by Ford, Lizzy
Reaching an intersection, she started to the left, when the stranger touched her arm.
“This way,” he said, indicating the right hallway.
She gazed at him briefly, uncertain what his motivation was for helping her when he was certainly one of these people.
“Trust me.” His wink sent a surge of heat through her. He strode down the hall.
“Not a chance in hell,” she muttered under her breath.
A stir went up among the guests behind her, and she risked a look over her shoulder. The Immortal guards were searching the women, checking everyone’s face before moving on.
Her heart flew, and she hurried after the stranger. She ran down the hallway and turned a corner, pulling him with her just as the first of the Immortal guards called out to them.
She stopped in the middle of the hallway, hearing the clamor of more guards coming from the other direction. She’d managed not to panic with the monsters, but the idea of being trapped here or worse, imprisoned once she was discovered to have tried to escape, left her desperate.
Whether or not she belonged - she wasn’t staying here. It was too crazy. Her mind raced with a solution to being discovered. No doors lined the hallway, and there was nowhere to hide. After a split second of thought, she whirled.
“Give me your jacket!”
The stranger studied her but obeyed, peeling it off his lean upper body. He handed it to her, and she swung it around her shoulders before reaching up to tug her long hair out of the French roll it had been so carefully tucked into. She tossed her shoes at her feet without putting them on and gripped the stranger by the lapels of his shirt.
Putting her back to the wall, she met his gaze. “Kiss me.”
He started to smile.
“Fast! It always works on TV!”
A flicker of something – amusement? – went through his gaze. “As you will,” he replied. He eased into her and wrapped one arm around her while the other hand cupped her cheek.
Before she could talk herself out of what she was doing, she circled his neck with her arms and lifted her face to him. Even after ordering him to kiss her, she found herself surprised by his confident touch – and thrilled by the sensation of his frame against hers.
A tremor of heated electricity tore through her as their lips met. The stranger pressed her to the wall and within seconds, the kiss turned from her idea into his. The pressure of his warm, full lips gently guided her, prodding her when she froze up and deepening the kiss. His tongue slid between her lips. She opened to him out of instinct. Their danger was forgotten the moment she tasted his sandalwood-brown sugar flavor. Any resistance she had to making out with a stranger melted under the combination of his scent, flavor and intensity.
Being in his arms had felt natural but this … this was something else entirely. Primal need awoke within her, bringing with it yearning unlike anything she’d ever experienced. A resounding acknowledgement of her place in his arms warmed her from the inside out until she felt fevered and so aware of every inch of his body, she forgot the monsters and Immortals and Olivia’s death – everything but the feel of his lips, his scent and taste.
In the arms of the man whose name she didn’t know was the only place she’d ever belonged.
Lost in the moment, she pressed herself the length of him, needing more, wanting to experience every part of him.
He lifted his head too soon, and she opened her eyes, breathless and dazed.
“It worked,” he whispered, gazing down at her.
Out of her peripheral, she saw the guards vanish around a corner.
“What … oh. Good.” Awareness crept into her once more, this time accompanied by embarrassment. She rarely dated, and the few times she’d kissed someone had been nothing like this. Did he think her naïve or stupid? Because she definitely felt that way.
Stephanie released her grip on him and stepped away, wobbled, and caught her balance against the wall. Her knees were weak, the hollow between her legs aching to the point she struggled to keep her thighs together and walk straight. Her hands quivered, and her thoughts were scattered by the fevered anticipation of her body.
Her plight returned to her but even her previous desperation wasn’t able to displace the exhilarating connection with a stranger. She didn’t dare look at him, certain he was laughing at a little kiss when she was full on staggering in public.
Shaking her head, she reached the corner and peered both ways before choosing to go right this time.
“Other way.” His tone was huskier, low – and laughing.
She flushed and spun, heading to the left. Invigorated by the kiss, exhilarated by the idea of a second, she rushed down the hallway until she felt the cool breeze of an open door on her warm cheeks. Stephanie raced to the door and outside, stopping to breathe deeply.
“You have a part two to this plan?” the stranger asked, trailing her into the darkness outside the castle.
She faced him, grateful for the night to hide how red her cheeks were and for his calm when she was ready to freak out again. Tilting her head back, she stepped away when he drew too close. Even in the dark the draw was unreal.
“Car? Jet? Other?” he prodded, a faint smile on his handsome features.
She caught herself staring, breathing deeper to catch a taste of his scent, and blinked out of the spell. “Who the fuck are you?” And where did you learn to kiss like that?
He chuckled. “There’s no right time to answer that question.”
“Now would be appropriate,” came a voice from the darkness. Wynn slid from the shadows, followed by a frowning Kiki with several other Immortal warriors behind him.
Stephanie whirled to face the direction from which they came. Between the stranger and Wynn, she’d take her chances with the man who could kiss her breathless. She moved closer to him, until she felt the warmth of his body at her back.
“She’s going to find out eventually,” Wynn added.
I’m sorry, Kiki mouthed the words to her.
