Page 64 of Bite Marks & Broken Hearts

Priya nodded knowingly. “That in-between feeling. Not quite belonging anywhere completely.”

“Yeah. Grandad being who he was helped—everyone knew Seabreeze Sailing, respected him. But I’d still get comments about my accent being posh, or someone would make a joke about me not knowing some childhood rhyme all the local kids grew up with.” I traced the rim of my mug. “Daft little things, really, but they add up. Made me feel like I was always a step out of sync with everyone else.”

“Ooh, you’ve finished!” Priya hopped off the counter, snatching my now-empty mug. “Perfect. I’ve been dying to do this.”

“Do what?”

She tipped the mug sideways, peering inside with intense concentration. “Read your leaves, of course.”

“Oh god.” I slumped back in my chair. “You’re not serious. That’s all bollocks, isn’t it?”

Priya’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing. “I’ll have you know my grandmother taught me tasseomancy when I was twelve. Her readings were so accurate, she once predicted the exact day my cousin would give birthandthat it would be twins.”

“Bullshit.”

“Honestly.” She clicked her tongue. “You’ve seen a zombie ferret, met two wolves, and you’re being protected from demons by a centuries-old vampire. But tea leaf reading is where you draw the line?”

“Fair point.” I leaned forward. “Go on then, what do you see?”

Priya rotated the cup, her brow furrowed. “Hmm. There’s definitely a bird here—see this shape?” She tilted the cup towards me. “Usually means news is coming. And this curved line… interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

“Well…” She fiddled with her long braid. “It could be interpreted two ways. Either you’re about to embark on a passionate love affair that will change your life forever…”

I snorted. “Or?”

“Or you’re going to be eaten by a large fish.”

“What?”

“The signs aren’t always clear cut!” she defended, gesturing at the tea leaves. “Look, this swooping pattern could be Cupid’s arrowora fish’s tail. And this cluster here could represent either romantic desire or, you know… teeth.”

“Brilliant.” I threw my hands up. “So I’m either going to fall madly in love or become fish food. That’s really helpful, Priya. Really narrows it down.”

“The universe works in mysterious ways.” She set the cup down with a satisfied smile. “Though personally, I’m leaning towards the love affair interpretation. These leaves have a distinctly romantic energy.”

My traitorous heart couldn’t help but cling to her silly game, equal waves of longing and terror shooting through me. The night Tom rejected me, I’d sobbed on the beach and sworn off ever feeling anything for anyone again. Yet here I was, my heart doing backflips over a vampire who’d already friendzoned me so violently it had left emotional bruises.

“You’re making this all up.”

“I never make things up. The leaves don’t lie, Flynn Carter.”

I peered back into the cup, remembering how my grandfather used to say you could read the weather in the patterns of waves. These tea leaves swirled like tide pools at low water, promising either romance or a fish attack—though after my years at sea, I knew better than to dismiss either prediction. The ocean had taught me that the most unlikely outcomes often came true.

A shadow fell across the kitchen floor, and I nearly jumped out of my skin as Seb materialised in the doorway. How did a man with so much presence move so silently? Curls damp from a shower, his black coat was draped casually over one arm, but it was his rolled-up shirtsleeves that caught my attention—and held it. There should be laws against exposing forearms like that. I accidentally licked my lips, then dragged my gaze up to his face, where his mouth quirked into an amused smile.

Of course, my heart had decided to perform its usual gymnastics routine at the sight of him. After a full day without seeing him, my body seemed determined to betray just how much I’d missed him.

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Are you torturing Flynn with tea leaves?” he asked, with mock scorn. “Go on then Priya, what’s it today? Last week, I was apparently destined to be trampled by a herd of ghost cattle.”

“That was a perfectly valid interpretation!” Priya brandished my empty cup at him. “And what about the one I did for you the other day? That turned out accurate!”

Seb’s dark eyes flicked to me for a fraction of a second.

“Actually,” Priya continued, practically bouncing with excitement. “I was just telling Flynn about hisveryinteresting leaves. They’re showing signs of an incredible romance on the horizon—”

“Or a fish!” I blurted out, my face burning. “She said it could also be a fish. With teeth. That might eat me.”

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