Accepting Fate

by Rivers, Brandy L

  Taking a deep breath, she nodded in agreement and closed her eyes. She brought up the almost-vision of a building she had earlier and opened her eyes.

  Another building came flowing toward them and she jumped, even as it stopped yards away, but close enough she could identify the area of Seattle.

  “Get me out of here,” Gwen said.

  Robert nodded.

  Gwen’s eyes snapped open and she jerked her hand from Robert’s grasp, swallowing hard.

  Amanda sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Sorry. I can’t stop thinking about all my mistakes.”

  Her heart squeezed tight. She understood what drove Amanda from Mike. Fear and self-disgust. “Shh. It’s not your fault. I’m sorry I pried. I’ve never done that before, at least not while in someone else’s head.”

  “I don’t blame you. If our positions were reversed, I’d want to know that stuff. Please, get Mike back. He needs you.” Amanda blurred past them and up the stairs.

  Robert looked to Preston and back to Gwen. Then he asked, “Where are we going?”

  Chapter 28

  A door crashed open and Mike hurried under the nearest shelf. He was closing in on a flashing exit sign at the far end of the building.

  “Oh, Michael, where are you hiding?” Cole sing-songed, a thread of rage lacing his voice.

  “Calm down, love.” The voice was harshly melodic, like soft chimes in a minor cord. He shuddered in his tiny shrew form.

  “You said to find him,” Cole protested.

  “Ah, but you have other pets who can find the one who got away.”

  Why the hell didn’t I shift into something faster? Mike wondered. Better yet, why the fuck didn’t I shift to something faster after getting out of the creepy ass room?

  “What if they hurt him? We need him alive and well enough I can draw energy from him.”

  “Capture him, and I can take care of that.”

  “You’re mine, Josie. I’ve gone through so much to bring you back,” he whined. “All I’ve done was for you.”

  “You’ll be rewarded, Cole.”

  He felt the magic from across the warehouse. Under the shelving, Mike didn’t have a clue what was going on, but he wanted out of there in a big way.

  Another door opened, and he heard the slap of bare feet on concrete.

  Michael, the woman called… in his head?

  A shiver traveled down his spine.

  Come to me. I have big plans for the man who was instrumental in bringing me back. And I don’t mean Cole.

  What the fuck are you? He thought back in a shout. And why the fuck does my fur want to crawl off my damn body?

  You’ll get used to my essence. Embrace it, let me wrap around you.

  Oh, hell no, lady.

  I want to be your friend, your lover, anything you want, Michael.

  Fuck that with a two-by-four. You can keep your creepy ass the fuck away from me.

  The door creaked again. Then there was running and a sniffing sound. “Don’t smell any magic but you two,” someone said. “Nope, no magic. Nobody’s there.”

  “Look for any kind of animal,” Cole calmly requested. There was an air of ego in his voice, like he felt superior.

  “Animal?”

  “Look,” Cole insisted.

  Walking came closer. Then the shelf he hid under crashed over as something with an essence that was a cross between Isa and Amanda peered down at him.

  “What are you, little mouse?” the creature hissed, his fangs extending as his hand swung out lightning-fast.

  Mike was faster, shifting into a tiger as he leapt onto what appeared to be a teenager. The kid was unnaturally strong and flipped Mike onto his back.

  Remembering what Joey said about Others, Mike roared, and clamped his jaws over the kid’s throat, crunching down until blood filled his mouth.

  Rolling back to his four feet, Mike backed away. The kid’s eyes went blank as an inhuman amount of blood spread out on the dirty, pitted floor.

  Cole started chanting as he walked toward him. Mike shifted back to human and whipped his hands up, sending the cement moving in a wave, crumbling as it moved toward Cole, knocking him off his feet. Pure energy flowed through Mike’s hands as a breeze whipped through the building, swirling around him.

  Lightning hit Cole, sending him flying into a shelf, and knocking several other racks over in the process.

