violent retching, I finally manage to return to my feet, which is made harder by the three of them determined to smother me.
‘I can stand on my own. I don’t need you pawing at me,’ I snap.
‘Well, excuse me for being freaked the fuck out, Beautiful!’ Gabriel bites back, grabbing my arm despite my efforts to dodge him. ‘I just saw the love of my life gutted like a fucking fish, so pardon me for being a little overprotective.’
‘Visions aren’t as cut and dry as that. You know that. Connor, do you have some water?’ I ask.
Nodding, Connor quickly runs to the tent and returns with a flask. I down the lot and rest my hand on my forehead, wishing the thumping from inside would end.
‘I think it was pretty clear what you saw,’ Gabriel scoffs.
‘We need to go to the Bloodstone,’ I insist.
‘NO!’
‘NO!’
‘NO!’
All three bellow the word at me.
‘If some lunatic has captured our people and is about to slaughter them, do you not think perhaps we should try to stop him? If he’s messing with the Veil, we can’t just stand by and let him.’
‘Yes. Let’s take you to the place you just DIED!’ Gabriel roars in frustration. ‘Shall we take a knife for him too? So he doesn’t bloody up his own? Maybe we can put a goddamn ribbon on your ass since we’re handing it over so freely.’
‘I didn’t risk everything and lose five years of my life so some lunatic can tear down the Veil and throw the world and our people into chaos.’
‘Let’s calm down,’ Bias interrupts before Gabriel can argue. ‘Lilly’s Sight magic has only just returned. Visions are tricky. They can mean a million things.’ He holds out his hand to me. ‘May I see it?’
I hold out my hand and show Bias the vision. When I open my eyes again, he’s gone ashen.
‘Well, that bit at the end was pretty clear, wasn’t it…’ Bias murmurs, stepping back and throwing sidelong glances at Gabriel. ‘That was erm… it was…’
‘It was my wife being killed. Yeah.’
Connor rests his hand on Bias’s back.
‘It was extremely disjointed, flicking between the past and the present like that. Why show you your birth and your death?’
‘Well, as you have the most experience with the realm of Sight, I hoped you could tell us!’
‘Gabriel!’ I snap. ‘This isn’t his fault. Don’t be a dick.’
Gabriel drags his hands through his hair and seals his lips with a growl.
‘Why would we need to see her birth and death?’ Connor asks Bias, much calmer than Gabriel seems capable of right now.
‘I… I don’t know. Sight is about showing a glimpse of what needs to be seen. And seeing as Lilly’s magic is so new, and this was her first vision since getting her magic back, her ability to handle and understand them are in their infancy. It will take time for them to become clear.’
‘Real helpful,’ Gabriel mutters.
‘We need to check that the Bloodstones are secure.’ I stand and face them, smoothing down my hair and trying to look like I have myself together.
‘They are secure.’ Gabriel helps me as I wobble a little. ‘I told you before. They’re being guarded by a member of the council at all times. And you are not to go near the Bloodstones until this lunatic is dealt with. Do you hear me?’ His desperate eyes look into mine as he holds my chin in between his thumb and forefinger. ‘Please, Beautiful. Please don’t put yourself in danger.’
Reluctantly, I nod. ‘Why would he need the seven witches?’ I ask. ‘Why kill the unicorn?’
‘We should go to the unicorn and see what was taken from her,’ Bias says. ‘In the vision, there was a table. An altar of sorts. If we find out what ingredients he’s using for this Dark Magic, we may get a head start on finding a way to stop his plans.’
I get to my feet and brush off the dirt and leaves.
‘We go now. Yes?’ I ask.
They all nod. Gabriel included.
‘Get your stuff together,’ I tell them. ‘We leave in five.’
