“Is something wrong, Mom?” Dylan’s question floated past her ears as they stopped just shy of the bar. He wrapped his arms around her, urging her to rest against him, which she did. Not even the heat of his chest could warm her, or chase away the chill creeping up her back.
Delia hesitated answering. Her eyes drifted to Layne as he poured a couple of shots. One he kept. The other slid across the bar, making its way into Scott’s waiting hand. When both knocked their glasses back, her eyes made it to Dylan.
“We have a lot to discuss. When do you leave for your honeymoon?”
“We fly out in the morning. Layne will join us in Montego Bay in a few days, though he promised to keep a respectful distance for a week.” Dark brows rose in Layne’s direction until he nodded in agreement, replacing the empty glass to the bar top.
“Good. Glad to hear he’s tagging along. We worried about how safe you’d be, taking off from the rest of us. Especially after Nicholas talked to that transporter. We have to make sure Heaven’s guarded at all times.”
“He questioned the transporter?” Dylan’s arms tightened around her, as did the throb of his energy. His focus shifted to the fireplace, where her father stood, arms folded behind his back.
But he didn’t answer. Delia did. “Before the Regency showed up, Nicholas…well, let’s just say he struck up a conversation with the guy.”
“Did the transporter reveal who he is working for?” Dylan continued, keeping his eyes on her father. When he shook his head, Dylan squeezed Heaven again.
Delia regained their attention as she left her spot near the pool table. “We’ll make a few calls while you’re gone. Don’t worry. We’ll find out who is behind this. For now, take it one day at a time. Layne’s caught up on our history and what his duties are as a Keeper. Now we need to figure out what his abilities are.” Her eyes fell to Heaven’s before she smiled. “Which is where you come in, sweetheart.”
“What can I do to help, Delia?”
“I need to know about his energy, Heaven. What do you feel when you’re around Layne?”
Heaven’s hand heated at the thought of Layne. Just like it had the night he risked his life for her. And the day they’d become friends. His energy consumed her when he was near. If it pulsed any harder, it would compete with Dylan’s, even though she knew it never would.
She and Dylan were soul bound. No connection could be stronger. Not even the blood bond with her sisters. But her bond with Layne went deep. Because of a Keeper’s natural attachment to his Seeker. An bond full of honor, loyalty, and love. A life bond.
“He pulses warmth. Sometimes it’s extremely hot, like when we first agreed to be friends. He burnt me.”
All eyes fell on her. Including Layne’s. His brows pinched as he pushed off the wall, obviously offended at the suggestion.
But it was Delia’s question that rang in her ears. “Beg your pardon?”
“The day of the engagement party, we shook hands, agreeing to be friends. When our hands met, it was like grabbing a pan out of the oven.”
“Wait a second,” Dylan grumbled from behind. He tilted his head to the side, waiting until she met his eyes. “The night in Aruba, after I took you away from the Drainer, you started screaming about your hand burning. Then you passed out. Before I could react to what was happening, mine started doing the same.
“Was it the same hand?” Delia stepped closer to Heaven, reaching her hand out in front of her. “May I see the hands that burned?”
Heaven stretched her arm out, brushing it against Dylan’s when Delia curled her fingers around them. She didn’t waste anytime looking at the back. Instead she flipped their hands, gazing down at their palms.
A gasp passed over her lips a second later.
Dylan flinched at the sound. He tugged on his hand, but Delia didn’t release it. She met his gaze, disbelief shining in her eyes as they left his and met with Heaven’s. “Do you see this?” She tapped their palms, near the wrist.
Heaven’s eyes trailed over the darkened skin, following the lines that formed what looked like a flame. Dylan’s hand held the same symbol.
She didn’t have time to process what it meant when Delia called for Layne to join them. A quick search of his right hand had her trailing her fingers over his palm. “It’s the same one,” she whispered, raising her head to look at him. “Tell me again what happened when the Drainer died.”
Layne winced at the memory. The guilt in his energy swirled around Heaven the minute his lids snapped shut. He didn’t want to remember what he’d done. Even if it meant that he’d saved her life. He’d still taken another.
