Book 2 Sneak Peek

You narrow your eyes as you climb out of the Jeep. “There’s someone inside,” you say.

“You sure?” Carter asks, shutting the driver’s door with a slam.

“Yeah. I can feel them. They’re… worried. And not hostile—I don’t think so at least.”

Carter frowns. “So, it’s not an ambush,” he says. “I guess Casmir decided to keep his word. Though some more heads up would’ve been nice.”

You hum noncommittally. “I guess. So what do we do?”

“I’ll go in first,” Carter replies. “Stay behind me.”

You nod and fall in behind him as he ascends the porch steps and approaches the front door.

From the outside, your cabin appears more or less untouched. When you step inside you see that there’s a vase of fresh flowers on the table—a gift from R probably—and a fresh, clean smell hangs in the air. You wonder if R is that good of a housekeeper or if they just do everything with magic—probably the latter. Knowing them, it’s definitely the latter.

But that’s all you have time to process before your eyes land on your visitor, who seems to have Carter frozen in his steps.

It’s a woman, around Carter’s age. Her long, dark hair is shot through with strands of silver and there are laugh lines around her eyes and mouth. She’s slim and petite and there’s something aristocratic about her posture and bearing. The plain blouse and skirt she wears are simple, but appear exceptionally well-made and expensive, as do the gold rings that adorn her fingers.

She offers a somewhat tentative smile. “Jacob.”

For the first time since you’ve known the old man, Carter looks genuinely taken aback. “Kate,” he murmurs. “It’s… Casmir didn’t say it was you.”

“I asked him not to,” she replies. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure if you’d be willing to meet me if you knew…” She trails off as her eyes finally land on you. “I’m sorry, it seems like I’m interrupting?”

“No, you’re not,” he says, shaking his head. He gestures to you. “This is my kid. I think you’re actually here to see them.”

Kate seems genuinely surprised, though she doesn’t voice it. “Oh. Casmir didn’t… mention that.”

You raise an eyebrow as you glance between the two. You don’t know what an awkward Carter looks like, but you suspect it’s this. “I’m adopted,” you supply.

Carter scoffs out a wry laugh, but Kate seems almost relieved, though still clearly confused. “That’s rather unexpected,” she says. She smiles at you. “You must be quite exceptional.”

You can barely contain your smile, because you don’t know what’s going on but you don’t want to miss the opportunity. “He almost hit me with his car.”

Kate blurts out a surprise laugh and Carter shoots you a narrow look. “We can fix the ‘almost’ bit,” he says.

You make a face at him as you head deeper into the cabin. “I’m going to put my stuff away. You guys… talk. Or makeout. Or whatever’s going on here.”

Carter answers by hiding his face in his hands as Kate lets out a bubbly laugh, whatever tension remains in her dissolving quickly.
“I like them,” you hear her say as you step into your bedroom.

“Of course you do…”