Page 12 of The Darkest Knight

“Tammie!” Gwen’s urgent voice pierced the vision, hands on Tammie’s shoulders shaking her back into reality. Tammie’s eyes snapped open, meeting Gwen’s alarmed gaze.

“What happened?” Gwen demanded, her tone filled with worry.

Tammie struggled to steady her breathing. “I … I’m not sure. Someone was in my vision—a dark, cloaked figure. It said something about preparing for my destiny.”

“That sounds … promising?” Gwen’s attempted smile wavered, more nervous than reassuring.

Tammie shook her head, her unease growing. “It wasn’t a good destiny, Gwen. It said something about returning to my truth. It felt almost evil.”

“Your truth?” Gwen shot to her feet, pacing the room. “Should we call Mom? Maybe she knows something about this.”

“Absolutely not!” Tammie stood abruptly, her expression resolute. “If we call Mom, she’ll be on the next flight here, and she won’t leave without dragging me back with her.” She hesitated, her voice softening. “Then again … she doesn’t have to know where we’re calling from. Maybe it’s worth considering.”

Gwen nodded thoughtfully.

“First we can try to reach Niall again.” Tammie held out her hands.

“No,” Gwen said firmly, already moving toward the door. “I’ll check the spell book. Something feels … off about all this.”

“I’m exhausted,” Tammie admitted, the weight of the vision pressing on her. “Can we deal with it in the morning?”

Gwen hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, we should wait until morning when Sabrina can join us. Leave your door open.”

Tammie saluted her mockingly and retreated to her bedroom.

After a long shower, Tammie slipped into her gray fleece pajamas and climbed into bed. The warm water had washed away some of her tension, but the unsettling vision lingered. Restless, she picked up her journal, flipping through the pages. She considered her entry for the day but found herself picking up the book both Sabrina and Gwen had written notes in. Soon she was distracted by her sisters’ detailed notes on the enchantment and the bizarre world they were entangled with.

It was a story straight out of a fantasy novel—suspense, adventure, passion. She almost smiled at the thought of turning it into a book one day. No one would believe it was nonfiction, but it would be a page-turner, nonetheless.

Lifting her phone, her wallpaper, a picture of her and Gerard faces pressed together, appeared on the screen. For a fleeting moment, her thoughts turned to Niall. Would he ever find love after being freed? Would he fall in love again, or was his heart still tethered to the wife he had lost?

The thought of him with someone should have been heartwarming, thinking that he could move on. But instead, it left her uneasy. Her sisters had fallen in love with the men they’d rescued. Could it happen to her, too?

A sudden image flashed in her mind: Niall, walking beside her, their hands clasped together, their gazes meeting. What would it feel like to love him under normal circumstances?

She dropped her phone with a sharp pang of guilt. How could she entertain such thoughts while staring at Gerard’s picture? What was wrong with her?

Desperate to clear her mind, she pressed the call button. Gerard’s voicemail picked up after a few rings, his voice cheerful and familiar.

“I am unable to answer. Leave a message.”

She glanced at the time. Six in the evening. Was he on assignment? Out with friends? Tammie left a quick message and hung up, sinking back onto her pillows.

Her thoughts betrayed her once again, drifting back to Niall. What was he doing right now? Was he safe?

“Oh, God. Stop it, Tammie,” she muttered, rolling onto her back.

But the question lingered in her mind. Was Niall safe? And would he ever come back?