  Mike tossed a glance at the freaky chick. “I’m not playing around. Whatever the fuck you want, you aren’t getting it. I’m not a tool, not a toy, and I won’t be used.”

  She stared into his eyes, her brow scrunching down.

  He glared back, closing the distance.

  Josephine snarled, “You won’t, will you?”

  “Not a fucking chance!” He walked forward, pulling energy from everything. He heard thunder crash over the building.

  “Can’t crack you, can’t use you!” She screamed, then disappeared into thin air. Psycho bitch was gone, as if she’d never been there.

  He felt Gwen, and two more mages, at the same time Cole’s chanting started back up.

  Mike whipped around and charged at Cole who climbed to his feet, wiping away the trickle of blood from his mouth.

  The bastard smiled cruelly as the door burst open and Gwen ran in. “You’re pathetic. Always falling in love at the drop of a hat. I told you not to come for Mike.” Cole flung his arm out, sending a ball of black swirling gunk hurtling at Gwen.

  Mike motioned at the spell and pushed it off course before closing the gap between him and Cole. Grabbing the asshole by the shirt, Mike lifted him off the ground and rammed a fist into his face.

  “You will not harm a single hair on Gwen’s head. She’s mine, you stupid prick.”

  Cole didn’t learn. Instead, a chant rolled off his tongue. Mike placed a hand over his face as electricity danced over his body and into the bastard who had used him to bring some psychotic bitch back from the dead.

  Wails from the back of the warehouse echoed throughout the building, but Mike didn’t stop channeling his energy into Cole. In moments, his body stopped twitching and the tortured cries died out.

  Gwen called out, “Mike!”

  His heart thudded in his chest as he realized what Gwen had witnessed. Regardless of the reason, he was terrified she’d be appalled by his actions.

  Dropping Cole, he spun to find her running toward him. He caught her in his arms, crushing her to his chest. “Just the mage I wanted to see.” He fucking hoped that hug meant she wasn’t freaked out.

  She looked past him to Cole. “Didn’t need me after all.” There was a smile on her lips but despair in her eyes.

  “Couldn’t have done any of this without you.” He wiped at his mouth, still tasting blood. “I want to kiss you but…” He shuddered.

  She pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” He didn’t feel the woman anymore. He wasn’t sure where she went but she wasn’t close by. He felt safe.

  “Come on, let’s get you guys home,” Robert said.

  Mike looked back at the vampire. “What about him?”

  Preston’s brow arched. “He’s healing, which means he can be saved. Question is, how bad did Cole fuck with his head?”

  Mike decided he really didn’t care to know.

  “Don’t worry,” Preston said in a firm voice, meeting Mike’s gaze. “Self-defense. Please, for Gwen’s sake, tell me you aren’t feeling guilty.”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  Preston looked back down at the vamp and cast a spell. Mike saw the glittering shield surrounding the vampire.

  “Okay, we need some answers, but then you two can do what we all do after going through a dose of hell. Later, if this one survives, we’ll see what we can do for him.”

  Mike frowned, looking at Gwen who smiled slightly.

  She tossed Preston a grin. “Don’t worry. We’ll do plenty of that as soon as you two take your asses home.”

  Robert look
ed away with a soft chuckle.

  “Just have to touch him?” Mike asked Gwen.

  “Yup.” She placed a hand on Robert’s shoulder. Mike grabbed his arm. Preston did too.

  Mike’s eyes went wide as he looked around. “You know where I live?”

  “Part of our job,” Preston explained.

  Mike nodded toward the kitchen. “Want a beer?”

  “Still on duty. We’re going to have to take care of a few things once we’re done here.” He gave Gwen a sharp look. “Your duty is to make sure Mike’s fine after we go.”

  “I won’t argue that,” she answered softly.

  Mike met her gaze and had to wonder what was going on in her head. He had a bad feeling about whatever it was. “Give me a moment.”

  * * * *

  Mike came back from the bathroom with a fresh shirt and clean face. He grabbed a couple beers.

