Prim and Proper Fate (Twisted Fate Series Book 2)

by Tami Lund

  Brandon’s brow furrowed. “Prim, what the hell is wrong with you? You’re acting, I don’t know, weird. What do you want me to say?”

  “This isn’t about what I want,” she insisted. “It’s about how you feel. And I cannot believe that you have no desire to carry on your genes. That you don’t want to get a female with child, have her birth your prodigy, and raise that child as your own. That’s just—that’s just ridiculous,” she sputtered.

  Brandon climbed out of bed and grabbed a pair of boxer shorts out of his duffle bag. “What’s weird is this conversation. Why are you getting so uptight? If you’re worried, Prim, stop. I don’t care if we have kids. I’m serious. I have no burning desire to carry on my family line. I’m perfectly happy just being with you. As long as we can practice on a regular basis,” he added with a cheeky grin, trying to break through the confusing emotions he felt radiating off her.

  “That is completely asinine,” Prim snapped, climbing out of bed and thrusting her arms into a dark blue silk robe. “You want children. I know you do. And Lily will give them to you. Lots of little Chala and Light Ones. Dozens. A hundred, if you like. But you have got to stop sleeping with me!” She stormed out of the room.

  A moment later, he heard the door to the bathroom slam shut. He was about to go after her when Sydney stepped into the doorway.

  She looked at his boxer shorts and blushed. “Is this a bad time?”

  “No.” He growled and tossed a glowering look at the door across the hall. He strode over to his duffle bag and extracted a pair of jeans. “What do you need?” He shoved his legs into the denim pants.

  “Something wrong?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Women and their fucked-up ideas, that’s all. What do you need?” he repeated. He didn’t feel like opening up to Sydney. He wasn’t the sort of guy who liked to talk about his feelings at all. Hell, he’d never really had feelings intense enough to need to be discussed.

  Sydney glanced at the closed bathroom door, then walked over and closed the bedroom door before speaking. “I have a plan, and I’d like your opinion on it.”

  “What sort of plan?”

  “A plan to get Gavin back.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “We need to use me as bait. We need to lure him out. We need to get him to us on our terms, not his. We—” Brandon slashed a hand through the air to cut her off.

  “Forget it. You are not going to be bait. I’m not leaving you alone with him for even half a second. He’ll slice your throat before Prim has a chance to throw the curse.”

  Sydney winced and then shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think he still wants me. He remembers what it was like. What we were like. You know . . .” She trailed off, blushing again.

  “I get it, Sydney. He remembers what it’s like to have sex with you. So? You think that’s going to stop him from killing you? He’s a Rakshasa, Sydney. An uncursed Rakshasa. And in case you’ve forgotten, he’s the one with the most notches on his bedpost. He’s killed more Chala than any other Rakshasa in history. He will kill you, if he gets the chance.”

  He hated hurting Sydney’s feelings, but she needed to hear it. She needed to be afraid. The Gavin that was out there right now, prowling the streets of New Orleans, searching for her, was not the Gavin who had warmed her bed a few days ago.

  “I know he will,” she said slowly. “But I think if he had the opportunity, he would try to sleep with me first. We can use that to our advantage.”

  “No.”

  They argued until Prim returned from her shower, which was a remarkably long time, and neither had given an inch. Brandon could tell Prim was still angry with him, but she nonetheless took his side, and soon it was two against one. Sydney couldn’t win this argument, so she finally stalked away, fuming.

  “Go keep an eye on her,” Prim ordered. “Chala are known throughout history for being rash, especially when it comes to their mates.”

  Brandon glared at her. He wanted to stay and work out whatever the hell had happened before her shower, but he knew she was right. The last time Sydney had gotten mad over Gavin, she’d run off into the woods by herself and she and Brandon had both nearly died when they’d been attacked by Rakshasa.

  “Fine,” he ground out, and left the room.

