Revealing Silver by Jamie Craig

talk about it. “Did he say anything else about that?”
    “He wouldn’t. He kept implying you were holding out on me. I know he said it to piss me off, and I know I shouldn’t let it bother me like this, but…” His voice trailed off, whatever reasons he had undefined for now.
    “Do you think he was telling you the truth about me? I mean, being born to handle them.”
    This answer was longer coming. “I didn’t. Not at first. I mean, even if it wasn’t so bizarre to believe, that’s too coincidental. Think of all the things that had to line up for you to even find out about the coins. And if one of them hadn’t been there?” He shook his head. “I’d rather throw my money away on the lottery. But then…well, there’s the visions. Nobody else gets those. So why you?”
    Why her, indeed. There was nothing left to do but confess and hope he understood. “He called me a Keeper, when I rescued Stacy. He seemed pretty excited about the fact that I felt her pain. I seemed to have a sympathetic response whenever he hurt her. He said something about destiny, and it probably saved my life, since he stopped Marisol from shooting me in the back.”
    She had to straighten when Isaac pulled away, shifting on the couch to face her. “So he wasn’t stringing me along?” His dark eyes flashed with hurt. “You’ve known this since the night Remy disappeared.”
    “Well, yes, I knew what he said, but I didn’t automatically take his word as gospel. It’s not like he gave me any sort of explanation. And I don’t expect to get one from him now.”
    “But you never even mentioned it.”
    “I know. I should have. But I didn’t want to worry you any more than you already are.”
    “Did you tell Nathan?”
    “I mentioned it last night when I told him I’d try to use the coin if he agreed not to break open that bottle.”
    She expected the walls to slam down. If she thought he’d take the conversation well, she wouldn’t have put it off for days. But lying wasn’t a long-term option.
    At least he didn’t walk out. “Is this your way of getting back at me because of what happened the night of your parents’ party?”
    “Getting back at you?” The argument at her parents’ Christmas party over whether or not she could take care of herself hadn’t entered her mind. As far as she was concerned, that fight was over and done with. “No, Isaac, of course not. I didn’t tell anybody. I don’t even know what it means. I didn’t want to give you more things to worry about.”
    “But you could tell Nathan, who watched the woman he apparently loves more than life itself disappear in front of his eyes. I guess he can handle it better than I can?”
    Olivia pulled away from him, searching his face, torn between irritation and sympathy. She hadn’t known him for long—though it felt like years—but she’d never seen him look so haggard. She wanted to pull him against her and hold him until he slept. Another part of her wanted to tell him to get the hell out because she didn’t need to put up with this bullshit on Christmas. What was she supposed to do? Apologize because this destiny, this pile of turds she now had to deal with, wasn’t all about him?
    “I don’t know how he handled it. He’s completely disengaged. But thank you for asking how I handled it.”
    He grimaced at her last statement, tearing his gaze away to rest his head in his hands. “Shit.” He released a long, heavy breath, his fingers digging into his scalp. “I hate those damn coins. The world made so much more sense before they fell into our laps.”
    “No shit. But we can’t ignore them now. Or the fact that they’re our best bet for finding Remy again.”
    He looked up again, his eyes fixed forward on Tiberius as he gnawed at the toy rope. The urge to reach out and knead away the tension between his shoulder blades returned.
    “Do I have to wear the antlers over to Nathan’s? He already thinks I’m an idiot. I’m not sure