Fateful Attractions

by Lucretia Stanhope

  “I am.”

  “That is all I need to know.” She sat down and watched as he walked over, sitting beside her. “Do you think if she was able to lose Sergei, I will be able to find Fannie?”

  “Yes. What Lewis gave you will help. I will help. I know someone else who can help, but that will stay between us, and later for that. Why don’t we put together the broken pieces first? Fannie and Lewis will be a whole new quest fraught with its own trials.”

  Gwen ran her fingers along the lush fabric of the cushion. She let his offer of someone else slip unnoticed because her mind swirled with more questions than she could articulate. “Can you go where she went?”

  “Later for that? Tonight we start to make things right before we attempt to flip the next applecart.” His hands rested on her and warmth spread from his fingertips.

  She felt it reaching into her and stopped her questions while he worked on her. She knew she had been touched, and he hadn’t had the time to look at it earlier. “Upset. I think it is upset, the applecart.”

  He smiled up at her. “We’ll do more than upset it. We will blow it to bits.”

  She watched him look almost eager at what lay ahead. “Thank you.”

  He looked back at what he was doing. After a few long moments he smiled. “The babies will be fine.”

  “Were they touched?”

  “He was, ever so slightly. I’ve already removed it.” When worry started to fill the air he narrowed his eyes. “It’s gone. I removed it. No harm.”

  She swallowed down her concerns. He had no reason to lie about the babies, and she didn’t get the impression he would. “What about me? If you take off the burn where it touched me, will I still be able to kill Fannie when I need that darkness?”

  “Oh yes, your loss will provide all the darkness you need.” His finger wrapped around her arm in the same spot.

  She reasoned he sensed it because it was no longer visible. A burning prickled as he tugged whatever it left behind away. She watched with rapt curiosity when his eyes seemed to glow red. “Did you take it? In you, like I do with pain and emotions?”

  “Don’t you worry about me. I’ve been nipping demons for breakfast for many years.” He chuckled. “It’s gone, mostly. I won’t kid you, it left a small nick, but I don’t imagine it will be a problem.”

  “Why would it do that? Touch me and leave things behind?”

  “To come back and eat you later. They find your light delicious I imagine.”

  “Eat me?” She closed her eyes and breathed through her nose. “I appreciate your candor. I’m not used to it, but I appreciate it more than you will know.”

  “I do know.”

  Her eyes glanced toward the empty fireplace. “They won’t have a dad. Just like I didn’t.”

  “They will have you. You are magnificent.”

  She leaned back on the couch. “Can you stay with me and talk?”

  “I can.” He leaned back as well.

  There was a long pause while she thought about which of the million things on her mind she wanted to talk about. It wasn’t often someone leveled with her. “When was I supposed to die?”

  “Only ask me things you really want to know.” Yardley crossed one leg over the other and smoothed his pants against his thigh. “Some things won’t change anything, but they will make your days harder.”

  “Who changed my fate? Dmitry?”

  “Not that part. Not in the way you think.”

  “He changed my fate? What part?” She sat up and opened her eyes.

  “Everyone you meet does in some ways, but your fate was already in your own hands when you crossed paths with that monster.”

  She let out a sigh. “Is there a reason you don’t want to tell me who saved me from death?”

  “It’s not my place. If you ask I am sure he will tell you.”

  The answer he gave was all the clue she needed. “I’ll ask him myself then when the sun goes down.” She leaned back and closed her eyes, wondering at which point it happened. Did it matter? At some moment he decided she would live at the cost of the rules he held so dear. Was that why he pushed her away? Did he resent that she’d caused him to go even further from the things he wished to return to?

  “No. He loves you.”

  “How do you hear my thoughts? I thought only vampires can do that.”

  “It’s not a gift unique to them. In fact, some of us don’t need to ingest any nasty blood to do so.” He chuckled and watched her smile.

  “Good.” She blushed when she realized all of the things she’d thought about around Yardley. Some of her first meetings with Sebastian were intense and she’d had some embarrassing thoughts. Her gaze landed on everything in the room but him.

  “I don’t judge. I’m in no place to do that with anyone.” He laughed. “It’s been a long night. You should rest. The babies are sleepy, you are exhausted. Dillon will sleep for hours.”

  “And you?”

  “I require no sleep. I will be here to make sure you all sleep safely.”

  “You promise to help me find her?” She watched him nod in agreement. “Even if it is dangerous and even if Dmitry says no?”

  “Dmitry isn’t my master. You have my promise.”

  “Even if Sebastian says no?”

  “Sebastian wouldn’t deny you anything.”

  “Except himself.” He looked like he was about to protest but she put up her hand. “Can you walk with me to my room? I’d rather not be alone just yet.”

  “Of course.” He stood and gave her a hand.

  Next to her bedroom was a bath and after she washed off the gore of the night, she wrapped in a towel and walked to her room, that thankfully had clothes there. It wasn’t the first time she’d slept at Sebastian’s and he kept the room ready for her. The sheets carried the familiar smell of spices and exotic luxuries that always brought images of him to mind. They didn’t last.

