Bound by Destiny

by Stephanie Yarns

She looked back to him, eyes wide. “Oh.”

  “Yes. Oh.”

  “Then why haven’t I bled before?” she asked.

  “Completely accidental. Deer don’t tend to fight back with claws.” He watched her slight color drain from her face.

  “So they don’t.” She hesitated for a moment before rushing her next words. “Okay, fine, get rid of it, because I don’t want to put Alex or Micah through hell, but do me a favor, don’t tell me what you eat again. Please? No matter how much I ask.”

  Sebastian laughed softly. “Of course.” He brought her knuckles up to his lips. “Does this mean you forgive me for earlier?”

  “You mean when you sent Fallon after Gideon to protect me? Of course I do.”

  “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. The way she instantly lay her head on his shoulder touched him deep. Even after what she knew he wanted to do earlier, she still trusted him. Her small yawn brought a smile to his face and he glanced again at Gideon. His expression mirrored the feeling in Sebastian’s chest.

  “You need sleep,” Gideon said as he stood.

  She nodded against the warmth surrounding her. She should have been asleep a long time ago, but she was grateful for a necessary conversation.

  Her eyes flew open and she raised her head, looking at Sebastian. “All your stuff is in the floor.”

  “Well, I didn’t put it there.” He touched her nose and she gave a slow blink.

  “Can…” She trailed off with a yawn.

  “Can?” Gideon prompted after she closed her mouth.

  “Can I sleep with both of you tonight?” She was too tired to be embarrassed by her request, which, being honest with herself, was probably the only way she managed to ask it. She just wanted to feel safe. Protected. And she did with them. Mostly.

  She felt more than heard Sebastian’s soft laugh. “Be careful what you ask for, Eve.”

  “Sleep, you ape.” She gave the warm chest a light pat. She hurt too bad for anything else. And truth be told, she wouldn’t have been able to keep her eyes open long enough.

  “I don’t mind,” Gideon said, moving around the bed to pull the covering down.

  Sebastian eased her up into his arms before standing and laying her down in the center of the bed.

  A few seconds later, warmth surrounded her, one hand on her waist, another on her hip and with a smile, she let the darkness take her.

  #

  “She doesn’t like to wake up.”

  A voice slid its way into the best dream of her life. Not only the best, but arguably the most sexual. Fingers tiptoed across her waist and she twisted away.

  “I’m awake, you monster,” she grumbled, scooting away from the wandering hand. Shock stilled her as she ran into a body.

  A warm body.

  A male body.

  Her eyes flew open and stared at the chest that was flooding her field of vision. She jerked her head up and stopped on smiling lips. “How…? What…?” She stopped. Gideon’s arm snaked around her waist and pulled her against him. “No,” she said. “No no no. My dream needs to stay a dream.”

  “What dream would that be, Eve?” Sebastian’s eyes met hers as he lifted her face. “And you are the one that wanted to sleep with us both.”

  “None of your business. That stays in my head where it belongs.” She hesitated as her request from the night before came back to her. Her skin flushed as she remembered asking to sleep with them both.

  “But I think it’s my business as well,” Sebastian said, eyes laughing at her discomfort. “I mean you said my name”

  “And mine.” Gideon pressed his lips to her shoulder.

  She knew magic couldn’t exist because the bed didn’t swallow her like she pleaded for it to. “Maybe it was a nightmare. Maybe—”

  “It sounded like you were enjoying the nightmare,” Sebastian said softly, thumb stroking her bottom lip.

  Her breath caught in her throat before she stomped down the need in her blood.

  “I’m not doing this,” she said, twisting and sitting up. “Nope. This conversation is one that will not be happening.” Scooting to the edge of the bed, she ran to the bathroom, laughter following her.

  Taking care of the important things, she sat on the edge of the massive tub. Big enough for the three of them.

  No. Not going to happen.

  She waited until she was certain she wasn’t going to have an aneurysm before standing again. So, she dreamed about them both… together… doing that… Some dreams didn’t need to come true.

