Page 31 of Embers

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Mack brushes his thumb over Annalise’s looped handwriting. “Because Thessaly Trajan is Kole’s mother.”

“Trajan?” I blink at the name. Mack’s words don’t quite compute. “Kole has a mother?” is what leaves my mouth, which is utterly stupid; of course, he has a mother. I just can’t picture her. What kind of woman gives birth to a mage like Kole?

“He was raised in the Foresight Commune.” Mack opens the truck door and walks around to the passenger side to help me down. “They’re a group of powerful seers, all from ancient magick bloodlines.”

“That’s why Kole is so powerful?”

Mack nods, putting his arm around my waist as we start back toward the cabin.

“But if his motherwas the first to access the prophecy—”

“She wassentthe prophecy, it’s different.” Mack turns to me. He’s using his professor voice again, which always makes me feel a little tingly. “Prophecies are not common. When they do occur, they’re sent to a seer. Usually, a pureblood like Thessaly or Kole.”

“Sent by who?”

Mack laughs a little and tilts his head. “That’s a question for a theologist. Some believe it’s a god. Some believe it’s fate. Others believe it’s magickal forces we can’t possibly comprehend.”

“What do you believe?”

“I believe it’s best to focus on what we know for sure, which is that when prophecies are sent, the seer who receives them is duty-bound to record them in some way. These days, all seers must pass their prophecies to the Bureau. But for a long time, they were just kept on scrolls or in crystals.”

“And then others canaccessthem?” I ask, my brain struggling to keep up.

“Exactly, but only powerful seers can access prophecies that have been received by others.”

I frown and rub my temples. “So, Kole accessed his mother’s prophecy. But he never knew she was the seer who received it?”

Mack nods. “Seems that way, yes.”

“Would she have known? That he was involved?” Those familiar wordsfated to fiveecho in my head. “Would she have known he was part of it?”

“I guess that’s what we’re going to find out,” Mack says. “If we can persuade Kole to take us to Foresight.”

We’re almost at the cabin when I catch Mack’s arm. “You’re sure we can trust Annalise?”

“Nova…” His tone is on the verge of being a warning.

“I’m not jealous of her anymore, I promise.” I squeeze his butt playfully. “I’m just asking if you’re sure we can trust her. Because if we’re going to follow her advice—”

“I’m sure.” Mack slides his hand to the back of my neck. “I wouldn’t have put you in danger tonight if I wasn’t one hundred percent certain.” He brushes his lips across my forehead. “I would never put you in danger, Nova.”

I slot my hand into his and keep hold of it as we approach the cabin.

As if they sensed us, the others are waiting on the veranda. I let go of Mack and fall into the middle of Tanner and Kole.

Little Star. Kole’s voice rushes through me.You’re home.“What happened?” he asks out loud, assessing the broken straps on my dress.

“I’m okay,” I tell him, then glance at Mack.

“Inside,” Mack says. “Let’s talk inside.”

Looking around the living room, it’s pretty obvious the guys spent the last few hours eating and drinking to pass the time. The place is a mess. Tanner moves to the couch and pulls me onto his lap. Almost instantly, his muscles tense. He can feel the trepidation in my belly. “Nova?” he whispers. “What happened?”

I squeeze his hand. “Listen to Mack,” I tell him quietly.

Before he sits down, Mack asks, “Where’s Sam?”

“Out for a run,” Tanner replies. “He should be back soon.”


Tags: Cara Clare Fantasy