  As soon as she closed her eyes she saw Shane.

  Shane. Tears and soft weeping lulled her to sleep.

  G wen didn’t bother to try and control the sobs that racked her body. Sebastian, Dillon, and even Yardley stood near, circling her with support. Words said over the casket flitted into her consciousness, but didn’t stop the replaying of her own memories. Memories of his smile, the smile he always wore. She rubbed her belly, and silently told the kids their father was a beautiful soul. They would have her memories; she would find a way to make that real for them.

  The last few days flew by in a haze. Kathy and Mel made sure she had food and yarn, not that she used either too much. Occasionally, when they stayed long enough, they would get her to chat and even smile while they talked about the babies. Mostly she placated them, saying what they wanted to hear and eating enough so that they could carry on with their own days, and not worry about her.

  All she wanted to do was sit at the lake and cry. When the stones arrived from Shane’s shop, she thought that might be a good distraction, but she couldn’t bring herself to work the magic needed. She knew he wanted them to be positive charms for the kids, and she didn’t want to cloud the stones with her sadness.

  At night when she cried herself to sleep, she wondered if the sadness would ever ease.

  Dillon fully recovered and as far as she could tell he hadn’t seen her, or Sebastian at the crazy woman’s home. She gathered he assumed he had been taken as the next victim and was rescued just in time. It surprised her how quickly he was back at work and back at her place, making sure she had everything she needed.

  No body was found on the site, and the case stayed opened. Sebastian and Sergei saw to it that everybody who needed it in their minds thought Shane had been found as a victim, and that the scene was processed and cleared. That left them free for the services.

  Services she needed to pull herself back to. The drizzle in the air mingled with the humidity, coating everything in a thick layer of damp. But not her. For days she cried, bringing down the rain with her tears, and for d
ays someone always stood beside her with an umbrella. Dillon, Yardley, Sebastian, and even Sergei at times. Occasionally, she would feel the hum of magic growing within her, and for a brief happy moment the rain would stop.

  She wondered again if the sadness would ever pass.

  “I can take it.” She heard in her mind.

  “On its own I meant.” She responded in kind, and pushed him away. Part of her pushed at them all, because she wanted to feel the loss. Shane deserved as much. A bigger part pushed them away because that was safer. Her love killed Shane.

  She had to live with that now.

  After the service, she muddled her way through condolences before she made her way home with Dillon. She wasn’t ready to be with Sebastian, it was too raw and Dillon insisted she not be alone.

  “Did you want coffee?” he asked, standing over her while she sat on the couch, debating what she wanted to do.

  She looked up at his green eyes. They lacked their sparkle, and she wondered if that was his own sadness, or a reflection of hers looking back at her. “No, I think I might go to bed early. You should go home. I really don’t need you here all the time.”

  “No, I promised Shane that I would take care of you, help him make you happy. I am a man of my word.” He frowned and walked over, sitting beside her. “I’m not ready to leave you alone with so many unanswered questions.”

  “We may never have those answers. You need to get on with your life.” She allowed him to hold her hand a second before she pushed it away. She would never risk him again. “I mean it. Shane wouldn’t have wanted you to be here, miserable.”

  “I’m not miserable. And I am pretty sure if we are going to think about what he would have wanted, it wouldn’t be you in a dark old house all by yourself.” He stood and took a few steps. “I’m making coffee. Kathy and Mel left pie and cake. Are you sure you don’t want any?”

  She stood up and shook her head no. “This isn’t like Curtis, Dillon. I don’t know if this goes away.”

  “It will. I promise, sweetestheart. Not today, probably no time soon, but it will.” He walked over and started toward the stairs. “I’ll walk you up before I have dessert.”

  She thought about everything with each step. In her room, she sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him perched in the doorway. He was more than a best friend. She’d loved him, and that almost cost him his life. “But you can’t make me happy this time. Don’t you see that? I can’t be happy, if you let in happy, sad follows.”

  He sat down beside her and held her hands. “You lost a beautiful new love before it had the chance to realize itself. That can never be replaced. Understand I intend only to ease your burden. I’ll help you with the house, and the babies, and anything else you need. Whatever was happening, happened in the past, forget it and just know I am a friend. I am whatever you need.”

  He was too perfect. Too sweet for her world. Shane taught her that lesson. She would feel the pain of that lesson forever. “Thank you.” To say anything more was a risk she wouldn’t take, not with his life. “Make yourself anything you want. You know where your room and things are.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “W hy did you alter my fate?” Gwen stood beside Sebastian at the lake, listening to the soft patter of rain that followed her everywhere. Her eyes looked across the water, but were not focused on anything in particular.

  Sebastian sighed and closed his eyes. “I couldn’t let you go. I love you.”

  A long pause hung between them. “But you did. You broke all the rules because you couldn’t let me go, and yet you did. You let me go.”

  The slight side step he took removed the chill of their distance. “You never left my heart. No matter what I said. You know that. You felt that.”

  “Why say it then?” She turned and shoved him. “If you hadn’t pushed me away.” Tears came to her eyes. “Damn it, Sebastian, I would have never taken that vacation.”

