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She definitely blushed that time. “I’m not, like, some oracle from mythological stories or something. Just an awkward clairvoyant.”
For some reason, that really seemed to amuse him.
“Remember to keep your voice down, Sulien,” Fenn said when the laughter grew too loud.
Sulien sucked in a breath and promptly sobered himself. “Right, right, sorry.”
“To answer your question,” Cassian said, “balance is, put simply, our purpose. Each of us has a role to play in maintaining the balance of the world. Should one of us overstep, or disappear, that balance would be disturbed.”
Sienna blinked at him, attempting to process his meaning. His words made sense, but she was certain there was a deeper point that she wasn’t quite grasping.
“In other words,” Fenn said, “if I go and slaughter a couple of people whose lives were supposed to have an impact on the future, that could throw off the balance of life. For just two people, it would hardly be enough for a full-scale apocalypse, but it would cause a little unpleasantness.”
Sienna gawked at him. “What kind ofunpleasantness?” That was probably the wrong question. She should, surely, have insisted he not even consider it. But they were talking about protecting her only family. One of whom was still being held captive. She wasn’t so sweet as to take such an option off the table.
Fenn opened his mouth, but an entirely different and unfamiliar voice spoke over him.
“Knock knock.” The feminine voice was a little wispy, or perhaps her tone was light and casual. It was hard to tell.
Sienna jumped in place, her heart stuttering against her ribcage.
The men all twisted in place, adjusting slightly to reveal their visitor who stood in the hall. But none of them did more than cross their arms or shift their weight otherwise, which only confused Sienna more.
Standing across from her, almost directly, was a woman she’d never seen before but who was somehow also vaguely familiar. She couldn’t have been, however, because Sienna wasdamnsure she didn’t know anyone who wore bell-bottom jeans with bright, multi-colored sunflower patterns stitched into the denim, let alone a very poofy actual-tie-dye sweater. The woman wore so many colors it was hard to focus on her appearance.
Sienna gave herself a shake. She didn’t care why this woman was familiar. “Um, who the hell are you? This is private property.” Fort Veyelsa was a small town, but even her neighbors had learned to knock!
The woman smiled. “I know,” she said. She looked around the room, smiling like she was bursting with things she wanted to say. “You boys aren’t planning to burn down Christmas, are you? I don’t think that’s on the schedule this year.”
Fenn made a sound like a low growl and took a step forward. “If you’re not here to help, then leave. I’m not in the mood for your—”
“You should be a little nicer to me, don’t you think?” She tipped her head and threaded her hands over her chest. “I did you a favor, poor sad, gloomy Fenn.” Her eyes lit up—they mayactuallyhave sparkled—and she pointed suddenly to Cassian. “He’s on to something, this one. Consider today’s problem a trial, and if the right person perseveres, there could be a wonderful reward!”
Confusion overwhelmed Sienna as she tried to follow the conversation. She opened her mouth to ask what the woman meant, or who the woman was, but she was talked over.
“In the meantime, no apocalypses, understand? I won’t have you breaking my favorite town.” She met Sienna’s gaze again. “Oh, and thanks for your loyalty! I put a little freebie on your account, in exchange for putting up with these guys. Toodles!” She turned even as she waved and simply vanished from sight. No lightshow, no pop of sound or gust of wind or anything like Sienna might have expected. She was just … gone.
No one said anything for several seconds.
Sulien sighed heavily. “She gives me a headache.”
“Trialsgive me a headache,” Cassian said as he slumped against the wall.
Fenn’s hands curled into fists.
“Well. That settles that argument, I suppose,” Rajan said. He stepped closer and clapped Fenn on the shoulder. “We’ll find another solution. Calm yourself.”
No one was confused. They seemed agitated, unsettled, but not confused. Not like the last few minutes hadn’t been pure, undefinable chaos. Sienna watched them all as Rajan and Sulien turned toward the sofa as if intending to settle in. No one seemed about to offer an explanation and she couldn’t contain herself any longer. “I amsolost. Who was that woman who just broke into my sister’s house, lectured you, talked like she knew me, and disappeared into thin air?” Come to think of it, it was possible these four had forgotten normal people couldn’t do that.
“Destiny Truegood,” Fenn said.
Sienna drew up short. She recognized that name. Destiny Truegood was the founder of Serendripity, which had originated right there in Fort Veyelsa. That made no sense at all.
“She’s a Fate,” Cassian said.
Sienna stared at him. “I’m sorry. You mean like—”
“Capital ‘F’ Fate,” Fenn said, mimicking her original reaction to his revelation. He settled a hand at the small of her back to guide her toward the sofa. “Yes, they’re real. It’s not as amazing as you want it to be. That particular one … likes to be involved.”