“Show me the mark, daughter,” Wynn ordered her.
“Um, no,” she replied.
“Do it,” the stranger whispered.
“You all want me to strip right here?” she snapped.
“I wouldn’t mind,” he said in a low, husky voice.
Desire and heat flared to life within her once more, flooding her with awareness and baffling sexual attraction towards a stranger she didn’t even know if she could or should trust.
“You can do it on your own or I can have the soldiers help you,” Wynn replied.
Stephanie glared at him. He waved two of his soldiers forward.
“I’ll do it!” she snapped. She slung the jacket coat back at the stranger and stretched down. Tugging the dress over her head, she was grateful she’d worn a matching bra and underwear. She covered the front of her body with the dress and showed Wynn her back.
“Show him,” Wynn said, calming.
With a frustrated sigh, she turned around.
“You have any doubts about what this is?” Wynn asked him.
“None,” the stranger said.
Stephanie snatched the jacket from his arms, too embarrassed to meet the eye of anyone. “So what?” she demanded. She yanked the jacket on.
“Tell her, or I will,” Wynn ordered.
Stephanie glanced from her unfriendly father to the stranger whose appearance in her life caused chaos. For once, the stranger didn’t appear aloof, pleased or amused. The dark edge was back.
“There’s no easy way to say this,” the stranger said. “My name is Shai. I’m the deity known as Fate. Fun fact. The ancient Egyptians named a god after me. Maybe you’ve heard of me from them?”
“What?” Her brow furrowed. “Fate, as in the future?”
“Exactly.”
“Are you shitting me?” Stephanie stared at him. “You’re the god of the Future.”
“He is,” Kiki said.
“In the Immortal and deity societies, mates a
re preordained,” Fate continued, his look softening when he met her gaze. “The name of the Immortal or deity appears on the mate he is meant to be with. Think of it as an ancient matchmaking service where the universe chooses who you marry. Usually, the name of the higher ranking being appears on the lower ranking being’s body. For example, being a deity, my name would appear on you since you’re an Immortal-human hybrid.”
“The bond is unbreakable,” Wynn added, sounding satisfied.
She felt the raised tattoo on her back. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me … you and I … we’re married?” she asked in disbelief.
“Bonded is a better term,” Fate said. “Vows can be broken. What we have cannot.”
That’s why I want to drop my clothes every time we meet. “I’m involuntarily married … bonded to the god of the future.” Tunnel vision was beginning to form. “This is beyond insane. Monsters, Immortals, magic tattoos … No. Just … no!”
The latest chapter of her adventure made her feel panicked, sick and delirious all at once. Before she could offer any sort of denial, she felt herself sliding to the ground. Grass tickled her cheek, and her eyes closed. A father she didn’t want was one thing, but for them to tell her she had no choice in her life partner …
When I wake up, this nightmare better be over.
Chapter Eight
Despite the traumatizing night, Fate slept well. It was the benefit of being human he liked most. His brain shut off at night, and he slept like the world was perfect.
But in a perfect world there wouldn’t be six guards outside the door to his spacious bedchamber. His breakfast wouldn’t be brought by a deaf mute incapable of answering his questions and he wouldn’t be counting down the minutes until Wynn decided to act out one of the chain of events he’d seen many, many times before. If he had his power, would it be clearer how he arrived to this point, now that he’d met his mate?
Looking back at the week, it became obvious how, every once in a while, there was something greater than Fate at work in the world or perhaps, someone who managed to outmaneuver him with the help of every other deity in existence. Because that’s what it’d take for him to be here, for his mate to be alive, for this chain of events to unfold.
His mind was not all on the dark days he knew were coming. He’d fallen asleep recalling what it was like to kiss his mate – how much more incredible it was than anything he’d ever experienced. And he began to understand why deities chose to give up a life of freedom to be with the one person who truly made them feel.
One kiss made him reconsider his future. What would a night with her be like?
He’d had to pretend like he didn’t care when she fell, but his insides had seized uncomfortably. His body’s physical reaction to an event happening to someone else intrigued him. Wynn was too smart to let something like affection, or the appearance of it, pass. He may never harm his own daughter, but he’d use her and destroy her mate, if it served his purposes.
Fate stood at the window overlooking the expansive forests of the Alps, waiting for his own future to befall him and wishing he could save the woman who shouldn’t exist.
The sound of scuffling came from outside his door, and he turned to face it. A moment later, the door opened and two women slid in: Stephanie and a pretty blonde.
Dark circles were beneath Stephanie’s eyes, and she paused several feet into his chamber, staring at him with deep confusion in her gaze. He found himself recalling how she’d felt in his arms. He’d thought her pretty when they first met, beautiful the night of the dinner and today, too compelling to look away from.
“You probably shouldn’t be here,” he said quietly.
She drew nearer. “Hannah is helping me leave,” she said.
He glanced at the blonde woman. He didn’t recognize her. Without his power, he had no way of knowing if she were about to lead Stephanie into a trap. “You’re certain you can trust her?”