  She had tried not to blame him. He didn’t kill Shane. They killed all of her loves, he was on that list, in their clutches. Killing Josephine hadn’t eased the pain of the losses. It didn’t take away the guilt that four people died and all because she loved them.

  She looked into his blue pools of gentle comfort. “I’m sorry. That’s not fair.”

  “None of this is fair, my love.” He turned and folded her in his arms.

  The smell of sandalwood was as comforting to her as most people find the smells of their mother’s cooking. It smelled like home. Against his chest everything felt manageable. She never knew if it was magic or if it was that their souls belonged together. The only time they felt peace was pressed together.

  “You love me? Still? You never stopped? Why did you tell me it couldn’t be? Is that still how you feel?” Her words were muffled into him.

  He swallowed, and stroked her back. Did he care what they did to him? No. He cared what they would do to her. Take her away. Take her and the babies away where he couldn’t help her. “I will always love you. I’m not, we are not for each other. You must know that I love you though.”

  She struggled out of the embrace, the cold empty feeling returning to them both. “No, we are, we are made for each other. I will love you, forever, only you. If we are not meant to be, then I will not know what it feels like to be loved in return”

  “My love is always and only yours.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.” She shoved at him again. “If you love me, why deny me your love?”

  He pulled her to him again. “One day at a time, my love.”

  “Together.” Her answers were not coming tonight. He loved her, she felt it as she always had. That was enough. It had always been enough. “Even apart we will do it together.”

  He kissed her forehead, rested his chin on her, and breathed in her roses and peace. His witch, his love. He would give up everything to stay by her side, even her.

  The monsters may have ordered them apart, but nothing would break the connection of their souls. Their love was as eternal as he was. “Tell me about the doctor visit. It saddens me that those are always in the day.”

  She looked up at him and happiness danced across her eyes. “Oh, but Dillon would fight you for his seat I think. He has some strange allegiance to Shane, and feels very protective of the babies. I don’t get it, since their fishing day ended with a black eye, but who am I to try to understand men?” She allowed a small chuckle, thinking about them and happier times. “Anyway, the doctor says they are both perfect, still due in February.”

  “Well, I understand there is something to be said for spending those last months in the cooler weather of winter.” His fingers twined in her hair.

  “I can only imagine. I guess with twins I will get pretty uncomfortable, and big. Bigger.” She ran her hands across her belly and over her hips.

  “More beautiful is the description you are looking for.” He clasped his hand over hers at her hips. “How’s the nursery coming? Did Dillon get the things you needed?”

  She knew talk of babies was his way to try and shift her moods when they got too dark. While she appreciated it, she did worry the dark moods might never totally go away. “Yes, mostly. I seem to have a new list for him every time I see him. He doesn’t complain.”

  “Wonderful, and Dmitry?” he asked. It had been a while since she mentioned him, or even had thoughts of him.

  “Do you still report to him?” She frowned and stepped back, before tucking herself under his arm and reaching around his waist. “He won’t discuss Fannie or Lewis with me.”

  “I don’t, no. Sergei handles all that now. I am sure Fannie is a sore spot, since she slipped away to the between. They can’t go there. It isn’t often a human can so successfully and easily get away like that. She will come out. Even eternals must come up for air.” His hand rubbed her arm and he leaned onto her.

  “Sebastian?”

  “Yes, my love.”

  “Would you do it again? Save me from my fate?”

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sp; “I would. I would do it without a second thought as I did then.” He felt her shift beside him.

  “I thought I stopped Curtis that night.” She frowned. “I was kind of proud of that.”

  “You did.” He looked down at her and tilted her head up with a finger under her chin. “That was all you.”

  “But I thought?”

  “It was before then. After I stopped it, fate tried again to put things right. Since you had no fate then, it was up to you. You stopped it that time. All you, my brave and powerful witch.”

  “So we did it together? Changed my fate?”

  “We do everything together.”

  She looked at him with passionate eyes. Her finger traced his jaw and came to a rest on the corner of his mouth. “I love you.” She raised on her toes and pressed her lips to his. “Even if you don’t want it. I love you.”

  His lips pressed firmly against hers as his tongue parted her lips. The way he kissed her left her breathless and without a doubt he did want her love.

  The winds blew as a gentle breeze around them, carrying on it the smell of roses and sandalwood. The gazebo hummed with peace and passion. Hope and happiness was sent out.

  Her hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss, deeper into her.

  A soft growl rose from him as his fingers danced down her back, causing her to make a soft purring sound in response.

  “I love you, Mi Belleza.” The words were hot breaths on her lips that spoke to her soul.

  Together they both found peace, even if just for a forbidden night.

  The end.

  LUCRETIA STANHOPE is the author of a lot of things, about a lot of things, hopefully fascinating to read things. She lives in a small town in Kansas. It’s the kind of town you are afraid to be stranded in after dark, in case the creepy locals are actually vampires or satanic corn deity worshipers. Yes, there are cornfields all around the town. Seriously, that part is true. There is also a not so used rail station, really! And tons of creepy empty brick buildings, which would be moody fodder, if she would leave the house.