Fatal Sight (Harbingers Of Death Book 2) by LeAnn Mason (universal ebook reader txt) 📗

your lessons,” he shouted over my wailing. The concern in his face and the gentle hand he swiped across my cheeks, pushing my silver tresses out of the way, brought me back to reality, even if his words were an echo of the accusation his dead self had haunted me with.

It was really Seke, alive and well. And I was alive and well.

As he cast a quick look over his shoulder, I realized that though I’d dragged my mind from the dream world, my mouth hadn’t gotten the memo that the nightmare was over. Recalling what Seke had taught me in those quiet library sessions about getting a handle on my urge to shout, I focused, and the sound gradually abated.

“Good,” he crooned, wiping away sweat-slicked strands from my forehead in a too-tender gesture. “Good. You’re fine. You’re with me.”

Fully registering the present, I realized Seke was perched on the edge of my bed, leaning over me. One arm was braced next to my ear, the other still stroking my bed-head mussed tresses, fingertips skittering against my cheek like shadows. The position put his mouth right above mine, and I stared at it as he repeated himself.

“You’re with me.”

The events of yesterday — or perhaps it had only been hours ago — surged back: Seke collecting me from the police station where I’d been taken after being found at the scene of yet another murder. The druid... dead, killed by the vampire. The vampire... and my parents’ deaths.

I was still reeling from that mind-fuck. So much so that I had no idea how long I sat in that police car. I didn’t remember walking through the station, being fingerprinted... anything. It was as if I’d blinked, and when I’d opened my eyes, I’d been sitting in an interrogation room while a detective — or, I guess, federal agent — told me he’d found evidence of my presence at several murder scenes across the country, the latest being a man in an alley where I’d been arrested last time. I had more crimes to speak to, he’d told me.

I hadn’t answered, and the next time I’d blinked, Seke had been standing there like my knight in shining armor… or rather, in a pressed suit. The scene had been similar to the moment I’d first met him, and again I’d been drawn to his glowing skin, his defined facial aesthetics, his dark hair, that sultry accent with which he defended me.

And then... the car.

Shit, that had been… well, pretty fucking hot. And a mistake.

Once I’d recovered from the temporary insanity Seke’s godliness had lured me into, thanks to a nudge from the nosey fed, he’d taken me to a motel for the night.

Mostly to avoid any more awkward, lust-filled decisions I’d regret later, I’d crashed quickly, feeling, I had to admit, safe under his watch. I hadn’t gotten real rest in days, constantly vigilant.

And now... now he was here... in my bed. The resurgence of relief mixed with a heady flush. The urge to dive for his mouth rose.

He sent you away, Aria. He rejected you. He’s only here now because you summoned him. He didn’t come on his own.

“Was it a vision?” he asked gently, his stare on my lips.

I realized I was fidgeting with my lip ring, catching it over and releasing it repeatedly with my teeth, and immediately ceased the action. I shook my head and croaked, “No. I don’t think so. It was just a nightmare.”

Right? The end of the dream with Seke’s face flashed in my mind. Was that a warning? My own dead face rose next. Was that also a warning?

“Can a banshee predict her own death?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

There were a number of things he’d helped me work out, but many more about my banshee nature were taken to the grave with my mom and the rest of the banshees who’d apparently been slaughtered by the vamps. It suddenly occurred to me that I was alone. The last banshee. Sure, Seke had said many times that I was rare. Hell, that’s why my parents had tried to hide me, but hearing the vamp discuss our near-extinction really slapped me in the face with it. I pushed down the wild urge to get all clingy with the friendly face above me. I was fine alone, damn it.

Seke cocked his head. “What did you see?”

I shook my head, not certain I wanted to divulge what I’d experienced. I was probably reading too much into it. The vampire had been there and the druid too, so it had to have been a nightmare. It presented warped memories; nothing like my usual visions. “Nothing. That was just something I wondered about during my time with the other HD teams.” Thank the gods my nightmares didn’t drag me back to that nearly fatal first — and last — skydive attempt. I might’ve puked on Seke.

He sat back, pulling away from me at the reminder that he’d sent me away. The distance between us stung. But... he’d come to save me. I’d been the one to ask for him, but the fact that he had, that he hadn’t ignored the request… that must mean something. Right?

Oh, grow a pair, and just ask him, Aria.

“Why did you come for me?”

Seke looked back at me. “You asked for me. The local unit who’d been dispatched for the druid told me about your arrest.”

Point to Aria. Fucking genius idea.

“I’m sorry about that, by the way.”

I sat up, pulling myself against the headboard and tugging the sheet over my breasts. I had my smelly shirt on, but I’d taken my bra off to sleep after much debate and felt a little exposed now that he’d moved back. “You couldn’t have known I was going to get arrested... again.”

“Not that.” His head shook, and a lock of hair slipped over his forehead. Similar to the way he’d been stroking my hair from my face, I wanted to return the gesture. “The druid.”

“Oh.” The