easy to get over him if he was just hot. But Lucas MacConnell was a good fucking guy, and that made him irresistible.

Skye continued to sketch, working now on the stubble that coated his jawline at the end of the day. Is it soft or scratchy? What would it feel like under my lips? The rough scratching of the nib against the paper was hypnotic, and it wasn’t long before her eyes fluttered closed.

She opened her eyes what felt like a few seconds later, but must have been a lot longer, because Lucas was shaking her arm and staring down at her.

“Oh, sorry, I must have fallen asleep for a few minutes.” She laughed lightly and sat up, the twinge in her neck letting her know it had been held at an odd angle for quite a while.

“It’s all good. If you want to crash for a bit, feel free. I was just going to send you to the bedroom so you could get comfortable.”

The phrase ‘send you to the bedroom’ sent her pulse skyrocketing. She blinked a few times to clear her mind and shook her head. “No, it’s okay, we have work to do.”

“You sure?”

She nodded. “Yeah, absolutely.”

He studied her a moment longer but let it go. “We actually have some time to kill. I got started while you were snoring.”

“I do not snore!”

He smirked, flashing those dimples. Not. Fair. Her stomach swooped, his accusation the only thing keeping her from falling headlong into a sexual haze.

“I don’t!” she insisted, mortification sending blood straight to her face.

“Sure you don’t, Giovanni. And I start every morning singing the Star-Spangled Banner at the top of my lungs.”

“For fuck’s sake,” she groaned, covering her face with both hands.

The bastard laughed.

Skye’s stomach clenched, and her heart flipped over at the sound. Laughing Lucas really was her favorite. Oh shit, my sketch! Skye’s eyes darted to the floor, where the sketchbook had toppled over. She closed her eyes and sent up a brief thanks to the universe. Lucas would never let her live it down if he knew that she had been drawing him.

She scowled when he continued to laugh. “Just you wait, Detective Loomis. I’ll get dirt on you one day.”

He winked at her. “Bring it, Twyla.”

Skye pressed her lips together, trying to fight against the laughter that was bubbling up at the absurd name. She failed. “Seriously though, how did she get Twyla out of Skylar? I still don’t get it!”

Lucas shrugged. “Some things simply defy logic.”

“No kidding.”

Lucas gestured to the TV with his head. “You want to watch a movie while we wait for Matthews and Lizzie?”

“You sure you don’t want to work on the timeline?”

“Nah, we’ve got time. I think we’ve earned a break from psychotic Druids and their thirst for blood for a while.”

A feeling of relief rolled through her. Skye would never admit it, especially not to Lucas, but everything they’d been dealing with was really starting to wear on her. It was one thing living with visions of death, and another thing entirely to be elbows deep in it.

Skye settled back into the couch while he picked up the remote and sat down beside her. Right beside her.

“What are you in the mood for?” Lucas asked, looking at her expectantly.

You. The word was on the tip of her tongue, and for a horrifying second she thought it had actually left her lips. Skye glanced toward the TV her heart hammering in her chest. “Um,” she licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry, “something silly.”

“Silly, gotcha.” Lucas began to flip through channels, looking for something that fit the bill. “What about this?” he asked, finding a reality TV show that followed four friends as they dared each other to perform outrageous tasks in public. “It’s not a movie, but it makes me laugh every time I watch it.”

“Sounds perfect,” she agreed quickly. Anything she could focus on other than the way his muscular thigh felt pressed up against hers. Dear God, it’s like being in high school all over again. Except this time Skye craved his touch more than she feared it.

They lost themselves in the mindlessness of the show. There was something about the mundane activity that filled her with joy. She’d never had this simple intimacy with anyone. There’d never been someone she’d let herself get close enough to before to even try.

When Skye had been a teenager, her hormones had been on as much of a rampage as everyone else’s, only she had to shoulder the additional anxiety about whether or not a make-out sesh was going to turn into a vision-induced seizure. Luckily teenagers, perhaps given their age, didn’t seem to set off her visions very often. Even so, there were more than a couple of dates that ended abruptly. Skye finally had to start a rumor that she was epileptic just to explain the episodes. Didn’t do much for her dating life, but the symptoms were similar enough, and it was way easier to explain than the truth.

“Hi, I’m Skye, and I see dead people.”

Yeah… that was a great pick-up line.

What it all boiled down to was that even though she was twenty-seven years old, Skye had less sexual experience than most teenagers. She might as well be a virgin, for all the good her experience did her. Other than a few fumbling attempts early in high school, and one guy she’d dated for a couple of months in college, Skye hadn’t had much luck with dating. Even random hook-ups at bars didn’t end well. Eventually things got weird. Either due to the visions, or just from people wanting more from her than she was comfortable giving. It was hard to build something with someone when you constantly had to hold a part of yourself back.

Skye stole a glance at Lucas, the harsh light of the TV illuminating his face with its glow.

Maybe that’s why being with Lucas was so tempting. For the first time ever, she didn’t have to hide anything. He knew all of her secrets, and he wanted her anyway.

Feeling her eyes on him, Lucas turned with a lifted brow. “What?”

“Nothing.” Skye could feel the heat creep into her face as she lied.

His brows lowered over narrowed eyes, even as his lips tilted up in a grin. “Spill it, Giovanni.”

Fucking detective with your stupid interrogation skills. Skye shrugged, trying to play it off. “It’s nothing, honest. Relaxed just looks good on you, Detective.”

“Oh it does, does it?”

Skye nodded, forcing her eyes back to the TV. “Mmhmm.”

The knotted muscle in her neck had her shifting uncomfortably as she tried to ease the tension.

“Here, let me.”

Before she could protest, Lucas twisted her around so that her back faced his front. His hands began deeply kneading the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders.

“Dear God, yes,” she moaned, her eyes falling closed as her chin dropped to her chest.

Lucas’ fingers faltered, but he was quick to resume the slow movements, chuckling behind her. “Feels good, huh?”

“If this detective thing doesn’t work out, you’d make a fortune as a massage therapist.”

“That so?”

“Mmm,” she groaned in agreement as his touch sent tingles cascading down her body

His fingers were warm and strong against her skin, and Skye found herself wishing that they would dip beneath the neck of her T-shirt to continue their exploration. His hands were large and spanned most of her back. She should have felt vulnerable, but all she felt was… cherished.

Lucas’ hands shifted, his four fingers moving along her collar bone while his thumbs worked at the tight muscles above her shoulders. Her pulse began to race at the scrape of his calloused fingers against the top of her chest. Skye sucked in a shaky breath, her heart picking up despite his soothing touch while heat pooled low in her belly. She was desperate to know what it would feel like to have those hands running along the rest of her body. Especially her breasts. Skye could think of nothing she wanted more than for him to take their weight in his hands while his fingers deftly rolled the hardened peaks.

Skye whimpered, and heat rolled into her face as the image blossomed in her mind. She shifted her hips slightly, trying to alleviate the ache that had started to build as Lucas continued to work at her back.

Nothing made sense when it came to Lucas. Everything she’d believed about men and relationships was getting set on its head, because the more time they spent together, the more she desired.

“Feel better?” he asked, pulling her out of her trance.

“Yes, thank you.” Skye forced herself to take a deep breath and pull herself together. She turned to give him a grateful smile and was startled by how close he was. His blue eyes seemed to glow in the dim light. Skye dropped her eyes to his mouth, which was lifted in an amused grin. He hadn’t missed the way her body responded to his touch. Skye’s tongue darted out to lick her lips, wishing they were his.

“Skye,” he said her name like it was a prayer and a curse.

This was it. She could move toward him and change the nature of their relationship forever, or she could stay put and keep them in the safety of the friend zone. Who was she kidding? It wasn’t even a question. They’d been set on this course since he found her on that balcony.

Skye closed the distance between them, her lips brushing against his in a feather-soft kiss. Her lips were tentative at first, giving him the opportunity to pull away. She should have known better; Lucas’ response was immediate. He gripped the back of her neck to crush his mouth to hers. A kiss had never consumed her like this before; everywhere they touched felt like it was on fire. His lips were hard against hers, and she opened beneath him, ready for all that he had to offer.

She moaned when his tongue pushed in and began its seductive dance with hers. He pulled back, and Skye made a low whimper of protest.

Lucas chuckled, his breath feathering over her lips. “I’m not going anywhere.” The promise was whispered against her skin, Lucas’ voice deeper than she’d ever heard it. He trailed kisses along her jaw while he threaded his hand through her hair.

Need coiled inside her. The tug of his hands in her hair combined with the heat of his mouth at her neck had her body arching into his, desperate to get closer.

Lucas shifted his hands, dropping them to her hips and tugging her until she was sitting in his lap, straddling his legs. Those brilliant blue eyes seared into hers, checking to make sure she was okay before pulling her back for another searing kiss. Skye’s hips rolled into the place where his hardness pressed into her and this time it was Lucas who let out a low groan.

Skye’s hands ran along Lucas’ hard body, eager to feel his warm skin pressed against hers. She sat back, her hips rocking against him. Lucas looked up at her with heavy-lidded eyes as he pressed into her. Her eyes fluttered at the tiny explosions that little bit of pressure set off inside her.

“I want to see you,” Skye whispered.

Lucas’ eyes smoldered at her words. He reached back and pulled his T-shirt off in one smooth motion. Skye swallowed as she took in the sight of him. She knew he was fit, but she hadn’t been prepared for the sight of all those chiseled muscles. His body was beautifully defined, like one of those classical sculptures she’d spent years studying. But instead of cool marble, Lucas’ skin was hot to the touch.

Skye half expected him to tease her with some flippant ‘Like what you see, Giovanni,’ but he remained quiet while she looked her fill.

There was a puckered scar at his shoulder, and Skye touched it softly, her brow lifting in silent question.

“Gun shot,” Lucas answered, his voice like sandpaper.

The thought of Lucas being shot had a pang of something icy jolt through her. Skye bent down to press her lips against the scar. Lucas’ heartbeat thundered beneath her lips.

Lucas wove his hands through her hair, lifting her face back to his. “I need to taste you.”

The words caused a flood of desire to roll through her.

His kisses were hot and hard, each one more frantic than the last. His hands were at her shirt, slowly pulling it up.

“Do you want this as badly as I do?” he asked, his chest heaving with each heavy breath.

“Fuck yes,” she moaned, threading her hands through his hair to pull him back to her.

The crash of the door had Skye flying off Lucas’ lap as he jumped up.

Chapter 22

Lucas

Lucas spun to the door, his hands moving to the gun that wasn’t there. He relaxed only slightly when he saw an enraged Matthews and shaken Lizzie standing in his doorway.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Lucas snapped as he tugged his shirt back on, his adrenaline quickly replacing his sexual fog as his eyes bounced between them.

“Care to explain how a man just fuckin’ disappears into thin air?” Matthews said instead, his jaw clenched and his arms crossed.

Lucas’ annoyance at being interrupted drained away only to be replaced by bone-deep fear.

“He was there?” Skye asked in a shaky voice, moving to stand beside him. He spared her a quick glance, taking in her mussed hair and kiss-swollen lips. There wasn’t time to do more than squeeze her hand before returning his attention to his partner.

“Are you two okay?” Lucas asked, moving around the couch and toward them.

Matthews glared at him. “No thanks to you, asshole. You want me protecting your sister, fine, but tell me what I need to know to keep her safe. A man who appears out of fucking thin air is a pretty big thing to leave out.”

“Lizzie, I’m so sorry,” Lucas said, wrapping his arms around his sister.

“You have some fucking explaining to do,” Matthews said again, once Lucas let Lizzie go.

Lucas ran a hand over his face. Fuck. He was over here trying to get into Skye’s pants while his sister was in danger. What the fuck kind of brother did that? “I’m sorry man. I didn’t know how to tell you. It’s not exactly a normal thing to explain. I promise I will tell you everything, but can you tell me what happened first?”

Matthews glowered, not looking happy at having to wait, but obliging anyway. “She was attacked behind the diner while I pulled the car around.”

“You left her alone?” Lucas growled, a vein throbbing in his forehead.

“Oh, for shit’s sake, you two,” Skye interjected. “How about we shelve the fucking blame game and just act like adults.”

“How about you add some light to the actual situation?” Matthews shoved a finger into Lucas’ chest, ignoring her completely. “Tell me how a man managed to appear into an alley that I had done a walk through before going to get the car, and then dissa-fucking-peared right in front of my face. Oh, and by the way, he apparently has added my name to a kill list, so thanks for that.” Lucas’ anger deflated. He ran a hand over his face. “Fuck, man.”

“Yeah, I’d say that’s the appropriate reaction.”

Beside him, Skye whispered, “But it’s dark.”

Lucas looked at her curiously. “Yeah, it’s after ten; of course it is.”

“In my vision, the Druid went after her in daylight, so why did he attack tonight?”

“What the fuck do you mean vision?” Matthews asked, looking between Lucas and Skye. Lizzie sagged in a chair, her eyes wide as she watched the others.

“Don’t they change?” Lucas asked.

Matthews fumed while Skye emphatically shook her head. Lucas noted the way her pupils had all but drained out the amber irises; she was genuinely terrified. “No, Lucas they don’t. Once I have a vision, that’s it, unless somebody directly interferes while the real event is taking place to change the outcome. But even then the initial event would be the same. This shouldn’t have happened Lucas. Not tonight.”

“So, what changed?” Lucas asked.

Skye grabbed his arm, her fingers digging in painfully. “We met with the professor.”

Lucas was grabbing his phone before she finished the sentence, but Matthews smacked it out of his hand. “Not uh, you tell me what is going on right fucking now, asshole. I’m done being left in the dark.”

“You sure you want to know? You may not believe me.”

“You said that before, but I’m fairly open-minded, so how about you give me the opportunity to prove you wrong before shutting me out.”

“How do you feel about magic?” Lucas asked.

That brought his partner up short. Whatever Matthews had expected him to say, it clearly wasn’t that. “Magic? Like witches and wizard shit?”

“Why does everyone always assume it’s a wizard?” Skye muttered.

“So,” his partner said, pacing a path in the carpet. If he didn’t stop soon, Lucas would be out a security deposit. “Let me get this straight…”

Lucas took a deep breath, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. They’d been at this for thirty minutes or more—

“Skye is a Gypsy Seer who can see how people bite it before it happens, and some crazy-ass Druid is after you?”

“After us now, apparently,” Lucas corrected dryly.

“Well, this is just fucking fantastic.” Matthews took a seat on the couch next to Lizzie and leaned against her as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Lucas ignored the hit to his stomach seeing her so close to his partner.

“We met with Professor Zane today, hoping he could identify the language on the walls of the crime scenes,” Skye added, her voice steady and strong—the complete opposite of how he felt inside.

“So the markings are a language?”

Skye nodded. “They’re actually called runes. They compose a spell of some kind. It looks like he believes”—she paused, looking at Lucas—“do you want me to tell them?”

Lucas sighed. “Skye thinks this guy believes I’m a Druid, too.”

“Lucas is a Druid,” Skye insisted.

James looked over at him, and Lucas forced his eyes away from his sister. “You’re a wizard too?”

“Not a wizard,” Skye growled.

Lucas shook his head. “He’s made a mistake.” He could all but feel Skye roll her eyes. He knew she believed he possessed some kind of power, but that was absolutely ludicrous. It’s not like he was the one appearing and disappearing whenever he wanted. And there were times in his life he certainly had wanted to do just that. This particular moment at the top of the list.

“Oh, so you can believe that Druids and fortune tellers”—he looked at Skye—“no offense—”

“None taken.”

“—are real,” James continued, “but not that you might be one of them? Why the hell would he target you if you aren’t?”

“Because he’s insane. Since when do murderers have to have a good reason to kill?”

“Since he’s tried to kill your sister twice now. You’re smarter than this, Lucas. Put the pieces together and stop trying to find a different reason just because you don’t like the obvious answer.”

“You’re telling me that you believe all of this? Without hesitation?” Lucas asked.

James shrugged. “Had I not seen the asshole disappear in front of my eyes, it might have been a little harder to grasp. But I’ve witnessed it firsthand; I know I’m not crazy.”

“That makes one of us,” Lucas muttered.

“I’m tired.” Lizzie stood and stretched. She headed toward the door, and Lucas stopped her.

“Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“Lizzie, you need to stay here.”

She crossed her arms and eyed him defiantly. “I want my bed. Hell, I only live down the hall. I promise if anyone shows up I will scream really loud.”

“No.”

“You can’t tell me no.” She walked over and poked him in the chest much like James had done earlier. “I am an adult, and I want to go home. It’s not like you are doing anything productive to try and stop him anyway.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Gee, I don’t know.” She rolled her eyes. “How about the fact that you won’t even consider that you might possibly be a Druid. How are you supposed to protect us if you won’t face the truth?” She glanced over her shoulder. “Goodnight,” she said, then opened the front door and slipped into the hallway.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” James said, stepping out into the hall and shutting the door behind him.

“What the hell just happened?” Lucas asked.

“Your sister just voiced what we’re all thinking,” Skye said matter-of-factly.

Lucas shot her a glare just as Lucy started whining at the door. He retrieved her leash, his temper causing him to pick it up with more force than strictly necessary. “I’ll be back,” he shot over his shoulder as he opened the door and stepped out.

Chapter 23

Skye

Skye stood on Lucas’ balcony, overlooking the dark city. By the time Lucas had come back from his walk, both of their tempers had cooled considerably. With Matthews and Lizzie gone, they were finally able to try and reach the professor, who Lucas had been trying to get ahold of for the last ten minutes with no luck.

