Page 19 of Dark Rebel's Fortune

"Neither am I," Jasmine countered, "but I want one for a souvenir. Come on, admit that you want one, too. Don't you want to pretend that you are a witch? When was the last time you let loose and allowed yourself to play? And I don't mean poker to swindle unsuspecting guys out of their money."

"Fine," Fenella relented, accepting the wand. "But only because I have an idea for a wand game to play with the girls when we get home and because you are paying for it. I would never waste my own hard-earned money on a plastic stick."

By mid-afternoon, they were all in need of a break. They found a café with outdoor seating where they could rest tired feet while enjoying cold drinks.The girls were comparing their souvenirs, still buzzing with excitement despite hours of walking.

Fenella kicked her shoes off under the table and sipped her iced coffee, when the harsh ring of Jasmine's phone cut through the ambient noise of the park.

Jasmine pulled it from her purse, glancing at the screen with a frown. "Unknown number again," she murmured, then answered cautiously. "Hello?"

Her expression cleared almost immediately. "Oh! Yes, she's right here." She held out the phone to Fenella. "It's Din."

Fenella took the phone, trying to appear casual despite the sudden dryness in her mouth. "Din? What's up?"

"Fenella. How's your day going, lass?" It seemed just a bit strange for Din to call again so soon.

"Fine," she replied, turning slightly away from the table to create at least the illusion of privacy. "Jasmine's taken us to Universal Studios. It's all very..." She searched for a suitably dismissive description, then settled on "American."

Din chuckled. "Aye, I imagine it would be. Having fun despite yourself, are you?"

Fenella bristled at being so easily read, even from thousands of miles away. "It's entertaining enough," she allowed. "Why are you calling? Aren't you supposed to be in the air on your way over?"

"Ah, well, that's the unfortunate part," Din said, his tone shifting to apologetic. "There's been a bit of asetback. Massive traffic accident on the way to the airport—lorry overturned, blocking all lanes. By the time they cleared it, I'd missed my flight."

Disappointment hit her with unexpected force, followed immediately by a creeping sense of unease. "So, you're not coming?" she asked, hating the hint of vulnerability in her voice.

"Not today," Din clarified quickly. "I've rebooked for tomorrow's flight. Just a twenty-four-hour delay, that's all."

A superstitious chill ran down Fenella's spine. In her experience, delays and obstacles were rarely coincidental—they were warnings, signs from a universe that had saved her skin many times by creating roadblocks when danger lay ahead.

"Maybe it's for the best," she said. "Perhaps you shouldn't come at all."

"What?" Din sounded confused and offended. "Why would you say that?"

"Things like this happen for a reason," Fenella explained, lowering her voice further. "It could be a bad omen."

"An omen?" Din repeated, sounding amused. "I didn't take you for the superstitious type, Fenella."

"I've learned to pay attention to signs," she said defensively. "It's kept me alive this long."

There was a brief pause, then Din's voice returned gentler now. "It's not an omen, lass. It's just a traffic accident. These things happen all the time. Planes get delayed, and roads get blocked. Doesn't meananything beyond the fact that some poor driver is having an even worse day than me."

His pragmatic response should have reassured her, but the uneasiness lingered. Not just about Din's journey now but about Max and Kyra's mission as well. What if the universe was trying to warn them all of an impending disaster?

"Still there?" Din prompted when her silence stretched too long.

"Yes," she sighed. "I suppose you're right. It's just a delay."

"Indeed," he agreed, sounding relieved that she wasn't going to argue any further. "I'll be there tomorrow, barring any more unexpected calamities. Just wanted to let you know so you won't be waiting at the airport for me."

"I wasn't planning to go to the airport," Fenella admitted, perhaps a bit too quickly. "I don't have a car or money to pay for a cab," she explained.

Din chuckled again, the sound sending another unwelcome flutter through her chest. "Of course not. I wasn't really expecting you to come. Well, enjoy your day at the park. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."

After he ended the call, she handed the phone back to Jasmine, aware of the curious gazes of the girls fixed on her.

"Din missed his flight," she explained, aiming for casual indifference. "Traffic accident on the way to the airport. He'll be arriving tomorrow instead."

"That must be disappointing." Jasmine's expression was sympathetic.

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