Bound by Destiny

by Stephanie Yarns

He was studying his hand, tracing the bold red pattern on his flesh. “It’s fascinating.”

  She was a bit surprised at his admission. Why wasn’t he angry with her? Sebastian must have done a helluva good job explaining.

  Sebastian took her hand. The one that used to have his mark on it. “I miss mine,” he said softly, and Eve brought his fingers up to her lips.

  “Maybe I’ll panic around you again someday.”

  His fingers squeezed hers.

  “So, you’re Fae,” Gabe said. “I never believed your race was real.” He didn’t seem to want to look away from his palm.

  “You aren’t the only one. I had no clue until I met these guys. But then, I never believed you could be real either.”

  A quick glance from slightly warmer gray eyes. A brief curve of his lip. A stutter in her pulse.

  “I wonder if it works both ways?”

  “Let’s not find out. Because that would mean someone has to be hurt and I really don’t think I can take that right now,” she said.

  “These marks give you the ability to heal someone. What else can you do?” His eyes met hers and held them.

  “I don’t know,” she said as honestly as she could. “The mark that is gone now, the one that pulled these guys into the shitstorm my life has become, was the one I gave Sebastian. It transferred injuries, I guess. It weakened him because if I got hurt, he would get the injury. But it did work both ways. He cut his finger and I bled for it.”

  “While I never believed in your kind, there are always rumors to everything. One that I’ve heard is that Fae blood is like no other.” His eyes showed a different kind of interest now. One that made her a touch uncomfortable.

  “That’s what I heard, but,” she shrugged, trying to play off the question. “Only been one for a few days.”

  Gabe looked to Sebastian. “Is it true?”

  His fingers were tight around hers, but his shrug was nonchalant. “I wouldn’t know.”

  Gideon had moved closer to Gabe after his question. “And you won’t know either,” his voice was easy, relaxed, but with an undercurrent that had goosebumps breaking out across Eve’s flesh.

  “Easy guys. He already knows I’m not on the menu.” Gabe looked back at her and she met his gaze squarely. “No eating Eve,” she repeated the words she used the night she met him. Was that only the night before?

  “What did you do to Micah?” The fact that he changed the subject wasn’t lost on anyone.

  “Gabe, I’ve known you for a long time. If you lay a finger on her with the intent to harm her, I will—”

  “You’ll what, Gideon? Kill me for her?”

  “Stop. Don’t fight. Don’t threaten each other, please?” Eve said as the tension reached a level that threatened to choke her. “Micah calms me.”

  Something she could use now, but he was asleep. She looked at her free hand, willing the soft light to fade away. Alex reached over and covered the light with the warmth of his hand. She gave him a hesitant smile, but he wouldn’t look at her.

  Hands covered her shoulders and she looked up to find Fallon leaning over her.

  Gabe glanced at all the others in the room before laughing. “Seems everyone else is trying to calm you as well. Fine. No touching her. You have my word.” He stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need some rest. I mean, she could’ve killed me. But don’t let that bother anyone.”

  He vanished and she could feel the atmosphere drop like a rock.

  “You shouldn’t do that,” she said, his parting words hitting her hard. “He’s right. I hurt him. He doesn’t need threats thrown at him.”

  “He’ll recover.” Gideon looked to Eve. “And threats hurt less that what he was talking about doing to you, Eve.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “He gave his word, he won’t hurt me.”

  “Don’t cut yourself around him,” Sebastian said.

  “Preferably any of us.” Gideon gave her a twisted version of his half-smile. “But some of us can handle it better than others.”

  Alex let go of her hand, but she grabbed his before he could get too far. “I trust you, Alex,” she said as his eyes flew to hers.

  He didn’t say anything and that was a surprising pain. But maybe one she could help with.

  “Just be careful around Gabe,” Fallon said.

  Eve had to struggle to keep her laughter in. This coming from the vampire that thought she was dinner. He had to know what she was thinking because his lips twitched.

