The Fortune Elf’s eyes went glassy, emitting the same strange silver light from before. I stared at him, panting, as I tried to catch my breath.
When the silver receded, Daegal nodded. “We have time. Xander and Jo, why don’t you go scout out up ahead? There should be a cavern within twenty minutes from here where we can spend the day. I’ll stay and guard Ana.”
“If anyone needs guarding, it’ll be you, Daegal,” Xander muttered, rubbing his shoulder as he glared at me. “Ana has multiple daggers, and she isn’t afraid to use them.”
“Don’t you forget it,” I replied haughtily. Looking at Jo, I winked, whispering loudly, “I think he’s scared of me.”
The bossy male snarled, and I giggled. I couldn’t help it. Xander was so easy to rile. Making him angry was the highlight of what had become an exceedingly long day.
Jo laughed, muttering something under her breath about Xander deserving whatever he got. Every time she spoke, I liked her more and more. I couldn’t wait to get to know her better. Maybe once we reached our destination, she could be my first female friend.
I smiled at the thought. Jo seemed like someone I could get along with. Talk with. Share secrets with.
The barmaid continued to laugh at Xander as the two of them disappeared into the forest, leaving me with Daegal.
I took a moment to look over the Fortune Elf. Where Xander was big, Daegal was lithe. Like me, he had long ears, but unlike my unruly mess of long red hair, he had black curls that stopped at the nape of his neck. Xander was rugged and wild, but Daegal seemed much more… contained.
The Fortune Elf raised a brow, dropping beside me as he pulled a canteen of water from his pack. He took a long sip before handing it to me. “Here.”
The water was refreshing as it ran down my throat. Once my thirst was quenched, I turned to him. I finally had a chance to get some of my questions answered. “So you’re a Fortune Elf.”
He nodded, his voice low as he said. “I am.”
“Can you tell me how you just seem toknowthings?”
Laughter erupted from the male. “You don’t avoid questions at all, do you?”
I shook my head.
“Well, first of all, I don’tknowanything. But I See things that are likely to happen. Some of them are just potential paths people might walk. They’re like water flowing in the river. Fluid. Changeable.” He waved a hand in the air in demonstration. “Others are more certain. Etched in stone, so to speak. Those can’t change, no matter what I do.”
“Hmm.” I sat back, resting my head against the tree as I tried to understand. “Can you See the future for everyone?”
“No.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way. Magic demands a balance. If any one person had too much power… the consequences would be devastating.”
“But you can See the future for some people?”
“Yes. The deeper my relationship with someone, the more I can See into their life.”
“So for me…” My voice trailed off.
“I know your aura is tangled with Xander’s.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Daegal held up a hand, chuckling. “You can’t deny it. It’s as plain as day. The two of you were meant to be. But I never Saw you until the moment you walked into The Opal Spoon with him today.”
“I see,” I muttered. My brows furrowed as another question came to the forefront of my mind. “What do you See in the future for me?”
Daegal pushed himself to his feet. “Everyone always asks that question.”
“Oh.” I didn’t like the thought that I was like everyone else.
“No, no, it’s okay. I don’t mind answering.” He paused for a moment, his hand tapping against his side. “I don’t See much, other than a dark shadow that is pursuing you relentlessly.”
My heart pounded, and I drew my cloak around myself as I whispered, “Is it the Red Shadow?”
A shudder ran through me at the thought. Repressed memories of searing pain and crimson blood filled my vision.
Gods. If he found me…