Forged by Fate (Entangled Embrace)

by Reese Monroe

He reached around her and opened the door. To a dim room, no less. Labs were always bright and sterile.

  One spin had her out from Dr. Fletcher’s grip. She was reaching for his hand to snap it back when the lights flew on.

  “Surprise!” A chorus of voices and noisemakers rang out. Confetti flitted in the air and laughter, mixed with some gasps, followed.

  At least twenty people filled the room. Mostly professors and their aides, but the dean of students was there, too. Tall and stiff as he normally was.

  “I told you I was not the correct person to get her here,” Dr. Fletcher said and looked at Sadie. “I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to push you. I’m terrible at this sort of thing. They wanted very much to surprise you for graduation and your birthday.”

  “Daring to even risk a touch, Doc,” Craig said as he approached, carrying a cup of punch. “Master black belt here. Hell, I wouldn’t have dared put a hand on her.”

  “Smart move.” Theo’s voice boomed from behind her. “I don’t enjoy people touching my Sadie.”

  Craig stepped back, eyes wide, as did Dr. Fletcher.

  Sadie stumbled to the side and cleared her throat. “It’s okay, Theo. They were just surprising me.” She glanced over the stunned crowd. “Um, everyone, this is my…this is Theo.”

  He stalked in, scanning the now-bright room. His lips were tight, and his jaw clenched. His nostrils flared, spiking her worry even higher. Did he detect something? Someone in this room?

  She surveyed the people. They had to be human—she’d known most all of them two years.

  Craig cleared his throat. “Um. Theo. Haven’t seen you around before.” He offered his hand. “I’m Craig. Lab rat to Professor Fletcher now that little Miss Brainiac here is moving on to bigger and better things.”

  Theo analyzed the outstretched hand, then quickly accepted it. “Theo Bradford.” But he offered no more to the comment of having not been seen on campus before.

  “Well, dear.” Dr. Fletcher glanced at Theo, then to Sadie. “You’re the guest of honor. Come in, there’s cake, of course.”

  “Always cake,” Sadie said, laughing. No wonder most of the faculty were twenty pounds overweight. Not a single event went by without vanilla and chocolate cake with thick cream cheese frosting.

  Her favorite. And the fact that they remembered her birthday was even more exciting. Graduating from college on her eighteenth birthday couldn’t have been more perfect. And now that Theo was there with her, it was even better.

  Almost like a normal date a couple might go on. It’d be nice to have a little downtime after all the crap that’d happened recently.

  Theo finally linked gazes with her, and his eyebrows pulled together. “I’m sorry, love,” he whispered.

  So much regret dripped off each word he said, and Sadie felt tears sting. It was much more than having stormed into this party, wasn’t it? That was when she saw it. He felt responsible for everyone. Everything.

  How fair was that? Already he had to worry about demons 24-7, guard gates all over the country, and watch out for his Companion. He deserved some downtime more than anyone.

  “Come in. Let’s eat cake,” she said, watching Craig and Doc make their way to the refreshment table. “It’s really good, totally fattening, and exactly what we need.”

  He leaned in and whispered, “We should go. It’s too confined down here. Only one escape route.” He glanced behind him.

  The Shomrei had returned. If only he’d stayed softened a little longer. Just an hour so they could enjoy something normal together.

  All she’d ever seen of him was fights, evil, paranormal…well, except last night, that was very normal and human.

  “Have Justin take care of things. I need this, Theo.” She reached for his hand. “And I want to share it with you.”

  He looked to her hand, then glanced at the door. He threaded his fingers through hers and brought them to his mouth. A gentle kiss followed, and she couldn’t contain her smile.

  “You stay. I’ll watch over things. I can sense things better outside.” A flicker of desire flashed through his eyes as if he wanted to stay. But obviously, he couldn’t. Her safety came first.

  She was safest with him right beside her, how could he not see that? He was headstrong and domineering sometimes, but she’d been on the receiving end of his tenderness and kindness. She wanted him by her side. Wanted to share this celebration with him.

  She loosened her grip and turned away before he could see how sad his leaving made her. “Okay. See you later.”

