Page 68 of Shadow & Stars
“Yes. A wonderful friend.”
“See? You are building a new family,” June contributed. “Havebuilt.Willbuild.” She poured another brandy. “My poor brain.”
Tears rolled down Roman’s cheeks. “I don’t want a new family. I want you.”
June smiled so sweetly my hearts throbbed. I’d turned their lives upside down this evening, bringing future grief into their home.
“You will always have me, darling. Even when I’m gone, I’ll always be with you.”
He sniffled.
“I’m so proud of you, Roman.”
He released her hand, getting to his feet. “Even if I’m destined to become a killer?” He began pacing. “A fucking murderer? Shit.” He crossed his arms. “I can stop it, right? I have the power of time in my chest. I can fix the bad stuff then correct the killing part. I’m not an assassin. That’s not who I am. I know I can be hardcore at times, but not that hardcore.” He stopped pacing, giving me a direct, rather terrifying look. “Why?”
“I—”
“You don’t know why I go down that path,” he interrupted. “Stupid question. Stupid, stupid question.” The pacing continued. “I have to stop myself. I have to?—”
The doorbell rang.
Fetching tissue from a purple box, Roman dried his eyes. “I’ll get it.”
June smiled at me, swirling the brandy in her glass.
“I’m really sorry,” I said, guilt laying heavy in the pit of my stomach.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“What the fuck?” Roman yelled.
At that moment, I saw the teenage version of the witch from the point of view of the doorstep.
“Who are you?” I asked him, sounding gruff.
Roman stared at me.
Me?
I was here.
Standing in the doorway.
21
ROMAN
Isaw Xavier on my doorstep. Not my flat, but my old house. Grandma’s house from back in the day. I got the sense of a different body. A younger body.
Teenage me?
What the hell?
“How can you be there and in there?”Ijutted a thumb behind me. “You…” I summoned Synth to my hands. “There’s some dodgy shit going on.”
Xavier folded his arms, unbothered by my magic. “Why did I see myself come to this house?”
“Because you are in this house.” Xavier’s voice came from behind me.