Stephanie frowned. “I don’t trust any of you people. But she hates Wynn for banishing her sister and can open a portal.”
“As long as you determine the destination when you step through.”
She hesitated. “How?”
“Picture the place you want to be in your mind. Focus only on it. One of the doors will glow. Walk through it.”
Stephanie gazed up at him. He resisted the urge to touch her, uncertain where such an instinct originated in the first place.
“You want me to leave?” she asked.
“Yes and quickly.”
Her wariness turned to confusion.
“I imagine everyone has told you an Immortal mate acts differently?” he asked.
She nodded. “Not that I believe that shit.”
“My name’s on your back.”
She cleared her throat and stepped away, pacing a short distance. One hand went to the small of her back.
“In any case, I happen to know what comes next,” he said. “And I know you should be as far from here as possible when it does.”
“Because you’re Fate.” The words were hushed. She didn’t appear ready to pass out this time.
“Because I’m Fate.”
“Then why are you here? Why didn’t you know to avoid Wynn’s party?”
“Two reasons. One, my sister stripped my deity powers temporarily, rendering my Sight inoperable. Two, obviously I’m here for you.”
“You can really see the Future?”
“See, control, change, manipulate. However, I tend to err on the side of free will,” he answered.
She appeared to be trying to digest the answer.
“I need to tell you something else before you leave,” he said with some reluctance. “You may want to sit down for this.”
“I don’t think anything can be worse than last night.”
“It’s about why you’re so different from other humans and Immortals. I feel like I owe you an explanation.”
She gazed at him for a minute before seating herself on the small sofa in the living space. He sat beside her, their knees almost touching, once more drawn to touch her. At one point, she started to reach for him and snatched her hand back.
Whatever this was, it affected both of them.
“Many, many years ago, I took precautions,” he started. “Because I can see the Future, I knew you would enter my life one day and decided I wanted to control when that was. That meant ensuring you weren’t born before I was ready.”
She listened intently.
“The reason you don’t get along with animals or people generally, and why the demons last night weren’t interested in you, is simple. I hid your soul. You don’t currently have one, which makes you an anomaly, someone who never should’ve been born. Even demons have –”
“What?” she asked. “Did you say you hid my soul?”
“Yes.”
“You just … Buried it? Put it in the attic or something?”
“Not the attic,” he replied with a smile. “I wanted to control my own future, to include if or when my mate was born. But … on occasion, I’m outmaneuvered. You were born despite the odds.”
“And despite the fact you didn’t want me to be,” she finished.
Hearing her tone, he didn’t respond.
“I have no soul,” she said, a baffled look crossing her features.
“You have a soul. It’s just not in your body.”
Stephanie gazed at him in complete silence, unmoving. Finally, she released the breath she was holding and slapped him.
Fate wasn’t surprised by the reaction. If anything, it was milder than what he expected. His cheek stung.
“You stole my soul. You didn’t want me to be born!” she snapped. “What gave you the right to determine if I should exist?”
“Self interest.”
Hurt crossed her features, and he debated the wisdom behind absolute honesty with someone who wasn’t yet prepared for what she needed to know.
“I was going to ask you to come with me but after hearin
g this …” She rose and stared into space briefly. “You know what? Fuck you. I don’t care what your rules are. I’m not your mate, not now or ever!”
“That part cannot be changed,” he warned and stood as well. “What I can promise you is I’ll do everything in my power to protect you from afar. Go home. Live your life. If I can’t keep you safe, I’ll come for you.”
“Don’t even bother!” she strode towards the door. “And don’t ever come near my family!”
“Do you want to know where your soul is?” he called.
She froze without turning. She was tense enough he understood she was struggling again with everything new she’d learned.
Fate crossed to her and paused behind her. He breathed in her scent and admired the color of her hair before resting his hands lightly on her arms. A faint tingle of energy, of primal recognition, floated through him. The need to wrap her in his arms, to claim his mate roared. The foreignness of such an emotion disturbed him.
Her breathing was uneven. He was too aware of her shapely figure and heat, of the kiss they’d shared that may have doomed him when he was delusional enough to think he still had a chance to fight his destiny.
“What else did you do to me?” she whispered, stricken. “Why can’t I just walk away from you?”
“I believe it’s the nature of our bond,” he replied. “We are destined to be together.”
“Says the man who stole my soul.”
“Would an apology help?” he teased.
“It’d piss me off more!” She sighed, affected by his calmness. The tension dropped from her shoulders, the stiffness from her stance. She leaned back against him lightly and shuddered as their bodies met.
The delicious sensation sparked a fire within him. Fate wrapped an arm around her and lowered his mouth to her ear, in case anyone was listening.
“When you’re ready, summon Deidre. Tell her I left something with her. She’ll know what it is. But, I’d recommend you don’t do this until I’m there with you. Where she’s from, you don’t do favors without a deal,” he said. “Without a soul, you’re safe from many of the unsavory elements in the Immortal realms.”
