“Bullshit!” The only woman I am connected to is Mia.
“Wrong,” I replied to his thoughts. “She is the only woman you love. But I know you feel something for me, just like I do for you. All I’m asking is—”
“What? A fucking fairy tale? I am a king, not a prince.”
“I know you won’t ever love me like you do her or your children. I happen to admire you for being so loyal. But I also know I don’t deserve your hate.” I tilted my head to the side, keeping my palm flat over his beating heart, a heart that should’ve stopped over three thousand years ago, but kept on pumping for love. How could King not see how miraculous that was?
He stepped back. “If you see so much, then tell me why you are still holding out hope that I will stay here with you, in the land of the living, instead of crossing over to be with my wife?”
I knew why I couldn’t stop hoping, and I’d spent the last week learning how to shield the answer from him. I’d imagined a fortress made of steel bricks, five layers deep, and placed my most important thoughts and secrets inside. Apparently, the trick worked because King had no idea I was pregnant. With his baby. I already felt the intense power growing inside, which meant it had to be a girl, a Seer just like me.
And he can’t find out.
I refused to be his pity side piece, holding him to a world he didn’t want to be in, with a woman he could never love.
“I’m just here to help, King. Nothing more.”
CHAPTER TWO
King
Help? I do not need her help. I had already sent Jeni home to Florida once, and now she was back, hiding something. I could feel it. Yet I sensed nothing malicious in her actions, which meant her secret had to do with one of two things: her heart or her fear of losing me.
I knew she had fallen in love with me the night we fucked, but that changed nothing. I could never love her back. Mia was and would always be my soul, my heart, my purpose for existing. The best I could offer Jeni was my honesty, and I had.
As for her fear of my leaving this world, she would get over it. Everything still felt new to her, but with time, she would come into her own as a Seer. I was not here to assist with that. My goal was dying. Preferably sooner rather than later. The challenge was, I kept coming back to life—a punishment inflicted upon me by the ancient Seers—and it would continue happening until those fucking witches untethered my soul from Jeni or I found a way to break their curse. In either case, Jeni’s help would only be a liability. Also, I did not trust her. Seers were devious. Even the good ones.
“Where are you staying?” I asked Jeni.
“At a hotel down the street. Why?”
“Give me the address. Then go there and get packed. I will be along shortly to retrieve you.”
“Where are we going?”
“You are going home.” I was not about to take her along to hunt down the three remaining Ten Club members. These individuals had not avoided death out of luck. They were crafty and underhanded, and they would be expecting me. Obviously, I could not die, but Jeni could. Yes, hers would be a Seer’s death, but her time in this world would cease prematurely—something I did not want.
In my experience, Seers who’d lived long lives in this world were Seers who accepted their place in the endless Seer afterlife. Those who died too young were restless, obsessing over all the experiences they missed out on—love, having families, and growing old. I did not wish a tormented afterlife for Jeni.
“You will go home, Seer,” I said, “and I will carry out my penance. Alone.”
Jeni shrugged her light brown eyebrows. “I thought I made myself clear, King. I’m coming along.”
“You will only get in the way.”
“If you’re hunting down the man who murdered my mother, there’s nothing you can say or do to stop me from going with you.”
I tilted my head at the stubborn woman. You know very well I can do many things.
“Why are you being such an asshole? Victor Escorcia ran my mother over just for fun. He deserves a painful, terrifying death.”
“Indeed. And I will ensure he receives it without you interfering, which I am certain you will do.” Jeni was becoming quite the ballsy woman now, very different from the helpless mouse I first met, who could hardly speak above a whisper or look a person in the eyes. Now she was turning into a fighter.
“Give me one good reason why, King? Why can’t I at least come with you and watch Victor take his last breath?”