Broken Road (Fate's Intent Book 7)

by Bowles, April

  “How?”

  “With a child.”

  “I know that. Jaylyn’s pregnant. You told Troy, remember?”

  “I did but it’s not just Jaylyn anymore.”

  I almost lost my breath and could only get out one thing. “You?”

  She nodded and looked over. “Ruby too.”

  I was completely speechless and thought about everything I’ve been through. All the time I spent dwelling on what happened has seemed to be wasted. I was getting it. I saw it. I knew things didn’t have to be that way anymore. I could finally move forward as everyone has.

  “Zayden? I know we’re not really ready but—”

  “No. We’re ready. I mean, I’m ready. Are you not ready?”

  Adele turned her eyes from me and looked down. “I don’t know what I am. I didn’t really want to get your hopes up too much.”

  “Why?”

  She started to get emotional and tried keeping her eyes off me because of it. “I need to tell you something that I never told anyone and couldn’t even put in my journal either.”

  I moved closer to her and rubbed her back. “All right. What is it?”

  “I’ve been pregnant before.”

  My eyes widened just slightly and I wondered if she knew about before but said something to confirm it.

  “It was a long time ago. I didn’t tell anyone except the father.”

  It was easy to guess. “Ryon.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, what happened? I know you don’t have a child.”

  “No. I don’t. It didn’t last very long. I carried for about two months and then—there was—it was painful and there was so much blood. I lost it.”

  “Are you afraid?”

  “Things die around me, Zayden!” Her voice got louder but still upset. “My mother, Bryce, that baby, Ellie, Kole, Ryon—I can’t even keep a potted plant alive! What if I can’t do this? What if I lose him? I can’t go through that again, especially not with Seth.”

  I pulled her close to me and wrapped my arms around her so she was crying with her face against me. I knew how she felt with thoughts of losing Seth so I could relate best to her issue. “You won’t, Love. I promise. This was supposed to happen this way. You know it and I know it. You’re not going to lose him. I’ve seen him too.”

  She pulled away with a sniffling voice and wiped her eyes. “I know. I just—

  “I meant very recently and I was with him.”

  “But how?”

  I knew I couldn’t tell her the whole story but lying to make her feel better wasn’t something I wanted to do either. “I saw Ryon on our trip.”

  She perked up a little with slightly widened eyes. “You did? Why?”

  “He came to me. He knew about my recent behavior and how it affected you. We had a nice chat that led to him showing me a visual of our son like when you saw him.”

  Adele laughed. “You had a nice chat with Ryon?”

  “It didn’t end badly with us. He’s still my brother but the point is, I saw him, Love. Seth. He was with me. You don’t have to be worried about this. You won’t lose him.”

  “But how can you believe what he showed you?”

  “Because I want to. It will happen.”

  “There’s still other things to worry about.”

  “You don’t have to be worried about anything. I’m going to be right here with you to make sure everything’s okay.”

  “Sounds like it’s going to be the most boring nine months of my life.”

  I laughed and kissed her head quickly. “Not when you have the most important job.” My hand slid down to her stomach and my voice became mellower. “You can do everything. You can do this and I think we’re both ready.”

  Adele smiled as she leaned into my lips and we kissed. She rested her head on my shoulder while in my arms and we looked out across the great scenery in front of us. “I’m glad to know you’re happy.”

  “Of course I am. You think Jaylyn can speed up life like she can with plants?”

  Adele laughed and backed away. “Zayden, don’t even try it.”

  “I don’t want to wait months to hold him.”

  “Me either but I want him to grow normally and healthy. Waiting is part of it.”

  “Okay. I know it is and I’ll have to, I guess. I’ve been thinking about it a lot since Troy found out. I was hoping.”

  “Well, it paid off and I’m glad you’re home.”

  “Are you?”

  “Zayden, of course I am.”

  “You didn’t seem it.”

  “It had to have been the unexpected cargo.”

  I sighed and leaned into her. “Are you going to be like this the whole time? She needs somewhere to be away from everything. Where’s better than here? Are you going to let her stay?”

  “Yes. I said I would. It’s just the first impression wasn’t very good. Jaylyn assumed she was your Kitten.”

  “You knew about that?”

  “I know Hintins, Zayden. I thought you actually brought yours home with you.”

  “I can’t believe you let me go there without you, knowing that would happen!”

  “So, how was she?”

  I sighed from her smile and glanced down. “I uncomfortably slept on the couch. What did you think? But I won’t lie and say I didn’t want her. I didn’t like being away from you but nothing happened. I wouldn’t have let it.”

  Adele continued to smile, taking my arm. “I trusted you. I just wanted to see what you’d say. Thank you for telling me. That must have been hard to do.”

  “Telling you the truth is never hard. It was just a complete shock to me that she was in there in the manner she was that I almost lost control.”

  Adele laughed. “I know; naked. They’re used to the men just wanting to get right to it.”

  “You should have warned me at least.”