  “Sebastian wasn’t going to let anything happen to you, princess.”

  “Stay out of my head,” Eve said, yawning.

  “Not on your life. It’s a fun read.” He grinned before leaving the room.

  “I hate him sometimes,” she said, and Gideon laughed.

  “I have to admit, I’m jealous.”

  “Don’t be. It’s mushy girl stuff.”

  “But sometimes naughty girl stuff,” he said with a glint in his eyes.

  Eve groaned. “Please, for the sake of my sanity, can you forget he said that?”

  “I don’t forget, beautiful.”

  “Of course you don’t,” she muttered and he laughed.

  She wasn’t going to look at Sebastian. Nope.

  Alex let go of her hand and stood.

  This was it. Time to make Alex see she still cared for him. That he didn’t frighten her. That she needed her Alex back. The one that kissed her and told her the truth. The one that spoke of surfing and she could hear the pleasure he got from it in his voice.

  “Alex?” she asked softly, hesitantly, and she hated herself for sounding weak, but there was a very real chance he would reject her.

  Sebastian kissed her hand and let her go. She could feel it when they left the room.

  “What is it?” he asked and there was a coldness to his words that pricked at her.

  #

  Alex looked at her and the coolness of his voice was matched by the look in his eyes.

  “I…” She trailed off. He was giving her no hope in what she wanted.

  “I’m sorry, Eve. I’m exhausted.” He turned away from her and started to walk from the room. “Pencil me in for a different night.” He tossed over his shoulder as he turned the corner.

  She sat frozen on her seat.

  What in the hell was that? Okay, yes, she got the rejection she felt was coming, but that last line? That was like a slap in the face. Damn him, all she wanted to do was sleep. Sleep in his arms. He wasn’t the only one tired. Tears built in her eyes, but she would be damned if she let them fall. She would have thought he was jealous, but that wasn’t what she felt from him. It was all sadness. Self-pity. Something that threatened to sweep her away. But she was stronger than it.

  One errant tear dripped off her chin and she cursed. No, no crying. Not anymore. She’d shed enough.

  Anger started to cover the hurt. Could he have been any more of an ass? That was something she expected from Fallon. Not Alex. She could deal with it from the other, because that was who he was. But, fuck it all, Alex was not going to start taking lessons on how to be a dick.

  Minutes ticked by as she tried to figure out what she was going to do. She was going to sleep in his room. Of that, there was no question. It was the ‘where’ he was going to close his eyes. That was what she wanted an answer to.

  Getting to her feet, she let her anger push her through room after room. It was only when she was standing in front of his door that she realized she knew the way. Her smile was bitter when she took the knob to his door and tried to turn it. Locked. Well, that wasn’t she planned for. “Fine, asshole. I’ll sleep out here!” She yelled at the door. There was no reply, though, after his act, she would have been surprised if he did. But she damn sure knew he could hear her.

  Just stopping herself from banging on the door, she turned and slid down the smooth wood.

  “I don’t want to be a part of your pity party anyway!” She managed one last yell before the exhaustion welled up in
side her.

  Her knees would do just fine as a pillow. Pulling them up to her chest, pressing her forehead to her knees, she finally closed her eyes. As sapped as she was, she couldn’t help but fume. Fallon called her a coward. Ha! Alex had that term all tied up in the dictionary.

  The door that held her upright opened and she toppled over, landing on her side.

  “Pity party?”

  Alex’s voice came from over her head as she jumped to her feet. Before he could slam the door in her face, she ducked under his arm and ran into his room. He would have to physically throw her out.

  Shooting him what she hoped was an ‘eat shit’ look, she grabbed a pillow off his bed and threw it on the floor. “Yeah, pity. You’re eaten up with guilt for something that comes naturally to you and you’re pushing that onto me.” She pulled her sweater over her head and threw it in the floor beside the pillow. “You… just… ugh!”

  “Why are you in here?” he asked.

