Vicious Bonds: A Dark Romantic Fantasy (The Tether Trilogy Book 1)
Vicious Bonds: Chapter 2

Never and I mean never go to a psychic when you’re already down on luck. Especially a psychic who lives on the outskirts of the city, in a little home that reminds you of a tiny witch cottage. Even if you pass by the place several times a day to get to and from work, and constantly read the big white sign pitched in her yard with the words I Can Tell Your Future in bold font.

No matter how much the curiosity simmers in your throat, a quiet beckoning for you to see what that place is all about, it’s best to swallow that shit down and keep it rolling. If you don’t, you’ll end up like me, Willow Austin, a woman who was told she’d never replace love.

As I stand on a boat deck, my phone glued to my ear, all I can think about is what that tiny woman said. She sat at a two-top table, a sheer white cloth on top of it, and tarot cards stacked neatly. Crystals of all shapes and colors were lined up in a cardboard box, random bird feathers and patches of fur in a small, flat box beside it.

I expected her to use some of the items on her table, but instead she looked at me over the frame of her thin, rectangular glasses, reached across the table, and asked for one of my hands. She studied my hand as if she’d never seen another person’s before and even sniffed it, which I found odd, but I didn’t react.

“Oh, Willow,” she finally said after some time, lifting her gaze from my hand to my eyes. “I’m afraid you’ll never replace love in this world.”

It was strange of her to mention love because I wasn’t searching for it, nor was I rejecting it. Love was a complicated factor in my life, one I preferred not to offer after so many disappointments.

I pulled my hand out of the little psychic’s small, dry grasp, dug into my purse for cash, placed it on the table, and walked to my car while biting back tears. It didn’t help that she’d told me this only two weeks after I found out my brother was missing. And maybe that’s what I deserved to hear because seriously, who the hell goes to see a psychic only two weeks after their twin brother goes missing? Only a fool, that’s who. And, several months later, I feel like even more of a fool while I have the phone pressed to my ear.

“You still there?” Garrett asks on the other line. Garrett, my friend. Well, more like my friend with benefits.

I blink at the sound of his voice, my eyelids heavy with mascara and eyeliner. It’s been a long day, and the last thing I need is this call with him. “Yep. Still here.”

“Well, like I said,” he goes on. “You didn’t tell me you were leaving last night.”

I frown. “I didn’t think I was obligated to right away, plus I texted you when I landed. You know I have to travel for work.”

“A heads up that you were leaving town would’ve been nice.”

I work hard to swallow while trying not to react to his passive aggressive tone. I can’t argue with him. If I do, it’ll just add fuel to his fire.

“Well, I’m sorry.”

“It just seems like we’re both on different paths, Willow. I don’t ever get to see you. I also feel like you’ve been avoiding me lately. Not answering my calls as much. Not texting me back.”

“I haven’t been avoiding you.” Sort of a lie. “It’s just ever since my promotion, I have more work to do, which means more traveling.” A door swings open behind me and music floods out, along with a train of women in cocktail dresses, all of them carrying a drink. One of the women in a ruby red sequin dress gives me a double take and grins.

“You’re Willow, right?” the woman asks, stumbling toward me.

I smile and lower the phone a bit. “I am.”

“Girl, you did so good with this event! Soooo good! Lou Ann has been going on and on about how all of this was mostly your idea! We’re…” the woman hiccups. “We’re having the time of our lives. I bet some big biddings are going up tonight!”

I force a smile at her. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re having a great time.”

The woman takes off, following the line of other women. They all giggle and shrill as they turn a corner of the boat and disappear, taking the joyous noise with them.

“You still there?” I ask, bringing the phone back to my ear.

“You sound busy,” Garrett mutters. “Look, just call me when you’re back home.”

I close my eyes for several seconds, inhale, and then say, “Okay. Sure. Talk later.”

I hang up quickly, wanting so badly to chuck my phone into the lake and scream, but I don’t because I need my phone tonight. Hell, I need it every day and night. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to give my stealing boss event ideas for Townsend Corporate.

“Why the hell did I suggest a party on a fucking boat anyway?” I mutter. And not just any boat. Nope, I had to mention The Titan, a premium boat. Lou Ann was gung-ho for the idea—so much so that she wanted the best boat she could snag. It now rocks gently over the waves, and I place my elbows on the silver railing, staring out at the water.

My gaze tilts to the full moon and the splatter of stars in the midnight sky. It’s a beautiful night—one I should be enjoying, but what’s the point of enjoying any of this when there’s no one to celebrate it with?

For a while, I thought the psychic was lying. I would replace love. It would come to me. I deserved it. And when I met Garrett, we weren’t serious at first, but we became sort of serious over the course of a year, and I thought the psychic lady was wrong.

But it turns out, with him he’s been more of a placeholder—someone to occupy my time and my mind whenever I feel alone. It’s nice having someone who can pop over with a meal and watch a movie with me. And at one point, I thought I could see myself marrying Garrett, until he revealed a different side of himself, one that woke me up and put me back in reality. Since then, I figured the witchy lady was right and because of it, I refuse to look for love.

Garrett isn’t the man I thought he was and everyone I’ve ever loved has pulled away from me, either of their own accord, or because they had to, and I can’t help wondering if it’s because of me. Am I destined to be alone? Was I doomed from the moment I was born?

There was Warren. My mother. My father. All of them are gone. Am I truly that unlucky?

The door to the ballroom opens again. “Willow,” a familiar voice calls. “There you are.” I look over my shoulder to see Lou Ann, my boss. She didn’t go with a cocktail dress like all the other women. Instead, she’s in a coral pink women’s suit. Dresses aren’t for her. She’s all business, even at parties. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her wear a dress in my whole three years of working for her.

“Is everything all right?” she asks.

“Yeah, everything’s fine, I just…” I start to tell her who I was on the phone with, but by the way she darts her gaze over her shoulder toward the party, it’s clear she doesn’t really care what’s wrong with me. It’s a courtesy ask. I sigh and turn fully to face her. “Do you need me for something?”

“Yes. They’re about to start the biddings,” she says, waving the hand with her phone in it. “If you don’t mind, can you tell the band to soften the music, and once that’s done, request more champagne to top off the night. We want high bids, big smiles—you know the deal.”

“You got it,” I return with a smile.

“Thank you so much!” Just then, her phone rings and she says, “Ooh. Better take this. Hi, Charles? Yes, I can hear you now.”

I watch her take off, disappearing around the same corner as the train of women. When she’s gone, I draw in as deep a breath as I can, then look back at Lake Washington and the twinkling water. Warren would have loved this—sailing past Portage Bay to get to Lake Washington, the twinkling city lights and snow-capped mountains in the distance. The thought of my brother makes the center of my chest ache.

“Why do I have to deal with all this alone?” I whisper, then turn for the party, putting the biggest smile I can muster on my face as I enter.