  “You chose the right thing on your own. I didn’t have to warn you. Now come on. I should see what we have to make for dinner for an extra person.”

  “Okay.” I got to my feet with her. “But first, I’d like you to give our guest a more warming welcome than you did. She’ll be with us for a couple of weeks.”

  “Do I have to?”

  “Please? For me?”

  “All right. Fine.”

  I smiled as I followed her to the edge of the cliff. “Were you serious about trusting me?”

  “With my life but I can get down myself.”

  “Not in your condition.”

  She laughed. “My condition?”

  “I’m not going to let anything happen to the world’s future. I’m banning you from doing anything drastic with your powers when you’re pregnant.”

  “What?! Zayden!”

  I stepped closer to her and touched her face so she would know I was serious. “I don’t want anything to happen to either of you. You don’t know how things will change while you’re like this and I won’t risk it.”

  I simply moved my hand from her face and held it out to her. The moment she took it, my eyes jumped to black and I flung her up onto my back and started to descend down the side of the cliff in a hurry.

  Chapter 16

  Adele

  I wasn’t happy about this but he was right. I wasn’t very welcoming when she arrived and I needed to change that. It wasn’t her fault what she went through. Zayden did the right thing.

  “She’s probably still inside.” He said, stopping us at a door on the third floor.

  “All right. I can do it alone.”

  Zayden nodded and walked away with Rift, leaving me standing outside of the door. I stood with a sigh then knocked.

  “Oh, Adele. Hi.”

  “May I come in?”

  “This is your home.” Meg opened the door a little more so I could fit through.

  “Thank you. I came to say welcome. I know I may have come off a little strong when you got here and I’m sorry for that. I’ve spent the last few days wondering how I was go
ing to tell Zayden that he’s going to be a father.”

  “Oh.” She was acting suddenly nervous and moved her hand down to her own stomach. “Well, I guess I should be saying congratulations to you.”

  “Are you—?”

  “Oh—” She quickly moved her hand. “I don’t know. I was forced to—”

  She trailed off and I stepped closer and took her hand. “I know and it was wrong. I’m glad that Zayden was able to get you out.”

  “It may have been too late I’m afraid.”

  “Even if you are, you’ll get through it. No one will find you here.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “We’ll make everything okay. No one denies us of anything without regretting it. We’re the only ones who can really protect you. After all, we’re the best killers in the world, protecting someone shouldn’t be that hard.”

  “Well, I thank you. I do feel safe here.”

  “As you should. Well, I’m the cooker around here so I better get started if we want to eat tonight. You don’t want anyone else trying to feed you.”

  “I’ll take your word for it. Thanks, Adele.”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want your stay here to be uncomfortable. See our home as your home and you’re not required to stay in your room. Join the others. I’m sure they’re gathering in the lounge by now.”

  Meg nodded and we left the room and walked all the way down to the first floor.

  It was quiet but I kept a smile on my face. “I hope there’s room for one more. Can you keep our guest company while I get dinner started?”

  They looked around at each other and I’m sure they were curious about why I was seeming so happy about it now but no one asked.

  “Ah, sure, Adele.” Ruby said with a big smile. “Come sit with us Meg.”

  “Ruby, thanks.” Meg walked over and sat on the other side of her.

  “Great.” I started to turn away just as my voice became harsher like they would have expected. “Jaylyn! A word?!”

  Chapter 17

  Jaylyn

  My eyes widened, my heart raced and I immediately looked over at Ruby.

  She only laughed. “What did you do?”

  I was unsure of the answer but I rose to my feet and briskly followed Adele into the kitchen. She sounded mad and I didn’t know why. “Yes? You want to—”

  “I’d like you to examine Meg if you can without her knowing.”

  I was relieved I wasn’t in trouble but was getting more curious. “Why? Did something happen to her? She sick?”

  “No. She was forced to stay in Wyatt’s bed.”

  I gasped to the awfulness. “Oh, that poor girl! You think she might be—”

  “I’m not sure but I’d like you to check and don’t do that stupid thing and make obvious signs that you feel bad for her. It happened. There’s no changing it. She probably doesn’t want our pity.”

  “Okay. I can act normal but I don’t know if it’ll show up yet. It wouldn’t have been that long.”

  “Just keep doing it for as long as she’s here and do it discreetly.”

  “I will. So, what’s on the menu?”

  “Whatever I make so get out.”

  I laughed and started to turn away. “Okay. I’m going.” I knew she liked doing it her way and alone so I walked back out to sit on the couch next to Troy. Naturally, everyone was watching. “What?”

  “What happened?” Ruby asked obviously.

  “Oh, it was nothing. Just a food quantity thing.”

  Darius tried holding back a laugh but it escaped. “Because you’re going to eat more than you already do?”

  The others were able to quiet their laughs.

  “Something like that.” I couldn’t tell them the reason with Meg right there and I probably wouldn’t have until I knew the answer.

  “But she sounded angry.” Ruby whispered.

  “She’s Adele.” I said, trying to play it off so no one would get suspicious. “She’s always like that. It’s no big deal.”

