Raintree: Oracle (Raintree 4)

It had to work. She couldn’t allow for failure. How could she find so much in him and then lose him to a curse that was more than thirty years old? Ryder’s mother...She knew women who had issues with their mothers-in-law, but those mothers-in-law were usually alive.

Echo caught a glimpse of her reflection in the boutique window, and then she noted Brigid beyond. The red-haired woman stared, glared, without trying to hide her hatred.

No, not hatred, Echo realized. Fear.

Was Brigid in on the plan? Had she been working with the Ansara all this time?

Forgetting her coffee and sweets for a moment, Echo walked into the shop. A bell overhead heralded her arrival, but it wasn’t like her entrance was a surprise. Brigid continued to stare. The eyes were hard, the mouth set, but yes—that was fear.

“Why?” Echo asked. “What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid,” Brigid snapped.

Echo pointed a waggling finger at her own head. “Empath. Might not like it, might not want it, but don’t lie to me about your feelings.”

Brigid took a small step back and lowered her eyes.

Echo sighed. It had not been her intention to cow the woman! “I know more about this village than I did on my first day here. A lot of things make sense to me now, but you—what are your abilities? Why did you go cold when I mentioned my name my first day here?”

Brigid lifted her head and looked bravely at Echo. “I’m a healer. Nothing spectacular like my grandmother, but I do have some skills. I also see glimpses of the future but that’s not a strong power. It comes and goes.”

“What was it?” she asked in a lowered voice. “What did you see?”

“I remember what Rye was like before. Before Cassidy, before...before Sybil.” Brigid clasped her hands together. “When you said your name I saw that Rye return. Darker than before. More dangerous. I thought you’d come here to bring back the man he used to be.” She lifted her chin, still afraid but reaching for bravery. “From what I hear, you’ve succeeded.”

Echo shook her head. “I’m here to bring him from the darkness, not pull him into it.”

“Why should I believe that?” Brigid snapped. “He’s been fine for years. Years! He’s a good mayor, a good father. A good friend to some. You show up and within weeks...” She shook her head. “Several in town felt the shift last night. Some of our most sensitive empaths felt the darkness return. Are you trying to convince me that it’s not your fault?” Braver than she had been before, Brigid stepped around the counter.

“It’s not my fault,” Echo said in a calm voice. Brigid wasn’t a bad person. She hadn’t seen Echo as a romantic threat. She’d seen her as a threat to her friend. As many residents had. Shay. Those who glared. They hadn’t hated her; they’d been afraid for Ryder.

“Did you try to scare me out of town?”

Brigid’s expression of confusion was a genuine one. “No. Of course not!”

So, someone else had seen the threat, as Brigid had, and left that note. Or else it had been Maisy. Maisy, all along.

“If you want to know what hap

pened, come to the pub tonight. Seven o’clock. Spread the word.” After all, she and Ryder couldn’t very well defeat the Ansara on their own.

“Why should I?” Brigid asked, her anger rising. “You’re here, Rye has changed just as I saw that he would. Why should I or anyone else show up for your...your explanations.”

“Because Ryder needs you. He needs you all.”

Echo turned and walked toward the door, but Brigid stopped her with a short sentence.

“You’re wrong.”

Echo spun around. “He does need you, I swear. The others, too. I can’t do this alone!”

“Not about that.” Brigid was paler than before, and her eyes were wide and watery. “They’re not who you think they are.”

“Who’s not who...?”

“I don’t know,” Brigid whispered.

Suddenly, Echo did.