Prologue - Three Cards (Part 1)

- Uncle, Logan! I can now take the training wheels off my bike!

With a fond smile, Logan looked down at his bouncy little niece, whose huge smile on her excited little face was nothing short of infectious. Arranging yet another platter full of food on the huge wooden table in the middle of his parents' garden, he leaned down a little towards Eleanor, gently stroking the dark curls that swayed as she bounced happily.

- I'm glad to see you so confident, dear. - He smiled proudly, even though a part of him was confused by that sudden determination - What happened to make you so sure you're ready?

Ever since he'd given Ellie her first bike, a gift for her fifth birthday, two months ago, she'd been equally obsessed and terrified of taking the training wheels off – especially after nearly falling off several times, even the using. For weeks, the whole family had taken turns to continue teaching her and try to make her more confident in her new toy, but her niece seemed more and more convinced that she would never be able to ride a bike like the “big girls”. – and she was heartbroken about it. Or at least she had been heartbroken, since now, with her adorable dimples showing and her little hands on either side of her waist, Eleanor was the picture of confidence.

- The cards said I won't fall if I take the training wheels off. – Ellie answered his question, saying those words so naturally that he almost choked – Can you take me to the park, Uncle? Mom and Dad are busy and...

- Wait, Ellie... – he interrupted her, stunned – Who said you could take the training wheels off?

- The letters, Uncle Logan. They predicted my future. – again, the absolute normality with which she said that, swaying her small shoulders, would be admirable, if it weren't shocking – I mean, they didn't really say that, because they don't really speak… – her niece explained in a low voice , as if he was telling you an important revelation - But it had something to do with me not falling, if I prepared myself, and I spent a lot of time preparing myself, so...

- Ellie... - he interrupted her, still not believing what he had just heard - What do you mean "predicted the future"? Nobody can do that.

- Of course you can, Uncle. It's pretty easy. – Ellie's smile widened, more excited than ever – Just draw three cards and then...

- No, dear, nobody can predict the future, because the future is not like a sheet of paper, which we can read. - He explained gently to her, looking around the garden of her parents' house, wondering who in her family had said that nonsense to the poor child. There were few people attending that quiet meeting in the middle of Sunday afternoon, so it wasn't long before he found Paul's amused expression, standing by the pool, with his lips pressed together as if he was trying to contain a fit of laughter. Rolling his eyes, Logan turned his attention away from his brother-in-law, returning it to Eleanor. He had nothing against nurturing wholesome childhood fantasies like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, but the future-seeing card stuff was too much. He'd rather lightning strike him than allow his niece to go around believing that pieces of cardboard could dictate her future.

After all, being a Knight, unfortunately, she was already destined to lose enough decision-making power during her lifetime.

- Listen, honey, I don't know what they said to you, but it's not true. No one has any way of knowing what is about to happen. – he took her in his arms, keeping her small face at the same level as his, trying to make her understand the magnitude of the truth he was explaining to her – Everyone is master of their own destiny. – Logan affirmed solemnly, even knowing that Ellie could never understand how much he fully believed in that; she could never understand how much it was necessary for her to believe that with all her strength, if she still wanted to have the slightest control over her life, in the future – Whoever told you that some cardboard cards can predict the future, nothing more than a charlatan.

- What is a carlito? His niece tilted her head to the side, clearly confused, and apparently also a little disappointed by what he had just told her.

- Charlatan... - Logan laughed at his adorable expression - He's a lying person, who says he knows how to do something, but he doesn't. And he uses this lie to get money out of people.

- Oh... - Ellie's eyebrows furrowed deeply and she remained clearly thoughtful for a few seconds, until finally she looked over his shoulder and asked, almost hurt - Aunt Megan, are you a carlito?

Shrugging and squeezing his eyes shut for a second, Logan gave a sigh of embarrassment, even though there was a part of him that wanted nothing more than to laugh at the situation. Turning around slowly, he tried to contain his grin of amusement as he stared at the small figure with the angry brown eyes and short black hair, who was staring at him defiantly. He really had to start trying a little harder to keep in mind that his newest sister-in-law had an affinity for mystical matters. Of course, at that height, just a green outfit was enough for her to easily pass for a gnome or an elf, but that was just a mere detail that he kept to himself, even more so knowing the temperament of that figure. But damn it, even after more than a month of living with Megan Sutton, he still had to stifle a laugh whenever she said something about fortune telling, destiny, signs, golden lights, or any such nonsense. Not that she was a bad person. Far from it.