Her mind was reeling. How had she not seen the attack coming? Lucas hadn’t said what she knew they were both thinking: if she could no longer see when the Druid was coming, they’d just lost the only edge they had, and that could mean death for them all.

She closed her eyes and felt the wind lift the hair off her shoulders. What the hell were they going to do now? The Druid could pop up anywhere he wanted, whenever he wanted, and there was nothing they could do about it. No way they could keep him from coming in and snapping all their necks like she’d seen him do to Lizzie in her first vision.

Lucas stepped out to join her.

Skye didn’t turn around to look at him, afraid of what she might find if she did. “Anything?”

“No. I’m sure he’s just asleep for the night.” Lucas’ voice was low and measured. He was down-playing his concern, trying not to worry her further. Skye appreciated the attempt, even though it wasn’t working. She nodded for his benefit, not believing for a second that was the case. The way things were going, luck didn’t seem to be on their side.

Lucas put his hands on her arms and she leaned back against him. He trailed his fingers up and down her skin, offering comfort that was different than the intense passion they shared earlier on the couch.

“It’s going to be okay, Skye.”

Frustrated tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know how. I don’t know enough to keep you safe.”

He turned her around so he could look into her eyes. “It’s not your job to keep me safe, Skye. Let me worry about that.”

“How are you supposed to do that when you won’t even admit what you are?”

If Lucas was, in fact, a Druid, he was the only one of them who stood a chance keeping them alive. But that was only if he actually accepted the fact and learned about his heritage.

Skye stood in the center of the diner, watching Lizzie and Lucas laugh while James recounted a joke he’d heard earlier. She smiled at the relaxing atmosphere and waved her hand to greet them.

“Hey guys.”

No one turned around or acknowledged her, so she repeated more loudly, “Hey guys!”

When they still didn’t hear her, she took a step toward them, curious why they were ignoring her.

“They can’t hear you.”

Skye’s back went ramrod straight as she felt hard fingers trace a line up her spine.

“You know, I’ve taken quite an interest in you, Seer.”

The Druid’s breath was hot on her neck, and her blood iced. She was afraid to move, afraid that if she so much as drew in a breath, he would sense her fear. “What do you want?” she asked, proud when her voice didn’t shake.

“I’m not entirely sure, yet.” His fingers continued their dance up and down her back. “I used to think I wanted power, and I suppose I still do, but now I think I want to find out what this strange connection is between us.”

“We don’t have a connection,” she snapped, not taking her eyes off of her friends as she urged them to turn around and see her, to help her. But they just continued laughing and talking as if nothing was wrong.

“I’ve never heard of a Gypsy being able to interact with their visions the way you can. Sure, there have been some who can See the future, but you somehow manage to get inside my head while you’re witnessing my work. It’s a strange feeling, and one I find I quite enjoy.”

His fingers stopped at the base of her neck, digging into the tender skin as he wrapped his hand around it. He leaned in closer, his breath stirring the hair at the back of her neck.

“I will kill them all, Seer.”

He disappeared, quickly reappearing behind Lizzie. He wrapped his hand around her neck, just like he had done to Skye seconds earlier.

Skye shouted ‘No’ before she heard the snap, and Lucas and James jumped to their feet.

“Lizzie!” James screamed as he dove across the counter toward her, but the Druid was faster. He slammed his palm down onto James’ chest, and Skye watched in horror as he burst into flames.

“Freeze!” Lucas yelled, aiming his weapon at the cloaked figure.

“I especially want you to watch this,” the Druid said directly to Skye. “His death is one I’m particularly looking forward to.” The Druid laughed and, using his magic, pulled Lucas to him.

“No! Please don’t hurt him!” Skye screamed. She tried to run to Lucas but her feet were frozen in place.

“We’re in my world now, Seer,” the Druid said, closing his fist around Lucas’ throat.

Lucas turned his gaze to her, finally realizing she was there. “Help,” he gasped.

Skye screamed just as his eyes began to roll back into his head.

Lucas barreled into her room, his gun drawn. He scanned her first and wordlessly checked the window, closet, and even beneath the bed, searching for whatever had caused her to start screaming. She sat up in bed, tears streaming down her face. Finding nothing, he holstered his weapon and took a seat on the edge of the bed.

“What is it? What happened? Did you See something?” He pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head.

She shook her head, unable to speak as the tears flowed freely and she struggled to catch her breath. The nightmare had been so real, so incredibly detailed that she wasn’t sure it hadn’t been the Druid getting into her head somehow. He planned on killing them all. She shut her eyes tightly and held onto Lucas as if he might fade away.

He rubbed her back, and she reached back to stop him. That kind of contact, even from him, was entirely too similar to the way the Druid had touched her in the nightmare. His hand stilled, and he pulled her onto his lap.

“It’s okay, Skye,” he said softly.

She sat wrapped in his arms for a few minutes while she fought to regain her composure. Once she opened her eyes, she noticed for the first time that it was morning. A dim light shone in through the window, and she pulled away to wipe her eyes.

“Want to talk about it?”

“Coffee first.”

“You got it.” He set her to the side and stood. “Come out when you’re ready.”

She nodded, and he left the room, leaving the door open. Skye stood and walked to the mirror that hung over the dresser. Her eyes were swollen, her face tear-stained and red. Overall, she looked like shit, but who could blame her?

How many damn times am I going to have to watch my friends die? What the fuck did I do to deserve this?

She pulled her hair up into a messy bun and walked out into the living room, not caring that she only wore one of Lucas’ T-shirts.

He stood in front of the coffee pot, measuring the grounds before putting them into the filter. He was shirtless, something that on any other day would have had her blood pumping. While she appreciated the sight, she was still too wrapped up in the remnants of her nightmare to give the sight more than passing notice.

He turned to face her and smiled lightly when he saw her eyes travel back up his body. “I wanted to get your coffee started before I grabbed a shirt, but let me go get one on and then we can talk.”

She nodded and took a seat on the couch, pulling a throw over her bare legs. He returned a few moments later wearing a fitted blue T-shirt and sat next to her.

“So, what happened? Did you have another vision?”

“No.” Skye shook her head. “I don’t think so, anyway. It was like a lucid dream, but not.” She covered her face with her hands, groaning. “I know that doesn’t make any sense.”

“Why don’t you just tell me what happened?”

Skye recounted the nightmare from the very beginning, the words spilling out of her in a rush and bringing each horrifying moment back to life with them.

Lucas paced, his face furious by the time she was finished her recounting.

“This dickhead must have massive balls.”

“He’s cocky. He knows that we’re powerless to stop him, at least for now.” Skye paused, taking a deep, steadying breath. “Listen, I know you don’t want to admit it, Lucas, but you’re the only one who stands a chance against him, and unless you start coming to terms with what you are, we’re fucked. And not in the good way.”

Lucas continued pacing as if he hadn’t heard a word she said. Finally, he stopped and faced her, his face more serious than she had ever seen it. He sighed, looking equal parts resigned and determined. “Okay, so if I am a Druid, do I just start chanting or something?”

Chapter 24

Lucas

I’m a Druid, he told himself for the hundredth time. No matter how many times he repeated it, Lucas still couldn’t wrap his mind around the idea. Was it hard to accept magic existed in the first place? Absolutely.

But being forced to admit that he just so happened to be part of it was a much harder pill to swallow.

Lucas sat on the edge of his bed and stared down at Lucy, who was still peacefully asleep. How nice it must be to only have to worry about eating, sleeping, and crapping. He covered his face with his hands; he was a freaking Druid.

Had his dad known? Was this something that skipped a generation and he just so happened to draw the short straw? He’d have to make a point to call his grandfather and float the idea by him. Although, the thought of that conversation made his stomach roll. How the hell was he supposed to bring something like this up without sounding like an absolute lunatic? Especially when he’d barely spoken to the man in the last twenty years.

He sighed, forcing himself to face the truth. If that fucker hadn’t gotten to Skye last night, dream or not, he’d probably still be on the fence about the idea that he was somehow connected to all of this. But after seeing that terror on her face, and having to watch as a woman who seemed damn near fearless jump at shadows, he couldn’t allow himself the luxury of ignorance. If accepting a hard truth gave them the upper hand they needed to take this asshole down, then he’d do it.

He’d dealt with harder things in the past and survived. Wiggling his fingers and chanting some spells couldn’t be any worse.

The door to his apartment opened, and he heard Lizzie and Matthews greet Skye.

Great. He hadn’t even finished his coffee yet and now he was going to have to deal with Lizzie’s eye rolls and Mathews’ dickheadedness.

Leaving his partner to watch over his sister without giving him all the information wasn’t fair, he knew. But how the hell did you bring that up in casual conversation? Especially when he had hardly believed it himself? Shit, he still wasn’t a hundred percent behind the idea.

“Better get it over with,” he muttered. Lucas pushed to his feet and made his way into his living room, still in his sweats and a T-shirt.

“Well, look at you, sleeping beauty!” Matthews quipped as soon as Lucas came into view.

Lizzie just continued pouring herself a cup of coffee, not bothering to look back at him.

“Look, I’m sorry.” He hated the idea of his sister being mad at him. Even when they’d been kids, and he’d done something stupid and brotherly to piss her off, it had bothered him. It was worse now that she was the only real family he had left, dog and absentee grandfather not included. “Lizzie,” he pleaded.

She turned to face him, hands on her hips. “Fine,” she snapped.

“Fine? That’s it? I’m over here trying to apologize. I admit it, alright? I should have filled in dickhead over here earlier.”

“Oh, that’s really cute, Lucas. Look at you multitasking. An apology out of one side of your mouth and an insult out the other.” Lizzie rolled her eyes and tossed her hands in the air.

Lucas couldn’t help himself, he may have been mid-apology, but he watched his sister’s eye roll and thought, called it.

“If it’s any consolation, I accept your apology, bitch.” Matthews grinned and slapped him on the arm.

“Men. Ugh! You guys are fucking ridiculous,” Lizzie said, her lips twitching on a smile.

“Who’s fucking ridiculous?” Skye asked as she made her way into the kitchen, looking like a million bucks.

How the hell does she manage that so early in the morning, he wondered as he appreciated her tight black leggings and the body-hugging dress that fell just below her thigh.

“Men!”

Skye’s eyes found his. “I completely agree,” she responded lightly, making him roll his eyes. Shit, it was contagious.

Skye and Lizzie fell into a deep conversation about how the male species was ridiculous, or whatever the hell it was they were talking about, giving him and his partner space to talk without being overheard.

“So, you good man?” Matthews asked.

“Yeah. Just trying to wrap my head around the fact that—”

“You’re a fucking wizard?”

Lucas laughed. “Skye hears you say that and she’ll have your balls.”

Matthews shrugged. “I bet your sister would have something to say about that.”

Lucas lost his smile and punched James hard in the arm. “Keep talking like that and it won’t be Skye you have to worry about.”

His partner laughed and held up his hands in surrender. “So, what’s the plan for today? Don’t really feel like making my way into the office like it’s just a normal morning.”

“Nah, definitely not. We need to get down and see the professor. I’m really hoping he dug something up last night. Then I’m going to take Skye over to her apartment and see if we can’t dig out some of her grandmother’s old journals.”

“Think there’s anything in there?”

“Honestly?” He ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t have a fucking clue. At this point, anything would be helpful.”

The loud shatter of ceramic caught Lucas’s attention.

His sister cried out, “Skye?”

The men turned to see Skye’s wide eyes staring vacantly at a spot on the wall, her pupils completely swallowing any trace of amber. Her face had drained of all color, and she swayed where she stood.

“Fuck, not again!” Lucas raced to the other side of the room. “Skye!” he shouted, hoping to pull her out of whatever hellhole she’d been drawn into.

But it was too late, she’d already gone down.

Chapter 25

Skye

“Skye.”

Skye opened her eyes to the sound of her name. She was standing in Professor Zane’s office, just inside the door where he’d first greeted them. This felt like a vision, but instead of the usual faded hues, everything around her was in vibrant, albeit blurred, color. Almost like she was looking at a reflection on the water.

“Skye,” Ben said again from his desk. He was sitting in his chair, looking down at a stack of papers, but not at her. “I hope this works, Seer,” he whispered. She saw the pain on his face, which was only eclipsed by the panic in his wide eyes.

A sense of dread filled her, making her stomach flip. What had he found?

The door behind her opened, and fear stabbed through her like a knife. She knew who it would be without looking.

“Been a long time, Benjamin,” the Druid said.

She expected him to see her, to look her in the eye and make some comment that would terrify her, but he never did. He continued staring at Ben, who, instead of acknowledging him, turned his eyes to where she stood.

“Skye, I hope you See this.” He spoke softly, and it was as if the Druid didn’t hear him even though he stood right in front of him. Finally addressing the Druid directly, Benjamin said, “It has been. Truth be told, I’d hoped it would be longer.”

“I’m sure you did. I can’t imagine you ever thought you’d see me again after you, my brother, and that Gypsy bitch sent me to the Wasteland.”

Skye’s eyes widened. So that’s why the professor recognized that spell!

“You were headed down a dark path and had to be stopped.”

The Druid was enraged by the professor’s answer, and he slammed a fist into the wall beside him. “You betrayed me! I taught you everything I knew, answered every question for your studies, and you used it against me!” he roared.

“You had to be s-stopped,” Ben stammered, his voice cracking as his courage wavered. “Ju-just like you d-do now.”

The Druid laughed. “You think they will stop me? I. Am. Unstoppable! My little vacation gave me a lot of time to think.” He took another step toward the desk and looked down at the papers stacked on top, lifting one up to inspect it. When he looked back up at Ben, he hissed. “So, you think to warn them?”

Ben got to his feet and nearly fell back over his chair.

The Druid pulled out a knife, and Skye lunged for him.

“No!” she screamed.

Ben’s eyes found hers, and he smiled slightly, but again, the Druid didn’t notice.

“You will be stopped,” Ben whispered just before the Druid drove the blade down into his chest.

“Ben!” Skye screamed, watching in horror as Ben slumped to the ground beneath his desk.

She expected to be pulled from the vision. She was ready to let Lucas and the others know what was going to happen and get the image of Ben’s impending death out of her head, but fate had more for her to See. Instead of leaving the vision, she stayed emerged in the scene. Confused, Skye continued to watch, tears streaming down her face.

The Druid gathered everything that had been on top of Ben’s desk and disappeared just as quickly as he’d come.

“Ben,” she whispered. There was no answer, but still she did not return to the present. Skye took a deep breath and stepped over to where he lay. “Ben?”

He was still alive, but just barely. He dipped his fingers into the wound and used his blood to write something on the bottom of his desk. What could be so important he’d use his last breaths to record it rather than call for help? This must be what he wanted her to See.

He was wasting time; the phone was just within reach if he’d only try.

“Ben, call for help!” she pleaded, but he couldn’t hear her now, if he ever could. “Please,” she begged as the front of his handmade sweater turned red from his own life force.

“Skye.” Her name was a whisper as his hand fell. “I hope—” His words were stopped short by a wet gurgle as his chest rose and fell one last time.

Professor Zane was gone.

Skye was ripped from the vision, her breaths coming out in shallow gasps as she tried to gain control. So much blood. This wasn’t even the worst of her visions, but the reality of it nearly killed her. What triggered it? I didn’t even touch him!

Why had he kept repeating her name over and over again? And why couldn’t the Druid see her this time?

Each unanswered question brought with it a new wave of panic.

“Skye!” Lucas shouted. She used the sound as a focus, shifting her attention to him. “There you are,” he said, relief heavy in his voice. He pulled her against his chest as the tears continued to spill down her cheeks.

“Ben, you have to call Ben!” she urged, and Lucas didn’t waste time questioning her. He pulled his phone out of the pocket of his sweatpants.

“No answer,” he said tightly a moment later, helping her onto the couch.

“You hit your head,” Lizzie informed her, her voice gentle. “I’m going to try and stop the bleeding.” She pressed a washcloth to her forehead, and Skye winced.

“Caught it right on the edge of the coffee table,” James explained, running his hand down her back in an effort to soothe her, but the gesture did nothing to calm her panic.

“We have to get over there now,” she insisted, knowing that she sounded hysterical. Hell, she was hysterical. Skye got to her feet. She swayed slightly but caught herself on the arm of the couch this time.

“We need to get you to a hospital for stitches,” Lucas corrected.

“No, I’ll be fine.”

“James, can you grab the first aid kit from the bathroom?” Lizzie asked as she guided Skye back down.

“On it.” He disappeared, but Skye barely noticed.

She couldn’t get the professor’s words out of her head. ‘Skye, I hope you can see this.’ What had he meant?

“Lucas, we have to go now! If I just had the vision, it might mean he isn’t dead yet,” she said adamantly.

He eyed her warily. “You can barely stand on your own. Besides, if we rush over there now, half-cocked, it’s not going to matter.”

“Got it!” James called, jogging back into the room and handing the first aid kit to Lizzie with a flourish.

“I’m going to go get dressed,” Lucas said.

She sat quietly while Lizzie cleaned and closed the cut with two butterfly strips.

“That should hold,” she said, getting to her feet.

“Thanks,” Skye said absentmindedly. Her mind was stuck replaying the scene from her vision. Why does this vision feel so different than the others?

“Okay, let’s go,” Lucas said, and she watched as he holstered his weapon beneath his arm.

She got to her feet.

“Wait, Skye, maybe you should stay put.”

She eyed him dangerously. “I’m going.” Her voice left no room for argument. He hadn’t seen what she had; he couldn’t possibly understand that she had to go.

“Skye—”

She put her hand up to stop him. “I’m not arguing with you. Either you take me, or I leave by myself after you do. Either way, I’m going.”

