Bound by Destiny

by Stephanie Yarns

  She looked at Sebastian, but he had his head back, eyes closed.

  “Sebastian?”

  His hand twitched on the arm of the chair. That was the only indication that he heard her.

  “Eve,” Gideon’s voice pulled her attention back to the red eye… thing sitting across from her.

  She shook her head. “No. I don’t… I can’t… I…” She forced herself to take a deep breath. They saved her. She had been around them for days. Her fight or flight was screaming flight, but she couldn’t. Not yet.

  “Eve, I’m not going to hurt you.” Gideon’s eyes dimmed back to a normal human color. Human. Something he definitely was not.

  His teeth. The teeth in the movies. Real? How? No, it had to be something else. “What are you?” her voice shook, but there was nothing she could do about it. It was shake or scream.

  “Vampire.”

  “No.” The word popped out as she shot to her feet. “There is no such thing. Not real.” Her feet were guiding her, backing her around the chair.

  “Yes,” he said, not making a move to get up.

  Had anything some much as twitched on him, she would run. Two right, one left. Out. A car. He bought her a car? Just so she could get away?

  “I know you’re going to go. That’s what the keys are for. But there is something you need to know.”

  Her feet hesitated in the desperation in his voice. And besides, what would running do? Though she didn’t read vampire books, she had seen a movie or two. Weren’t they supposed to be super-fast? Like she could get anywhere if he didn’t want her to.

  But those were just movies. Just books. Not real.

  “None of this is real.” She looked at Alex, who was looking at her with a stricken look on his face. “Liar,” she whispered. “It’s all a dream.”

  Micah eased up out of his chair. “Eve, wait.”

  She backed away slowly.

  “There are people out there that tried to kill you,” Gideon said, drawing her eyes back to him.

  “Really?” She laughed. “How do I know it’s not you?” There was no stopping the crawl of her skin over her body. “But it can’t be. It’s not real.”

  Micah appeared before her. She didn’t see him move. “No!” she screamed. Terror flooding her, she reached out, trying to keep him away as she spun, but he grabbed her hand.

  “Micah!” She heard Sebastian yell as she lost sight.

  #

  “Eve, wake up.”

  There was a voice. A voice she knew. “Mmm,” she mumbled, trying to go back to the darkness. It didn’t scare her. It didn’t have red eyes.

  “You’re okay.” A different voice. A voice that used to hate her. But it didn’t now.

  She could feel herself laying on something hard. Not her bed. Her bed was soft, giving. Fingers stroked her face. Was her head in someone’s lap? “Don’t hurt me.” Her throat felt thick, unused.

  “We won’t.”

  We. Gideon. Sebastian. Was she waking up from that nightmare now?

  “Micah, keep her hand.”

  No, she wasn’t waking from that. It was something else. Something that scared her. Terrified her.

  Red eyes.

  Her eyes flew open as she bolted upright, almost hitting someone. She looked up. Sebastian. She looked around. They were surrounding her. But the only thing she felt was concern. Warmth surrounded her hand, filling her with peace. Calm.

  Micah?

  Eve twisted and found him sitting on the floor behind her, holding her hand. She dropped her eyes and saw the blue light escaping their joined flesh. Jerking her head back, she met his green gaze. “I marked you?”

  He gave her a crooked smile before nodding.

  A glance at Gideon. “Is this why I’m not screaming my head off?”

  He knelt in front of her, searching her eyes before frowning at what he found. “Unfortunately.”

  “Why unfortunately? I would think you would rather me like this then running for the door.”

  “Because it’s fake. If he lets go of you, you’ll go back to that frightened human.”

  Frightened was such an understatement, but it was the other thing he said that bothered her. She shuddered. “Can you not use that word?”

  “It’s a fact. Me not saying it won’t make it any less true,” he said, standing up. He glanced at Micah before reaching for Eve’s hand.

  She hesitated and his eyes lightened. She shook her head. “It’s not that. Not at this moment. But I just marked him. Why would you want to touch me?”

  “Well, we have been discussing that.” He held his hand back out and she took it.

  Together, she and Micah got to their feet. “Sorry you’re stuck to me right now,” she said softly, looking at the one holding her glowing hand.

  He squeezed hers lightly. “I’m not.”

  She wanted to smile, but his calming influence could only do so much.

  Gideon slid a chair closer to another and motioned for them to sit.

  “This is stupid,” she mumbled before maneuvering to sit in the one that would allow her access to Micah.

  “I kinda like it,” Micah said, giving her a wink. She wished she could reply, respond. Something.

  They sat quietly for a couple of minutes before she had enough. It wasn’t that touching Micah was a hardship. But she couldn’t spend the rest of however long she was going to be there glued to the red-haired man. No, not man. Other.

  Vampire.

  “Let’s try something. Something that won’t make me feel guilty for using you,” she said.

  He raised his eyebrows. They were the same. Nothing was different about them. Oh yeah, other than they said they were vampires. But they obviously meant her no harm. Logically, she knew it. But on the other hand, logically, they didn’t exist. So, fuck logic.

  “Let go,” she said looking at their joined hands. Sebastian moved his chair closer to her.