  Sure, she had already had them both, but that didn’t mean she wanted them at the same time. Maybe her subconscious did, but that part didn’t rule her, damn it. Shaky hands turned on the cold-water tap, and she let the flow cover her wrists.

  Oh God, then to be called out like that.

  One thing she got from the embarrassing as hell talk was that they didn’t seem to be opposed to the idea.

  Stop, Eve.

  Had they ever…

  She gave herself a shake. Talking to herself did nothing. And besides, wasn’t there more important things to do? Like, talk to her mother? Evidently, get rid of the mark? After glaring at herself in the mirror, she finally stood straight and held her head high. Dreams were one thing. This was reality.

  But it could be.

  No. Absolutely not!

  One last glare at herself and she left the safety of the bathroom. Much to her combined dismay and relief, they were both dressed, Gideon in the chair, Sebastian sitting on the edge of the bed, back turned to her. It felt like she had interrupted them.

  “Is the sundown?” she asked, imagining herself in a school library, where if she spoke to loud, she would be reprimanded.

  Sebastian turned to her with a smile. “Mostly.”

  “Can… Do…”

  Gideon’s lips turned up at the corners. “Don’t ever be worried about asking us anything, beautiful. Please.”

  She took a breath. “Can you tell if my mom is awake?”

  Sebastian stood. “No, she’s not yet.” He crossed the room to her before speaking again. “How do you feel?” he asked.

  “Better. I think my DNA recovered while I slept.”

  Gideon got to his feet. “I’m going out but will be back soon. I want to make sure we don’t have uninvited guests.”

  While that part was true, the twist of his mouth told her that he was going to eat as well.

  “You be careful out there,” she said, stepping up to him. Her arms went around his neck and he let her pull his head down. She wanted to give him a gentle kiss. Something that said that she knew what he was doing and that she was okay with it. But as Sebastian’s arms slid around her waist, her arms tightened around Gideon. Her soft moan was swallowed by Gideon as her kiss deepened. His hands cupped her face as he took control and she couldn’t stop the tremor that ran through her.

  Gideon pulled his lips away slowly and rested his forehead against hers. “I’ll come back to you, Eve. But I need to go before we do something that you’re not ready for.”

  Her eyes opened and the reflected fire in his eyes dried her throat. It would be so easy, she thought. So easy to ask him to stay. But he was right. As much as she wanted to give in to her dream, she couldn’t. Ever. It would stay in her mind where it belonged.

  Her arms let him go as her head fell back against Sebastian’s shoulder. “Okay.”

  The smile he gave her this time was better, though the touch of sin wasn’t necessary. Her swallow was audible, and Sebastian’s low laugh brought heat to her face. Gideon gave her a wink and was gone. Turning, she wrapped her arms around Sebastian and lay her head against his chest, willing her heart to quit pounding.

  “Let’s get you dressed,” his voice was soft beside her ear.

  He was right. A cold shower would help ground her.

  #

  She sat in the chair facing the door and Sebastian took the seat on her left, Gid
eon on her right. A sense of security filled her as she sat between them. Much different than the previous night, when she thought her stay was over. “A girl can get used to this, men. You spoil me.”

  Gideon’s fingers tightened on hers before he let go.

  “Eve, before she gets here, we need to tell you about the animosity between her and us,” he said and she turned to face him.

  “She knows what you are.” Eve remembered what Rosewen said before attacking Sebastian.

  “Yes, she does. And evidently, with good reason.” His eyes moved away from her.

  “You’re nervous.”

  He gave a quick laugh. “I am, my little empath. I know it’s hard enough to accept us as we are now, pretending at normalcy. But once upon a time, we didn’t.”

  “What happened?”

  “Please keep in mind that what I’m about to tell you had nothing to do with us personally, but we are guilty by association. And I can’t fault them for feeling this way.”

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Always in such a hurry to know things you later realize you wish you didn’t.” He looked back at the sound she made, smiling, though the curve of his lips didn’t touch his eyes.