He let out a breath. “Fine.”

“I’ll take Lizzie into work,” James offered.

“Are we sure that’s such a good idea?” Lucas asked, his eyes shifting to Skye.

“Yes,” Lizzie said firmly. “It wasn’t me Skye saw this time, and I’m already opening a lot later than usual.”

“Fine,” Lucas said, throwing his hands in the air. “Apparently, no one wants to take my advice this morning.”

Chapter 26

Lucas

Just fucking wonderful, Lucas thought bitterly as he and Skye made the drive to the university. Seeing her pass out had been hard enough, but seeing her get hurt because he hadn’t been fast enough was what really pissed him off.

From now on he was just going to have to stick close to her. A thorn in her side. He smiled to himself. She was just going to love that.

“What are you grinning about?” Skye asked, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“Maybe.” He smiled, hoping their banter would put some of the life back in her eyes. It didn’t. He’d witnessed three of her visions now, and he’d never seen her have this kind of reaction. It made him wonder; what all had she Seen? “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked, fully expecting her to shut him down.

To his surprise, she let out a sigh. “It was different this time, Lucas.”

“What do you mean?”

“In every vision I’ve had since I met you, the Druid has always been able to see me. This time, he couldn’t…” Her voice trailed off, but then she looked over at him, her brows furrowed. “But Ben did.”

“Professor Zane saw you? While you were having the vision?”

“Yes, but I don’t know if he was really seeing me or just hoping I would See him.” She covered her face with her hands, groaning. “Which makes absolutely no sense.”

“What did you See in the vision?”

Skye lowered her hands, looking out the window. “I was standing in his office and he said my name.”

“He spoke to you?”

“Not directly, no. It almost felt like a recording? I think that’s the right word.”

“That’s fucking weird.”

She snorted, but it was completely without amusement. “Isn’t that an understatement?”

They drove the rest of the way in silence, Skye staring out of the window until they pulled into the parking lot of the university. It was well into the morning now, and students had already begun to make their way toward the classes on their schedules. Lucas sent up a silent prayer they weren’t too late.

Skye’s normally olive-toned skin was still pale as they got out of the car, so he linked his fingers with hers and was grateful she didn’t pull away. If she passed out, he wanted to make sure he was able to catch her this time. She’d pulled the hair up out of her face in another of her sloppy buns, and her jaw was set, making him wish he’d pushed her to stay behind.

Witnessing the horrible murder once was more than enough for her. Stubborn as she was though, she would have just followed anyways.

After knocking on the professor’s door twice with no answer, Lucas pulled a lock pick set from his pocket and unlocked the door. He didn’t make a habit of breaking and entering, but it was still a good skill to have in times like these.

“Don’t you need a warrant for that?” Skye asked with a surprised lift of her brow.

Lucas shrugged. “Probable cause.”

“I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work that way.”

Lucas straightened and stared at her. “You really want me to give you a lesson on the Constitution right now, Giovanni? Fine. A: it’s not his home; it’s a public university. B: he’s not a suspect, and I’m not looking for evidence to use in court. C—”

“Alright, alright.” She held up her hands with a small laugh. “I’m sorry I said anything. You just always hear about warrants in those cop shows.”

He shook his head with exasperation. “They get more wrong than they get right.”

“Says the guy who won’t stop using the words Druid and wizard interchangeably.”

“Touché. Can we go in now?”

Skye waved her hand for him to proceed, all vestiges of humor slowly fading from her face. Despite her insistence that they hurry, it was clear she was not looking forward to going back inside.

“Hello?” Lucas called as they stepped inside, switching the light on.

The room was still, nothing out of place or overtly different since their visit yesterday. He locked the door behind them and followed Skye as she inched closer to the desk.

“Oh no!” she cried out, covering her mouth with her hands.

He looked behind the desk. “Fuck.” The professor still wore the same sweater he’d been wearing yesterday when they’d spoken to him, with the jarring addition of dark red blood that now stained the thick wool fabric. “I’m so sorry, Skye.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled out his phone to call the body in.

“Wait.” She placed a hand on his and shook her head. “I need to check something first.” She knelt beside the body.

“What are you doing?” he asked. “You can’t touch anything; you’ll taint the crime scene.”

“Can I see your phone?”

“Why?”

“Because I forgot mine, and I need the camera. I don’t want to risk getting too close,” she explained, holding her hand out.

Lucas handed it over to her, feeling more and more confused. Just what did she expect to find down there?

Skye snapped a photograph of something beneath the desk, then stood. She kept her eyes averted, doing everything she could to not look at Ben’s body.

“I knew it,” she muttered, studying the image on his phone screen closely. “He left us a message.”

Lucas looked over her shoulder to study the image. “What is that squiggly thing?” he asked, squinting. The professor must’ve been barely hanging on when he’d drawn it, because the swirl had random thumbprints scattered along the lines.

Skye didn’t answer, so he asked another. “What’s ‘ley’?”

“I’m not sure,” Skye admitted. “I don’t know what any of this means, but it must be important. Why else would he risk so much to get the message to us?”

It was a valid point. “Why put it down there, though? We could have easily missed it. How did you even know it was there?” he asked, mostly thinking out loud.

“I told you, this was different than the other visions. Typically, after the death event, I’m pulled out. But this time, I was here, watching him write that message with his blood. He wanted me to find it.”

“How, though? He wasn’t a Druid, too, was he?”

She shook her head slowly, meeting his gaze. “I don’t think so. The Druid spoke to him, said he taught Ben all his ways and Ben had used it against him. He was angry.”

“So our guy knew Ben beforehand.”

It wasn’t a question, but Skye nodded anyway.

“Lovely,” Lucas said dryly. Why the hell hadn’t the professor told them that before? Why keep it a secret? Not that they had a photograph to show him, but you think he could’ve mentioned having met a psychopathic Druid at one point in his life. “I need to call this in, you good?” She nodded, and he dialed the precinct. “Hey, it’s MacConnell, I’ve got another body.”

Chapter 27

Skye

Skye felt numb as she stood in the corner and watched Ben’s body being placed into a black bag. Seeing them zipper his once kind face away beneath the material brought tears to her eyes. The coroner wheeled him out on a stretcher, and Skye closed her eyes so she didn’t look down at the blood-stained floor. They’d been in his office for three hours as investigators came and went.

‘Skye, I hope you can see this.’ She closed her eyes as Ben’s words floated back into her mind. Obviously, he meant that he wanted her to see the message, but how in the hell had he sent it to her in the first place?

“You ready?” Lucas asked, jarring her from her thoughts.

“Yeah, sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. The coroner says she’s estimating time of death at about seven this morning.”

Skye looked at him and widened her eyes. “That must have been right when I had the vision. We left just after seven to come here.”

“I know.”

“So that means that I watched it as it happened?” Bile started rising in her throat, and she fought it back at the realization that she’d witnessed a murder as it was happening.

His jaw was tight, and she didn’t miss the worry in his eyes. If she was no longer getting a warning before something happened, that was even worse than the way her vision had changed for Lizzie’s death. It meant that they may have just majorly lost their edge.

“Lucas, we have to get my Gran’s journals.”

“I agree.” He ushered her out of the building, her thoughts a jumbled mess as they moved. So, not only did they still have no idea how to stop the Druid, now they wouldn’t even see him coming until it was too late.

“I’m sorry, Lucas,” she muttered once he climbed into the car.

“For what?”

“What good am I? I can’t even give you a heads-up now.” Tears brimmed her eyes, and she wiped them away with frustration. Usually, Skye never cried. She hated anything that made her feel vulnerable, but with everything that had happened in the last few days, her emotions were all over the place, and she was beyond terrified.

“Skye.” The gentleness of his voice surprised her, and she looked at him. “You didn’t touch anyone before that vision.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“And that’s something that has always precluded one of your visions?”

“Right.”

“So that must mean this was not a typical run of the mill Gypsy Seer death prediction, right?”

“Right,” she repeated, wondering where he was going with his line of questioning.

“It may have been a message of some kind, sent specifically to you.”

“A message? But how?”

Lucas shrugged. “I can’t pretend to know that part, but you did say that Ben kept telling you that he wanted you to See it right? Whatever he wrote on the bottom of that desk was important, you said so yourself. So important that he didn’t even try to call for help. That doesn’t mean that your visions are off, it just means this was something else. Something that could prove majorly beneficial for us.” He squeezed her shoulder lightly. “Don’t throw in the towel just yet, Giovanni. We’re still in this thing.”

Skye let out a shaky breath. “Okay.”

“Now”—he turned on the engine and the car roared to life—“how about we find out what the hell that swirly doohickey means?”

“You sure have a way with words, Detective.”

He winked. “That’s not all I have a way with.”

Skye shook her head with a laugh, then closed her eyes and pushed everything from her mind except for one thought that she forced herself to repeat over and over. It isn’t over.

It isn’t over.

It.

Isn’t.

Over.

Chapter 28

Lucas

Lucas thought this might be his favorite version of Skye yet. Once they got back to his place, she’d set up at his table with her laptop and started scouring the internet to see what she could find out about the message Professor Zane had left for them. She’d used one of his pencils to keep her hair knotted on top of her head, which brought all sorts of inappropriate sexy librarian thoughts. Currently, her face was scrunched up in an adorable frown as she stared at the computer screen, and the entire picture was nearly too much to look away from.

“What’s up, Giovanni?”

She glanced up at him over the top of her laptop. “Well, according to this, ley lines are essentially like a grid of power that runs underneath the physical world.”

“Like latitude and longitude?”

“Sort of, but with more magical purpose.”

Lucas set down his plate, the leftover pizza forgotten. “But the professor didn’t leave us a grid, he left us a swirl.”

“Right, but he made a point to write those three letters as a clue. This had to be what he was talking about.”

“So what’s so special about these lines?”

Skye sat back in her chair, crossing her arms beneath her chest. “Well, in a nutshell, every place that these lines intersect, there’s something of sacred or spiritual significance. Or at least, that’s the belief. A lot of spiritual sites are built on top of what people believe to be one such intersection.”

“So, like Stonehenge?”

“Look at you, knowing a thing,” Skye teased. “But, yes. Essentially. There’s a lot of people that believe Stonehenge was used by the Druids as a ritual site, although modern day researchers have ruled out the possibility.”

“Alright, I can get behind that. People have been fighting over land they believe to be sacred for centuries, there’s nothing otherworldly about that.”

“You hold on to that disbelief any more tightly, we might have to revoke your Druid card.”

“Can you do that?” Lucas asked sharply, hope that maybe he could avoid all this crazy shit blooming in his chest.

Skye laughed heartily. “Geeze, look at your face. I hate to break it to you, kid, but no, it doesn’t work like that. Your power is in your blood, Lucas. Quite literally. Each microscopic strand of your DNA has power infused into it. I can’t just undo that because you like to pretend it’s not there.”

Lucas sighed. For a second there, the hope he’d felt eclipsed everything else, but of course, nothing was ever that easy. There’s no going back to regular guy, Lucas MacConnell.

“Right. Sorry, continue.”

Skye shook her head, a small smile still playing on her lips. “The basic belief is that anything that occurs on top of a ley line is amplified by the power there. So they are sought out for that power.”

“How does one know where to find a ley line?”

She shrugged. “A map, I guess.”

“Did you check?” He gestured toward the laptop.

“You mean, did I put ‘map of ley lines’ into the little white bar on Google? Why yes, Detective, I did, because I’m a Millennial and know how to use the damn internet. But as it turns out, Google Maps didn’t have a search result.”

“Want to dial the sarcasm down a notch or seven, Giovanni?”

“Nope, sure don’t.”

Lucas was sorely tempted to stick his tongue out at her, but he resisted. There were some things that were safe to do with your sister that you couldn’t risk in front of a future lover. She’d never let him live it down.

Skye stood up and stretched, the sweater she changed into when they got back from the crime scene lifting up and showing him a brief glimpse of skin. Lucas forced his eyes up. There was definitely not any time to let his mind start wandering down that road. She walked around the table and picked up the printout of Ben’s swirl.

“These dots have to be intentional,” she murmured, talking more to herself than to him.

“Skye, the man was half out of his mind from blood loss; they are probably just the places his hand brushed against as he passed out.”

She shook her head. “No, that doesn’t fit. Look.” She sat the photo down on the flat surface and held her hand just above the dots, trying to position her fingers over them. “There’s no way your hand leaves those marks by accident.”

Lucas was forced to agree. “Alright, so not an accident.”

He reached for the photograph, but his fingers brushed against the map he’d brought home. It was a map of Chicago, with neat black Xs placed on the three crime scenes. He started to look away when something had his eyes moving back to the map. It was an awareness he often felt when working a case. A sense of knowing there was something important ahead, without any reason to believe it.

Trusting that sense, Lucas looked at the map more intently. There was something about the three Xs that was familiar. Skye remained quiet at his side. The minutes passed, and Lucas growled with frustration. It was there, just on the fringe of his awareness. Something obvious that he was missing.

“Fuck!” he said, after five more minutes passed without any massive revelation. Lucas tossed the picture onto the table. It fluttered down, landing just to the left of the first X.

Skye sucked in a breath. “Lucas!”

But he saw it too. Those three Xs were in the exact same placement as the three fingerprints in Ben’s picture.

“The fingerprints are crime scenes.”

“Holy shit. Lucas, there’s so many of them.”

Lucas did a quick count. Seven. There were seven prints, which meant seven scenes. They’d already found three. That meant there were four more out there, or there would be by the time their bloodthirsty Druid was done.

Skye’s eyes were glowing with amber fire when he looked at her, making him wonder if her mind wasn’t reaching the same conclusion. She reached past him, her fingers tracing the spiral from its outermost line and in to the center. “Do you see what I see?”

Lucas nodded. “I think you just found the location of that missing crime scene.”

Skye’s fingers trembled slightly as she lifted them back up.

“That means the other three will happen soon. One scene, then two at once, and then three…”

“But why seven total?” Lucas asked, looking at her. “What’s special about that number?”

Skye’s eyes went hazy, as she searched her memory for the answer. “It’s the number of completion. Seven and three both are, actually.”

“How can two different numbers mean the same thing?”

Her lips quirked up. “Well, it’s simple really.”

“Oh, well then, enlighten me, please.”

“God made the world in seven days, it’s often tied to the idea of creation or birth for that reason. I think I read somewhere that it can also signify being between two worlds, although I’d have to dig some more to see if I can recall which worlds exactly. And as for the number three, well we’ve already talked about the big ones. But, even if we’re not looking at the Holy Trinity, or something notably tied to religion, think of popular movie franchises. Almost everything is a trilogy these days. There’s a sense of perfection in things that happen in threes. A beginning, middle, and an end.”

The word ‘end’ hung between them, and the smile fell from her face.  There was entirely too much held within that singular word, a sense of finality that neither of them could ignore.

“Maybe you should dig in to those numbers a little more,” Lucas said, his voice hoarse.

Skye nodded. “Okay.”

Lucas didn’t like the way any of this sounded. When the pieces were all placed side by side, there was one very clear picture that emerged, and he didn’t like the look of it at all.

Chapter 29

Skye

“Alright, so let’s run through this one more time,” James said. He sat on Lucas’ couch, having just brought Lizzie home from work. “I want to make sure that I understand what you are saying, because this shit is sounding crazier and crazier.”

“A vanishing Druid didn’t reset the crazy meter for you?” Lizzie teased, her voice belying her nerves, despite the joke.

“You’ve got to admit—this is next level shit.”

Lizzie nodded. “No fucking kidding.”

Lucas stood in the middle of the room, his arms folded as he watched them bicker. “You need me to draw you a diagram, shit for brains?”

“Couldn’t hurt,” James said honestly.

Skye laughed, three pairs of eyes turning to her. “Sorry,” she said, holding up her hands. “It’s just, he wasn’t wrong.”

Lucas shook his head, using a hand to cover his smile. “Yeah, alright. Let’s diagram this shit.”

By the time they were set up and ready to start, it seemed a lot more like they were four friends embarking on a game of Pictionary than trying to decipher mysterious clues left by a dead man.

Skye’s smile faltered. She was so out of her league.

“Shouldn’t the artist do the drawing?” Lizzie asked as Lucas brought over a piece of cardboard he’d torn from one of the various boxes.

Lucas held out the permanent marker he’d picked up and offered it to Skye. “By all means.”

She shook her head. “No, you go ahead. This is much more entertaining.”

He shrugged. “If the lady insists.”

“She does.”

Lucas winked and started writing. “Alright, folks, here’s what we know. There’s a rogue Druid who is running loose in Chicago while he tries to complete a ritual.” Lucas added some scribbles that Skye thought might represent Chicago and the Druid, but it was really hard to tell. She regretted not taking the marker.

“Each murder site holds significance… definitely in the placement, and potentially in the number of scenes and/or bodies.”

Skye nodded along with each point.

“Based on Professor Zane’s message, we believe that these sites may be left on what is referred to as a ley line.”

“A place of power,” Lizzie cut in.

“That’s right.”

“Okay, I’m following you so far,” James said.

“Good. Alright, so, based on the spiral, there are four unknown sites. One of them”—Lucas tapped his marker to the top of what was now a black spiral on top of a grid—“we believe to be the first scene. If the scale of the spiral is accurate—and that’s a big fucking if, since it was left by a dying man—then it looks like the first scene falls just outside of our jurisdiction, which is why we wouldn’t have known about it. I already have a call in to see if there’s a scene that matches ours.”

Lucas looked up to make sure the others still followed

“So, where would the other three fall?” James asked.

