“Yours and Davio’s relationship is strong. He got over who you were related to. Give him more credit.”
“I do, but we have to take such care.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t work through this forewarning without you. This fight isn’t mine, yet I’ve been dropped into the middle of it.”
And it appeared, so had I. So not fair when I couldn’t keep ignoring her plea. We’d grown up together and always had each other’s back. “Argh, okay, give me some more information so at least I can think about it.”
“Is that a yes? We stick together?”
“It’s give me more information.”
“You won’t regret this.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“Right.” The wind blew her long blond hair about her face. She flicked it away. “So I got to the part before about Donaldo being involved.”
“Yeah, your tyrannical king who knows how to throw everything into chaos.”
“Just try to put your frustrations aside.”
I breathed deep, instilling some calm for Faith’s sake. Discovering her father was Dralion’s Prince Alexo when he’d returned to Earth for her and her mother had been difficult, but it hadn’t destroyed our friendship. Our eighteen years together counted. “Okay, I’ll try.”
“What happens, is Donaldo makes an announcement soon. One which involves Hope too. Heck, I still can’t believe I have an identical twin sister. It’s just as well our blood-bond cemented the moment we came together.” She blew out a long breath, as if needing a moment to calm herself. “Okay, so saying yes to me, is saying yes to her. We both need your help.”
“How is Hope involved?” I adored my brother’s new mate. I had to keep her safe.
“My forewarning affects so many people if I don’t get it sorted. Hope and Silas. Davio and me. We’re just the beginning.”
“Grrreat.” With all four of my closest involved, I barely had a choice. “Lay the rest of the details on me, and be gentle. Gen-tle.”
“Hope and I are in Donaldo’s grand dining room.” Sweat popped up along her brow and she wiped it away. “There’s a formal dinner and the leading eight are seated.”
“Dralion’s elite fighting force, right?”
“Yes.”
“Lovely.” Not only was her king involved, but the fiercest of the fierce. How could she possibly think I could help? I had no skills. “Your forewarning was bad enough with Donaldo in it. Now you’re adding the leading eight?”
“Only two of them, Killian and Abelard.”
“Oh, only two.” Sheesh. “That’s so much better then.”
“You ready for more?”
“No.”
“Killian makes his demand clear, that he’s there to court me. Abelard rises and states his desire to court Hope, except a lot more brutally than what I just said. Things get pretty heated.”
“Holy moly. Do I even want to know what happens next?” I didn’t, except best friends didn’t let each other down. “No. Don’t answer that. Just tell me.”
“My skill doesn’t work on me, and my forewarning kept blurring because I couldn’t keep my focus from myself. Then when I finally shoved it back on Hope so I could get some clarity, Donaldo stood and boomed his agreement. Killian and Abelard are slayers.” Her face paled. “They kill the enemy just for the sheer pleasure of it.”
“Wincrest is such a dictator.”
“Davio and Silas—” She gulped. “The war between our nations already rages. Hope and I want to see peace prevail. I can’t have this problem added to it.”
“Hold on. You’re only eighteen. Why would Wincrest agree to a courtship this soon?”
“No one knows Hope and I have mates, and it’s not like we can spill the news. My guess is we’re fair game in Killian and Abelard’s eyes.”
“What about your father or aunt? Can’t they help?” Alexo and Goldie were loyal to Wincrest, but they also revered the bond. Alexo had lived without his wife for eighteen years, fearing Wincrest would find and remove her. He’d never inflict the same pain on his daughters. It was probably his only redeeming quality, in my eyes.
“Nothing changed when I factored them into my forewarning, yet the moment I did with you, bingo, the forewarning dissolved. Somehow, you’re the key. It’s you who has the ability to halt what’s about to happen.”
“How am I the key?” I wobbled, and she propped an arm under my shoulder.
“You’re the last person I want dragged into Dralion’s business, but I can’t prevent what’s about to happen, and it seems no one else can, other than you.” She shuddered. “I don’t want Killian courting me, not when I’m mated to Davio. My soul is bound to his, and I’d never survive losing him.”
“Okay, but you’ve gotta give me more than ‘I’m the key.’”
“That’s not how my forewarning works. It’s you who figures out a resolution. I can only say you’re the one who discovers it.”