4. Lyndon

Chapter 4

Lyndon

G oddess, what had just happened? As if my day couldn't get weird enough, Darcy had just shifted into an alligator-sized lizard in the middle of my cabin. Granted, he'd be a small alligator, but still.

Why hadn't he told me this when I'd specifically asked him to shift? Though, I guessed this didn't make things easier for me. Now, instead of worrying about the Parahuman Detection Agency nabbing him, I had to worry about some backwoods hunter shooting him for a trophy. Just fucking great.

"Darcy!" I screamed, but I was greeted by nothing but silence. For as big as he was, he was fast and blended in well in my yard. Which made sense given his species.

I used my Sight to give me an edge, but I was still struggling to make out where Darcy could've gone. He must be so fast, he'd already passed the distance my Sight could see from my porch.

I should just let him go. He wasn't my problem. He was quick and resourceful—he'd be fine. This was not something I should get involved in. I knew next to nothing about portal magic or anything of the like. Finding Darcy and involving myself was just asking for trouble. I should take this for the blessing it likely was and go back inside. I was way behind on work now, and I had an order I had to deliver to the humans tomorrow.

I turned around to head back into my home, determined to let things be. I ignored the guilt. There was nothing to be guilty about. I hadn't asked Darcy to be here. I hadn't been the one to force him through a strange portal and into my world. Goddess's sake, who even walked through a strange portal without asking questions, anyway? Was he stupid?

I closed my door and headed back to my workstation. Even with the interruption, I should finish the order in time. I just needed to concentrate. Goddess forbid I made a mistake. The humans would claim I'd done it on purpose and I'd have the PDA banging down my door. I couldn't let Darcy be a distraction, not when it came to work.

I enabled my Sight again, as that was the easiest way for me to work with plants and make the balms and other goods the humans were asking for. All witches had the Sight, but how it worked and what it did varied depending on our magic. Since mine was earth-based, my Sight allowed me to see anything that grew from the soil. I was able to see exactly what it needed, how it would grow, and if there were any issues. I could also coax anything that came from the ground to do my bidding, within reason. Plants still had minds of their own and didn't like being ordered around and forced to grow unnaturally. I also couldn't force them to kill themselves. But I could push to speed up the growing process or repair damaged roots and the like. I was limited by distance, though. I could only use my Sight just a little past what my normal eyes could see.

It was how I was able to make balms that worked as a natural medicine for the humans. I could see exactly how the plant was able to help and coaxed that out into my balms.

When I turned my Sight onto the project I had started earlier, I could tell it was working, but nothing happened.

What in the goddess's name was going on? I released my Sight and closed my eyes. Relax, Lyndon, you're too wound up and your magic knows it. Breathe. Let it go.

Once I felt the calm deep within my soul, I opened my eyes. I could feel my power now, brewing right under the surface, waiting to boil over. I enabled my Sight.

A jolt shot threw me, and I was on my ass and deep into a vision.

"Welcome to Hearts Haven, a town like no other. A place for all parahumans to live in peace and safety. Hate and bigotry are not tolerated and all who commit these atrocities will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. You are safe to be yourself and live the way you were meant to: free," Darcy read in a haughty voice.

"A little long-winded and pretentious for a welcome sign, but it does fit you."

I rolled my eyes and took the sign from my mate. It probably was a little much, but we'd fought long and hard for this place, and I refused to let it be tainted by those who couldn't understand our vision.

Darcy bumped my shoulder. His skin had taken on a bluish tint that matched the bright sky above us. The goddess was smiling down on us today, as it was the first without rain in weeks.

"You did it, bright eyes. You finally made your dream come true."

I tilted his head so that he was facing me and kissed him. It had been strange at first, an adjustment, kissing Darcy, but now it was second nature. Of course it was—he was my mate.

"I only ever considered this because of you. Now any parahumans who are persecuted because they are different know they have a place to go where they will be welcomed and accepted. That's all you."

Darcy grinned. "I love you."

"I love you too, Darcy."

"Now come on and let's get the kids. It makes me nervous when they spend too much time with your cousin."

I laughed, feeling free and light for the first time I could remember. Our fight was far from over, but Hearts Haven was the start of a new era. I was sure of it.

I was pulled out of the vision as quickly as I'd fallen into it. The world spun around me as I tried to get my bearings. Ugh, how did seers deal with this? I really hoped these visions weren't a permanent thing because this headache was no joke and not something I wanted to deal with all the time.

With shaky hands, I pulled myself to my feet and looked up. Nothing was there, but I swore I could feel a presence watching me. It was tempting to give it the middle finger and go back to work. But one thing all witches learned at an early age, whether they were seers or not, was to not ignore a vision. If the goddess granted you one, there was a reason, and ignoring it would only spell disaster.

Grumbling to myself, I quickly closed up my jars on the workspace. Hopefully, I could get those finished before I was due to deliver them. One thing was clear now: I had to find Darcy. I still wasn't settled on the whole mate thing, there had to be a way to reverse that, but I couldn't let him get captured or, worse, leave. I didn't quite understand what that vision had told me, but I understood it was important and I needed Darcy to fulfill it. Visions weren't typically as transparent as they seemed. I usually didn't get them, but my coven members who did had explained. The future wasn't set in stone, and a vision was just giving you a glimpse of what could happen or what needed to be done. Honestly, a lot of it was open to interpretation. I couldn't just let Darcy fend for himself, and I needed him in some way, but it didn't necessarily mean I had to accept the mate bond. At least, that was what I was telling myself. There still needed to be some kind of autonomy, right?

Once I understood what the vision was saying, I'd get Darcy home and forget all about him. That was totally possible.

"Goddess help me." I stormed out of my home and activated my Sight, hoping to get eyes on a reptilian being that was quickly becoming the bane of my existence.