The Oracle's Heart: A Love That Was Foretold

The ancient temple of Delphi stood sentinel against the Mediterranean sky, its weathered columns catching the first light of dawn. Cassandra Thorne pressed her palms against the cool marble, feeling the familiar tingle that preceded her visions. At twenty-six, she had learned to recognize the signs—the way the world seemed to shimmer at its edges, the sudden clarity that preceded the overwhelming flood of images from futures yet to unfold.

"Not now," she whispered to herself, closing her eyes and trying to center her breathing. She had come to Greece seeking answers about her gift, not more questions. The Oracle of Delphi had been silent for over a millennium, but the ancient stones still hummed with psychic energy that called to her across continents.

Dr. Helena Vasquez, her mentor and the leading researcher in parapsychology, had arranged for Cassandra to spend three months here, studying the historical connection between the site and prophetic abilities. What Helena didn't know was that Cassandra's visions had been growing stronger and more frequent, sometimes overwhelming her completely.

The vision struck without warning.

A man with storm-gray eyes and dark hair, standing in this very spot. His hands reaching for hers across time and space. The taste of copper pennies in her mouth—danger. A choice that would change everything. Love that transcended the boundaries between worlds.

Cassandra gasped, stumbling backward as the images faded. Her heart raced as she tried to process what she had seen. In all her years of experiencing prophetic visions, she had never seen anything about her own future, especially not something so vivid and emotionally charged.