  Craig smiled and reached for her, but jerked his hand back and shoved it in his pocket. No doubt Theo threw a thought into his mind that scared the crap out of him.

  Whatever.

  “Holy hell, who was that?” Isabelle hurried to Sadie’s side, her big brown eyes flickering. “I think his total and complete hotness melted all the test tubes in this place.”

  The freshman made Sadie chuckle. Same age as her, but still so young. God, her life was weird. “He’s just a…friend.”

  “Sure he is.” Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Yum.”

  Craig ushered them to the table. There, next to three sheet cakes, sat a framed picture of her and Dr. Fletcher and a plaque engraved with “Best wishes, Sadie Nowland, with pride, Dr. Fletcher and the Chem Gang.”

  The Chem Gang. Something she’d called all the quirky, introverted, genius professors who took her in when she came here.

  Dr. Fletcher cleared his throat and held up his glass. “Don’t worry, it’s punch.” He grinned through his bushy beard and mustache. Isabelle giggled beside her. “It is with great pride we usher you into the working world.”

  The small crowd had encircled her, and they hummed their agreement.

  “You came to us a shy, very smart sixteen-year-old with a contagious energy and excitement. You kept us all on our toes, young lady.”

  Another hum surrounded her.

  “You make us proud. We hope what you’ve experienced here will help you in your future endeavors with Bendz Chem.” He raised his glass.

  Craig handed Sadie his glass and grabbed another from the table. “Don’t forget us little people, okay?”

  They all raised their glasses, then drank.

  Oh yeah, Doc’s heartfelt toast totally reinforced her need to keep the Bendz Chem job.

  No matter what the big Shomrei outside said.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  “Okay, well, thanks, everyone,” Sadie waved as she stepped through the doorway, holding her plaque and picture.

  “Wait. I’ll walk you out.” Isabelle hustled after her.

  “It’s okay. I’m making a pit stop first.”

  “Good, because I have to pee, too. And that’s what girls do. They go to the bathroom together, right?” She giggled.

  Sadie smiled. “True. Come on.”

  Around the corner, Sadie pushed open the swinging door she’d gone through hundreds of times over the past two years. She’d practically lived at this building. She’d miss it, especially its predictability.

  With Theo, nothing was predictable. Hell, his world was downright scary.

  She hurried about her business while Isabelle chattered away, though it was interesting she didn’t use the restroom as she’d said she had to. Only primped at the mirror.

  Silly girl.

  Sadie made her way to the sinks. “So, what are you going to do this summer?” she asked as she waved her hands near the faucets to get them going.

  “Doesn’t matter,” she whispered.

  Sadie glanced over and was met with ruby-red eyes.

  “Wait a minute. You—”

  Isabelle clamped her hand around Sadie’s throat and slammed her against the stall. What the hell?

  On instinct, Sadie smashed her fists down on Isabelle’s elbows to break her hold. Her supernaturally strong hold.

  Shit.

  The girl didn’t budge. A deep, wicked laughter spewed from her mouth.

  “Isabelle?�
�

  “I couldn’t quite get the eyes to work. They say eyes are the window to the soul.” She laughed. “Maybe that’s why I couldn’t cover the red.”

  “Aggie?”

  Isabelle flinched.

  Holy hell! “Theo will—”

  “Do nothing. He’s quite busy out there.” She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Not quite sure Justin will make it, though, but that’s fine by me. One less holier-than-thou, angelic Shomrei makes my job a little easier.”

  “What the hell do you want with me?”

  Isabelle’s grin widened, and her tongue flicked out. “Need to test a theory. So you’ll be coming with me.”

  “Test…a theory?” Sadie coughed through the tight hold on her neck. Like hell she’d go with him.

  “Seems I don’t have to wait for you two to mate after all.” Isabelle grinned. “Seems you’re…different.”

  Sadie squirmed to reach the Mavet, positioning herself against the metal stall she’d been slammed against. How could she kill Isabelle when it wasn’t really her doing this? If she stabbed her, would it even kill Aggie?

