Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,26

I’m going to roast him alive.”

“No, don’t. It’s fine. I want to be here.”

“Really?” One dark eyebrow raised.

“Yes, I want to help him.”

“Mother is furious.”

“I’m sure.” I sighed.

“No really, she’s so angry that she’s at a loss for words. She hasn’t yelled at me in days, and believe me, I’ve been especially annoying of late.”

“Trying to distract her, are you?” I knew Maeve was covering for me.

Maeve winked, but then her sure smile faltered. “I asked to come after you, but she won’t let us leave the tower.”

“Why not?”

Maeve shook her head. “It has something to do with what she has foreseen.”

“What is it?” I asked fearfully, knowing that Mother must have had a vision of my future.

With the darkness of the lake, I couldn’t tell where Maeve was in the tower, and had to assume she was hiding in the workroom. Her voice lowered to a whisper. “She said a daughter will fall.”

“Fall? Are you sure?”

“That’s what she said, and you know that when she gets these visions. They’re almost always correct. You need to come home now,” she pleaded.

“I can’t. I’m needed here.”

“You can’t help anyone if you’re dead,” Maeve snapped.

I glared at Maeve. “Exactly, so I want to help as many people while I can.”

Maeve gasped and covered her mouth in remorse. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Bye, Maeve.” I thrust my hand into the water, scattering the reflection and thus ending our conversation. I leaned back on my heels as the ripples faded.

“Ahem,” Liam coughed. Oh, please let her be decent.

I held back a grin and called out to the worried Liam. “It’s fine. I’m decent.”

He came around the bushes, a sheepish look on his face. “You heard that, huh?”

I smiled. “As if you said it out loud.”

“Is it true?” Liam asked. “What your sister said about your mother’s vision. That you’re going to fall—as in die?”

“It’s rude to eavesdrop,” I said. I stood and dusted off my hands. “Everyone dies.” I turned to walk past him, wanting to end the conversation. This wasn’t a topic I liked to discuss.

Liam didn’t like my nonchalant attitude, and he cut me off, stepping in front of me. “Aura, did you know that this could happen?”

“No, not exactly. I guess now I know why. Now we can be prepared.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Liam seemed confused by my reaction.

“It doesn’t mean that it is going to come true or happen to me,” I said. “Mother’s visions can have many meanings. You must trust me on this.”

Liam stood there, his golden hair wet, his chin a little red from a clean shave. He must have used the time to freshen up. His wrinkled shirt sported a bloodstain, but his dark cloak would cover it. I frowned. He should have bought clothes for himself.

He stood there awkwardly, fidgeting with a bundle in his hands. He stepped forward and held it out. “This is for you.”

“What is it?” I asked.

He grinned in boyish delight. “Ah ha! So I haven’t spoiled the surprise for you.”

“No, you do really well at shielding your thoughts. You’re a natural.”

“Okay, let me try something,” Liam closed his eyes and let down his shield.

I saw the inside of Cora’s shop and watched as I headed behind a screen. Seeing myself from someone else’s perspective really did a number on me. Did I really look so small and childlike? No wonder he felt a need to protect me. I didn’t even resemble an adult woman, but rather someone of twelve. When I disappeared, Liam left the building and headed into the next shop a few doors down. Inside, he agonized over picking out a comb, ribbon, and hair pins from a young woman who tried to flirt with him. He was oblivious to her attempts.

She wrapped them in white paper with a blue ribbon, and he scooped it up and hurried back toward the dress shop. Did his steps seem hurried? When he entered, he glanced at the screen and saw a crumple of dresses and my bare foot sticking out along the floor.

I felt his panic as he rushed toward me.

I blinked as the vision stopped.

“What just happened?” I asked. “Never before has someone shared such a long memory with me. I would get glimpses and images, but not an actual memory. I was there. I could smell and hear.”

Liam stepped forward and held up the white package with the blue ribbon. “Did it ruin the surprise by seeing it through my eyes? I think