Fate Fixed
Page 20
With his heightened senses he could smel an abundance of foods being set up on the patio. The families were
preparing a shared meal, but he doubted he could eat. The scent of cooked food was unappealing – however, he
normal y enjoyed fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables. He needed living blood to survive, but raw foods were stil enjoyable. Although he knew Cian’s mom Fianna would
see to it that al of his favorite snacks were a part of the spread, he had too much on his mind to even consider eating.
BRADEN
Floating in from outside, a delicate perfume smel ing of brown sugar and vanil a mingled with the other familiar scents.
Instantly, Braden knew it belonged to Lexie’s best friend Liz. It amazed him how close the two were, considering their differences. Where Lexie was soft spoken and
delicate, Liz was direct and forceful.
He chuckled recal ing how wel Liz handled herself when he charged into the basement ready to take on the shifters.
He had expected to find a pack of werewolves feasting on poor Lexie. Instead, he discovered some beautiful stranger with a loud mouth giving him hel for making her jump. If he had more time, he would have enjoyed getting to know the spitfire better. If Lexie loved her, she must have had some remarkable qualities. I guess I’l never know.
Braden stood and walked to his window. The view from his bedroom looked out on Teagan’s family home. He and his mother, Brigid, had lived on their property in a smal guest house for years. She no longer ventured out to socialize with the others. It wasn’t that she didn’t love them, because she did. They al knew what she had been through and
offered their timeless love and support.
After Braden’s father passed away twelve years ago, the magic that bound Brigid to Lachlan dissolved. Her once shiny flaxen hair had paled to an almost white. Delicate lines were
BLOOD TWIST
beginning to appear across her brow and around her
mouth, but Braden stil considered her lovely. The truth was, without the magic of the bond, Brigid was growing older.
Seeing the others ful of youthful energy with their fate-partners had become too painful for her to endure. So, as a matter of emotional survival, she lived a quiet existence in her rooms as she waited to eventual y be reunited with Lachlan in the afterlife.
Braden hated leaving his mother like this, she needed him desperately. But, even she didn’t know the secret he kept tightly to himself for the last eight years. He could never have worried her with such a burden, especial y in her fragile state.
Besides, if he confided in her, she would have begged the coven to intervene. More lives would be lost.
He had to face his death alone.