Page 43 of Unseen Eye
The world seems to stop for a moment. A hush falls over the crowd.
I feel the weight of Garet’s accusation. The surrounding chaos is drowned out, replaced by the thumping of my pulse in my ears.
Oh shit.
Callon steps closer, his eyes fixed on Garet, clearly not ready to drop this yet. “How much does she even know, Garet? How much did you deem important enough to tell her?” His voice drips with anger, each word a dagger.
Garet opens his mouth to respond, but Izzy steps forward, her glare directed at him. “Probably nothing,” she says sharply. Turning to me, her expression softens slightly. “Eva, do you know what a Fate is?”
Confusion swirls within me, mingling with a growing sense offear. “I’ve heard stories,” I admit, my voice trembling. “But I don’t know what’s true.”
Izzy nods, her eyes flicking briefly to Callon before settling back on me. “Fates are ancient beings, almost mythical. For one to appear like that, and recite a prophecy… it’s significant. Very significant.” She pauses for a moment. “They weave the threads of destiny, guiding and influencing the lives of mortals. The Fates haven’t been seen or heard from since the Great War.”
Goose bumps line my arms as the reality of the situation sinks in. “Why would she appear to us?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Callon says, his anger still simmering.
Garet’s face flushes with a mix of guilt and frustration. “I was trying to protect her, Callon. She’s been through so much already.”
“Protect her?” Callon scoffs. “By keeping her in the dark? By not preparing her for what’s to come? She deserves to know the truth. All of it.”
“Stop it!” I scream, the words tearing from my throat. My voice cuts through the air, sharp and raw. Both freeze, turning to me, surprise flashing across their faces.
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here!” I shout, my chest heaving. “I have a name. It’s Eva. And if you’ve got something to say about me, say it to my face!”
The group falls silent, the tension thickening even more. Callon looks taken aback for a moment, then nods slightly, acknowledging my outburst.
Izzy smiles. “She’s got a tongue on her.”
“Tell me about it,” Callon mutters, earning a sharp look from Garet.
Ending the conversation, Callon strides over to where Drystan and Baron are still locked in a heated argument. Garet followsclosely behind, leaving me standing with Izzy.
Izzy sighs, shaking her head. “I’ve never understood the whole thing with the Fates,” she admits, her voice tinged with frustration. “Are you okay?”
I nod slowly, my mind spinning. I can’t help but think of how much easier it would be to pretend that everything’s fine, to bury my doubts like I used to. But it’s harder now. “I don’t know what to believe,” I finally say, my voice faltering. “Do you think there’s any truth to what the woman said?”
Izzy gives a small smile, her expression softening. “Honestly? I think there’s a kernel of truth in most legends, but people twist them to suit their needs. What that woman said was... unsettling, to say the least. But I don’t think it means your future is set in stone. You’ve got a say in it, Eva. Don’t let them make you think otherwise.”
She watches me closely, her gaze gentle but concerned. “I know this is a lot to take in,” she says softly.
Her words stir something deep inside me. The idea of truth feels like something I can’t quite grasp, slipping through my fingers the moment I try to hold it. I swallow hard, trying to focus, but all I can think about is Kendry. “I don’t even know anymore,” I admit. “Kendry, my...” I stumble to find the words, “he lied about everything. He was the one constant in my life, the one person I thought I could trust. I still miss him, even after everything.” I laugh bitterly, though it doesn’t feel like humor. “It’s like I’m stuck in this place between hating him for what he did and wanting him here to explain it all.”
Izzy’s expression softens, and she steps closer, her voice quiet, as if she’s choosing her words carefully. “I get it. It’s hard when you’ve been lied to, especially by someone you trusted. But that doesn’t mean you have to keep carrying that weight.”
She turns her head, watching the royals arguing. Callon stands off to the side, arms crossed, leaning against the wall, hisexpression unreadable.
After a moment, she continues, her voice quieter this time, “Cal’s been in a nasty mood for the last few days. So bad that Theo decided not to come tonight—he needed a break.”
Before I can ask what she means, Callon stops mid-sentence, his head snapping to the side, as if he’s heard something. Izzy straightens beside me, her eyes narrowing. “Fucking great,” she mutters, her voice laced with dread. “I know that look.”
Callon’s voice rings out urgently. “We are under attack!”
Baron glares at Callon, his hand hovering dangerously near his sword hilt. “You must be mistaken,” he says, his voice tight with disbelief. “The capital hasn’t been attacked in years. If it were, the guards at the wall would have alerted us by now.”
“Not if they’re all dead,” Callon counters smoothly, his voice sharp as a blade. His eyes lock onto Baron’s, daring him to challenge the truth any further.
Drystan leans back with a mocking smirk, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You can ignore Callon’s instincts if you want, Baron, but I suggest you don’t.”