  Gwen sat down on the couch, hoping Mike would take his place beside her. She needed comfort after the realization that he really didn’t need her. All she could think was that she was a failure. She hadn’t saved him.

  Refusing to let tears come, she forced a smile when Mike sat as close as he could get and put an arm around her.

  He loved her, but what if he knew what Amanda had been going through when she turned to the drugs? The knowledge might change his mind and that scared the hell out of her.

  Robert met her gaze and she saw sympathy on his face when he gave a slight shake of the head. No doubt he wanted to talk to her about what she saw in Amanda’s head.

  Mike murmured against her ear, “You came for me. I knew you would.”

  “I didn’t get there in time,” she whispered.

  “You got there in perfect time. I hope I didn’t freak you out with what I did.”

  “Never. I’m so proud of you. Don’t let guilt get in the way of what you did for yourself.”

  He met her gaze with a confident smile. “I won’t.”

  Preston cleared his throat. “Okay, so take us through what happened.”

  Mike started with rushing out the door when the living dead-girl screamed, and then the dart when he realized it was a trap. He talked about when he first woke up, and then the second time when all the weird shit happened. His brow drew together. “I didn’t kill the vampire, but I did kill Cole, right?”

  “You did what you had to. Don’t forget that,” Robert told him.

  “He’s right,” Preston added. “What happened to Josie?”

  He shook his head. “She was gone before I turned back to Cole, after I attacked that kid.” He paused. His breath stalled. “He wasn’t a kid, was he?” Mike fucking hoped not.

  “No. Flynn is a few hundred years old. He was a type of fae before becoming a vampire. He became Cole’s puppet.”

  “Is that what Isa and Toryn are? Fae?”

  Gwen nodded. “Yup. You didn’t know?”

  “They felt different, but I didn’t know what they were. And what the fuck was Josie? She chilled my blood.”

  “Psion, before her death. Now, she’s likely something more. Still all of her power is mental. Don’t worry, as a druid you’re basically immune.” Gwen chewed her lip. “Though she can send you messages in your head.”

  He snorted. “She wanted to reward me for being instrumental in bringing her back. I have no clue what that means, but she can fucking keep it to herself.”

  Preston chuckled. “Smart man. We’ll see if we can find Josephine. She was killed a couple years ago, infiltrating our old boss’ house for a magical relic.”

  “I’m not going to ask,” Mike replied. “Anything else you need from me?”

  “Not from you.” Robert stood. “Gwen, come with me for a moment.”

  She nodded, dreading the topic. He led her out to the balcony. “I see that look in your eyes. What you saw in Amanda’s head, it was normal for her to be thinking that with you there.”

  She looked up at him and saw understanding. “What if a part of him still loves her? She was so scared by what she saw when his abilities came flowing back.”

  “Amanda let him go. You didn’t see that part. I did the other night. Today she was caught on all her thoughts about Mike because he was in danger. When it was Preston and me with her, she wasn’t thinking about Mike. She was thinking about all the horrible things Cole did.”

  “Ultimately, it’s his decision, Robert. If he knows the whole story and comes for me, then it’s meant to be. If not—well, if not, he’s yet another man not ready to let go of his past.”

  He touched her shoulder. “Gwen, I saw the relief in his face when he saw you. He’s in love with you. He wants you. Only you.”

  She smiled, but turned to look out over Seattle. “Then he’ll come for me.”

  “It’s a mistake. Trust me. I know all about letting go of the one I love because I think it’s the right decision.”

  She nodded. “You all worked out. Better than I remember you guys back then.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  “I’ll talk to him first. I won’t disappear without a word. I need to do this for me though.”

  “You’re not a failure. You know that, right?”

  “Clearly I’m not. I taught him what he needed to save himself. But what if he doesn’t need me anymore? What if now that he’s found himself, he doesn’t want me? Or if he freaks out about what he did, Amanda can take that part of him away.”

  “By becoming a vampire?” Robert shook his head.

  “You remember the first time you killed someone?”