Lucas scratched his head. “That’s a little harder to say, again, because we aren’t sure of the scale.” Lucas pulled the city map out of his pocket and sketched three more Xs. “But, it looks like here, here, and here.” He handed the map to his partner.

“But that’s…” James looked up at Lucas in shock.

“That’s my diner!” Lizzie cried, springing up from the couch.

Skye was intimately familiar with the fear and anger her friend was feeling. She’d felt the same way when she and Lucas had realized it as well.

“It explains why he keeps going after you there, Lizzie,” Lucas said softly. “It’s not just convenience; it has some significance for him.”

Lizzie’s face had lost some of its color when she woodenly sat back down. “So I’ll never be safe.”

“You don’t have anything to worry about, sweetheart,” James said, taking Lizzie’s hand in his. “I’ll be there with you every day until we catch this bastard. Don’t give it another thought.”

Lizzie touched his cheek. “That’s really sweet of you, James, but you can’t be with me every second.”

“Watch me,” he said fiercely.

Skye shot Lucas a glance, expecting to see more of his brotherly outrage, but he looked at James with something more along the lines of consideration. Interesting.

“Alright, so we have seven sites, spread throughout the city in places of supposed power. If nothing else, we have a blueprint of where he’ll strike next,” James said.

Lucas nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”

“Do we have any idea when he’ll strike?” James asked.

Lucas shrugged again. “My guess is sooner rather than later. He’s dropped at least a body a day since he started.”

“So we stake out the other locations and stop him when he shows up.”

“That’s the long and short of it,” Lucas agreed.

“It seems too simple,” Lizzie jumped in, parroting Skye’s own concerns.

“It’s the best we got, Lizzie. I can’t just sit here with my thumb up my ass while I wait for him to go after you again. I don’t want the next body I find to be yours.”

Lizzie’s lower lip trembled at her brother’s words. “I don’t want that either.”

“Is there anything else? Like a motive? Do we know why the wizard fucker is going after you?”

Skye’s lip curled into a snarl, but James was already winking at her from his place on the couch. She scowled at him.

“Skye, you want to take that one?”

She pushed herself off his chair and walked into the center of the living room. “Sure.” She took a deep breath. “I pieced together the little knowledge I can still recall from my Gran’s teachings, as well as what I found today when I was doing research, and it seems to all come down to power. Our Druid wants more of it, or all of it, I should say. He believes that by performing these rituals in these specific locations, he will gain more power. A lot of it.”

Now Lizzie was scowling, but to Skye she appeared more like an angry kitten than a pissed off woman. She was entirely too sweet to have that level of outrage on her face. Skye knew better than to ever tell her that, but the thought made her lips twitch anyway.

“He’s saving Lucas for last!”

Skye nodded. “That’s what I think. The most powerful person, in the most powerful location. Lucas is his grand finale.”

The room fell silent until James broke it with a heartfelt, “Shit.”

“Yeah, it’s a big fucking bucket of rainbows, isn’t it?” Lucas said.

Skye snickered. “I guess that’s one way of looking at it.”

“He really thinks all these sacred numbers and shit are going to give him a mojo boost?”

“I think what’s scarier,” Skye said, “is what happens if he’s right. I did some more digging this afternoon into the numbers three and seven, because of their significance in the body count and crime scenes, and I stumbled across something really creepy. Not only is the number seven tied to things like creation and completion, it is also considered a place between the two worlds: death and life. A place where they meet, and possibly merge.”

The others stared at her, not fully understanding what she was trying to say.

Skye licked her lips, her palms sweaty as she opened her mouth to finally say out loud the thing that had been scaring the shit out of her since she stumbled across it. “You guys, I think this ritual is more than just an attempt to steal Lucas’ power and send him to the Wasteland. I think our Druid wants to be immortal.”

“The place where both meet and merge,” Lizzie whispered, understanding dawning in her bright blue eyes.

“Where they both merge, and both cease to be. Eternal life and complete power; he would be unstoppable.”

Skye looked at Lucas, who watched her intently. “This is so much bigger than we thought. This isn’t just about keeping the four of us alive anymore. If he succeeds...”

Skye didn’t need to finish her sentence. Her words had the impact of a bomb and now the others all looked shell-shocked.

“We can’t let him win,” Lizzie said fiercely.

“We won’t,” Lucas promised her. He turned back to Skye, his jaw hard and his blue eyes blazing with determination. “Whatever we have to do to take that bastard down, I’m in.” His voice was a deep growl as he said, “All in, Skye.”

Her stomach swooped at the words. Lucas had always had an aura of strength and purpose, but right now he was exuding all kind of sexy superhero vibes, and she was into it.

If there was ever anyone who was a superhero in disguise, Skye believed it was Lucas. In fact, when it came to trusting in someone to fly in and save the day, she’d put her money on him every single time.

They might be on the edge of a colossal shit storm, but she knew he would protect them from the fallout. That’s what superheroes did.

Chapter 30

Lucas

The next morning, Lucas followed Skye into her brightly decorated apartment. They were grabbing the box of journals her grandmother had written, and then heading back to his apartment. He had plans to drop her off, and then he and Matthews were going to meet with a neighboring precinct.

They’d called him back that morning to let him know a murder matching their Druid’s MO had been discovered less than a week prior and in the general area he’d inquired about. It seemed that Professor Zane’s markings had been pretty close to scale after all.

“This way.” Skye made her way down a short hall, and Lucas glanced at the photographs on the wall as they passed. A few images of Skye smiling with an older woman decorated the space along with some paintings of the stars Lucas assumed were Skye’s own work.

They stepped into her bedroom, and the delicate scent of her surrounded him. It took everything in him not to breath in like some kind of creep, but damn she smelled good.

Her bed was decorated with a bright red quilt that had gold stitching, and a multitude of orange and gold throw pillows. What the hell was it with women and extra pillows? To him, it was just one more step that separated him from his sheets.

Skye stepped around her room and pulled open her double closet doors. “There it is.” She pointed to a box at the top of her bedroom closet.

He eyed the long distance between the top of her head and the shelf. “I would love to know how you got that up there.”

Skye glared at him. “I do own a step ladder.”

He shrugged. “I just assumed you had taller shoes.”

“Yes, Detective Loomis, I own a pair of four-foot heels. Now can you please shut up and grab it for me?”

Laughing, he moved past her and lifted the box off the shelf. After setting it down on the bed, he took a seat next to it and watched as she took a deep breath before unsealing the box. His eyes zeroed in on her lips as they opened up on an exhale. He knew he should be focused on anything but the way her lips felt on his, but her taste was addicting, and he was desperate for another hit.

“Lucas?”

Her voice pulled him from the memory of the night on his couch. “Yeah?”

She eyed him. “I asked if you wanted anything to drink.”

“Oh, no, I’m good. Find what you’re looking for?”

Skye nodded and held up a stack of four leather-bound journals. “There should be something in here. From what I remember, she kept incredibly detailed notes.”

He lifted one of the journals from her stack and opened it to the first page.

Skye slammed the journal shut, pulling it from his hands. “I will be reading them first. On my own,” she added for emphasis.

“Why?”

“Because, Detective Nosy, these were her personal journals. It’s not all fire and brimstone in here; she also wrote about love and all that good stuff.” She winked as she gently placed the journals on the table.

“So, your grandmother kept a sex journal.”

Skye gaped at him. “She did not!”

“That’s what you just said.”

“Um, excuse me? I did not say sex journal! Some of her passages were just more personal, that’s all.”

Maybe it was just hearing her say the word sex, or maybe it was the loving way her fingers absentmindedly stroked the cover of the journal, but Lucas wished her hands were on him instead.

Clearing his throat, he dragged his eyes back to hers. “Alright, fine. Whatever you say, Twyla.” He threw his hands up in mock surrender.

Skye’s eyes fell back to the journals, her smile looking more sad than anything. “After she passed, I couldn’t bring myself to read these. It was too hard, knowing all that was left of her were her words, painstakingly written out in these books.” Skye sighed, shaking her head and looking back up at him with a little laugh. “I remember watching her write in them. She treated it like it was a ritual, always lighting candles and using special pens. These were really important to her.”

Immediately feeling like an ass, Lucas pulled her closer so that she stood between his legs. “I’m sorry. I can barely cope with going through boxes of my parents’ stuff; I can’t imagine having to read their words, too.”

Skye swallowed hard, and Lucas tilted her head up so his eyes could hold hers. “Thank you for doing this for me,” he said softly.

She nodded, her amber eyes serious. “I think there’s very little I wouldn’t do for you or your sister at this point.”

He lifted his hand and used his thumb to brush her cheek in the whisper of a caress. “The feeling is entirely mutual.”

Chapter 31

Skye

“If anything happens, call me,” Lucas insisted.

“I’ll be fine,” Skye promised.

James had already left to take Lizzie to her diner. Once the other police officer arrived to keep a watchful eye on Lizzie, James would meet up with Lucas so they could check out what could potentially be the original crime scene.

Since her head still pounded from playing target practice with the coffee table yesterday, Skye decided to sit this one out. Her primary mission today was to muster up the courage to start reading through her Gran’s journals.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. “You’re sure you’re okay with this?”

While she appreciated his concern, she was desperate for some alone time; they’d been together nearly twenty-four-seven since the night he demanded she stay with him. She might even do some painting and take a nap.

Scratch that, definitely a nap.

“Maybe Matthews should just go alone.”

“Lucas,” she stopped him with a hand on his chest. His chest was hard against her palm, and beneath it she could feel the threaded muscles that flexed at the contact. It was damn near impossible to ignore the way it lit a fire in her belly, but she took a deep breath and did her best. Damn timing. It had begun to feel as though fate was simultaneously pushing them together and pulling them apart. “I will be fine. I have my phone; if anything comes up, I will call. Scouts honor,” she teased, mimicking him from before.

“If I’m too rough around the edges to be a boy scout, there’s no fucking way you were a girl scout.”

Skye rolled her eyes. “Seriously. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself for a few hours.”

He hesitated for a moment before sighing. “Fine.” Lucas leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. The contact was soft, and the light stubble coating his jaw scraped gently against her skin. It was a sweet gesture, one that didn’t lack heat, but felt more like a smolder than a full-fledged flame.

“Stay safe,” she whispered when he pulled away.

“You too.” Lucas knelt and rubbed Lucy’s head. “Take care of my girl, Lucy.” He grinned up at Skye, before winking and stepping out.

Skye closed and locked the door behind him. “Alone at last!” She nearly sang the words, doing a little hip-shaking dance to complement them. “Lucy, my dear, I think this calls for a bubble bath.”

The dog looked up at her with adoring puppy eyes but bolted for a hiding place at the word bath.

“For me, not you, silly girl!” Skye called with a chuckle.

Amused, she went to the bathroom and filled the tub with the hottest water she could stand, grabbed the first of her Gran’s journals, and climbed in. The heat seeped through her skin, loosening muscles she hadn’t even realized were tight. Skye savored the near burn from the hot water, her skin immediately turning a bright shade of pink. She was already feeling more relaxed than she had in days.

Once she’d settled into the water, Skye took a deep breath and opened to the first page.

April 20, 1962

Death finally found me.

I knew it was coming; my mother and Gran warned me for years about the gift our family carried, but the warning still didn’t make it any easier.

A boy, no older than me, was struck down by a car. I was trapped there with him, having to watch as he drew his last breath.

Seeing his mother running into the street, trying desperately to save his life has weighed on me in a way I cannot even begin to put into words.

My mother was surprised it took so long for the Sight to manifest. She’d believed it might have passed over me, as it had her sister, since Mother received her first vision when she’d only been seven, and I am already into my twenties.

Perhaps it is because I have always been cautious about making physical contact with anyone, knowing that is often the trigger. At least until this morning. The brush of the boy’s shoulder had caught me off guard, and as I looked up to apologize, I felt the strangest tingling at the back of my neck. That’s when I knew.

He was still holding on to my arm as I came out of the vision, looking worried and asking if I was well. He was confused when I warned him to stay out of the street, telling me I should sit down, and he would call a doctor.

Even though I warned him, it happened just as I foretold. His death came to pass this afternoon.

I wish my mother had been right, and that our family’s gift had passed over me. Life is hard enough without having to bear the weight of death.

Skye shut the journal and set it next to the tub. Salty tears rolled down her cheeks, and she quickly wiped them away. Her chest physically ached, and the lump burning in her throat made it hard to breathe. She’d expected to be emotional reading her Gran’s words but seeing the handwriting she knew so well after all this time had been even more difficult than she’d thought it would be. “Come on, Skye,” she whispered. “You can do this.” Once more, she lifted the journal and started to read, her Gran’s life taking shape and wrapping itself around her.

The water was cold and Skye was more than half done with the first journal when she finally climbed out. So far, her Gran had mostly kept a log of her visions, writing of deaths she’d seen and when they’d come true. She’d also mentioned a little about the Gypsy heritage, but nothing that Skye didn’t already know.

She dried off and yawned, ready for the nap she’d promised herself. After reading for nearly two hours, she more than earned it.

Her phone beeped, and she looked down to see a text from Lucas, or rather Detective Loomis. Skye couldn’t help but smile as the silly nickname lit up her screen.

Detective Loomis: How’s it going?

Skye: Just climbed out of the bath. ;)

DL: Tease. I appreciate the visual but how the hell am I supposed to focus now?

Skye laughed, not at all sorry. She quickly texted her reply.

S: That sounds like a personal problem Det. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.

S: And you’re welcome btw.

S: How are things with you? Any news?

She didn’t have to wait long for his answer.

DL: Nothing yet, we are just about to sit down with the CHF.

S: Good luck.

DL: I’d rather be there with you.

Her heart did a little flip in her chest, and it made her feel like she was becoming a real-life version of the heart eyes emoji when his next two texts came in rapid succession.

DL: In the bath.

DL: I could help you with those hard to reach spots. ;) 0:)

Skye snickered.

S: Yeah, I bet you would.

S: Too bad I’m already clean.

DL: That just means it’s time to get dirty again.

Skye could feel the blood rush to her face and heat pool in her belly as thoughts of how they could do that filled her mind. He could wash my back… or my front. What would those fingertips feel like on my skin? With a smile, she responded.

S: Aren’t you supposed to be focusing?

DL: You started it with the bath talk.

Skye shook her head and laughed again.

S: Get back to work Det. I’ll talk to you later.

She put her phone aside and pulled on one of Lucas’ shirts. His scent filled her lungs as she lifted the fabric to her nose and breathed deeply.

“Oh, Gran, if you could only see me now; what would you say about me crushing hard on a Druid?” Her words echoed around the empty room as she climbed into bed.

Settling in, she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.

Skye stood in the living room of Lucas’ apartment in the T-shirt she’d gone to bed in.

“Hello?” she called. When no one answered, she made her way through the apartment, but it was completely empty. Not even Lucy inhabited the space.

She lifted her phone from the counter and tried to call Lucas, but it went straight to his voicemail.

“You wanted alone time, didn’t you?” the deep voice she’d come to know, and despise, over the last week sounded behind her.

She turned to face the Druid. He stood just inside the apartment, his cloak as always covering the top half of his face.

“Wake up, Skye,” she whispered, “you’re dreaming.”

“Are you though?” He stepped toward her, and his mouth turned up into a cold smile. “You dream of me often, Seer?”

“Only in my nightmares,” she responded tightly.

“Don’t be ashamed, Seer.” He dropped his voice, as if sharing a secret. “I think of you too.” His tongue darted out and licked his bottom lip in a crude gesture that reminded her an awful lot of a snake about to devour its prey.

Skye shuddered. “You make me sick.”

“Liar. If my kind makes you sick, why are you spending so much time trying to save the detective’s life?”

“Listen, fucker. It’s not Druids as a whole that I have a problem with. It’s just you and all the vile things that you do in the name of your kind.”

He moved closer to her, but her pride wouldn’t let her shrink back. This was her dream, after all, she should be able to control it.

“You would do well to remember who you’re talking to, Gypsy.” He reached out and traced a finger along her mouth.

“I know exactly who I’m talking to: a psychotic, cold-blooded murderer.”

His hand closed around her throat, and he shoved her back, pressing her against the wall. Even though it was a dream, her lungs burned for air. The large T-shirt she wore was the only piece of clothing she had on, and it rode higher up her legs as she struggled to get out of his hold

His hands were hard on her body, and she could feel the clamminess of them even through the fabric of her shirt. She swallowed back the bile in her throat, as she felt his finger trace up her bare leg, just beneath the hem of the shirt.

Please no, she thought to herself and squeezed her eyes tight. His finger stilled, and he drew small circles on her skin.

“Open your eyes, Seer,” he commanded.

She shook her head.

“There’s power in eyes you know,” he informed her, “and yours hold an impressive amount.”

She squeezed her eyes tighter, determined to not let him get his way. His hand moved away from her thigh and traced up the front of the shirt between her breasts until his entire hand clasped her throat.

She opened her eyes now, as he squeezed tightly,

“You will be mine.” His hand tightened again, and Skye started to see spots dancing before her eyes. There was another noise in the room now, other than the deep breathing of her attacker. Was it barking?

“Get off me!” The scream was more of a haggard cough, but it was the best she could do. She shoved him as hard as she could.

The barking grew louder, and Skye sat up in bed. The sharp tones of Lucy’s barking filled the room, the dog was standing beside her bed, growling at the corner of the room near the window. Skye followed the dog’s aggressive stare, and her heart stammered when she saw they weren’t alone in the room.

The Druid stood in the corner, staring at her.