  “I was going to save you from yourself, but I can’t find the strength.” She shoved her leggings to her ankles before hopping around, trying to get one end pulled over her foot. “You said you would always be here for me. I think ‘and me’ are the words you used.” She hopped on the other foot. “Or should I call you a liar?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  The sight of him trying to cover a smile stoked her anger.

  “You think I’m funny?” She stalked over to him and poked him in the chest. “I’m fucking furious.”

  “Do you have any idea how hard it is to take you serious when you’re bouncing around on one foot?”

  “You’re kidding me.” She blew out a breath, shoving her hair over her head. “That was all you got from that?”

  Alex straightened up and the smile vanished from his face. “Okay, so, you think I’m pushing my feelings onto you. That may be true. I can’t deny it, because I’m not you. But you should consider the fact that you didn’t feel what I wanted to do to you, Eve. That night. Two drops of blood and I wanted to drink you until you were empty.” He gripped her shoulders, pushing her back from him. “Two drops that I can still see when I close my eyes.” He let go of her and turned away. “Yeah, call me a liar, because at that moment, I didn’t want to protect you.”

  She could see the shudder that ran down his spine.

  “And now you are in here, in my face, telling me I’m pitying myself,” his voice was low and so was his chuckle. “I want to sleep with you, Eve. I want to do the things we did before. I want to go back to before you bled in front of me. I want to trust me.” He turned to face her. “But I can’t, and I don’t and you’re a fool if you do.”

  Her rage evaporated in light of his words. He was still being stupid, but she really couldn’t fault his reasons. In a messed-up way, he was still trying to protect her. But protecting her from him wasn’t his job.

  “Fine, Alex. I won’t push.” She couldn’t do it anymore. He was going to do what he wanted. Wasn’t that what Gideon said? He did what he wanted?

  He turned and his eyes were wary. “I don’t believe you.”

  She held up her hands. “You win. But I’m still sleeping in here. She pointed to the pillow. “Right here. I won’t bother you. But I’m also not going to knock on someone else’s door because you’re an idiot.” She sat down, staking her claim on her space. “You stay over there.” She waved her hand around the room.

  “I can’t do that. You take the bed.”

  “Fuck you and what you can’t do.” She lay down, the exhaustion swallowing her, clawing at her eyes. “Evidently there is a lot you can’t do, and I can’t be bothered with it right now.” Her eyes closed as she turned her back to the tormented vampire. “I’m too tired.”

  She felt him get closer to her, the hairs standing on her arm. Twisting, she lashed out at him.

  “Eve—.” He jumped out of the way of her arm.

  “I made a mistake coming here,” she said. “I won’t repeat it. Just deal with it tonight, please? I’m begging.”

  The look on his face tore at her heart, but she couldn’t handle anything else.

  “As for the last thing you said when you left the kitchen, I didn’t want to fuck you tonight, Alex. I just wanted to hold you while we slept. But hey, it’s fine. Rejection will keep me warm.” Easing back down, facing the room this time, she closed her eyes.

  #

  She could feel his eyes on her as she lay there, but she didn’t care. He could feel sorry for himself in his bed.

  “How am I supposed to forgive myself, Eve?” He didn’t come closer, but the pain in his words touched her.

  She somehow found the strength to get her eyes open and he was laying in the floor, facing her, outside the reach of her arms. “Shouldn’t it be me that’s supposed to forgive you? I’m the one you wanted to hurt, right?” She kept her voice soft. This was the Alex she needed to reach. The one she was falling for.

  “Not entirely.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “By harming you, I would harm myself. So, I guess what I’m asking is how do I get both of us to forgive me.” Alex never looked away from her.

  “I can’t answer for you,” she said, “but I already do. You did nothing wrong. You didn’t touch me. You just thought I smelled good.” She shrugged. “I kind of take that as a compliment.”

  “I can’t explain the war that went on inside me. The desire for what I can hear with every beat of your heart versus my feelings for you. I honestly didn’t know which one would win. And what happens if you get hurt worse. Eve, that was two drops and it brought me to my knees. How do I forgive that?”