  “Are you sure?” Micah asked.

  “Nope. Not one bit.” She shook her head. “How can I be sure of anything right now? I’m just waiting for someone to hold out a red and blue pill and ask me to choose.” She looked around. Maybe they didn’t get the Matrix reference.

  Sebastian took her other hand. “Just in case,” he said to her raised eyebrows.

  She shrugged. Looking back at Micah, she nodded, and he let go.

  Her lungs stopped immediately as the fear came crashing back into her, but she didn’t scream. She could feel her heart playing a staccato beat against her throat and it took everything in her power to not snatch her hand away from Sebastian. Focus on breathing.

  “Gideon.” She didn’t like the wispy sound in her voice, but she would take small miracles.

  Light brown eyes filled her vision as he sat on the coffee table in front of her. His eyes. Could it be that he was as anxious as her?

  “Yes?”

  She focused on Sebastian holding her hand so gently. If he wanted to hurt her, then why would he treat her so carefully? They could have already killed her dozens and dozens of times. Oh, wait. Nope. The mark.

  Eve took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to ask. She didn’t want to see it. Didn’t want to know. But she did know. Surely, she knew before. Essie didn’t cook. The fridge was empty. They never got drunk. She didn’t see them until the sun went down. Little things that could be explained away easily. Only, they didn’t. They never said what they were but didn’t really try to hide it either. But who could think, with any sort of a rational mind, that they could exist?

  “Can you make your eyes do… that thing again?”

  “Why?” His reply was quick, curt, and devoid of emotion.

  “Call it conditioning. I want to see if I can take it.”

  Fallon stood behind Gideon, twirling his finger around his ear.

  “No, I’m not crazy,” she said, almost snarling at the man… no… vampire. Nope, she wasn’t crazy. She was bat-shit insane.

  Micah moved his hand cl
oser to her. “Not yet,” she whispered. He would be the first to know when she needed him.

  Gideon dipped his head. When he raised it, the red that terrified her was there. She sucked in a breath and pulled her hand away from Micah as he reached for her. She could do this. With his eyes glowing the color of blood, she spoke. “Do you want to hurt me?”

  His lips twisted. Was he trying to smile?

  “No, Eve. I’m still me. Hurting you is the last thing I want to do.”

  She glanced over his head at Fallon standing silent now. “Can you smell my fear?” But it wasn’t her fear that Fallon said he could smell.

  “Yes.” Her gaze flew back to his and his eyes were the same beautiful hazel ones that comforted her. His smile was gentle. “We all can.”

  The fear was strong, but the humiliation was stronger. “Oh, Jesus.” She tried to pull her hand from Sebastian, but he wouldn’t let go.

  “It’s okay, Eve,” he said, and she turned to find him studying her. His eyes were serious, deadly so, but there was something…. “You do something to us as well.” He raised her hand to his lips as Micah took the other one.

  “Oh my God. That’s why you didn’t… We…” She couldn’t finish the sentence because of the flames in her face. “Oh my God.”

  He slowly nodded. “One of the reasons. But I explained the other one.”

  “Yeah. The empath thing.” She shook her head.

  “You’re what?” Gideon asked

  She looked back to him. “Sebastian said I’m an empath. I can feel emotions from other people.”

  “I thought you were human. How can…” His eyes went distant.

  “Can we stop with that?” Eve slumped back in her chair. There was still fear in her. She couldn’t deny that. Thanks to Micah, she had a handle on it, but she didn’t need to be constantly reminded.

  Fallon laughed before moving back to his chair.

  She eased her hand from Micah’s again. She had to deal with this on her own.

  “You thought I was dinner.” She couldn’t control the tremor that ran through her as the meaning of his words hit her and Sebastian tightened his grip. She was right. He did look at her like she was the main course.

  “I would never have let him touch you,” Sebastian said, and she clenched her fingers around his.

  “I know,” she said.

  “My mistake,” Fallon said. “I learned quick enough.”

  “Eve, how long have you been able to feel other people?” Gideon asked suddenly.

  “All my life.”

  “Okay. Well, that complicates things a bit,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Well, for starters, you’re most certainly not human.” His eyes focused on her. “You carry Fae blood.”

  “Who?” She blinked.

  “Not who, what. That is a conversation for later. If there will be a later.” He slowly reached out and took the hand the Micah had been holding.

  She took a deep breath and managed to not pull away from him.

  “You are free to go,” he said. “We know you are terrified. You have every right to be.” His smile was soft, but she could feel the sadness behind it. That helped. He went out of his way to make sure she had a way out. The keys and phone sat beside him on the table. They would let her go. So, she would stay, just a little longer. Find out what he was talking about.

  “I won’t leave right now,” she said. “You said someone tried to kill me.” She remembered that was one of the last things he said before she blacked out.

  He nodded.

  “I think I need to know about that.” She met Sebastian’s eyes. “If only because of the danger I pose to you.”

  His lips lifted slightly. “You are my weakness.”

  “Call me Kryptonite.”

  His smile widened, looked less… lost.

  “Well, while this is fascinating,” Fallon said, jumping to his feet. “I’m going for a walk.” Under the normal rage, she could feel something else. Anxiety. Why?