  Keeping an eye on Sydney also meant he ended up spending an inordinate amount of time in Lily’s presence as well. Prim’s words echoed in his head as he watched the two women put their heads together and whisper conspiratorially, or practice the defensive moves that Gavin had taught Sydney several months prior, or smirk when this shifter or that paused to flirt with Lily.

  He knew Lily was nearly two hundred years old. She was a woman grown, and she had certainly blossomed into a beautiful specimen. Even if she hadn’t been a Chala, he imagined his pack mates would still clamor after her. Still, she struck him as . . . almost like a child.

  Prim had kept her sheltered out there on that island. She was innocent, and she was naïve, and while that might be attractive to some men, he preferred more worldly women. Like Prim.

  “You want children. I know you do. And Lily will give them to you. Lots of little Chala and Light Ones. Dozens. A hundred, if you like. But you have got to stop sleeping with me!”

  Stop sleeping with her? Was she serious? And if she was . . . why? What the hell happened in those few moments between having glorious sex and her jumping into the shower? He was completely lost.

  Unfortunately, Prim kept her distance all day, and if Brandon wanted to go track her down, he would have to leave the two Chala to their own devices. He didn’t trust either of them, especially now that Sydney was hot on her idea to become bait to lure Gavin out of whatever hole he was currently hiding in.

  Hopefully, Brandon thought snidely, he’s still recovering from his wounds from our last battle.

  He didn’t have Sydney or a Fate like Prim to heal him. Brandon thought about how good he had felt when he woke up this morning. It had been as if he’d never gotten into the scuffle in the first place. Prim had some damned impressive healing abilities.

  Sydney claimed she was still a little sore this morning, and the gash on Lily’s head was healing nicely, but it wasn’t completely gone, not by a long shot. Yet Prim had healed all three of them. How was it he felt completely recovered, while the two Chala were still working their way through their wounds?

  Maybe it had something to do with being a Chala. Maybe because he got into more scuffles more often, he healed faster. Whatever the reason, he still gave Prim a great deal of credit. His cock twitched as he thought about how thoroughly he’d expressed his appreciation this morning. He couldn’t help but wonder where he would be sleeping tonight. Would she let him into her bed? What the hell was he supposed to do to ensure that happened?

  “Don’t try so hard,” William advised, coming up behind him. “You might break something.”

  Brandon glanced over his shoulder and scowled at the Fate. And then his gaze swept the area and he realized the two Chala were gone. “Where’d they go?” he demanded.

  William thrust his thumb toward the house. “Inside. Probably giving each other pedicures. Amazing how tight they’ve become in such a short time.”

  “They’re the only two Chala left in the world. I imagine that helps form a pretty solid bond.”

  William shrugged. “What do you think of Prim’s little Chala?”

  Brandon was instantly suspicious. “Why do you ask?”

  William inspected his cuticles. “No reason. Just noticed you and Prim aren’t attached at the hip today like you normally are. And she’s as pissy as a wolverine backed into a corner. You’re obviously fighting, and after the conversation I had with Prim yesterday, I suspect I know why.”

  “Why?”

  “So you are fighting?”

&nbs
p; Brandon blew out a breath. He wasn’t used to talking about this kind of shit. To anybody. “Yes,” he ground out. “She went all psycho on me this morning. Something about me wanting kids.”

  William nodded thoughtfully. “Prim would have been a fabulous mother, but she died before she had the opportunity. And now . . .”

  “I know. Fates can’t have kids. I don’t care. I don’t even want kids.”

  “Ah,” William said wisely.

  Brandon glared at him, and considered ripping his head from his shoulders. The Fate would regenerate, and the impulse might just calm Brandon’s frayed nerves.

  “She’s upset because you claim you don’t want children. But if you’re to be mated to the Chala, that’s sort of a given expectation.”

  “Yeah, but I’m not . . .”

  William watched him as realization dawned.

  “Holy fuck,” Brandon swore. “She wants me to mate with Lily?” He gave William an incredulous look.

  The Fate nodded.

  “But I’m sleeping with her,” Brandon protested.