Skye jumped to her feet, ready to do whatever she could to defend herself, but all he did was blow her a kiss and vanish. She fell to her knees, the muscles in her legs giving out from the fear. Lucy started nuzzling her, and Skye gripped the dog that had just saved her life.

“I am going to give you so many treats,” she gasped, her heart pounding like it was trying to claw its way out of her chest.

What would have happened if she hadn’t woken up?

Still holding onto Lucy, Skye grasped for her cell phone still on the nightstand. She clicked Lucas’ contact information and heard it ring twice before he answered.

“Hello?”

The lump in her throat tightened, and a sob choked out.

“Skye, what is it?” His tone was frantic now, and Skye shook her head even though she knew he couldn’t see it.

“He was here,” she managed.

“I’m on my way.”

She ended the call and buried her face in Lucy’s short fur.

What felt like hours—but in reality was probably only minutes—later, the front door slammed open.

“Skye?” Lucas called, and she heard his heavy footfalls come down the hall toward the bedroom.

She forced herself back into a standing position. “In here,” she called, her voice raspy.

His eyes were wide when he came into the room, and he rushed to her side. “What happened?”

Skye swallowed. “I thought I was sleeping. He touched my leg.” Tears burned in her eyes. Even though nothing had technically happened, she still felt contaminated.

Lucas’ face was hard, his brows drawn together in rage, and Skye shrank from the danger emanating off of him, even though she knew it wasn’t directed at her. “While that pisses me the fuck off, at the moment I’m more concerned with the bruises around your neck.” His hands were gentle as he turned her head to get a better look.

“Bruises?”

“Yes. A ring of them.” His jaw was tight, and Skye sucked in a breath. That explained why her throat hurt so badly. He really had been choking her.

“Lucy saved me.” She looked down at the dog who hadn’t left her side since the Druid left.

Lucas reached down and rubbed Lucy’s head. “I’m making you a steak tonight, girl.”

Skye almost smiled at how his words to the pup essentially mirrored her own.

“No more alone time for you,” he whispered into Skye’s ear as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “And we’d damn well better find a way to protect ourselves from that bastard. Fast.”

“Amen to that.” Skye didn’t think she’d survive another run-in like that. It had been too damned close as it was. What if there was no one there to make sure she woke up next time?

Chapter 32

Lucas

Lucas stared up at the ceiling fan as the blades spun above them. The TV was on low in the background, but whichever movie they’d originally started to watch was long forgotten. It had only been a distraction anyway.

Skye had been understandably restless after the attack and asked if he would stay with her in the bedroom so she wouldn’t be alone. Lucas would have to be one heartless bastard to deny her the simple request, although to be honest, he was going to insist on staying with her regardless.

He wasn’t eager to let her out of his sight anytime soon. He’d come to think of her as fearless, and the image of terror on her face was one Lucas didn’t think he would ever get out of his head. He could only imagine what she was dealing with after having that bastard attack her while she slept.

It took time, and a couple of movies, but Skye finally dozed off. She laid on her side, sleeping soundly, a miracle in and of itself given everything that had happened.

For his part, he hadn’t managed a single second of sleep. Lucas couldn’t stop thinking about how close they’d come to losing her that afternoon. Had Lucy not woken her up in time, the Druid might have killed her.

Lucas still couldn’t believe that the bastard got to her while she slept. How the hell did you fight someone who could reach you in your dreams?

Lucy, who faithfully guarded them from her dog bed in the corner, started whining. Lucas leaned up to make sure she was alright. Given the familiar twitching of her paws, she was chasing something in her sleep.

“Get ‘em, girl,” he murmured, before lying back down and pulling Skye closer.

When he’d first seen her name pop up on his phone screen, he’d thought maybe she’d found something in the journals. But hearing the choked sobs on the other end of the line had damn near made him lose his mind. Without having to be asked, Matthews headed straight to the diner to check on Lizzie, while Lucas broke damn near every traffic law getting home. Lucas was already in his Impala and peeling away from the scene before he thought to turn on his siren to help him cut through the traffic. He barely remembered the drive home. His only thought had been to get there as fast as he could manage without killing himself or anyone else.

When he’d burst in and seen Skye in nothing but his T-shirt, looking paler than the white sheets beside her, it had knocked the wind straight out of him. The only other time he’d felt bone-deep terror like that was when they’d heard the glass shatter at Lizzie’s diner.

There was no denying it. He was falling for her. Hard. It seemed impossible given the short amount of time they’d known each other, but that didn’t make it any less true. Hell, anyone who spent more than two seconds in a room with them could probably tell he was crazy about her.

Even so, and as much as he wished it was otherwise, now was not the time to start a relationship. The selfish side of him wondered if maybe they weren’t just wasting precious time, but when things could turn to shit at any moment, there was no room for distraction. Let’s be honest, they already had. They were way past the ‘turn to shit’ stage and were already knee-deep in the middle of it.

Skye groaned in her sleep, then rolled over, her heading falling onto his chest. Lucas moved to wrap his arm around her, letting her snuggle in closer. He shifted his head, pressing his nose into her nearly black silky hair, and breathed in the scent of her. It helped to ease some of the remaining storm inside of him. Holding her like this was exactly what he needed to regain his sanity and finally take an actual breath since he’d found her.

Lucas pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Only sweet dreams, Giovanni.” He tried to keep his voice light, but it cracked when he said her name, his emotions seeping out with the words. “Nothing’s going to touch you, alright? Not while I’m here.”

That wizard fucker—as Matthews so eloquently put it—was never going to get his hands on Skye again. Lucas looked down at her and ground his teeth together. The ring of bruises were visible on her neck in the soft moonlight that spilled in from his window.

She’d told him everything, how the bastard had run his finger up her leg, and how he’d acted when she’d denied him.

Motherfucker was going to pay for that. Tomorrow—or rather, today, since it was three in the morning—they were going to start scouring those journals looking for anything to help arm themselves against the Druid.

Lucas’ mind raced back to the meeting they’d had with the other precinct and the photos they’d seen. The original crime scene had been just as brutal as the subsequent ones. Their M.E. also hadn’t been able to identify what the body had been burned with. Lucas hadn’t bothered to tell them to stop looking; that it was supernatural, not chemical.

Runes had been painted on the wall just like before, but there’d been more of them. He wondered if it had something to do with this particular murder being the one that set everything else in motion.

The media hadn’t caught wind of the murders yet, but it was only a matter of time. The public would panic, and his precinct would be under constant media watch, which would tie his hands when it came to requesting a surveillance team.

There was no pattern to the victims themselves, as if the bastard was making his selections based on convenience. That was, of course, not taking into consideration the victims that he hadn’t managed to kill. Lizzie and Lucas had big ‘ol targets on their backs, and they were very much connected. But the actual murder victims were entirely random.

The gender of the first victim had been female, while his others had all been male. They still hadn’t been able to ID those killed, and he was starting to wonder if they’d ever be able to tell the families their loved ones weren’t coming home.

Skye let out another soft moan, and he looked down. Her face was scrunched up, as if she were having a nightmare. He scanned the room to make sure they were alone, then pressed another kiss to her forehead, running his finger over the worried crease between her brows.

“It’s just us, baby,” he whispered. “You’re safe with me.”

Her face cleared, and Lucas finally closed his eyes to try and get some sleep.

Chapter 33

Skye

Skye slept better than she had in a long time, which surprised the hell out of her considering she hadn’t expected to sleep a wink after her run-in with the cloak-wearing psychopath.

She’d woken up determined. Skye was done being his play thing and, even more, she was tired of letting him rule her through fear. How dare he invade her dreams and use her defenseless state to attack her? Never again. Lucas was a Druid every bit as much as he was. It was time he acted like it. Of course, Lucas wouldn’t murder innocent people or anything near as gruesome, which, to her, made him even more powerful.

He was kind, and kindness was a strength in and of itself.

Mr. Murderous Rampage wanted a fight? Fine. But it was going to be on their terms, not his. No more running scared. Today, they were going to level the playing field because one way or another, Lucas was going to learn how to claim his power.

Hopefully they didn’t end up getting themselves killed in the attempt.

Skye tied off her hair and walked purposefully down the hall and into the kitchen.

Lucas had already been up by the time she woke. He’d left a note on the pillow letting her know where he was so that she wouldn’t be worried. The sweetness of the gesture turned her insides to mush. She wished... Skye stopped the thought before it could be finished. This was no time to be selfish and wish for things she couldn’t have.

“Morning,” she called, her voice sounding more husky than usual given the rather unconventional party favor the Druid had left her. Skye couldn’t bring herself to look at the vivid reminder of his attack, so she opted for rampant detachment instead.

“How’s the throat?” Lucas asked, turning as she approached.

Skye shrugged. It hurt like a mother, the blinding pain damn near debilitating when she swallowed, but there was nothing to be gained by admitting it. “I’ll live.”

His eyes narrowed, but instead of interrogating her, he simply closed the distance between them and held out a steaming cup of coffee.

“Bless you,” she rasped, taking the cup gratefully.

“Lizzie came over and brewed it before she went in to work,” he explained, and Skye could feel his eyes on her face. He studied her, searching for cracks in her armor, but he’d find none.

She was reinforced and ready to kick some Druid ass.

“That was nice of her. Definite perk of having her live down the hall,” Skye said with a neutral smile.

“She wanted to wake you up and grill you about yesterday, but I kicked her out.”

Skye let out a laugh that sounded like more of a cough. “Thanks for that.” Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she looked up at him. “And thanks for staying with me. I actually slept better than I have in a long time.”

Her words caused a satisfactory smile to cross his face, and he said, “Anytime, Giovanni.”

Skye took a seat on the couch and curled her legs up underneath her body. The warmth from the coffee soothed some of the aching in her throat, but the pain remained, a silent reminder of how close she’d come to death.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Lucas asked, taking a seat next to her.

“You just did,” she teased, but he didn’t respond with his usual groan and eye roll, so she sat up a bit straighter. “Of course you can. I think we’re way past secrets at this point.”

“Have you ever Seen your death?”

Surprised by his question, Skye just stared for a moment. “No,” she finally responded. “I’ve never heard of any Seer being granted a vision of their own death. God, I don’t know what I’d do if I ever did.”

How fucking terrifying would that be? Could there be a bigger mindfuck than knowing exactly how it would go down, but not knowing when it would come to pass? It would drive her absolutely insane knowing that it was coming and being incapable of doing anything to prevent it. Especially if it wasn’t due to natural causes.

He nodded. “I’m glad.”

“What makes you ask?” She took another sip of her coffee.

“Curiosity, mostly. I’ve been up scouring the internet for information and came across a couple articles talking about fortune telling.”

“Most of that is just crap.” A memory surfaced, and Skye smiled. “Although, it’s also a great tourist trap. I made a killing with my tarot cards one summer.”

He lifted an eyebrow at the confession, but just shrugged. “You’ll have to show me that sometime.” Lucas got to his feet and started walking toward the back of the apartment. “I’m going to grab a shower.” He stopped at the hall and turned back to face her. “Feel free to join me if you don’t want to be alone.”

The temptation to see a wet and naked Lucas was real, but Skye forced herself to resist. “I’m good, Detective, thanks.”

“It’s an open invitation.” He winked.

Skye shook her head with a laugh, and Lucas disappeared down the hall.

Feeling the need for sunshine, she moved to the balcony. She closed her eyes against the wind as it moved the strands of hair that had fallen from the messy bun on the top of her head. She breathed deeply, even though it stung a little. Why? Because she could. That bastard had done nothing to her except light a fire under her ass.

Now she was more determined than ever to find something that would help them kick his.

Chapter 34

Lucas

Lucas stared down at the runes Skye had found in her grandmother’s third journal. Based on the inscription, they were some kind of protective ward, but they required a Druid to activate them. Or rather, Druid blood.

Great, one Druid coming right up.

Although he didn’t look forward to cutting a vein open for any reason, doing so might be the definitive test of whether or not he really was a Druid. If his blood was able to power these so-called wards, there really was no turning back.

Skye had been busy reading through the journals while he searched the web. They’d been at it well into the afternoon, but all he’d discovered was that the ancient Celtic Druids had once been religious leaders and political advisors. Up until they disappeared, they had been held in high regard. There had been no mentions of ritual sacrifice at all.

It made him wonder why their Druid had gone off the rails. What set him off? Skye had heard him tell Professor Zane that he’d been sent to the Wasteland during her odd not-vision. Was that trip to the Wasteland what triggered this?

“You ready for this?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts.

“To slice open my hand and paint blood on my walls? Sounds like a great time.”

Skye rolled her eyes. “It’s not going to be that bad, you big baby.”

He eyed the knife in her hand. “Says the girl holding the knife. That’s a big ass blade.”

“Are you going to sit there complaining all day, or can we start trying to kick this guy’s ass?”

He held out his hand, and Skye stared at it.

“Gonna sit there all day?” He smirked, raising one eyebrow.

She narrowed her eyes and sliced open his palm without a trace of ceremony. She winced when the blood pooled, but she tried to hide it, and he was far too focused on the sting from the cut to comment. Fuck that hurt more than I thought it would. The throbbing was immediate, but Lucas did his best to hide it from her.

“Alright, so, now you go do your thing.” She stepped away and wiped off the blade, then set it down and folded her arms.

“Do my thing? What thing is that? In case you forgot, I have zero idea what I’m doing.”

“I think you’re just supposed to draw them on the wall.”

“With my blood.”

She shrugged. “As far as I can tell.”

“I swear, Giovanni, if we just cut my hand open for nothing—”

“Just try it.” She grabbed his hand and, after consulting the images she’d sketched out, Skye dipped his finger in the blood on his palm and used it to draw the runes on the walls.

“That doesn’t look creepy at all,” he commented dryly once they’d finished.

Symbols were painted on every exterior wall of his apartment. The goal was that the runes would bar anyone with magic, other than himself of course, from entering the apartment. While the idea of it seemed cool, it wasn’t like they could test the theory. He was pretty sure there were no Druids in the phone book. Did people even use phone books anymore?

“What are you thinking about?” Skye asked.

“Phone books.”

“What?”

He shrugged. “Blame the blood loss.”

She rolled her eyes. His sister must have been rubbing off on her because Skye tended to do that a lot more now than she had when they’d first met.

“How do we know if it worked?”

Skye shrugged. “I’m just as much a ward virgin as you are, Detective.”

“Not anymore,” he murmured, pleased with himself when the blush worked its way into her cheeks.

“Alright, you cheeky monkey, focus. Maybe you’re supposed to do something else to activate them.”

“What, like shout the magic word? Shazam!” he yelled, pointing his finger at the wall.

Skye snorted. “Oh, brother. Maybe you should sit down before you hurt somebody with that thing.”

Lucas chuckled but remained standing.

Skye bit her lip and glanced back down at her grandmother’s journal. “Hmmm. Look at this.” She turned the book toward him, pointing at a word scribbled beneath the runes.

Lucas squinted and stepped closer to see what was written.

“What does that say?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s the name of the pattern?”

“Or the magic word?”

Skye looked up at him. “Worth a shot. Say it out loud.”

“Skye, I don’t even know how to pronounce it. And what if I do it wrong and, like, start a blizzard or something?”

She raised an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure we’re safe from any accidental snow storms. Stop wasting time. Just try it.”

Lucas looked at the letters scrawled on the page, sounding them out a few times in his mind before deciding he was comfortable enough to try them out loud. “Do…” he started, but stopped, feeling like he’d already said it wrong. “Do,” he said again, this time pronouncing it like dough. That felt right, so he finished the next part, “Ingair.”

A small jolt shot through his body and everywhere the runes were painted flared a bright blue.

Skye’s eyes were huge as they met his. “I think it’s safe to say that worked.”

Lucas’ mouth fell open. Did that really just happen? What the hell! “I guess so.”

After a few more seconds of stunned silence, the wards faded completely.

“So… is this the part where I get to say I told you so, or…” Skye trailed off with a smile.

He shook his head. “Shut it, Giovanni.”

“You’re no fun.”

“You hungry?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Yes, but shouldn’t we get you cleaned up first? You kind of dribbled on the floor.”

Lucas looked down at the small drops of blood and then back at his hand. The blood had dried, but still coated most of his palm. “Good point. I can go take care of that if you want to order in?”

“Actually, I know we just made this place a safe space, but do you mind if we head over to the diner? I have a major craving for one of your sister’s cheeseburgers.”

“We can definitely do that.”

“Besides, we’ll have to ward it after she closes.”

“Um, I think that might be a violation of the health code.”

Skye shrugged. “So is murder. I know that they faded after you said your magic Druid word—”

“Shazam,” Lucas said again, just to see Skye’s blinding smile.

“—but we can cover the runes with a picture or something, just in case. That way there’s no chance anyone sees them.”

“Lizzie is going to hate that so much,” he said with a grin. “Naturally, that means I’m all for it.”

Chapter 35

Skye

“You want to do what to my diner?”

Lucas had been right; the idea of painting symbols in blood on her walls was enough to make the typically level-headed Lizzie pissed off. She was red faced, and James had sat back to watch the exchange with a smile on his face. All he was missing was popcorn.

“You could help, you know,” Skye scolded under her breath.

“Why the hell would I do that? My money’s on Lizzie whooping Lucas’ ass.”

Skye shook her head and looked back at the siblings.

“It will protect you, Lizzie.”

“Maybe! Up until yesterday, you didn’t even believe you were a Druid!” She poked him in the chest.

“Well, now I don’t have the luxury of burying my head in the sand,” Lucas growled back.

“Oh! So now I’m burying my head in the sand?” She threw her hands up and turned away from him. “Ugh!”

