dream. Brody had been here. She was sure of it.
“Can we go now?” Nevis asked impatiently.
“Aye.” Deep in thought, she followed Nevis down to the beach. Tomorrow night she would have her answers? She hoped that meant that when she shifted into a seal, Brody would come see her. She needed some answers. For this trip to the Isle of Mist had only left her with more questions.
* * *
Damn, damn, damn! Brody cursed with each step he took toward the cottage. He never should have agreed to meet Maeve again. But at the same time, his heart was racing at the thought of spending time alone with her.
You, fool! Now she would know that he was the one who had played with her every month in the guise of a seal or otter. If she discovered how much he cared for her, he would never convince her to forget about him. But at the same time, a secret corner of his heart thrilled at the idea that Maeve would finally know his true feelings. His beautiful, sweet Maeve.
But damn, he’d never realized before how stubborn she could be. The woman had refused to leave until he’d agreed to see her. A startling thought made him stumble to a stop. How well did he really know Maeve? Whenever he was in human form, he had avoided her. And the times he’d visited her as a seal or otter had merely been spent playing chase in the water. Hell, this was the longest conversation he’d ever had with her, and she hadn’t even known it was he.
With a sigh, he started toward the cottage once more, his steps going faster and faster. His allotted time as a human must be almost over, since it had taken him so long to bury the Seer this morning. That was why he had tried to get rid of Nevis and Maeve as quickly as possible. It would have been awful if he’d been forced to shift in front of them. They would have realized the trick he’d played on them. And that he was capable of impersonating people. Just like that bastard Chameleon.
He dashed into the cottage and quickly unloaded the basket on the table. Good goddesses, fresh bread. It had been two months since he’d last eaten any. He tore off a hunk and spread strawberry jam on it. Oh damn, that was melt-in-his-mouth good.
Worried that at any minute he would have to shift and lose the ability to use his hands, he quickly sliced up the cheese and opened the bottle of wine. Meanwhile, the cat snuck into the house and began rubbing against his legs.
“Oh, now you want to be friends?” He tossed some leftover chicken into a bowl. “I see your attitude has changed now that you’re hungry.”
He took off the brown cloak and hung it on the peg by the door. As he returned to the table, his gaze caught sight of the journal on his bed. Even though he could read while in dog form, turning the pages would be difficult. He’d better get some reading done while he still could.
With a plate full of food and a glass full of wine, he settled at the table and opened the journal to the first entry.
Late summer, Year 624.
This morning I buried my father.
Brody sighed, then took a sip of wine. It was year 700 now, and he’d just done the same thing.
My father was the Seer. My grandfather was the Seer. And now I am the Seer.
My name is Burien of Aerland, the last full-blooded male of an ancient race of sorcerers. I came here to the Isle of Mist two years ago to take care of my ailing father.
For the first twenty-three years of my life, I lived with my mother on the Isle of Moon, while my father lived here alone. We visited him occasionally, but he always claimed that the visions were clearer when there was no one else around, no other noise or distractions to clog up his mind. It was the fate of the Seer to endure a life of loneliness.
That is now my fate.
I am prepared. I have started this journal as my father instructed, so I can record my visions. My father was ninety-three when he passed away. I am twenty-five. The thought of living here alone until I die is daunting.
But this is now my fate.
Right after my father exhaled his last breath, I felt an odd tingling sensation in