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And then poof, it morphed into something much nicer. I stretch, long and slow like a cat, feeling good in my skin. It’s been ages since I’ve been intimate with anyone, and that dream was the best sex I’ve had in recent memory. Scratch that. It was the best sex I’ve ever had, period. Too bad my dream man isn’t real.
I roll over and grab my phone, hoping for an email from Laia, but there’s nothing yet. With a shrug, I stretch, ready to spend a leisurely twenty minutes on my favorite apps, but I’m interrupted by the buzz of an incoming text. The number is blocked, which means it’s probably spam, but I check it anyway.
It’s not spam.
It’s a picture of me, from yesterday’s jog. The sun is shining on my face, my dark hair is bouncing in its ponytail, and I’m wearing a slight grin. I look happy and relaxed. The photo is accompanied by three little words that send a chill down my neck: TIME’S UP, ELIZA.
Three
LIBRA
There’s only one person who would send me this, only one person who would call me by my old name.
I’ve never had chemistry with anyone the way I did with Evan Dempsey. All we had to do was lock gazes and my body would come to life. One word, one touch, one tilted black eyebrow—our physical connection was like something from a movie, and the things he made me feel were incredible, which is part of why I stayed with him as long as I did.
My friend Haven insists that I have siren in my background, something that calls out to people, but I have doubts. If anything, Evan is the siren. How else could he have made me do the things I did?
Of course, that works on the assumption that sirens are real. And seriously, that’s what Haven means; she thinks I have legitimate siren ancestors, like the ones in the myths who could lure men to their deaths. Where Oaklyn is hopeful about the existence of folk creatures, Haven is matter of fact. She acts as though magic is real and that it’s no big deal to have non-humans in your bloodline.
Of course, she and the rest of the Bishops also have pointed, elflike ears, so she might be on to something. I would never have believed such a thing anywhere else, but in Haven’s Hollow, magic seems possible.
Hell, maybe I am a siren. Maybe Evan is too. Or maybe we just had an intense chemical connection, much to my personal detriment.
Regardless, I haven’t felt that buzz under my skin in years, but I feel it now, looking at this text. I know it’s from Evan. Which means he’s free. And he found me.
I instantly break my rule and do an internet search for Evan Dempsey. After ten years in prison with perfect behavior, he was unexpectedly granted parole a few days ago.
Fuck. I should have looked into this the second I thought I saw him last week, but living here has made me complacent. I convinced myself that I was imagining things, that I was safe, even though the dreams were clearly warning me. The fact that he’s already here in Haven’s Hollow means he’s known where I was for a while, because there’s no way he could have stumbled upon me in a matter of days. He must have had someone keeping tabs on me all these years.
How, though? I changed my name, I was careful not to leave a trail, I never let anyone get too close. I haven’t been in contact with my last foster family since the night I left, not that they’re any better than Evan himself. I don’t use social media; I’m careful about being photographed.
So how did he track me down?
I guess it doesn’t matter how he found me. The important thing is that he’s here and he intends to have his revenge. He’ll kill me if he catches me, there’s no doubt about it.
I have to hide.
Where the hell can I go on short notice that won’t leave a trail? Everything requires identification and credit cards these days. I can’t get a motel room, rent a car, book a flight…nothing. He’d be able to track me way too easily.
But he also surely expects me to run, to get as far away as I can. He would never think that I would stand my ground and stay close. There is one place I can think of where I can disappear unnoticed, something that’s free and keeps me in familiar territory.
I can hide in one of the old cabins at the lake. Lake Eerie is creepy—there are rumors that it’s haunted, and also that there’s a treasure in it (maybe some of the supposed ghosts are dead treasure hunters) and I doubt anyone would think to look for me there.
I’m happy with the life I’ve made here. I may keep to myself, but people know me. I have a successful business, a handful of good friends, and I’m content and fulfilled. It’s the life I always wanted growing up, and I won’t give it up without a fight.
I nod to myself. I have a plan. Or at least the beginning of one.
I scramble around my apartment, throwing necessities into a duffle bag. Once I have the basics packed, I call Oaklyn.
“Hey, Libra. What’s up?”
“Oaklyn,” I say. “I’m so glad I caught you. I need a huge favor.”
“Sure. Is everything okay?”
I take a breath and try to keep my voice calm. I don’t want to alarm her. “Everything is fine, but I have a family emergency that I have to take care of. I’ll be gone for a little while and I need you to run the bakery while I’m away. I’ll pay you extra.” Luckily, I’ve never mentioned to Oaklyn that I don’t have a family, so there’s no reason for her to doubt me.
“Yeah, no problem. Is there anything I can do?”