  “I’m going to make sure she’s fine.” Zayden got up and started to head for the kitchen with Rift waking out of his sleep just to follow. It was cute how he was like that but I just hoped that Zayden didn’t plan to aggravate her even more. She probably didn’t want the whole house to be worrying about Meg like I already was.

  Chapter 18

  Zayden

  “Didn’t I say get out?”

  “I don’t recall that actually.”

  Adele turned right around when she heard my voice. “Oh, Zayden! I didn’t know it was you.”

  “It’s all right. You okay?”

  “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be? Please don’t tell me you’re going to ban me from this. You’ll all starve.”

  “We could always send for someone to cook for us.”

  “Zayden, that’s not necessary. Don’t take the only thing I have away from me. I’m fine.”

  “Then I’ll let you for a while at least. We’ll see about the future.”

  She smiled as she stepped closer to me and put her hands on my waist. “You need to be the one that stops worrying. Nothing is going to happen to me or our baby. You have to let me do this my way. You’ve already done your part.”

  “My part isn’t over. It’s just beginning.”

  I kissed her and the moment our tongues touched, Adele became aggressively into it. She turned me right to the counter and pushed me up against it while moving her hands up my shirt.

  I was letting her because I’ve been waiting days for this but all the feelings were halted when she pulled back. “I’m sorry. We really should wait till later for this.”

  “You don’t think I’ve waited long enough? It’s the first thing everyone did when they got here besides me and well, Meg but that’s different.”

  She laughed and started getting back to preparing dinner. “It’s not a competition, Zayden. We will but anyone could just walk right in here and I don’t want to overcook dinner because I got distracted.”

  I sighed and stepped up behind her. “All right.” I kissed her cheek and more lightly on her neck, making her groan with the wanting I longed to hear. “If that’s what you really want.”

  “Don’t make this hard on me. I’ve already started making everything. I couldn’t stop it all for that.”

  “But I could make it quick.”

  She turned around and my eyes were black. Surely she knew exactly what it meant. My senses are more sensitive in this state and when we’re together, it makes hers just as sensitive.

  She was getting a smile on her face and I knew she really did want to. “Really quick but—” She walked to the side door and opened it. “Rift, why don’t you go out and play?”

  I looked down at him and laughed. It amused me how she hated even him watching but I went with it. “For a few minutes.”

  He didn’t take it too hard. In fact, he really seemed like he wanted to and ran right out.

  Adele smiled while she closed the door and came back over. I wasn’t going to waste a second of this or have her change her mind again and rushed into her lips. She didn’t seem to want to stop it and I turned her around to the other counter away from the fires of cooking and slid my hands up the side slits of her long skirt. Her skin was just how I remembered on my fingertips but I soon realized that she conveniently wasn’t wearing anything underneath it.

  I backed away with a look of almost surprise.

  “I had a feeling you’d be home today.”

  She planned this. It only made it more perfect and she pressed her lips back into mine. I missed her enthusiasm and she wrapped her arms around my neck while I spread her legs apart with one hand and undid the front of my pants with the other. I couldn’t take not being with her and reunited our bodies after having days apart and even weeks before that.

  The feeling immediately hit me. Adele was trying to keep her volume down while I pressed my hips into hers though I knew she wished she didn’t have to. It’s been just as lo
ng for her.

  I missed it. It was such a powerful sensation with the extra sensitivity. She backed off me and leaned herself back on the counter. My hands were on her hips and I was pulling her into me as she kept her balance. My speed was hastening and so was the feeling.

  Adele looked up at me with black eyes of her own and she leaned back up to kiss me just at the most perfect ending. I haven’t realized how long I’ve been waiting for that until it finally happened and we were both glad of it. She fell backwards on the counter and closed her eyes like she was ready to sleep.

  “Too good?”

  “I just have to get back into the routine but now I want to sleep.”

  “No. Now you need to finish dinner or no one will eat.”

  She sighed as she hopped down off the counter and stood next to me, putting her hand on my chest. “I will. Just don’t tell anyone about this.”

  I laughed. “They’re not going to be surprised that we had sex.”

  “It’s the place really, Zayden and we’re married. You won’t need to brag about it.”

  “Sure I do. They can’t get sex like that.”

  “Hate to be rude but get out.”

  I laughed again and kissed her on the head as she turned. “Okay. Love you.”

  She put up her hand to wave to me as she had her back turned and I walked to the side door to let Rift back in. I didn’t know where he was. I actually had to whistle to get him to show himself but he was just as happy to come in as he was to go out.

  “Out of here.” I said. “She’s making dinner.”

  We left Adele to it but at least now we were both in a better mood. She was able to get dinner finished quickly and we ate together that night for the first time in days, setting another place at the table for our guest.

  Chapter 19

  Darius

  A week has passed since we returned with the Hintin Princess and so far everything has seemed to go as planned. There haven’t been signs of Hintins searching the area for her while she has been kept safe in the mountain palace.