If I lived a million years, I would never understand how King’s gifts worked. He was a brain surgeon, only he performed operations on people’s memories. He could walk right into someone’s head, look around, pluck out specific things, and throw them out.
A gift like his was powerful.
Add to that, he had the ability to kill anyone at the drop of a hat, using his shadow, and it made him dangerous, too. Honestly, I was glad it was him and not me. I hated the idea of death following me around. And, for some strange reason, I believed King hated it, too. I sensed he no longer wanted to be the man he once was.
After my dad woke up—pretty disoriented—I began bawling hysterically. All that emotion just needed to come out. So King asked me to go in the kitchen and give him a few moments with my dad. Five minutes later, my dad was completely chipper, thanking King for the incredible trip to San Francisco.
“I’ve always wanted to see the Golden Gate,” Dad said, walking into the kitchen with King.
“I am glad you enjoyed your weekend of sightseeing, Mel.” King clapped him on the shoulder, like old pals.
You made him believe he’s on vacation.
King gave me a look and shrugged.
“Oh boy. Look at the time, Jeni,” Dad said. “We’d better get to the airport.”
I narrowed my eyes at King. He was forcing my hand to get me out of here. He knew I wouldn’t leave my dad now that he was safe and alive.
You both need to go immediately. King spoke directly to me. I do not know who else might show up early, and I must prepare for tomorrow’s big event.
My entire body tensed. I worried about leaving King to confront the entire Ten Club on his own, and part of me still wanted to face Victor Escorcia—evil fucking bastard—but I needed to be with my dad more. My heart still mourned over what I’d seen, even if his death had been undone. My head was not in a good place.
King drove us to the airport to put us on his plane, manned by some other pilot. Apparently, all those Spiros guys were long gone, no longer working for him. Or indebted to him. Whatever.
As he walked us to the rollaway staircase, King told my dad to go on ahead and get comfortable. My dad obeyed, bouncing his way up the stairs and acting like a giddy child over flying in a private jet. He was completely unaware he’d been dead an hour earlier.
“Just remember,” King said once we were alone, “after you’re home, remove the ring. Your father must live out his life as he was meant to.”
Why did King care? He’d spent thousands of years defying death.
“Prices, Jeni. Prices.”
I supposed I understood. Paying the piper wasn’t a fate I wanted for my dad. “What do you want me to do with the ring?”
“Throw it to the bottom of the ocean.”
“Maybe I should keep it for emergencies.” My dad could get sick or something.
King scoffed, his silvery-blue eyes glinting with impatience. “I am trying to prevent you from taking the same path. But ultimately, it is your choice. See you in a few years.”
Goddammit! He was acting like all this was his choice. Well, it wasn’t. My emotions, fate, and whateverthehell were just as important as his.
I inhaled slowly, deciding not to argue. Dad was already on the plane. I didn’t want to press my luck by sticking around, after all he’d been through.
“Goodbye and good luck.” I marched up the stairs, and King got in his car. From the plane’s doorway, I watched as he sped off. I hoped he was right—that he could take care of Ten Club by himself, like he had taken care of Serina.
All I knew was that everything felt different for me now. Death wasn’t my sidekick, but according to King, I was still a Seer. In time, I hoped my true powers would be revealed to me. Meanwhile, I would finish school and be grateful for the opportunity to live a free and happy life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
KING
“Careful with that,” I snarled at the two men I hired to bring in new furniture to my downtown office and remove the old desk.
They’d also cleared out the Victorian I had renovated for Mia. It would be sold, along with the other assets I’d acquired, save for anything useful to me now. The warehouse would be cleaned out, disposing of anything I did not need—old grudges and objects no one had any business possessing. Why? Because I had one goal now: Redemption.
It would lead to Mia and Arch. Ariadna was at peace with the other Seers, the ancient ones, who would no doubt be keeping a close eye on things.
Step one of my journey was already complete. All but three Ten Club members had showed up to the meeting, expecting to see me fight Serina for the throne. What they got was a taste of my dark soul.
As for the remaining three, I would have to hunt them down one by one. Unfortunately, Victor Escorcia was on that list; however, I’d made a vow to Jeni to take care of him. I would keep my word no matter what.
I had to admit there was a certain irony to my fate. I’d spent countless years accumulating power, only to have it keep me from what I truly wanted: death. Until my soul—which remained anchored to Jeni—returned to me for good and my sins were corrected, I would remain trapped in the world of the living.
So how did a man without a heart or soul redeem himself?
One day at a time.
I was once a good king who loved his people above all else. I would get there again.
“Knock, knock?” I heard a soft voice come from the doorway. Jeni’s golden-brown eyes and kind smile greeted me.
“What are you doing here?”
“Sorry, but I couldn’t stay away.” She sauntered in, wearing jeans and a red sweater. Her long brown hair was straightened, cascading down her shoulders. I could tell from the way she looked, she had done it for me. She did not understand what I was, and what I could never be.
“Oh, don’t be so pessimistic.” She stifled a smug smile. “You’re always so hard on yourself. But thank you for the compliment. I did try to look nice. But not for you. For myself.”
“What is going on?”
“Ah!” She strutted across the spacious loft, with a bounce in her step. “I finally figured out my gift. One of them anyway. Didn’t take long, really, once I had a chance to clear my head. Or maybe the other Seers helped. Who knows?”
Ariadna, my beautiful daughter, said Jeni’s gift was a bullshit meter. She could never be fooled by me. Just as long as she’s unable to read my thoughts.
Jeni grinned. “Sorry. But it’s payback time, baby.”
JENI
After I returned to Florida, I couldn’t get a few things out of my head. King being at the top of my list, of course.
What nagged at me most were my unanswered questions. But as my body healed from stress and exhaustion, I began piecing together all the threads of his tapestry. The picture was pretty interesting.
I always knew we met for a reason. And I knew he couldn’t shut me off. So I began to wonder if our connection wasn’t something more. Something bigger.
My next question was why now? Why, after twenty-five years, would his self-made coffin pop up in a storm, only to land at my feet?
That was when I got a visit. They came in a dream and, at first, I didn’t believe it was real. Until I realized I knew their faces. I knew them. My ancestors.