  “So I gathered, by the sated looks on your faces every time you leave a bathroom together. And as Prim happens to think you’re rather perfect, she naturally assumes you would be perfect for her Chala.”

  “That’s just stupid,” Brandon spat. “I don’t want to be with Lily. I’m not even attracted to her. My awareness extends only to the fact that she’s a Chala and I’m a Light One.”

  “It isn’t stupid, if you’re a Fate,” William said wisely. “Our lives revolve around our Chala. We are designed to do anything for our Chala. Anything. Even give up our own happiness, if it means our Chala will have the perfect mate.”

  “But–But she’s—” Brandon sputtered and paused, willing himself to calm down. Prim’s selflessness was one of the reasons he liked her so much.

  Correction: he loved her. There was no like in this equation.

  “Prim is the only woman for me,” he stated flatly. “There are hundreds of other shifters in our pack alone. She can interview them for all I care. Hell, I’ll interview them myself. But I’ll be damned if she’s going to try to rook me into giving her up so I can mate with her Chala.” He clenched his fists and wished there was a punching bag nearby. Or maybe that tree over there. He had an overwhelming need to pummel something. Too bad Gavin wasn’t around.

  “I suggest you convince her of that fact,” William suggested.

  Brandon turned away and strode back toward the house.

  William called out to him, and he stopped and glanced back at the Fate.

  “And just so you know,” William said, looking oddly pleased with himself, “she isn’t really that great of a healer.”

  Brandon gave a start and then turned and strode back toward the house again. Damn the woman for being so fucking stubborn.

  Blasted stubborn, he told himself. He really had to watch his language.

  Chapter 13

  Sydney blinked rapidly and willed her eyes not to tear up while she attempted to apply charcoal liner. She didn’t normally wear a great deal of makeup, so she had no idea if she was doing it correctly.

  “I’m not so sure about this, Sydney. Prim says he’s really dangerous when he isn’t cursed.” Lily gnawed on her lower lip while she watched Sydney’s efforts in the mirror.

  “I know,” Sydney replied. “Which is why we have to get him back. And frankly, I’m tired of sleeping alone. How am I doing with the liner?”

  “Terrible,” Lily said with a sigh. “Sit down,” she instructed, and she plucked the pencil out of Sydney’s hand. “I think you should tell Brandon and Prim what’s going on.”

  “I tried,” Sydney said as she stared at the ceiling while Lily applied makeup around her eyes. “They both think I’m crazy, and they refuse to let me do this.”

  Lily sighed again and picked up the mascara wand off the vanity. “It’s so romantic. Just like one of Prim’s books.”

  “Except this is real,” Sydney pointed out. “Which is why you have to be sure to follow through on your end of the plan. Otherwise, I really will be dead. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Lily said dutifully. She dropped the mascara wand and picked up the lip liner.

  “Let’s review. What are the two roles you have to play?” Sydney said, after Lily lined her lips, colored them with red lipstick, and added a layer of shiny gloss.

  “First, I cover for you so you can sneak away,” Lily said. “And second, I tell Brandon what’s going on, exactly one hour later.”

  “Perfect. That should give me enough time to distract him, but not enough time for him to decide to eat me.” Sydney shivered at the idea. “Brandon will bring Prim and she will curse Gavin, and then everything will be back to normal.” She smiled brightly as Lily clutched her shoulders and swiveled her around on the small, round stool. Sydney stared at the mirror over the vanity.

  “Wow. I don’t even recognize myself.” She touched the hair, styled into long ribbons of curls, all the way around her head. ‘Party hair,’ Lily had called it. The eye makeup was heavy, smoky, and dark, pulling out the blue in her eyes. The blush was a shade darker than her normal color, and her lips were bright red and shiny.

  “Is that good or bad?” Lily asked worriedly.

  “Good. It’s beautiful. I had no idea you could do this. Nor that I could look so sexy.”