  “Gideon, band-aid it, would you? Just tell me.”

  He gave her a brief nod. “A long time ago, the Fae used to spend a lot more time in this realm.” Ignoring her shudder, Gideon continued. “That is, until vampires found them. There is something unique about their blood, your blood, that called to those like us.”

  “Well, that explains a lot,” Eve said, trying to pull her hand from Sebastian's. She knew it wasn’t because of her. It couldn’t be because of her. It was her blood.

  “Eve, stop,” Sebastian said and she twisted in her chair to glance at him. “The calling he is talking about it is something more basic. Something that almost ended the Fae. Would have had they not gone back to their world. We were killing them.”

  “Oh.”

  “Some killed more than others.” Rosewen’s words announced her arrival. She stood proud in the doorway before moving to a chair. Duglas gave a brief nod before leaving them. “Wouldn’t you agree, Sebastian?”

  Eve glanced at her lover. He was frowning. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Ah, that’s right. That memory was taken from you.” Her mom’s laughter was soft, laced with sadness. “One of the biggest threats to my race. And here you are, bonded to my daughter.”

  The pattern of runes outside. The idea that he might had seen them somewhere. That was the only clue that he might had forgotten something. But vampires couldn’t forget. So, it was stolen from him, hidden inside his mind.

  “I…” Did he murder her people? What could he say to that? What defense could he give?

  “You are my people’s very own bogeyman, and yet, you hold her so carefully.” Rosewen nodded to their joined hands. “I have to wonder, if you were to regain those memories, would you still treat her so gently.” She glanced at Gideon. “I’m trying, for everything you all have done to protect her. But it’s difficult.”

  “Sebastian isn’t the same as he once was,” Gideon said.

  “Oh, I know,” Rosewen said with a bitter smile. “I have eyes.”

  “That was why you attacked him,” Eve said.

  “Indeed. The way you clung to him, the man who killed hundreds, I moved on instinct.” Rosewen looked to her daughter. “And in turn, I could have killed you.”

  “Not you. Secrets. Secrets could have killed me.” Eve shook her head. “Or Sebastian. The mark would have killed Sebastian.” She could remember the agony of the lightening crawling over her skin.

  “Eve, the bond didn’t protect you from what happened,” Sebastian said, moving his thumb over her skin. “That was all on you.”

  “The bond only protected you from the explosion.” Rosewen said. “That’s all. It protects you from physical harm.”

  Eve remembered now. The green balls that hurt Sebastian. “So, your magic isn’t physical? Because it should have hurt me instead of him.”

  Sebastian’s hand clenched around hers and she looked up at him. His expression was one of horror. “I didn’t know.”

  She gave him a soft smile. “Now we do.”

  “My magic, my abilities, while they seem physical, are not. Things in faerie are… different. But we’ll get to that over time,” Rosewen said and Eve looked back to her. “Secrets.” Rosewen was looking at the far wall, deep in thought. “Well, it’s time to get rid of some of them.” She looked back at Eve and the sadness in the green eyes stole her breath. “Please, try to understand why I did what I did. Try not to hate me too much.”

  Eve knew where this was going, had seen the movies and read the books where massive reveals were made, and the lead character ran off in tears.

  “I won’t hate you, mom.”

  “Oh, you will.” Rosewen took a breath and began to chip away at Eve’s life. “Where to start… Probably with this one. Your father wasn’t you’re biological father.”

  “What?” She couldn’t have heard right.

  “I’m so sorry.” Her mother’s eyes filled with tears. “I loved him. Loved him so much. He knew what I was, knew you were not his, but loved us and cared for us. He was such a great man.” She cleared her throat.

  Sebastian squeezed her hand before letting go. Without a word, him and Gideon left them alone.

  “But…”

  “While he might not have sired you, you were his. Please keep that memory alive, Eve. He deserves it.” The tears fell from her mother’s face to land on twisting hands.

  Eve couldn’t say anything through the lump in her throat. All she could do was nod.