  “How are you doing this?” Sadie asked, stalling, working to get her leg up for one last grab at the dagger.

  “I’ve picked up a few new talents during my time in Hades.”

  “Must have met Houdini down there, since you’re getting out over and over again.”

  Isabelle laughed. It ripped through Sadie’s chest, her friend being used like this. Was she hurting? Did she know what she was doing?

  “Isabelle. Can you hear me?” Sadie whispered. “Please.”

  The grip around her trachea tightened. She’d hear cracking soon if she couldn’t get out from Isabelle’s grasp. Damn it. How was she going to get out of this? Was Theo okay?

  “I feel the human within me clawing to get out. It’s a strong one.” Aggie laughed. “But human. So, in essence, very weak. Unlike you.”

  Sadie cranked her knee up, aiming for the groin. Isabelle pivoted away, but not entirely. Sadie grazed her hip, but it gave enough of a distraction for her to grab the dagger.

  In a flash, she held the tip of the weapon against Isabelle’s throat.

  “You’d kill your friend?” she asked in a tight voice.

  “I’d kill you, Aggie.” Not only to free Isabelle, but to free Theo as well.

  Wait, she could say the words. What were they again? The knife, she had to get it into the demon and then say the words.

  “Tell me your plans,” Sadie whispered. “Or I’ll end you.”

  Isabelle leaned forward, breaking the skin some, and pressed a kiss to Sadie’s lips. “You can try.”

  Suddenly, a slicing pain ripped through Sadie’s gut. Warmth spread down her lower half.

  “Your angelic roots only protected you for so long, half-breed.” Isabelle stepped back, holding a knife. “I would have liked to take you with me instead of kill you.”

  Shit.

  “Reverto ut Abyssus.” She gasped for breath. “Isabelle, I’m sorry.” She jammed the dagger into Isabelle’s chest cavity and repeated the words again for good measure.

  Isabelle sagged to the side as Sadie slid down the metallic wall. Warmth oozed down her lower half, and she finally looked. Dark, thick blood freely flowed, soaking her shirt.

  Theo. Sadie lay there stunned as the burning pain spread along her stomach and down her abdomen. It wasn’t the same as the poison, though. While painful, not as painful.

  She crawled along the tiled floor until she reached her friend. She forced open her eye and saw they were the brilliant brown she’d always known. Thank God the bastard released her.

  But the blood pooling at Isabelle’s chest wasn’t very reassuring.

  Sadie had to get Theo; he could heal Isabelle.

  She rolled to the side enough to dig her phone from her back pocket. The screen was cracked and black.

  Shit.

  She’d have to go get Theo.

  Hopefully, she could find him before she passed out from loss of blood.

  Chapter Thirty

  “Justin!” Theo skidded beside his motionless brother and withdrew the two daggers buried deep in his chest and stomach. “Shit.”

  Theo ripped open Justin’s shirt and pressed his hand over the first wound, then glanced at the back door to the Sciences building. No more demons, but the horde had done its damage. Not only to Justin but to Theo, too.

  Despite the energy being sapped by absorbing Justin’s injury, Theo felt the cuts and stab wounds on his own body begin to mend.

  How a pack of demons this big got through a gate or splice undetected rested on Theo’s shoulders. This was his responsibility.

  Fortunately, he’d been recharged by his night with Sadie. He would have been on the ground by now had he been relying on his energy alone.

  Theo. Sadie’s voice rammed into him like a truck.

  Had a demon gotten through? He’d been certain none had breached his defenses and gotten into the building.

  Yet now that he’d settled, he could feel her pain, her scrambled thoughts. There was anger and hatred mixed in, too, but the predominating ones were fear and weakness. Two things Sadie didn’t experience unless things were really bad.

  “Sadie.” Theo grunted as a wave of Justin’s pain rammed into him. But his brother needed him, too. “Shit.”

  “Go,” Justin said. “Get your Mate.”

  Theo looked down at his brother. He was pale, and sweat dampened his face. He was nowhere near okay.

  Justin pushed Theo back. “Save…your Mate. I’ll live.”

