Sign of the Throne: Book One in the Solas Beir Trilogy by Melissa Eskue Ousley Page A

seemed okay with his interest in Marisol. “School, college next year. She’s really smart. She’s thinking about law school eventually. She’s funny, too—it was easy to talk with her. Kind of like how it is with us, but you know, a little more…”
    Abby nodded. “Yeah, I can see that. So what are you going to do? Are you going to ask her out?”
    “I don’t know. I want to, but it scares me a little, too.”
    Abby gasped in mock amazement. “You? Scared to make the first move? I thought you were immune to rejection. Fearless.”
    “Oh, I am ,” he laughed. “But this time, it’s different. For the first time, no offense to you, it feels serious. I don’t want to screw up.”
    “You won’t,” Abby said, taking hi s hand again. “Just be yourself. I think she already likes you for that.”
    “You’re right. Thanks, Abby.” He gave her hand a little squeeze.
    “Hey, as long as she treats you well, she has my blessing,” she said.
    “So, what about you? Any more crazy dreams?” Jon asked.
    “Ha—you have no idea.”
    “What happened?” he asked, concerned.
    “Long story,” Abby said, and then told him what had happened at the Buchan house with the shadow boy.
     
     
     
    Several days later, after school, Abby decided to take a walk through Newcastle Beach. She told herself she needed to clear her head, and thought walking along the beach might be a good remedy. But the truth was she was hoping to run into David again. No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she was more drawn to him than ever.
    Halfway between the old mansion and the beach, she noticed a commotion. Several large alley cats were harassing a raven. The bird was putting up a good fight, but was outnumbered and being overpowered.
    “Hey!” Abby shouted. She ran toward the feline predators, waving her arms wildly. An oversized, bob-tailed black cat bared its teeth and hissed at her. She kicked at it, and it got the message, slinking away. Is it my imagination, Abby thought, or are housecats bigger than they used to be? That black cat had to have been the size of a cocker spaniel.
    Gently, Abby scooped up the raven, inspecting him for wounds. Nothing looked broken, but when she ran her fingertip along the edge of one wing, the bird trembled and pecked at her hand as a warning. “All right,” she said. “No more touching that spot. Let’s get you home.” Cradling the raven in her arms, she slipped through the mansion’s gate.
    Once inside, the bird wriggled free from her grasp and took flight, gliding low over a tangle of green bushes that looked oddly familiar to Abby. I’ve been here before, she thought. In my dream. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of white. The doe? Noticing an opening in the knotted snarl of green, she entered an overgrown maze, dark with branches crossed overhead.
    Trying to remember the pattern of the labyrinth from her dream, she stepped further into the darkness, her arms stretched out to guide her. She turned corner after corner and came to a circular clearing in the center of the emerald maze, with passages leading in three directions.
    Which way now? As if in answer to her unspoken question, she heard a rustle above her. Looking up, she saw two golden eyes staring down. Her raven friend cocked his head and then dived into the labyrinth, flying low in front of her. He landed in front of the middle passage a few feet away and hopped impatiently, waiting for her to catch up. “Right behind you,” Abby said. “Show me.”
    She followed the rave n through a twisting passage which was becoming increasingly familiar. Soon, she knew, she would reach the opening to the beach. Would David be waiting for her, like in the dream? As she turned the last corner, she held her breath in anticipation, fully expecting to see him. Instead, the labyrinth halted abruptly in a solid green dead end.
    Then Abby gasped in horror. A haunting figure appeared before her. Facing the wall, the