  He nodded. “Sat with me for some time. Until I realized it was the only thing I could do.”

  “Well, if we had been there sooner, he wouldn’t have to deal with it.”

  He sighed. “Stubborn, always so stubborn. You’ve heard my piece. It’s your decision.”

  “Don’t tell him where I’m going.” She wiped a tear away. “If he loves me half as much as I love him, he’ll find me when he’s ready. I may need some time alone until then.”

  “You’re making a mistake, but okay. A warning though, if he asks me for help to get to you, I’m bringing him.”

  “He’ll have to figure out where I’m going first. I’m not telling you, or anyone else.”

  “You’re crazy. That man loves you. Knowing Amanda’s real reasons for leaving isn’t going to change what he feels.”

  “He deserves to know. At the very least, he needs to talk to her.”

  “You might push him away with this insane idea.”

  “I need to do this. I need to know.”

  “He’s not in love with her. He isn’t me, and doesn’t feel for Amanda what I feel for Liz.”

  “I hope you’re right. Go. I need to talk to Mike.”

  He squeezed her shoulder before striding inside, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

  It was a gamble, but she needed to know she was the only person in Mike’s heart.

  Chapter 29

  Mike looked toward the balcony and his heart sank when he saw the intensity between Robert and Gwen. “What’s going on with her?”

  Preston snorted. “At a guess? She saw something in Amanda’s head to make her question everything. Girl thinks too damn much. And don’t get any ideas. He’s probably trying to warn her not to make some of his old mistakes.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You’ll have to ask her. I don’t know all the details.”

  “She’s scaring me.”

  “Yeah, you and me both. She’s been hurt, and I think she expects it to happen again.”

  Mike’s head whipped around to glare at Preston. “I’m not an asshole. I’m not going to hurt her.”

  “Yeah, but she’s going to do it to herself. Her history,” he shook his head, “she’s comparing you to her past.”

  “I’m her damned future, not what came before,” Mike insisted.

  “You’ll have to tell her that.”

  “Plan to.”

  Robert walked in,
shaking his head. “Talk to her. Convince her what you really feel.” He grabbed Preston’s arm and they were gone.

  Fucking hell.

  He sucked in a breath and went to Gwen. Her elbows were on the railing as she stared out at the city.

  “I’m a fucking moron. I shouldn’t have gone outside, but it looked like Amanda at first. Then she screamed. I couldn’t help myself, I had to help. I can’t lose you, Gwen. I lo—”

  She spun and covered his mouth with her hand. “Wait. This isn’t your fault.”

  He yanked her hand down and growled. “It’s not yours either.”

  “You aren’t worried about what you did without thought?”

  He shook his head. “I’ll admit, the vampire may bother me. He wasn’t in control. For the record, I’d do it again, without regret. Cole, I don’t feel the least bit guilty. He hurt you, would have used me—and Amanda.” Mike lifted a shoulder in a shrug and looked to the sky. “I’m not sure she can ever get back what she was. Part of that’s me, some of it’s Cole.”

  “You should talk to her. There was more, but that’s for her to tell you.”

  “Don’t, Gwen. I told you, I don’t love her. Yes, she left me hurting, but I’ve moved on. I want to keep moving on, with you.”

  She blinked and tears fell down her face. “I was in her head, Mike. That’s how we found you. Maybe if I could have followed Robert’s direction we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” She took in a breath and let it out. “There was more to why she left. Why she needed the drugs. If you knew the story, you may change your mind.”

  “There’s a powerful reason to not change my mind, Gwen. You’re standing in front of me. I’m in love with you. Not her, you.”

  “I love you too,” she whispered.

  He closed the distance and kissed her hard, trying to take away every doubt. Mike backed her against the rail, his hands sliding under her shirt. “I need you,” he murmured before picking her up and carrying her inside.

  He felt the emotional distance already, and his heart threatened to shatter. Pleading, he said, “Do you hear me, Gwen? I need you.” He meant it with every ounce of his being.