“Lizzie, don’t you want to protect yourself? Or your customers? If he comes in here in the middle of the day, people could die.”

Skye winced. Low blow, Lucas. But at this point, it may have been the only thing to bring Lizzie around.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Lucas?” Lizzie spun back around, her eyes narrowed blue slits.

Skye had to admit that even she was a little scared for her big bad detective.

“What about Matthews? He’s here protecting you, what if he gets killed in the crosshairs all because you were too damn stubborn to let me protect you!” Lucas yelled at her.

“I’ll take that bet,” Skye muttered, and James shot her a grin.

“You’re a real dick, you know that?” Lizzie shot back.

Lucas folded his arms. “Yeah, I know. You like to remind me every chance you get.”

“I keep hoping one day it will do the trick and de-dickify you, but so far, no such luck.” Lizzie let out a sigh and finally nodded. “Fine, do it. But you damn well better cover them up when you’re done.” She stormed back into the kitchen to finish her cleaning for the night.

“Well, that was entertaining.” James got to his feet. “I think I’ll go see if she needs any help.”

Skye glanced at Lucas, whose shoulders were slumped, making him look completely worn down. He ran his hands through his hair and winced when he pressed too hard on the bandage from their earlier magic.

“You’re doing the right thing,” Skye said softly, touching his arm.

“I fucking hope so, Giovanni, because if this doesn’t work, she might actually murder me. Although, I suppose if she did, we wouldn’t have to worry about the Druid gaining ultimate power, right?”

“Not even a little funny.”

Lucas shrugged and held his unmarred palm out. “Shall we?”

Skye carefully pulled the blade out from her purse and waited for his terse nod before she sliced it across his palm. The blood welled up on the surface, and they went to work protecting Lizzie’s diner.

Chapter 36

Lucas

Later that night, Lucas lay in bed alone. He stared up at the ceiling and watched the fan blades, irritated that the routine was becoming his new normal. How the hell was he supposed to sleep when he wasn’t even sure their warding had worked? Something happened when he’d uttered that word, but for all he knew, he’d just soundproofed the room; there was no guarantee they were actually safe.

They had warded Lizzie’s apartment after coming home, but she still insisted Matthews stay with her. Lucas hadn’t bothered arguing the point; it was his preference as well. Even though he knew Lizzie’s reasoning had more to do with ogling his partner than her own safety.

Lucas groaned. That was not something he wanted to think about right now.

Resigned to the fact that he was clearly not meant for sleep, Lucas got to his feet and walked out into the kitchen to pour himself a drink. The bottle of scotch called to him as he pulled out a glass and poured well over two fingers inside.

“Have enough for one more?”

Lucas turned. Skye stood in the doorway to what he had started thinking of as her bedroom. His entire body came to life when she was around, and his fingers itched to reach out and touch her. So he could feel the soft strands of her hair as he buried his hands in the tresses. He was desperate for another taste of her, and it took everything in him to not haul her to his bedroom and worship her like he’d wanted to since the first night he’d seen her.

The tired look on her face jolted him out of his thoughts though; she was just as exhausted as he was.

He nodded. “Come join my party.”

“Is it a pity party?” she joked, pausing halfway as if she might decline.

“Just a regular two-in-the-morning party.”

“Well, in that case, thank you, kind sir.” She took the glass he offered her, draining the liquid in one gulp.

“Not exactly the way I prefer to drink an eighteen-year scotch, but color me impressed.”

Skye winced. “Had I known it was a good bottle, I might have at least pretended to taste it.” She chuckled and shrugged. “I usually drink whiskey to help me sleep after particularly rough visions.”

“You had another?” he asked, concern making his voice louder than he’d intended

She shook her head. “Not since the last one, I just meant in general.”

Lucas drained his glass, then refilled them both, gesturing that they should venture out to the balcony. She agreed with a nod and followed him. Lucas took a seat in one of the patio chairs he had positioned to overlook the city while Skye took the one opposite him. The night was calm, and the chill in the air was offset by the warmth in his glass.

“So, what’s keeping you up tonight?” he asked.

Skye sighed. “Everything. I’m terrified he’s going to find a way past the wards, and even more terrified that we did them wrong and now have a false sense of security.”

Lucas nodded in understanding; that was his fear too. They couldn’t afford to get complacent, not now when the targets on their backs were even larger. Despite his own doubts, he forced himself to say, “I think it’s going to be alright.”

“Really?” She turned to him just as the wind lifted a strand of dark hair from her face. Damn, she was beautiful.

Lucas looked away. “Yeah, I do.” It has to be. He refused to contemplate the alternative.

They finished their scotch in silence, and Lucas got to his feet. “I think I’m going to try this sleep thing again, feel like joining me?” When she raised an eyebrow, he added, “No funny business, I promise.” He needed to feel her beside him, to know that she was safe and sound; it was the only thing that would let him calm down enough to drift of. When she nodded, he finally felt himself relax.

They had just stepped back inside the apartment when the familiar buzz of his cell phone grabbed his attention. Lucas glanced at the readout. Fuck.

“So much for sleep,” he muttered, snagging the phone off its charger.

“Who is it?” Skye asked, already on full alert.

“Detective MacConnell,” he answered, mouthing the word ‘work’ to Skye.

“Hey Detective, sorry to bother you so early in the morning, but you told me to give you a call if we got any more of those ritual murder scenes.”

Lucas straightened, and his eyes landed on Skye, who was staring intently at him.

“When did it happen?”

“M.E. is guessing about two hours ago, but we can’t be sure until we get the report back.”

“Don’t touch anything at the scene and send me a text with the address. I’m on my way.” He ended the call, and Skye shook her head sadly, not needing him to tell her what was going on.

“They found another body,” she said, her eyes searching his.

Lucas nodded, already walking toward his bedroom to get dressed. “You coming?”

Chapter 37

Skye

Skye watched Lucas work through the window, the pleasant buzz of the scotch doing nothing to help numb her against what had been waiting for them once they got here.

As Professor Zane had predicted, the murder had taken place on one of his dots. There were now only two of the seven places that didn’t have bodies attached to them. Although one may have only been unclaimed because the Druid had been unable to take down Lizzie at her diner. That only left the one in the center. The location meant for Lucas.

Skye’s chest was tight. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing either of them. This bastard wasn’t going to stop, and they were running out of time. Sure, they’d made progress finding the information about the wards and getting them set up, but that didn’t do much to help them defeat this guy. They couldn’t just wait around like sitting ducks.

Lucas and Matthews walked out of the old storehouse, both of them removing and discarding their gloves. Skye pushed away from the Impala as the men walked over to her.

“Anything new?” she asked.

Lucas shook his head. “Same deal as before. Three freshly charred corpses and the same bloody love note smeared on the wall.”

Skye tilted her head. “Only three bodies?”

Both men’s eyebrows bunched as they narrowed their gazes.

“What are you thinking?” Lucas asked.

She shook her head, not really sure. “Initially, we thought the number of bodies had something to do with the ritual. It’s what made us think there might be a crime scene we’d missed.”

Lucas nodded. “You think there’s another one out there?”

“Well, there was one body at the original crime scene, the one you just found. Two at the next, which was your first crime scene. And then three bodies spread over two crime scenes. It just seems logical that there would have been four…” Skye trailed off.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense for the number of bodies to match which crime scene it was?” James asked.

“Not if the symbolism was focused on something else.” Skye tapped a restless staccato on her thighs as she tried to make sense of the numbers. “We already know that the numbers three, four, and seven have significance for him.”

The men nodded.

“Right, the idea of completion and achieving immortality somehow being tied to them,” Lucas recited.

Skye nodded. “Yea, something about where three and four meet, or maybe what happens after they meet.” She stopped, feeling like the answer was just out of reach.

“Why don’t we review what we know, that always helps me when I feel stuck,” Lucas offered.

Skye shrugged. It couldn’t hurt. “Alright, well, we know Lucas is going to be the last kill.”

“Lucky me,” he muttered.

James snickered.

“That could make him the fourth, but there’s still one unaccounted-for dot on Professor Zane’s map. So we’re looking at seven total crime scenes, with the last one being the most important one.” She sighed. “That’s all I feel confident saying I know. From there, it just turns to speculation.”

“Feel free to speculate wildly; Lucas always does,” James joked.

“Hey,” Lucas said. “I make informed guesses. It’s not the same thing.”

“Potato, Pa-tah-toe, man.”

Skye rolled her eyes but carried on listing her thoughts aloud. “Well, knowing that three and four are both important, it makes sense to me that there would be scenes with that many bodies.”

“Alright, I’m with you,” Lucas said.

“So even if the first couple of crime scenes were just warm-ups, or necessary for their location more than anything else, it just feels like a sacrifice of three and then four have to be required before whatever, I don’t know, let’s say gateway, needs to be open to allow him to complete his ritual. The numbers are too significant for them not to be incorporated. That means someone else would have to be tonight’s fourth to leave Lucas as the grand finale.”

The guys mulled over her words, not looking entirely convinced, but Skye was proud of herself for putting the pieces together and making sense of the chaos.

A chill of premonition trailed a cold finger down her spine. The color drained from her face. “Guys, where’s Lizzie?”

Matthews frowned. “I dropped her off at Lucas’ when I got the call to come down. Why?”

If there was no fourth body, no fourth victim at this scene, that meant only two things; either he hadn’t been able to find a fourth victim—something she deemed rather unlikely since he was incredibly methodical, or he had someone else in mind for the fourth. Someone who would be all alone right now because everyone else was focused on this scene.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she fit the pieces together, and goosebumps that had nothing to do with the cold burst out across her skin. They were so stupid to leave her alone!

“We need to go. Now!” she shouted, throwing open the passenger door and jumping in. “Lizzie is going to be the fourth!”

The men didn’t hesitate. Matthews ran to his car, and Lucas pulled out his phone, dialing his sister’s cell as he climbed into the car. “Come on, damn it, pick up!”

They were about to find out whether those wards worked after all.

Chapter 38

Lucas

Lucas pushed open the door to his apartment, Skye and Matthews on his heels. Lucy lifted her head from the corner but didn’t get up to greet them.

“Lizzie?” Lucas called while they split up to check the apartment.

“She’s not here!” Skye called after checking the bedrooms and bathroom.

“Fuck,” Matthews cursed. “Where the hell is she? I dropped her off myself!”

“Let’s check her apartment; maybe she forgot something.” Lucas tried his best to keep his voice steady. The fact that his baby sister might soon become the fourth victim of the day had panic icing straight through him.

“Lizzie!” Matthews hollered when they stepped inside. Her apartment was empty too, and Lucas turned to his partner who was wide-eyed and breathless with fear. If they managed to survive tonight, he was going to have to step the hell out of the way and let both of them be happy. When they survived. There was no other option.

“Would she have gone back to the diner?” Skye asked.

“Possibly,” Lucas responded. “She’s not here or at my apartment, so I think it’s damn sure worth the trip to check and see. I doubt she stepped out for a midnight snack.”

They headed for the door, but just before they reached the threshold, the wards that had been hidden before began to pulse brightly on the walls.

“What the fuck is going on?” Matthews shouted, reaching for his weapon.

“I have no freaking clue.” Skye’s eyes widened as she backed away from the glowing runes.

Lucas lunged for the door and grasped the handle. Just as his skin contacted with the metal, he felt as if someone sucker punched him, and he slammed into the wall on the other side of the room.

“Lucas!” Skye cried, rushing to help him to his feet.

“What the hell is going on?” Lucas shouted, rubbing the back of his head. “Why are my wards acting all fucking psychotic?”

“Because they aren’t your wards,” the Druid said with a laugh. They all turned to see him standing in the corner of the room. “Did you honestly think yours would keep me out for long?” He clicked his tongue. “Shame on you. You should have made sure every single wall was marked.”

“They were,” Lucas insisted.

“Not.” The Druid gestured to the far wall of the kitchen, his smug smile all they could see of his face.

Lucas cursed when he realized the Druid was right. There was one wall they apparently hadn’t warded. How the fuck did he miss it?

“Son of a bitch!” Matthews swore.

“Oh, yes, Detective. I hope you paid closer attention at the diner.” The Druid’s words struck fear in all three of them.

“You stay the hell away from her!” Skye screamed, stepping forward.

Lucas grabbed her arm to hold her back.

“Oh, Seer, I have so many plans for you once this is over. You have nothing to fear from me. At least for now.”

“You aren’t getting your hands on Lizzie or Skye,” Lucas growled, pulling Skye back behind him.

The Druid shrugged. “So says you. But tell me, Detective, how are you going to save her when you’re trapped here? You see, I’ve been doing this a long time. Not only am I more powerful than you could ever imagine, but I have far more tricks up my sleeve.”

“Because you’re a fucking psycho murderer,” Matthews fumed.

“You say murderer; I say pioneer. No Druid has ever gotten this close to ultimate power. I will be able to shape a new world, one where my kind is revered again.”

“We will stop you,” Skye vowed. “One way or another, we will end you.”

He stepped closer. “Doubtful.”

Lucas lunged but the Druid disappeared, and Lucas nearly toppled over. Switching gears, he rushed toward the door.

He howled in pain as he came up short against an invisible barrier and bounced off. Lucas hissed as his arm began to turn an angry red where it had come into contact with the door. The scent of singed hair met his nose.

“Son of a bitch!” They really were trapped. “We have to get past these fucking wards. Call Lizzie again!” He turned to his partner. “Dude, we have to get to her, which means we need to get the fuck out of here now.”

“Same book, same page,” Matthews agreed. “You have a plan?”

“You try opening the door.”

“I saw what that damn thing did to you.”

“Yeah, but you aren’t a Druid. Maybe you will have better luck.”

Matthews eyed the door warily, but for Lizzie, he was apparently willing to risk it. “Here goes nothing,” he muttered, stepping past Lucas to try and open the door.

“Motherfucker!” he shouted, instantly pulling his hand back as the same sizzling pulse of light flared at the contact. “So much for your fucking theory,” he said, cradling his hand to his chest.

“Damn it!” Lucas slammed his fist into the wall and winced as the pain radiated through the barely healed cut from earlier. His other hand was fucking useless, and would probably need a hell of a lot more first aid than he’d be able to give himself. How about I not be a total jackass and mess up the only hand that’s currently useful.

He flexed his fingers and turned to look at the room again. They could not get stuck here. Not with his sister’s life on the line. Failing was not an option. Think, MacConnell, think.

His eyes found Skye, who ended the phone call, her worried amber eyes meeting his with a sad shake of her head.

“Keep trying,” he demanded, his voice hard.

Lucas forced himself to breathe, his panic threatening to overwhelm him. He needed to focus. The only way they could save Lizzie was to get to her, and the only way they could do that was if they got through the damn door. There had to be a way out of here.

Lucas’ hand was moving before he had consciously decided to reach for the door. He grit his teeth, already anticipating the searing pain.

“Lucas, no!” Skye said, reaching out like she could stop him.

It didn’t matter if he lived through the process. If he got that damn door open, the others would get to Lizzie. Matthews’ would take care of her if Lucas couldn’t.

As his fingers reached toward the invisible barrier separating them from freedom, the hair on his arms stood on end and a buzzing of electricity hummed through his blood. The anticipation of pain had sweat beading on his body, but he didn’t stop.

I am a fucking Druid too.

The second before his contact with the door felt like it lasted years, and it was as if he were watching himself from the outside.

Memories flooded his mind, a slow-moving video reel of his life. From childhood—his sister, when she was six years old, showing off her gap-toothed smile with pride, or at seventeen, posing for pictures with her prom date, looking more beautiful than she had any right to. Then a flash forward to just a few years ago, the night he’d picked Lizzie up after her monster of an ex-husband beat the piss out of her just to prove he was a man.

He’d sworn then that no one would ever have the chance to hurt her again, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to break his promise.

With all three pictures of his sister in his mind, Lucas slammed his hand through the barrier. He screamed in agony as pain radiated through his body and seared his skin, making it feel like he was burning alive. The agony was ruthless and unrelenting, but he didn’t stop.

“Fucking open!” he shouted, and in a blast of light, the pain dissipated.

Skye and Matthews gasped, and Lucas opened his eyes. The entire wall had turned into a swirling pool of purple light.

Instead of seeing the hall in front of him, Lucas stared at Lizzie cowering in fear as the Druid stalked toward her.

Without a second thought, Lucas ran through the light.

Chapter 39

Lucas

Lucas stumbled into the diner and heard the staggering footsteps as both Skye and Matthews followed. They stepped up to flank him, and he did a quick assessment of his sister who was injured, but alive.

“Well, isn’t this an interesting turn of events? Seems our intrepid detective has learned a new trick. How precious.” The Druid laughed.

Lucas didn’t have time to process the fact that only moments ago, he’d been standing in his apartment on the other side of town, and now he was in the middle of his sister’s diner.

“Get the fuck away from my sister,” Lucas growled as he leveled his weapon on the Druid with his left hand, barely feeling the pain as it rubbed against his bandage. His right hand, feeling like it had been burnt to a crisp, hung uselessly at his side.

“Come on, Lizzie,” Matthews said in a low voice, reaching for her and pulling her to her feet. Blood dripped from Lizzie’s lips and tears streaked her pale cheeks.

Lucas growled, focusing his attention back on the Druid.

“You honestly believe that gun will do anything to me? Do you not realize who I am?” the Druid roared.

“Seems to me you wouldn’t be so hung up on my gun if it couldn’t do some damage. I’m willing to bet you bleed just like the rest of us.” Lucas pulled the trigger.

The Druid disappeared.

“Fuck!” Lucas roared.

