Was sheeverreally with them? Had she ever been?
“Yes,” she managed with a hoarse whisper, grateful when Maya brought a glass of cold water to her mouth. “I’m back.”
By back, she meant no longer in what they referred to as ‘one of her trances.’ The truth was they were a coping mechanism of sorts. Sometimes controlled by her, other times not.
The one she just experienced wasn’t controlled by her, yet it had helped. Made her less enraged though she wasn’t sure why. The dream, or memory, she just had was a reminder. An awakening, so to speak. A call to action.
It was time.
Time to stop avoiding and accept she was every bit as much a part of this as her sisters were. Perhaps even more so, given the hooded figure had presented himself again. Not just in her memory but on Trinity’s adventure.
“You know the dark Irish wizard then,” Jade said, appearing at the deck door with her mate, Thorulf. She closed the distance and crouched in front of Raven, concerned. “I can feel it in your thoughts.”
The wizard had saved Trinity’s soul before she was born, yet he’d done far more than that. He had helped Raven too.
“I know him,” she confirmed. “I just don’t recall how yet.”
“But you do know other things, don’t you, sis?” Jade tilted her head in question. “You knew Trinity traveled back in time to see Vicar when she was little. You helped her astral project from the dream state to get there.”
“I did, didn’t I?” she murmured more to herself than to Jade. “Just like I knew you connected with your fated mate when you flew into that cave all those years ago. Even if what happened afterward was a self-inflicted false memory, I somehow knew that was where you went to travel back and forth through time.” She glanced from Maya to Jade. “But, I swear I’m only starting to remember now.” She gave her sisters a pointed look, reminding them her lack of memory wasn't so far-fetched. “Kinda like you guys didn’t remember things until you did.”
“How do you forget being able to astral project?” Jade’s brows shot up. She might be glad Raven was okay, but she was also frustrated. She had been led to believe Raven was knowingly more involved in this than any of them from the get-go.
“How do you forget astral projectingyourselfback in time?” Jade stood. “Because you did. We’re certain of it.”
“Because of him,” she managed, not quite ready to say his name. She took in Thorulf and Dagr, shivering at how similar they were to their kin with their endless blades and fierce scowls. “Because of what he must have told you.”
“Yes, because of what Tor told us.” Jade narrowed her eyes. “Which I gather you’re catching from my thoughts.”
Raven nodded. Jade’s mind had always been the easiest to follow because they ran on a lower vibration. In truth, she’d always followed her sisters’ thoughts better than they did hers.
According to Jade’s thoughts, Tor was starting to remember Raven. Tor, who she had despised on contact when he showed up on Trinity and Vicar’s adventure. Despised him with no clue as to why. Sure, she wasn't crazy about being destined for a guy in love with someone else, but that didn't mean she wanted him dead. Unfortunately, her power over the weather said otherwise. It was a wonder he got out alive.
“So you don’t know why you wanted him dead?” Jade exclaimed, picking up that thought. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, all things considered. That means there’s hope.”
“Hope for what,” she began, trailing off when she sensed Tor rather than saw him. She frowned at Jade. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
Thorulf’s brows pulled together. He shook his head. “No, not yet.”
“Yes, he is.” She headed for the deck. “I feel him.”
“Oh, dear.” Aunt Elsie followed her toward the deck with everyone else. “Why don’t you stay in here, sweetheart? We don’t need another tsunami or tornado to deal with if he's out there.”
She had admittedly caused a stir.
“It’s okay. I’m fine.” She really was too. For the moment, anyway. Her latest trance had helped. Leveled her out some. “Much better than last time.”
Cool wind whipped her hair as she stepped out onto the back deck.
“You’re better than last time because Tor isn’t actually here,” Dagr said, echoing Thorulf. “We would know if he were.”
“No, not here.” She scanned the horizon. “But close.”
“Because you two are likely connected?” Maya assumed. She considered Raven in that big sister way of hers. “Or is it something else?”
Definitely something else. Something hard to explain. It almost felt like he stood right next to her even though he didn’t. She rolled her shoulders at the odd sensation.
“He was right here,” she whispered. “Watching. Wondering. Conflicted.” She narrowed her eyes. “Now he’s walking away...yet growing closer.”