  Lily blushed. “I used to sit and watch Prim when I was a kid. She has an entire dresser full of beauty products.”

  “She hardly needs them.” Sydney turned her head every which way, admiring Lily’s masterpiece. “She’s so beautiful all on her own.”

  “Yes. Brandon certainly thinks so. Do you see the way he watches her all the time? Like he can barely keep himself from grabbing her, tossing her over his shoulder, and taking her back to his cave.” She giggled.

  “You read too many books,” Sydney admonished. “But yes, I agree with you. His eyes glow whenever he looks at her, have you noticed?”

  “Yes. At first, I thought that was just a shifter thing. But none of the other shifters here have glowing eyes.”

  “It is a shifter thing,” Sydney explained. “It’s what happens to shifters when they’re in love.”

  Lily sighed and sank down onto the stool next to Sydney. “I’m so glad. Prim deserves a little happiness in her life. She’s sacrificed so much to keep me safe.”

  Sydney smiled brightly at her new friend. “Brandon makes her happy. And as soon as we get Gavin back, we’ll start searching for your mate. You deserve to be happy, too.”

  Lily made a face. “Not one of the shifters here. Ugh. I’m so sick of all the peacock-like preening.”

  Sydney laughed and stood up, smoothing the front of the black leather skirt Lily had filched from Prim’s luggage. She also wore a red and black striped corset, again courtesy of Prim’s luggage. Sydney had no idea she had so much cleavage. She was extremely self-conscious of the amount of flesh spilling out of the top of the cinched garment.

  Lily assured her she looked ‘hot.’ Sydney certainly hoped so. She needed Gavin to get hot. Hot enough to want to sleep with her instead of kill her.

  She stood up and teetered for a moment on the mile-high red heels with leather straps that wrapped around her ankles. They were also courtesy of Prim’s luggage, and were a tad too small for Sydney’s feet. But Lily insisted they completed the look, and Sydney didn’t have anything even remotely close to these shoes in her possession. If it helped lure Gavin to her, it would be worth a few blisters.

  “Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I think I’m ready. Are you?”

  “Definitely,” Lily said with a firm nod. “Good luck, sister.” She grabbed Sydney and gave her a fierce hug. “Be careful.”

  “I will,” Sydney assured her, and then
she draped a shiny gold rain slicker over her shoulders and belted it around the waist. The rain slicker was also Prim’s. She would have to thank the Fate profusely for her incredibly sexy style when this was all over and done with.

  Assuming she survived.

  As Sydney tottered outside in the towering heels, she hoped nobody noticed the shoes. She didn’t want to take them off and carry them because she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to get her feet back into them again. Thank the Fates for Lily’s help. Sydney was sure she never would have been able to pull this off without her.

  Slipping away proved to be amazingly easy, thanks to Lily. That Chala simply stepped into the yard with a glass of Coke in her hand and in an almost comical fashion dropped the drink and then lifted her hands to her face, as if shocked by what happened. Every shifter within fifty feet clamored to help her. Sydney slipped into a nearby truck, cranked the engine, and was driving down the road before any of the shifters in Lily’s attendance even noticed anything was different. Hopefully they would assume one of the guys had taken the truck into town. None would believe their Chala was stupid enough to head into town alone, knowing an uncursed Gavin was out there, searching for her.

  Shows what they knew.

  She did wonder at Brandon’s absence, though. If he had been anywhere in the vicinity, he wouldn’t have bought their act for a minute. They’d had a backup plan. But it involved Lily actually injuring herself, thus forcing Brandon to focus on her while Sydney slipped away unnoticed.

  Sydney drove toward the nearest motel, a rundown building with a flashing sign that advertised ‘Motel—Free Cable,” although several of the bulbs in the sign were burned out and it looked more like ‘Tel-Free-Cal.’ She began to feel nervous that the most important aspect of her plan wouldn’t show. He’d called her cell phone again today, but she hadn’t told Brandon and Prim. She hadn’t even told William, because she did not trust him not to loop in the other two.