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“I tried to, but you wouldn’t listen. You needed to see if for yourself. None of those bastards in that town ever deserved you. Don’t sacrifice your life and happiness for them.” Deidra gave her a wild smile that meant all kinds of trouble. “You need to be ready for all that’s coming for you. Your power is going to come into its own, and you are going toshineso bright. Just like the star I named you after.”
Ella hugged her grandmother before the dream sucked her away. “I miss you so much.”
“I’m watching over you, kid. You’re not alone. Especially not with that hot man with you. Gods, if you don’t jump his bones soon, I’m going to start haunting you,” Deidra teased and kissed her cheeks. “Go on now. Know you are exactly where you need to be. This is going to be good for you.”
Ella held on to her until the dream faded, and she woke up in Mananan’s bed. She stared at the setting sun through the arched windows. She had slept the day away.
Ella went into the adjoining bathroom and washed her face. It was still a bit puffy from crying, but the dream was staying with her. Deidra was right. The town wouldn’t care that she had left the lighthouse. The government would put up another one there if they thought it was needed.
No one would care if she never went back. It hurt, but the truth usually did. Bayn said that the fae would compensate her. Maybe she could use that money to set herself up somewhere else.
For the first time in her life, she didn’t know what to do. The burden of always attending the lighthouse was gone.
Ella straightened and rolled out her shoulders. She could always make money with her psychometry gifts, and if she went to a bigger place, there would be enough people to support her. Taranis had also said he would train her to use her talents if she wanted to.
“Deidra was right. This could be the best thing that has ever happened to you,” she told her reflection. She needed to hold on to the feeling. Anything was better than crying all the time.
Ella went back into the room and found a bag of her clothes. She changed out of the silk pants and shirt from Faerie and into soft denim jeans and a flannel shirt. She felt better being in her comfort clothes. The Faerie clothes were lovely but not fit for that climate. It might technically be spring, but Scotland hadn’t gotten the memo.
The button-up flannel also had the additional benefit of hiding the small suck marks that Mananan had left behind the previous night. Ella touched one, and the ache went through her whole body. Her day had gone to hell, but she didn’t regret a single thing that happened with him in Faerie.
Ella stepped out into the hallways and tried to find Mananan. She had an empty feeling inside of her chest and knew just being around him would make her feel better. She needed to talk to someone about her dream too.
“Ah, she lives!” Freya cried out, startling the hell out of Ella.
“Fuck me, warn a girl next time,” she said, clasping at her chest.
Freya grinned and hurried down the hall to catch up with her. “Sorry, I’m just glad to see you up and about. I was close to coming in and waking you up. Chrissy has come to hang out.”
“Where is Mananan?” Ella asked, following Freya into the library.
“He and Bayn have gone to check the waters around the lighthouse and see if they can find any trace of that douchebag mage and his monster. Don’t look so freaked out. They are big boys who can take care of themselves.”
“They will be home tonight too,” Chrissy said. She was sitting at a table laid out for tea, an open book and a piece of cake in front of her. She got up and went to Ella. “I’m so sorry about your lighthouse. I wish I could give you a big hug.”
“Actually, you can. Mananan gave me this that shields me from reading other people,” Ella said, pulling the necklace from her shirt.
Chrissy and Freya didn’t need any other encouragement. They both hugged Ella at the same time.
I won’t cry. I won’t cry,she told herself.
The women let her go and sat her down with hot tea and cake. She knew when people were being insincere, but these women were genuine in their concern for her.
“I’m glad you are here, Chrissy. You are the only other person I know with seer abilities. I just had the craziest dream,” Ella said.
Chrissy laughed. “Crazy is a bit relative in this family. Lay it on me.”
Just like that. No judgement. Ella sipped her tea and let her heart swell. She could trust these women not to judge her or scorn her because she was different.
“I can feel ghosts and talk to them sometimes. It didn’t really feel like a dream, so I don’t know what to make of it,” Ella began. They drank tea, ate the orange and poppy seed cake, and listened to her talk out the meeting with her grandmother and everything she had said.
“Wow, that’s an incredible visitation,” Chrissy said once Ella was finished.
Freya licked the icing off her spoon. “It sounds like she was really giving you permission to live your own life because she knew you needed it.”
“How do you feel about it? Any different?” Chrissy asked.
Ella forced a smile. “When I woke up, I was still sad, but in a way I was relieved. The town has always been… Being different has been complicated. Now, I don’t really know what to do or where to go.”