  She felt like she just went through this with Gideon. Oh, yeah, she did.

  “Do you want to bite me now?”

  “No,” he said and she could see the red in his face.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.” A brief nod.

  “Why?”

  “Because what I feel for you is more important than…” He trailed off.

  “You ass,” she said softly, laying her arm in the space between them.

  Without a word, he reached out and took her hand, fingers tight around hers.

  With a small smile, she closed her eyes. Only a second later, arms lifted her. “If you don’t lay on the bed with me, I’ll find mirrors and burn you in the morning.” She hit the soft mattress and he tucked the pillow under her head with a gentleness that took her breath. She opened her eyes as he lay across from her.

  “There’s nowhere else I would rather be,” he said as she wiggled closer.

  His arms enveloped her, and she fell asleep wrapped in the warmth she needed.

  #

  “I can’t get her to wake up.”

  She heard a voice, but it was too much trouble to try to figure out who’s it was. The darkness called to her, the blissfulness of sleep.

  Another voice. “Has Gabe come out yet?”

  What did he have to do with anything?

  “No, and it’s been two nights.”

  That didn’t sound right to her. But Micah would be up now, right? She would check, after a nap.

  “Eve, beautiful, please wake up.”

  That was Gideon.

  Why were they bothering her? Couldn’t they tell how tired she was? There was something under her back, something lifting her. She tried to tell them to go away, but no words came. Not even a groan.

  “Get Micah,” Gideon said.

  Micah? He was awake? But that was supposed to be two nights from now. Warmth surrounded her hand.

  “Eve, it’s Micah, please wake up, love.”

  He was the only one that ever called her that.

  She would wake up. Soon.

  “So, you’re going to hide in your dreams, princess? That doesn’t sound like you.”

  Fallon.

  “But what are you hiding from? That’s what I can’t figure out. I can’t see in your head.”

  Why was he being mean?r />
  “Maybe I should tell your secret to the ones that need to know.”

  She wanted so bad to sit up and tell him to mind his own business. Stay out of her head. Why couldn’t she wake up?

  “In all seriousness, baby, something is wrong, and I need you to focus on it. Can you do that for me?” Her hand was taken, and she felt scars beneath her fingertips.

  She could hear something. Could feel something. Desperation. Why? She was only sleeping. But he put her hand on him. He didn’t do that. With everything she had in her, she tried to move her fingers.

  “Sebastian, did you see it?” There was something else now. Hope?

  What did she do?

  “Sweetheart?” Sebastian’s voice rolled over her and his endearment made her smile. Or try to. Why wasn’t she waking up? Fallon was right. Something was wrong.

  “There, her lip.” She heard Micah say.

  “Alex, go check on Gabe.”

  The heavy darkness tempted her. Maybe it would be easier to wake up after a little more sleep. After a nap. The edges of her conscious grew fuzzy.

  “Stay with us, princess.” Fallon almost begged her, pulling her back from the lie of the soft dark world.

  Of course she would stay with them.

  “He was awake, barely. Starving, but I fed him. He’s going hunting.”

  The darkness eased up around her.

  She still couldn’t form words, but she made some kind of sound. The two sets of fingers on her both tightened.

  “She’s coming around.”

  “That was it,” Gideon said, and she felt fingers brush her head. Her eyelids fluttered, desperate to see those her heart declared hers. “Easy, beautiful. It’ll be easier once Gabe eats.”

  Gross, but okay. Wait. What did that have to do with anything?

  Eating. Gabe was eating. He was lucky. She was ravenous. And thirsty. So thirsty. Her fingers twitched as she moaned. Water. All at once, her body unlocked. Her lips parted and she opened her eyes. There was a film over them, keeping her from seeing properly.

  “Water.” She tried to say, but it came out as a croak. She was lifted as a cup was placed at her lips. Her hands grabbed at it, frantically trying to swallow it all at once.