The cheerful, intelligent and effusive Stra. Sutton was everything he could have wanted for his reserved younger brother: she seemed trustworthy, she treated all the Knights very well and it was clear how much she truly loved Devon. And given that he wasn't the one who would have to spend the rest of his life living with Megan's whole supernatural litany, Logan was more than happy to welcome her into the family. Still, maybe it was time her sister-in-law knew that there were some limits to the whole "mystical" thing, especially when it came to making the only child in the family believe in nonsense like that.

- Really, Logan? – Megan rolled her eyes – Are you telling Ellie that I'm a charlatan?

- Well, maybe I expressed myself badly. – He gave a crooked smile, trying to appease the situation – Listen, dear: no, Aunt Megan is not the type of person I told you about, because she doesn't take advantage of that to take money from anyone... And also because she really believes in what he does. – he avoided even saying something as silly as “predicting the future”, now focusing his attention only on Eleanor – The only issue is that no one can truly do that. That is all.

- At least that's what you believe. – Megan spoke right after, her voice sharp and even a little bored.

Stifling a growl of frustration, Logan just allowed a sigh to escape her lips as he stared at Megan, trying not to let his annoyance show too much as he lowered Eleanor to the ground.

“Megan, I don't want Ellie to believe that kind of thing. She is just a child. And even if it wasn't, I'm completely against any belief that ends up making her make decisions through completely random things, like cards or a horoscope, instead of logic.

- You talk as if she was already about to jump off a cliff just because I drew the cards for her. - Megan rolled her eyes again, clearly not giving any importance to his words - Don't be so dramatic, Logan. Furthermore, each person may well have their own beliefs. It's not a problem. I respect that you don't like my tarot. – She crossed her arms over her chest, as she raised an eyebrow – And I believe that a good way for you to repay that respect would be by not calling me a charlatan around.

- You called my future wife a charlatan? - Devon's revolted growl, coming from behind his back, made Logan sigh even louder, as his brother walked past him, bumping rudely and purposely into his shoulder, before placing himself next to Megan, facing him with pure irritation.

-Hey... - Megan scolded her boyfriend, raising her face as much as she could, to face him with provocation and false disgust, since the height difference between the two was almost laughable-What did we already talk about going slowly? – she nudged her brother's belly, which was as far as she could reach without him having to lift her in his arms.

Here was another thing Logan loved about Megan: she was sensible. Even though she was madly in love and all the rest of that set of silly clichés about true love, she'd still chosen to take it slow when Devon had asked her to marry him two weeks ago. She had accepted her brother's ring and been thrilled, of course. However, she had also asked that they just live together and date for some significant time before taking such a big step.

Even though he and his brother were made for each other, and that it was only a matter of time before Megan finally agreed to switch her engagement ring from her right hand to her left, Logan was happy to know that his little brother would have at his side. At her side was a reasonable woman, who had a little more awareness of reality than simply agreeing to suddenly marry a man she had known for little more than a month, however insistent that man was had been – and he knew Devon well enough to know that his brother still hadn't given up on making Megan his wife by the end of the year.

- I added the term future as you so much want, didn't I? Devon shrugged, the previously furious expression suddenly turning into a seductive smile as he turned his attention to Megan.

"In my defense, I didn't know Eleanor was talking about you, Megan." – Taking advantage of Devon's moment of distraction, Logan tried to explain himself. Truth be told, the last thing he wanted was to offend Megan. Despite not agreeing with her esotericism, he already considered her his new sister and loved her as such. People could consider him cold and insensitive most of the time, but no one could ever open their mouth to say that Logan Knight didn't love, respect and protect his family above all else - I thought whoever told her that was a from friends or classmates. And secondly, I'm sorry, but I truly don't believe any of this. – he shrugged, knowing that it was best to be honest with his sister-in-law from that moment on, so they would avoid more embarrassing moments in the future – That's why I ended up being unnecessarily rude and emphatic with what I said. But, of course, you have every right to talk about it with Eleanor. Apparently, she likes it.

- Yes I like! Ellie exclaimed happily, still standing beside them, listening to their conversation with interest. With an amused smile in his niece's direction, Logan continued his apologies.

- But, I think I also have the right to express my opinion about it. - he argued gently - Maybe it's even good for her to grow up with two such different views of the world. It will make you more tolerant. And, as you said, she will be able to choose her own beliefs and lifestyle when she grows up. – Taking a step forward, he approached Megan, truly feeling guilty when she continued – But even so, I know that what I said was disrespectful. I'm sorry Megan, it was extremely rude of me to speak that way about things you believe in and are clearly important to you. Will not happen again. – he solemnly promised.