  “Fallon, did you want me to leave?” she asked quietly. “Would that be easier on you?”

  He spun to look at her. “No, it wouldn’t be. But at the same time, immeasurably so. No, I wish I wasn’t a fool earlier. I shouldn’t have done what I did. It was only because you were supposed to run like the devil was chasing you and I wouldn’t have another chance to see what you tasted like.” He cocked his head at her. “But you’re not leaving. You’re not going to let me go back to my insanity. I have to live with you here, knowing what I know now. Live here with this thing inside me that pulls me to you, like the proverbial moth to a flame. Am I going to burn for this?” He shrugged and turned before vanishing.

  “Where did he go?” She pressed herself back into her chair.

  “He ran,” Sebastian said.

  She shuddered. It was true. She would never be able to outrun one of them.

  “I don’t think I have ever heard that many words come out of that man’s mouth.” Alex leaned back in his chair. “Usually, we only get grunts and growls out of him.” He glanced at Eve.

  She was out of blushes. Evidently the attraction was a two-way street. Why should she be embarrassed? “So, what do we do now?”

  “Well, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” Gideon gave her hand a slight squeeze before letting her go. He stood and ignored her flinch. He couldn’t apologize for something he had no control over. “And that answer is all on you, Eve. I can’t make you decide on anything.” He walked to the other side of the room, staring out the window.

  “I think I said I wasn’t leaving right away.”

  “You did, but then Fallon pulled his little trick. I wanted to make sure you hadn’t changed your mind.”

  It was shocking to see him disappear. She couldn’t lie about that. They were so much… more… than just men. But they were ‘more’ that wanted to help her. Right? At least help her free Sebastian. But…

  “I have a question,” her voice was soft, but she was too emotionally drained to try to force it to be louder.

  He turned to look at her. “You can ask me anything.”

  “After we figure out the marks, how to get rid of them, can you still promise to not hurt me? I understand now, that if one of you were to… injure me… then Sebastian would get the injury. But what will happen to me once it’s gone?”

  #

  Gideon came to her, got on his knees, and pulled her hand from Sebastian’s. He traced the fading blue lines on her palm, his touch so gentle. “When you were first brought here, that mark was everything. Sebastian and I have been friends for centuries, and I would do anything within my power to keep him from harm. He is the same with me. We protect our friends. And then, there was you. The one thing that could hurt him. Kill him. I had to remove it. But I couldn’t. I asked you to stay here and you did. You trusted me.” He lifted her hand and pressed it to his cheek.

  Eve blinked away the sudden tears that filled her eyes.

  “I admire you so much. Your courage in the face of the unknown, your willingness to stay, to help.” He brought her fingertips to his lips.

  She felt no fear. Not with the overwhelming feeling of honesty.

  “So, yes. Eve, this will be the easiest promise I have ever made. We will never hurt you.”

  She slowly turned her hand, closing her fingers around his, and pulled him closer. She watched his eyes as she leaned forward. He had to know. Had to realize that this was her. Her choice. His eyes widened as she whispered, “I trust you.” She brushed his lips with hers before pulling back slowly. Sebastian ran his hand down her back and this time, there was no jealousy or anger coming from him.

  Gideon closed his eyes. How could she touch him so deeply? How could she trust him after all he had told her? He gave a small chuckle before opening his eyes.

  “Thank you,” he said, rising to his feet.

  The slight droop to his shoulders as he returned to his seat brought a slight smile to h
er face. She had yet to see him that relaxed and call it wrong, but she took delight in the fact that she eased his worry. She sat back in her chair, taking both Micah’s and Sebastian’s hands in hers.

  “So, about you not being worried about me marking you. Why?” she asked.

  “I think it’s something you do during duress, a reaction to panic if you will.” He leaned back, resuming his look of utter control. But she would never forget him on his knees before her.

  “I guess…” She didn’t know what she did to Sebastian, but she was completely terrified when Micah grabbed her hand. She looked at him. “Did you know I was going to do it?”

  “No, I only wanted to stop you until you heard Gideon out. Your life is in danger and it’s not from us.” His smile was slight, but it was there. “I was going to let you go. But, seeing as how it helped, then, I suppose it was worth it.”

  “What if you all can’t find a way to remove it?”

  He gave a drawn-out sigh. “I guess there are worse things than being tied to a beautiful woman for all eternity.”

  Again, with the reminder that they weren’t the same as her because no, not for eternity. She would die at some point. But this reminder didn’t bother her so much. Between the calming energy coming from Micah and him holding onto her with his marked hand, probably nothing short of the Apocalypse would bother her.

  “You marked me because you almost died,” Sebastian finally spoke and she turned to look at him. “We had just got you breathing again when you did it. I think it was because you were vulnerable, and my strength could protect you.” There was a lift to the side of his mouth. “And I find that I am pleased to have been of assistance.” His eyes were soft and warm as he looked at her.

  This time, she squeezed his hand.

  Alex spoke. “Micah and Gideon are right, Eve.”

  She pulled her gaze from warm chocolate to fall into ocean blue. “Someone wants me dead.”

  After a quick nod, he told her about the damage to her car.