Hands pressed against his back, pushing him across the room with lightning speed. He crashed into a wall, pain radiating like liquid fire through his body. His vision swam.

“Lucas!” Skye rushed to his side, so he fought to focus on her.

Her body lifted into the air, then slammed against the ground a few feet away from him. Lucas gaped at the Druid, who had managed to whip her away from him like a ragdoll with only the flip of his wrist. Her body bounced when it impacted with the floor, and she didn’t move.

“Skye!” Lucas rose, rage guiding him to his feet as his muscles tensed for battle. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, setting fire to his limbs.

“Do you not quit?” the Druid screamed. “You will never win!”

Lucas caught a blur of movement from the corner of his eye as Matthews charged. Before he made contact, the Druid flung out an arm and caught his partner around the neck. He lifted him by his throat as if he weighed nothing.

“You are weak,” the Druid spat in Matthews’ face. “A weak, useless human without an ounce of power and yet you think you can stop me? I am power!” the Druid roared.

Using the Druid’s momentary lack of attention, Lucas bent to a crouch, braced himself, and then ran toward the Druid. Still too focused on Matthews, the Druid didn’t see Lucas in time to stop him. It was all the advantage he needed. Lucas hit the Druid in the side, knocking him and Matthews to the ground. Once freed, Matthews gasped for air and pushed himself up. Lizzie rushed to his side, helping him stand.

Lucas rolled and popped up, staring into the soulless black eyes of a madman. “What the fuck?”

The maneuver dislodged the Druid’s hood, and Lucas caught sight of the bastard for the first time. There was no white in his eyes, no trace of humanity as Lucas stared him down. A large, jagged scar ran down his cheek, and his nose, which had been broken more than a few times, was crooked at the end, his lips twisted into a familiar sneer.

“You see, Detective? Tell me, do you fear me now?”

The Druid stood slowly, menacingly, and the movements were so otherworldly that it sent chills down his spine.

Crazy he could handle. Even the most determined murderers were only aiming to accomplish some perceived goal, but you could usually reason with them. That wasn’t the case here. When Lucas looked into the Druid’s eyes, all he saw were twin bottomless pits that were anything but human.

The Druid cocked his head to the side and growled, “You see me now, so tell me, Detective, do you have any idea who I am? Who you are messing with?”

“I’ve seen worse.” Lucas braced himself, clenching his fists at his sides.

The Druid laughed, the sound dry and humorless. “I can guarantee that you will see much worse before I slaughter you.” He charged, and Lucas dodged. He looked up as Matthews raised his gun and aimed it at the Druid.

A single shot filled the room, and the Druid spun on his attacker.

“Not so fucking useless now, am I?”

Skye and Lizzie were behind Matthews, and he was shielding them with his body. The Druid growled and flung his hand out, sending the three of them flying back into the glass counter that typically held all Lizzie’s baked goods for the day.

Lucas scrambled to his feet and faced off with the Druid again.

“You will pay!” he hissed, and Lucas saw the bastard’s first shred of weakness. The gun had hurt him.

Hope filled him, and Lucas raced across the room for the weapon that had slid away when he’d been attacked. Before he could reach it, the Druid’s booming voice filled the space as he began to chant.

The room around them pulsed with energy unlike anything he’d ever sensed before. Not that Lucas had much experience with magic. Less than a heartbeat later, the Druid was gone, but the diner still felt unclean, as if something was wrong on some cosmic level. There was no other way for him to explain it, it just felt wrong, and everything inside of him was screaming for escape.

“No! I need to go after him!” Lucas called over the sound of the buzzing in his head. He tried to call for his power, tried like hell to conjure another portal or whatever the hell it was, but nothing came to the surface. The buzzing intensified, and Lucas nearly fell to his knees.

“Where—where did he go?” Lizzie asked as Matthews’ lifted her to her feet.

Matthews shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“But why vanish?” Lizzie insisted, looking around the room warily, like the Druid was about to pop out at any second.

“Because we fucked with his ritual. For him to claim Lucas’ power, the deaths have to happen in a certain order.” There was another throb of power, and Skye’s face went bone-white. “We need to go!” she shouted.

Lucas had never seen her get up from the floor, but she looked mostly intact, minus the terror that had the whites of her eyes showing. Could she feel it too?

“Now!” she yelled, holding open the door for the others to rush through. They poured out onto the street barely a second before the diner went up in flames.

“No!” Lizzie sobbed.

Matthews pulled her against his chest.

“Fucking bastard!” Lucas howled. Why can’t I follow him? “Why is my magic not working?”

Sirens screamed as they got closer, and Lucas stared at the flames that completely engulfed his sister’s diner. He turned to look at the people he cared about more than anything else. Despair clung to the air around them, a reminder of his failure.

He should have been able to stop that asshole. He’d managed to transport them all the way across town and yet had been unable to perform once they got face-to-face with their tormentor.

Now, as he looked around at them, he couldn’t help but hate himself. Matthews’ face was tight, and Skye’s arms were wrapped around herself. Lucas turned back around to watch as his sister’s dreams went up in smoke.

All because he’d failed.

Chapter 40

Skye

Skye watched the flames reach higher, devouring their target. The firefighters tried like hell to put out the blaze, but she knew it would only go out once there was nothing left. She glanced over at Lizzie. James cradled her in his arms, rocking in place as she sobbed into his chest.

Lucas spoke to the police chief a few yards away. Both of his hands were bandaged, one only slightly, and the other completely eclipsed in white gauze. He glanced over at her as if he could sense she was looking at him, and she looked back to the flames.

The Druid had managed to beat them, again. While she would put the fact that they were still breathing firmly in her victory column, she felt the points were still stacking up on his side.

She turned back to Lucas just in time to see him shake the chief’s hand and make his way over to her.

She pulled in a deep breath to steady herself. “Hey.”

“Hey.” His voice was hollow, and the defeat so evident in the slump of his shoulders pained Skye. He looked back at the diner.

“You know this isn’t your fault, right?”

He spun to face her. “How the hell is it not my fault? I should have been able to stop him.”

“You aren’t ready yet, Lucas. You only just now learned that you even have power. Calling on that power isn’t going to be easy or even come naturally. It’s not going to be perfect right away. This guy has years on you in terms of knowledge and ability.” She reached to touch him, but hesitated, folding her arms back across her chest. “We’ll get there.”

“Yeah, and what the fuck is up with that exactly? I can make a weird light portal and move us across town within seconds, but I can’t manage an ounce of actual magic when we need it.” He groaned. “The whole thing was completely accidental. I’d be surprised if I was able to do it again.”

“You don’t know how you did it?”

He shook his head.

“You spoke in Gaelic.”

“I did what?”

“You spoke in Gaelic just before the portal opened. I didn’t realize you spoke the language.”

“I don’t.”

Skye stared at him. “That’s interesting.”

“I’d say it’s more than fucking interesting.” He ran his hands over his face. “What the hell are we supposed to do now, Skye?”

His eyes were so full of pain, Skye reached for him without thinking. The second their skin met, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and her skin began to tingle. Before she could get a word out, everything went black.

Skye stood in the center of a warehouse she’d never seen before. The world had lost all color, reminding her this was not reality.

Yet.

The Druid appeared in front of her, but he did not see her this time. He closed his eyes and began chanting in Gaelic, although the spell was said so quietly, Skye couldn’t make out any of the words.

He grinned, and his eyes opened just as the door did. Skye watched as she and Lucas ran in. Lucas’ face was contorted with rage, and her own was swollen and tear-stained.

“You fucking bastard!” Lucas shouted.

“I told you from the very beginning that I keep my promises. The detective and your sister’s deaths were merely part of my promise.”

Agony tightened its fist around her heart, and Skye covered her mouth to stifle a whimper. This is not real, she reminded herself. We’ve changed the course of their destinies before, we can do it again.

“You are a fucking murderer,” the Skye in her vision said.

“Oh, but I am so much more than that,” the Druid retorted.

“You will pay for this, you fucking piece of shit,” Lucas yelled, moving toward the Druid, who managed to disappear and reappear directly behind him.

Lucas grunted, and his eyes widened in surprise. Skye cried out as a blood-soaked blade protruded from Lucas’ stomach. Blood trickled down the corner of his mouth, and the Skye in her vision ran for him.

“No!”

“I told you, you can’t stop me,” the Druid said with a grin, throwing Lucas to the ground.

Skye closed her eyes and began chanting to herself, no, no, no, it’s not real.

“Now, there’s only one promise left to keep. I told you I have plans for you, Seer.”

Skye opened her eyes, watching as she knelt beside Lucas as he took his last breath.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, more blood gurgling from his mouth.

With those two words, Skye was snapped back to reality.

“No!” she screamed, burying her face in Lucas’ chest.

“What is it? What did you see?” Lucas asked as he cradled her. He brushed her hair off her face and pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Skye, baby, talk to me.”

Skye couldn’t even muster up the ability to speak. She’d Seen death so many times before, she’d become sort of numb to it. Or at least, she thought she had, until that day she witnessed the vision of Lizzie’s death.

That was the moment everything had changed. The moment she changed.

There were only so many times she could stand on the sidelines and let terrible things happen. Sure, death came for them all, but if she wasn’t supposed to do something with her knowledge, what was the fucking point of her visions? Her inaction had begun to make her feel like an accomplice, if not a willing participant, in the deaths she’d Seen.

Each death was a terrible burden, a weight she’d never be fully freed from. Even so, there was one death that had been worse than all others. She’d been grief-stricken over Lizzie and James’ deaths, and her very first vision, the one where her mother had died, had tormented her since she was a child. But watching the light fade from Lucas’ eyes as he drew his last breath was something she’d never get over.

Lucas’ heart beat steadily beneath her ear. She pressed her head harder against his chest, listening to the rhythm and allowing it to offer her even a small ounce of relief.

He was here.

He was alive.

She hadn’t lost him yet. But she was going to. The vicious truth began to taunt her with its haunting refrain.

She was falling in love with him, and he was going to die.

Chapter 41

Lucas

Lucas guided his sister’s car back to his apartment. No one said a word as they drove through the night in complete silence. Too much had happened tonight to try and cover it up with meaningless words. Not that they were even capable of uttering any had they wanted to. Each of them was exhausted, broken, and completely hopeless.

His fingers were intertwined with Skye’s, as they had been since she’d come out of the vision. He couldn’t tell who was holding on tighter, it was as if they were both afraid to let go.

Lucy greeted them the second they crossed the threshold, and after a cursory ear scratch, Lucas went to work verifying he hadn’t missed out on warding anymore fucking walls like he had in the diner and Lizzie’s apartment. Some fucking detective I am, missing details like that. Getting the Druid stuff wrong, fine I get that; it’s new. But you know better than to miss one fucking wall, MacConnell.

He stepped back into the living room, and his eyes wandered over the people inside. Lizzie and Matthews were sitting on the couch, she was leaned up against him, and he was stroking the hair that had fallen from her bun.

Skye stood on the balcony, staring up at the stars, much like the night they met at the art show. Her art show.

Had that only been a few days ago?

What the hell were they supposed to do now? He felt like their victory—if you could even call it that—tonight was only a temporary stay of their executions. The Druid was two steps ahead of them every time they turned around. How could they beat someone like that?

Skye turned, and their eyes held. She hadn’t spoken since she’d come out of her vision, and he wondered just what she’d seen that had her so shaken.

“What the fuck are we supposed to do now?” Matthews said, finally breaking the silence and echoing his own thoughts.

“I have no damn clue,” Lucas admitted.

“My diner is gone,” Lizzie whispered. “It’s all gone.”

Lucas knelt in front of her. “We can get it back, sis, I promise. Once all this is over, we’ll rebuild it.”

She nodded, but the tears still streamed down her cheeks. He knew what that diner meant to her, what it symbolized. Even if they rebuilt, it wouldn’t be the same.

She sighed. “At least we’re alive.”

“For now,” Skye murmured, settling into the big chair in the corner.

“What does that mean?” Lucas asked. His girl had a mouth on her, and while she could be sassy, she was hardly ever outright bitter or mean. Has she given up on me? He certainly wouldn’t blame her if she had.

“We’re all going to die.” Her voice was hollow, and she stared down at her hands.

“Skye.” Lucas moved to kneel in front of her and, using his finger, tilted her head until she met his gaze. “What did you See?”

She whimpered softly, and tears started falling down her cheeks again. “I was standing in a warehouse with the Druid. He was chanting something, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.” She shut her eyes tightly, and Lucas wiped a tear from her soft skin. “You and I came inside, and the Druid had already killed Lizzie and James.” She swallowed hard.

Her eyes opened, the amber glazed over with pain. “He killed you, Lucas. I watched him cut you down and stood there while you took your last breath.”

Lucas stared at her, not sure what to do with that information. It wasn’t exactly surprising, especially after the events of the evening, but what could he say? It wasn’t like tonight’s encounter had given him the confidence to promise they wouldn’t lose. That they would all survive this and one day it would be just some crazy story.

“We can change it,” Lizzie whispered. “We’ve proven that already. It doesn’t have to go that way.”

“How? How are we supposed to beat him? It’s not like there’s a Druid training manual for Lucas,” Skye replied, her wet eyes meeting Lizzie’s.

“There has to be a way,” Lizzie said, sounding more like her usual self. Lucas recognized the stubborn jut of her chin and the blue fire in her eyes. His sister was not about to back down.

Lucas stood and began to pace. He needed to learn to manage his power, he knew that. But they were running out of time. Every day that passed was another day the Druid had to plan, and potentially get them right where he needed them—again. If ritual wasn’t so important to that bastard, he may not have stopped with just burning down the building. A shiver ran down his spine; they’d come so close to losing everything.

“We’ll figure it out,” Lucas insisted. There was no other option, they had to succeed. As he studied the faces before him, his baby sister, his partner, and a woman he’d grown more than a little attached to, he knew there was no damn way he could handle it if anything happened to them.

“How?” Matthews asked. He absently stroked a hand down Lizzie’s back. “I mean, we hit him hard tonight and he still came out on top. This isn’t some typical perp, Lucas. This guy means business, and unfortunately for us, he has the means to succeed.”

“I don’t know, I’ll figure out my magic. Get it down and then we’ll attack.”

“You’ve been trying,” Skye pointed out, not unkindly.

Lucas turned to where she stood staring out of the window. She looked so beaten down, the usual strength in her iron stance was gone—eradicated by the night’s events. He stepped toward her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

To his surprise and delight, she leaned back against him, allowing him to run his hands down her arms. “I promise we will find a way,” he whispered for her ears alone. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before releasing her to turn back to Matthews and Lizzie. “We will win.”

“I damn well hope so.” Matthews stood, pulling Lizzie to her feet and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I’m guessing her apartment isn’t safe?”

Lucas shook his head. “Not until we figure out just how he managed to ward us in. I don’t want to risk it.”

“She can have my room,” Skye offered. “I don’t really want to be alone tonight.” She looked over at Lucas, checking to see if he was okay with sharing his room with her. Lucas nodded, he had no interest in being alone either.

“Great, come on sweetie. We need to get you into bed.” Matthews guided her toward the spare bedroom. The door shut softly behind them, and Lucas turned to Skye.

“Drink?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” she said, following Lucas into the kitchen.

Lucas got down his bottle of Scotch and poured generous amounts into the glasses he’d pulled from the cabinet. The way he saw it, they deserved a hell of a lot more than two fingers worth.

After offering her a glass, Lucas led her out to the balcony and they stood together, staring out over the city.

“Remember that night only a week ago when everything seemed to simple? We stood and looked out at the stars and the biggest concern—at least mine anyways—was how I was going to convince you to have dinner with me?”

Skye nodded, but despite his attempt at lightening the mood, she was still somber.

“You looked pretty damn gorgeous that night.”

Skye turned her eyes up to him. “You weren’t so bad yourself, Detective.”

He watched as she lifted her glass and took a drink, and he followed suit.

“I know the circumstances aren’t great, but I’m really damn glad I went to that art show.” He brushed a strand of dark hair from her face.

“I am, too.”

An hour later, they were climbing into Lucas’ bed. Lucy padded over and got onto her own, snoring softly within moments. Oh to be a dog and not have a care in the world.

The mattress dipped slightly as Skye joined him. After turning off the light, Lucas pulled her against his body. The warmth that she offered him was more than physical. She was a salve to his wounded pride, and a Band-Aid for the fear that still plagued his mind.

“I’m sorry, Skye,” he whispered against her hair.

“For what?”

“For everything. He got to you, so many damn times he’s managed to hurt you, and I haven’t been able to stop it.” Lucas breathed in the scent of her shampoo and closed his eyes. “I’m the whole reason you’re in this mess in the first place.”

“I don’t see it that way.” She rolled over to face him, and the moonlight from his window cast a soft glow on her face. “I had that first vision, and even then he could see me. I honestly believe that even if I hadn’t warned you, he would have sought me out.”

Skye shivered as she said the words, and Lucas ran a hand protectively down her arm.

“I won’t let him hurt you again,” he promised. I swear I will protect you.

Skye cupped the side of his face. “I want you to promise me you’ll stay safe too.” A tear streaked down her cheek. “If anything were to happen—”

“It won’t,” he assured her. “Somehow we will find a way to take this asshole down.”

She nodded and snuggled closer. There was nothing more to say, at least tonight. Silence fell over them like a veil, separating them from everything and everyone but each other. No words could even come close to describing the growing feelings he experienced while staring into her eyes. The way his blood began to pound in his ears with only the soft whisper of her breath against his face.

Lucas closed the distance and pressed his lips to hers. Her left arm snaked around his neck, burying itself in his hair as it pulled him closer.

