Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron)
Chapter 82

Chapter Eighty-Two

The ceremony is a somber one.

Eric is in shock I think.

He avoids glancing at Ashley. He doesn't take her hand. He doesn't kiss the bride.

He stands ramrod straight and I surmise that he sees this solely as a temporary solution. I have no doubt he's going to look for an alternative to this... 'arrangement'. My only worry is if he and Ashley will kill each other before they find it.

I'm standing behind them, like a friggin' bridesmaid.

When the ceremony concludes, the Seers clap politely.

Then everyone moves off to fill their plates and sit at the tables at the front of the tent.

I stand here, speechless.

"Betcha didn't see this coming," the Priestess moves beside me.

"Is that some kind of Seer joke?"

She laughs heartily.

Eric storms off with his cell phone pressed against his ear.

The young Seer that met us at the dock slings her arm through Ashley's and guides her toward the tables. "You need to eat," she tells my half-sister.

I'm left beneath the trellis with the Priestess. "I'm called Valaria," she informs me.

Normally, I'd say something like, "It's nice to meet you." But that sentiment doesn't feel right after the way things unfolded. I feel like a pawn.

I cut to the chase. "I want to understand my mother and my lineage. I don't know what it means to be a Seer or what it will mean for my daughter." "It is a great gift."

"Is it though?" My mother is dead. She deserted both her children. These women are...what? In some cult pack stuck on an isolated island?

It's a pretty prison, don't get me wrong. But...

"With great power comes great responsibility," she says.

"You sound like a fortune cookie."

She smiles wide. "You're a lot like your mom, Mia."

We move to the edge of the reception tables.

The Priestess stacks her plate with an assortment of charcuterie. There are iced platters with lobster tails and shucked oysters, shrimp and crab legs. She loads up like she might never see the ocean again.

She gestures for us to sit and I walk toward an open table at the back of the tent. I'm not trying to be rude, but my goodness, it's been a day. I need a little time to process.

She starts eating and I wait a few seconds. I see Ashley seated toward the front of the tent. Several 'sisters' surround her.

"There is more to this existence than this one life, you know that, right?"

I know it. It's what we are taught.

But sometimes, it can be hard to believe. Like if there is something so much better beyond this life...then why are we here in the first place?

"Your mother is at peace."

I want to believe that. Hearing her say it gives me hope.

"This is all pretty overwhelming," I say.

She laughs. She leans forward conspiratorially. "I'm gonna let you in on a little secret." She inclines her chin toward the other sisters. "Your story isn't even the most fucked up one here."

My mouth drops open. It's hard to imagine more drama than this. And, hearing this Priestess cuss, that kind of surprises me too.

She continues eating, steadily working her way through everything on her dish and then getting up for seconds.

"I'm impressed," she says. "Most new Seers can't wait to ask a hundred questions. You're very patient." Shellshocked is more like it.

She eyes a giant prime rib that is wheeled out and set at one of the carving stations. "One minute," she tells me.

She heads over and carves a giant slab of rare beef for herself and brings a second dish back to me.

"Eat," she says. "Even if you're not hungry... humor me."

Why? I wonder. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

What is the power dynamic here?

Is she a ruler in the sense of an Alpha or is this more of an egalitarian society?

These women are all presumably mothers-did each of them abandon their families?

What exactly do they do, like when they're not foreseeing awful things?

And what good are any of these visions if everything just happens, anyway???

"Ahh," she murmurs. "There they go. All the questions." She slices more meat and eyes my plate meaningfully.

I feel a bit like a child, like if I want to be rewarded, I'll have to do as I'm told and clean my plate.

I start eating. Once I do, it isn't hard to keep going. The prime rib is seasoned and cooked perfectly. And though I'm not really hungry, it does ease my stress and fill my belly.

Nala purrs.

"All right. Here's your crash course. First, you'll stay here as long as it takes to master your Sight. Some of us find our vision naturally. Others take longer to hone the skill. Then, you will join us in an all-seeing ceremony. It's called the Omnes Videntes. Depending on what that reveals, you will take one of two Paths. You will either leave everything you know and take your vows, using your Gift to help our entire species..."

Like my mother did... I have a bite of food in my mouth and it is hard to swallow.

I force the bite down then push my plate aside. "Or... what?"

"Or you forsake your Gift and return to your family."

That doesn't sound so bad.

"There are repercussions for that?" I ask.

She nods. "Most certainly."

"Can you tell me what they are?" I'm not a fan of riddles or having to play some game of 101 Questions. "Is there a book or something? I'm a good student. And I want to learn." I want to understand every aspect of this Gift and what it means to accept or deny it.

"We have extensive libraries that you are welcome to visit whilst you are here."

"Thank you." I notice she says 'whilst you are here' like it's a foregone conclusion that I'm going to leave.

I frown.

"Don't overthink it, Mia. Not today." She inclines her head toward the 'happy' couple.

Eric has returned to the tent. He doesn't sit beside Ashley. But he has positioned himself at the same table. Interesting.

Valaria rises.

There is a bar set up with a bucket of ice and a variety of top-shelf liquor bottles. I recognize one of the Scotches. It runs a thousand dollars a bottle.

Valaria pours two fingers' worth into a glass. She swirls it and takes a sip.

When she comes back to the table, I stand up. "I could really use a drink," I mutter.

She sips her whiskey and smirks at my stomach. "Come now, Mia, you know alcohol isn't good for the baby."

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