  “I fled the court because I wasn’t safe there. If I wasn’t safe, then you certainly wouldn’t be.” A deep breath. “After escaping, I bound you, locked away everything that made you an Unseelie princess. You were as human as I could possibly make you. To protect you. To keep anyone that might be looking for you from finding you.”

  “Who would be looking for a baby?” Eve managed to push her voice through the storm of emotion.

  “Anyone thinking that you might be a threat to the throne. Anyone that wanted to hurt you to get to me.” Another deep breath. “I am a princess to the court, next in line for the crown, if I wanted it. I can’t take it for reasons I’ll try to explain later. However, there are others that do want it and they will stop at nothing to get rid of my line to claim it.”

  “But if… I…” How in the hell does one ask about their newly discovered parent? “So…”

  Rosewen took a deep breath. “This is going to sound terribly cliché.” A faint pink hue touched her mother’s pale skin. “I don’t know who sired you. There are a few weeks in my memories that feel… wrong. And in that wrongness is the almost remembrance of someone. That someone could be your father. Or perhaps not. I see two faces sometimes when I’m focused on something else.”

  “Were you drugged?” Eve asked, horrified at the idea that she could be the result of something traumatic.

  Rosewen gave her a slight smile. “You can’t drug the Fae, baby. No, my memories were tampered with. Someone attempted to take from me what was taken from Sebastian. Only, since I am what I am, it didn’t completely work.” She cupped Eve’s cheek. “It’s not what you are thinking, of that, I’m sure.”

  “Can you read my thoughts?” Eve’s words were slightly more than a whisper. How could any of it be real? How could her mother be a being from a different… realm?

  “No, I can’t, but you are so very human, my baby. You wear your emotions on your face.”

  Another question. Her mother formed balls of green magic that hurt Sebastian. Is that something she would be able to do? “I’m… I’m like you?”

  “In spite of my best efforts, yes, you are.” Rosewen’s shoulders drooped a touch and Eve could feel her guilt. “I persuaded you when you were a child, to not only not believe in magic, but to hate the very idea of it. Asi
de from giving you a couple of ways to defend against the Fae, should you come across one, everything I did was to keep you as far from that world as possible.”

  “They found me.”

  “Yes. Somehow, they found you. And someone protected you or tried to.” Rosewen moved to a closer chair and took Eve’s hands. “Baby, I know this is difficult, but can you think back to that night? Can you tell me what happened?”

  Eve repeated what she told Gideon and Micah.

  “I believe you randomly appeared here. My race doesn’t like vampires, as we’ve already discussed. They wouldn’t have sent you here on purpose. Someone attacked your car, thinking you would die in an explosion. The person protecting you sent you away before the magic could fully hit you. When you were sent here, a trace of that magic followed, sending you into the river.”

  Eve could see the faint glow coming from the hand her mom held and took a deep breath. She didn’t need Micah bursting in on them right now. As she was thinking that, the rune flared for a moment, filling her with warmth and peace.

  Rosewen looked back down at that hand, gently touching the mark. “This is something you should not have been able to do. Was the binding failing even then?”

  The man. Black hair, black eyes. He had traced on her hand when she was a toddler.

  “Mom?”

  Rosewen looked back up.

  “Who do you know that has black hair and eyes?”

  “I know a lot of people, honey.”

  “He was there after daddy died.”

  Rosewen frowned. “There was no… Naiel. He’s a friend from the Seelie… You saw him?” She dropped Eve’s hands at her slight nod before getting to her feet. The grace her mother had in spades for once abandoning her. Her moves were jittery, broken. “I’m going to kill him.”

  “I saw him once before. He did something with my hand and said some things I don’t understand.”

  “I’m going to happily remove his head.” Rosewen turned from her and walked to the window, looking out at the darkness that lay on the other side.

  “I think he’s the one protecting me,” Eve said, watching as the light vanished from her skin. “He told me I needed to survive. Could he be the one that sent me here?”