He kissed her, and it comforted him in a way no words would ever be able to. Their mouths were a soft caress against each other, not hurried passion, but rather a soft melding of—something else. Something that bordered on an emotion he just wasn’t ready to visit yet.

Strands of her dark hair, still wet from a shower, fell through his fingers as he stroked her back, pulling her tightly against his chest.

Skye broke the kiss and rested her forehead against his. Their breaths were coming out in shallow pants, and Lucas breathed her in as if she were the only thing keeping him alive.

Maybe she was.

Chapter 42

Skye

Skye wiped the sleep from her eyes as she stepped into the living room. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled her lungs, and she made her way over to the kitchen to pour herself a cup. James and Lizzie were already seated at the table.

“Morning,” Lizzie greeted her softly, but Skye noted the tense line of her jaw, and the way her mouth was pulled into a tight line.

“Morning,” Skye replied, taking a seat after pouring some coffee into a I Love Lucy mug. Had last night’s events not still been bothering her, she might have laughed at the joke. Apparently he’d heard it even before she’d said something that first night in his apartment. “How are you?” Skye asked Lizzie, reaching over to gently touch her hand.

The other woman tried to smile, but her bottom lip quivered, and James wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Still coming to terms with everything,” he answered for her while Lizzie leaned against his shoulder.

“Where’s Lucas?” Skye asked, looking around.

“He stepped out about thirty minutes ago. Said he had to do something really quick. Took Lucy too.”

“Maybe out for a walk.”

“Maybe.” James studied her. “How are you?”

Skye shrugged. “Alive, and enjoying the company of my friends. So, I could be a hell of a lot worse.”

“True.” James smiled slightly before turning to press a kiss to Lizzie’s brow.

“We have to figure out what our next step is,” Skye said before taking another drink from her mug.

“Agreed, and sooner rather than later,” James replied.

The door opened, and Lucas stepped in with a box of donuts but no dog.

“Where’s Lucy?” Skye asked.

“With the chief.”

“Why?” James asked, turning to face Lucas as he carried in the box and set it on the table.

“Because, I have a plan.” His eyes were a bright blue, and in them, Skye saw fierce determination shining back at her.

“What plan?” she asked.

“We leave,” Lucas said, as he opened the box to reveal a dozen glazed donuts that smelled absolutely amazing.

“Excuse me?” Skye asked, trying to ignore the way the sweet glaze was calling to her. How the hell was he going to drop a bomb like that and then expect them to devour donuts?

“We leave,” he repeated.

“Where the hell are we supposed to go?” James asked.

“Scotland.”

“Scotland?” Lizzie’s eyes widened, and her face showed more life since it had before the fire last night. “What the hell are we going to do in Scotland? Play with the hairy coos and hope no one finds us?”

“Hairy what?” James asked, his brow raised.

“It’s what they call their cows. They have bangs. It’s super cute,” Lizzie explained, giving him a quick smile before turning her attention back to her brother.

“That’s where Professor Zane said he studied, right? Which means there is probably something there.”

“He studied with the Druid, Lucas.” Skye snorted. “I hardly doubt he is going to offer us any kind of helpful information.”

“We don’t need him to; there has to be something there. Someone who can help us. We can stay at our grandfather’s house. It’s been a long damn time since we’ve seen him, and he has more than enough space for all of us at his farm.”

“And if we don’t find anything once we get there?” Skye asked.

“Then at least we’re far enough away that the Druid can’t complete his plan. He needs us here, right? He needs to kill us in those ley spots the professor marked on the spiral in order to finish the ritual.”

“And if we aren’t here, he can’t kill us.” James massaged his chin, his gaze narrowing. “We might be able to buy ourselves more time.”

“Exactly,” Lucas said with a smile, the first real one he’d had in far too long. “And what better way to stick it to the asshole than to remove ourselves from his prime real estate?”

Skye folded her arms and bit down on her cheek. “It may not work. He could still get us back here if he wanted.”

“He’d have to find us first,” James pointed out.

“You don’t think he can find a way to track us?” Skye asked.

“I think it’s worth a try,” Lucas responded, even as memories of the Druid’s vanishing act replayed in his mind. The guy certainly had a way to get around, but he had to know where they were to find them, right? And there was no way he’d think to start his search in Scotland.

Skye searched Lucas’ face for any hint of doubt or hesitation—but she found none. He was damn sure this was the way to go, and she’d follow him even if it meant risking everything.

“Fine, when do we leave?” she asked.

“As soon as possible. I’ll go online and grab the tickets. Everyone have their passports?”

The group nodded, their energy reinvigorated now that they had a plan.

“Great, get me the info, and we’ll be on the next flight out of here. Lucy has been taken care of, and I let the chief know we were both taking some personal time.” That last part was addressed to James, who nodded thankfully.

“Well then, let’s do this.” James got to his feet. “I’ve always wanted to visit Scotland.”

Sneak Peak!

Book 2: Amria- Coming Soon!

Chapter 1: Skye

She was falling in love with him, and he was going to die.

Skye knew this to be true as she watched the horrific scene play out for what felt like the hundredth time. Given that she’d only experienced the vision for the first time about forty-eight hours ago, that was saying something.

Lucas crumbled to the ground, the silver blade protruding from his chest. Blood dripped down the front of his shirt as he stared at it in disbelief.

Skye felt hot tears stream down her cheeks as she knelt to the ground beside him. As always, the Druid stood laughing over Lucas' prone body as she wept. The cackling sound was something she heard now even when she was awake. No matter how hard she tried, the horror of this vision stuck with her. Not even whiskey would curb the pain.

“Skye,” he mumbled as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

“I’m sorry,” she choked out, pushing away to wrap her arms around herself knowing that they would always be a pale imitation of his own. She couldn’t watch this. Not again.

Lucas MacConnell was going to die and there was nothing she could do about it.

***

Skye shot up like a bullet, her heart pounding in her chest. Easy, she said to herself. She risked closing her eyes, hoping lingering images of the nightmare wouldn’t be there to greet her, as she tried like hell to calm the surge of panic. No matter how many damn times she suffered through it, it always affected her like it had that very first time.

Although in a way that did make an odd sort of sense. Skye didn’t think anyone who had to watch, sometimes on a horrifying loop, as the man they were falling for died in a pool of his own blood would walk away emotionally unscathed.

Skye wiped away the tears before anyone could notice.

“You alright?” Lucas asked from his side of the cab.

“Yeah,” she grumbled back. Skye’s voice was gravely, the pain of her nightmare still fresh in her mind. Lucas gave her a concerned look but given the way their cab driver was staring curiously at her from the rear-view mirror, he apparently decided now was probably not the best time to inquire further.

They’d flown into Edinburgh and had to catch a cab to take them the rest of the way to the cabin, which was about an hour outside of the city. It wasn’t the most economical option, but given the late hour, none of them wanted to deal with transferring buses or carting their luggage around further than strictly necessary.

Skye must have dozed off shortly after crawling into the cab behind Lucas. It was big enough that all four of them could fit easily, and Skye had claimed a forward-facing window seat. Lizzie was asleep next to her, her head resting against her brother’s shoulder. James, who had crawled into the back seat with their luggage, was also peacefully snoring. It seemed she was the only one struggling to find escape in her dreams.

“We’re just about there,” Lucas said in a low voice. His eyes were still focused on her, so she nodded and turned her attention to the beautiful scenery outside.

She’d been barely coherent when they’d ridden through Edinburgh, but Skye hoped there was a chance for them to go back and explore properly. The architecture had taken her breath away and already captured her imagination. For the first time in a long while, she longed to paint landscapes rather than just her own interpretation of the stars.

“This might just be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” Skye whispered in awe as the last of the night’s stars twinkled high above them. It was somewhere around four am, and still dark out, but the moon provided enough light for her to see the lush wildflowers and the tall green grass that covered the hills.

“Aye ‘tis,” Lucas agreed in a heavy Scottish burr.

Skye gave him a side-eyed glance. “No. Just no.”

He chuckled.

They’d been traveling for well over eleven hours at this point, and that combined with the six-hour time difference had her all out of sorts. Not to mention the asshole Druid who was currently haunting her dreams. She knew it was a bad idea since it wouldn’t help her acclimate to the new time, but all she wanted to do when they arrived was find a bed and sleep for about twelve hours.

The cab made a turn up a long winding drive, and Skye watched a stunning four-bedroom cabin come into view. The outside was made entirely of stone and had some sort of flowering vine climbing along the side.

“Perfect,” she breathed, appreciating its seclusion. This would be the perfect hideout for the four of them.

“Absolutely,” Lucas agreed. She turned to him with a smile, surprised by the heat in his eyes. It made her wonder if he’d been referring to the house at all.

Skye’s smile faltered, and she looked away. Fate could be a real bitch.

The driver stopped and gave Lucas the fare. Lizzie came awake with a squeaky yawn and stretch. She blinked a few times and looked out the window at her grandfather’s cabin.

The house was dark without any light to give away that someone was inside.

“Does he know you’re coming?” Skye asked as she climbed out of the cab.

Lizzie shook her head. “We haven’t been able to get ahold of him. Hopefully we don’t scare him half to death when we start knocking at four am.”

Skye frowned. “That would definitely put a damper on things.”

The others got out of the cab and together they walked to the front door.

The bushes to the side of the house rustled and Skye went still just as a bright orange tabby cat came scampering out.

Lizzie giggled. “Oh, it’s Haggie! That cat has got to be almost twenty years old!”

Skye eyed the cat warily. She loved animals, but for some reason cats just did not like her. Haggie hissed, proving her theory before running away.

“Shall we?” Lucas asked, before holding up a hand and knocking on the door.

There was no answer.

“Hmm,” Lucas murmured, his brows lowering. He knocked again.

“It’s not all that odd,” Lizzie said. “He could be sleeping.”

“Perhaps.”

After about thirty seconds, Lucas pulled a set of keys out of his pocket.

“Didn’t think to start with that?” a sleepy James asked.

“And just walk in on the old guy without warning? No. I didn’t.”

“Fair point,” James said with a yawn.

Lucas opened the door and then walked in. Given the musty smell of the place, Skye didn’t think anyone had been here in quite a while, but she wasn’t about to say that. Lucas turned on a light, bringing the rustic looking space to life. Handmade quilts and furniture gave the space a decidedly homey feel. Skye loved it instantly.

“Pop?” Lucas called. “It’s Lucas and Lizzie.”

Still no answer.

“Huh. I guess he’s out.”

“He must be on one of his trips,” Lizzie said with a shrug.

“That’s normal?” Skye asked.

Lizzie nodded. “Oh yea. Grandpa Oliver travels all the time. It’s one of the reasons we have our own set of keys.”

Skye studied Lucas. He looked worried. Something told her that he wasn’t feeling nearly as calm about his absence as his sister.

“Shall we claim rooms?” Lizzie asked.

“Dibs on my old one,” Lucas said instantly.

Lizzie scowled. “No way! It’s the biggest and it has its own bathroom. You know it’s only right that one of the girls gets that one.”

Lucas shrugged. “Fair’s fair. I called dibs. Be faster next time.”

Lizzie sighed. “Fine, I’ll take the blue room. You want to share, Skye? There are two beds in there.”

“Skye’s staying with me,” Lucas said as if there was any choice.

“Uh, she is?” Skye asked, referring to herself in the third person.

“Well, aren’t you?” Lucas asked, lifting his brow.

Skye was tempted. Frankly, she slept better when Lucas' strong arms were wrapped around her. But the image of the knife protruding from his chest had her stomach rolling and she shook her head. There was no way she could hide her dreams from him if they were sharing a room, and a bed. If anything, she needed to put some distance between them to get a hold on her feelings. Now was not the time to let things go any further, no matter how badly she wanted them to.

“I rather have my own bed,” she said lightly.

“Whatever you want,” Lucas said, but she could have sworn he was calling her bluff.

That settled, she and Lizzie went to dump their stuff in their room, while Lucas and James claimed the other two. No one felt comfortable enough to sleep in the master bedroom in case Oliver returned.

“Anyone hungry?” Lizzie called out.

The guys called out with a resounding, “yes,”, but Skye shook her head.

“If I don’t get at least a few more hours of sleep, it’s not going to be pretty.”

“I hear you. I’ll get out of your hair.” Lizzie said with a smile.

“Have I told you today that you’re a goddess?”

Lizzie grinned. “I’ll take it. Sweet dreams, Skye.”

From your lips, Skye thought as she shut the bedroom door lightly. After removing her shoes, she climbed into the bed and pulled the soft wool blanket up and over her shoulders. The second she shut her eyes, Lucas’s death came back into view and she forced herself to think of literally anything else.

She thought back to a stolen night on a Chicago balcony as she snuggled down onto the pillow and shut her eyes.

Pre-Order book 2 now!

From the authors

If you enjoyed this book, please consider writing a short review and posting it on Amazon, Goodreads and/or anywhere else you share your love of books. Reviews are very helpful to other readers and are greatly appreciated by authors (especially this one!) When you post a review, send us an email and let us know! We might feature part, or all, of it on our blogs or social media sites.

XOXO

Meg’s Acknowledgments

Writing can be an incredibly lonely process. Sure, you have your characters to talk with, but usually it’s just you and your computer working through the various tangles of your story on your own. Being able to share the ups and downs of the process with one of your best friends has been such an incredible experience. One that I will never take for granted. Most days bringing this story to life was more like being at a sleep over than anything remotely resembling work (seriously you guys should see our chat history… so many memes.)

Thank you Jess, for being such an amazing partner. I could not have picked someone better to share this journey with. Your endless passion and excitement kept me on track when I wanted to sit on the couch and binge watch Netflix. Which, let’s be honest, is most days. :D I can’t wait to finish Skye and Lucas’ story with you and see what jokes we come up with next. *snickers*

As always, I would be remiss not to send love and adoration to my tribe. Mom, Gabe, Fran, Laura thank you for all the support, whether its just cheering me on from the sidelines or staying up late to talk me through a crisis of nerves. I could not chase this dream without you.

Jessa, Lori, Dominique thank you for helping us put the final touches on our baby. Your contributions make our stories shine.

And for the readers… you sure do know how to make a girl feel special. Thank you for taking a chance on this book and then sticking with it! Ha <3

Here’s to finding our own superheroes and better means of self-defense than a tampon…

Until next time,

XOXO Meg

Jessica’s Acknowledgments

When Meg and I first decided to write together I knew it was going to be a lot of fun, but I didn’t realize how incredibly amazing the entire process was going to be.
Getting to share a story from start to finish with such an awesome person has been such an incredible journey!

To my book bestie, author twin, shenanigan partner, and one of my favorite humans ever! Meg, I am so freaking happy that we met (even if it hasn't been in person yet!) and that we decided to write this book together. I couldn’t imagine a more awesome writing partner, and I cannot wait to continue working on Skye and Lucas’s story together!

To my amazingly supportive husband, Nathan, I seriously could not do life without you. Thank you for all the endless support and encouragement when I feel like curling into a ball and doing nothing but watching Scrubs. For my kiddos who won’t read this (or any of my books) until they are much older, you make my life so interestingly wonderful, and I hope you always follow your dreams.

To all my awesome family and friends who understand my introvert nature and still deal with me anyway :)

Jessa, Lori, and Dominique, you ladies really made our book baby shine! Thank you so much! Thank you to the beta readers who took the time to read our roughest draft and offered invaluable feedback.

And of course, a giant thank you to YOU, the reader, for making my dreams come true each and every time you turn the page <3

Love you all!

Jessica

About Meg Anne

Meg Anne has always had stories running on a loop in her head. They started off as daydreams about how the evil queen (aka Mom) had her slaving away doing chores; and more recently shifted into creating backgrounds about the people stuck beside her during rush hour. The stories have always been there; they were just waiting for her to tell them.

Like any true SoCal native, Meg enjoys staying inside curled up with a good book and her cat Henry... or maybe that's just her; sunburns hurt! You can convince Meg to buy just about anything if it's covered in glitter or rhinestones, or make her laugh by sharing your favorite bad joke. She also accepts bribes in the form of baked goods and Mexican food.

Meg loves to write about sassy heroines and the men that love them. She is best known for her fantasy romance series The Chosen, which can be found on Amazon.

megannewrites@gmail.com

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All titles available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

Click on any title below for more information

The Chosen Series

Mother Of Shadows

Reign Of Ash

Crown Of Embers

Queen Of Light

Co-Projects

Star-Crossed

Amria- Coming soon

About the Author

Jessica Wayne was born and raised in southern California where she and her family trained horses. She grew up traveling to different competitions, as well as showing sheep and rabbits for 4-H and the FFA.

After moving to Texas with her family, Jessica joined the Army National Guard where she served for seven years.

From the moment her grandmother introduced her to Nora Roberts’ wonderful world of romance, Jessica knew she wanted to create her own stories and share them with the world.

She has been writing full time for the past four years, and is a stay at home mom. She currently resides in Texas with her husband, their two children, and their dog.

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Also By Jessica Wayne

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SUSPENSE
the corrupted series
deceived
concealed

Terminated- Coming 2019

Betrayed- coming 2019

FANTASY

A Tethered Duet

Collateral Damage

Their Own Time: A Trio of Time Travel Novelettes

The Prophecy Series
phoenix- Coming November 9th, 2018
fighter- Coming December 7th, 2018
sorceress- Coming January 4th, 2019
siren- Coming February 1st, 2019
sovereign- Coming March 1st, 2019
unity- Coming March 29th, 2019

Co-projects

Star-Crossed

Amria- Coming Soon