  He would. Justin had preserved his neck, but if he lay unconscious out here and demons came back, they’d have an easy time beheading him.

  “Damn it!” He glanced around and opened his mind to Sadie.

  Muddled. Foggy. He couldn’t get a grasp of her location. But his neck pulsed erratically as if it struggled to stay beating.

  Something had gotten her.

  Theo grabbed Justin’s dagger and closed his brother’s fist around it. “I’ll hurry. Stay awake.”

  “I’m good.” Justin coughed. “Go.”

  Theo got up and a wave of dizziness broadsided him. Justin’s healing took a little more than anticipated. Once he gained his footing, Theo sped to the front of the building. He burst through the doors and knocked shoulders with the guy from the party. Craig, yes, that was his name.

  “Where’s Sadie?”

  He pushed off Theo. “Dude.” He shook his head. “She left. Like twenty minutes ago.”

  Theo descended the stairs and sprinted down the hallway, following the quiet voices. None of which were Sadie’s.

  His connection to her was fading, fast. Barely a blip. No thoughts of her location, either. Her mind was shutting down. Slowing. “Sadie?” he yelled as he ran the hallway toward the room he’d left her at to eat her cake and mingle with her friends. The door to the party room was propped open. Only a few people remained, eating cake and talking quantum physics.

  He sprinted onward toward another exit sign and one last hallway.

  Sadie’s blip fell off his radar.

  An overpowering stench of iron slammed into his senses. Blood. His heart hammered and muscles tightened as he stopped by a short hallway. The sign hanging from the ceiling read RESTROOMS.

  Oh Great One, please. Not Sadie’s blood. Please.

  He pushed open the swinging door and found a woman lying on her side. Blood soaked her shirt near her heart. He heard only a whisper of a heartbeat. She was minutes away from death. He inhaled and a faint trace of demon stench stung his nostrils.

  “Sadie?” He stepped farther in, then squatted and looked beneath the stalls.

  Empty.

  He knelt beside the female lying on the floor and realized she’d been at the party. He recognized her long brown hair. She’d been standing off to the side.

  As he leaned closer to look at her wound, more demon stench stormed through his senses. But she was
human.

  Heal her.

  The Great One’s prompt didn’t go unheard. He knelt down and reached for her. Injuries this grave would leave him depleted, and he had to save enough for Sadie.

  If he could find her. But his connection with her had gone flat, so he feared the worst.

  He rested his hand on the girl’s forehead, prying into her thoughts as he absorbed her injuries. The ache rocked through his body, and he fell back against the porcelain sinks.

  A chill seeped through his shirt, but he knew it was from his energy draining as well as the sink behind him. He bit back a grimace, reaching deeper into this girl’s mind.

  She’d talked with Sadie at the party. Watched her from afar, too. Admiration for Sadie streamed through her.

  Then they’d gone into this bathroom together. She applied lip balm as she looked into the mirror. A sharp flash and pain, then darkness. No memories. Only darkness, black as pitch and thick as tar.

  Evil.

  The mortality of her wound passed. Though not 100 percent healed, she would live, so he separated from her. Limbs heavy, he lumbered to the door, searching for Sadie with his mind.

  His soul.

  His heart.

  Justin.

  Everything was silent around him. At that moment, it felt as if he’d lost everyone. Heaviness weighted his limbs like concrete. Once out of the restroom, he went left toward the stairwell. He scented blood again. Faint. He reached for the handle and saw it.

  She’d gone this way.

  Hope fueled a wave of energy, and he thrust the door open. Unable to take the stairs two at a time again, he hurried to the first landing. Another crimson smudge. Against the brick this time, and it was dark and low, near the floor.

  She’d fallen here.

  The door had a number one on it, confirming Theo was right in thinking this was the first floor. If his bearings were correct, he should be near the back exit of the building.

  A hint of vanilla enveloped him. Yes. She’d gone this way. He opened the door. He’d been right. The side exit door was across the hall. Two steps brought him to that, and he pushed it open.

  Through the fading light, he saw her body prone on the gravel.

  He sensed nothing from her.