The air was murky as I sat by the riverbank, overlooking the crossing borders between Silver Crescent and Redmoon. My toes disappeared in the water, the fish nibbling at my toes. The sun was warm, though it didn’t feel hot enough to burn. I let out a breath, allowing the sun to soak through me, washing away the stresses. My belly was big, and I could feel my baby moving inside of me.

I placed my hand on the swell of my belly, feeling his feet push against me, and I couldn’t help the smile that grew on my face. I lay on my back, closing my eyes, resting in this solitude for the time being.

But then I felt the sun disappearing and the clouds that appeared overhead. I opened my eyes, frowning up at the darkened sky. An eerie feeling washed over me, causing me to sit up. I was no longer in a tranquil state of mind; anxiety had taken over completely. I looked around, suddenly feeling as though I wasn’t alone.

My breath hitched when I saw a woman walk towards me; smoke rose from the ground, surrounding her as she walked. As she neared, my eyes grew large.

“Esme…” I whispered, not believing fully that it was her. She was a lot younger than she had been when I last saw her at the Blackwell Manor. She wasn’t in a wheelchair either; she was walking towards me, as if she owned the very ground she occupied. She wore a white dress, which stood out in the sudden smoky atmosphere, and her eyes shone with something defined.

She stopped only inches from me, her eyes never leaving mine.

“Your destiny is waiting,” she said, her voice powerful and yet musical at the same time. “We have been waiting a long time for your return. You mustn’t run. You must take charge.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, my voice echoing. “Who are you? What destiny are you talking about?”

“Trust your instincts,” she said, ignoring my questions. “Your destiny is waiting.”

“Please, can you give me any kind of answers?”

My baby kicked rapidly in my belly, and my heart lurched as I pressed my hands to my stomach, my fingers trembling. Was something wrong with my baby?

“Blood call to blood.” That was all she said before my eyes flew open and I sat up quickly in bed.

The alarm clock on the end table was going off loudly, blaring through the bedroom at 4 am. My heart was racing, and I could feel sweat trickling down my forehead and across my face. I placed my hands on my belly, my fingers still trembling. My belly was a lot smaller than it had been in my dream, and my baby wasn’t kicking nearly as much, only a small flutter here and there.

The spot beside me was empty, and I had a moment of panic because I had no idea where Gavin was. But then I heard movement in the bathroom, and I let out a breath. He must have woken early so he could take a shower. I lay back in bed, my heart still beating rapidly in my chest.

It was just a dream, I told myself. Nothing but a dream. But then why did it feel so real? And why did it feel like a warning?

I closed my eyes, trying to level my breathing. I was okay… my baby was okay. That was all that mattered right now. I was lost in thought, my body relaxing, and I didn’t notice the bathroom door opening or Gavin approaching until I felt the warmth of his lips on the corner of my mouth.

I opened my eyes slowly to see him staring down at me. His eyes were shining with compassion and love. His hair was wet from his shower, and he smelled like him, making my heart swell.

“Good morning,” he said softly, placing another soft kiss on my lips. I smiled at him, unable to help myself. The dread from the dream I had faded away, and all that was left was just me and him. “Did your alarm go off?”

He glanced at the clock on my bedside table with a small frown.

“Yeah, I wasn’t sleeping,” I tell him as I sit up, my hair falling over my shoulders. “I was just resting my eyes.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and I knew from the look he gave me that he didn’t believe

1. me.

“Resting your eyes, huh?” He asked.

“Yup,” I tell him. “No sleeping here.”

He moved so fast, I didn’t see him coming until he was practically on top of me, tickling my sides and making me laugh so hard I nearly peed myself. I wrapped my arms and legs around him like a koala, keeping him in place.

He smirked.

“Do you really think this position will save you?” He moved in a way that showed me just how much he was affected by this position. I could feel every inch of rubbing against my core, making me nearly salivate with need. He smirked when he smelled my desires, and then he pressed his lips to mine in a deep and hungry kiss, but it didn’t last nearly as long as I wanted it to before he pulled himself off me. “We don’t have time. We have to finish packing, get dressed, round everybody up, and get going. Our flight takes off in under 2 hours.”