“He kept screaming about burning until he took his last breath. Then he crumbled to the ground. When I realized he was dead, this sharp, burning sensation engulfed my hand. It hurt so bad, I screamed.”
“Heaven started screaming not long after I heard you,” Dylan added, tightening his arm around her. “So what does all this mean, Mom?”
“That the bond between a Seeker and her Keeper is sealed.
Heaven’s focus shifted to Delia’s hand, searching for a similar imprint. “Do you guys have these marks, too?”
“No,” Anna interrupted, making her way from the couch to the center of the room where Heaven stood, wrapped up in Dylan’s arms. “We didn’t get those marks. Because we’re not a supreme trinity.” She paused to note the wide-eyed gaze coming from Delia. “No wonder Nate wants you dead, sweetie. You’re part of a prophecy sworn to take down everything he knows.”
“I’m confused,” Heaven said, leaning the weight of her body against Dylan’s. The longer she stood there, the more her knees weakened. He must have sensed it. The heat of his embrace grew hotter when his arms flexed around her waist.
Stroking the skin warming her waist, she offered him a smile before focusing back on their parents. Delia’s eyes remained weary, but Anna stared at her with admiration. “Don’t worry about any of this now. Nothing’s going to change before you get back from your honeymoon. Enjoy your time together. Learn the strengths of your bond with Dylan. Let Layne focus on learning his abilities.”
“What the hell are my abilities?” Layne snorted, walking back toward the bar. And his shot glass. “I can’t work on anything if I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” He didn’t waste any time pouring himself a shot. Or kicking it back.
“Based on the things Heaven said, and the mark you all bear, my guess is that you’re a heat Bender. A Pyrokinetic.”
Layne choked on the shot, spilling a little from his mouth. He brushed away the liquid before gripping the bar. “Pyro? Doesn’t that mean—”
“Fire,” Heaven whispered. It all made sense now. How every time he was around, her body heated. Why the first moment they’d agreed to their friendship, his skin scorched hers. Everything about him burned her soul. Because she’d been playing with fire.
“I knew a heat Bender before.” Nicholas spoke from his spot near the window. He searched every face in the room before stopping on Layne. “I can give you a few pointers to help you get started.”
Layne nodded, pouring himself one more shot. He knocked it back as quickly as the other before motioning for Nicholas to join him. “I can concentrate better if I don’t have an audience.” He met Heaven’s gaze once more before refocusing on Nicholas, who’d walked up to the bar, grabbing the bottle of Patron.
He poured himself a drink then slapped his hand on Layne’s shoulder. “You’ll have to get used to her seeing you use your abilities. It’s what’s going to keep her safe. But for now, we can chat in private.”
Both men disappeared from the room a second later, filling Heaven’s mind with more questions. But she wouldn’t ask for any more answers. Enough craziness surrounded her life. She didn’t want to focus on her abilities or why certain people wanted her dead. She wanted to focus on Dylan. On beginning their life together.
Guess all this craziness was a part of her life, now. She had to get used to it.
But s
omething about Delia’s energy warned her the revelations hadn’t stopped for the day. The way the weariness in her eyes dissipated. How they twinkled with mystery. “I think I finally figured out who’s been blocking your connection.”
“Who is it?” The words left Heaven’s lips before she realized what she’d said. Her eyes darted to the archway Layne passed under a second ago. If Delia said his name, how well would Dylan handle the news?
As if he knew the thoughts troubling her mind, Dylan brushed a curl behind her ear. He didn’t meet his mother’s gaze. Would only look at Heaven, as if nothing else in the world mattered. “We’re listening, Mom”
Delia stepped past them, making her way to the couch where her sweater and purse lay. She fumbled with her items, mumbling something about her cards never being wrong. When she turned back toward them, Heaven’s eyes fell on the gift bag in her mother-in-law’s hands.
A jolt of confusion pounded through her body, mimicking the one coursing through Dylan. His brows pinched as their eyes met the moment Delia handed her the bag.
Pushing back the tissue paper, she gazed inside the golden package, searching for a clue to the mysterious gift in her hands. And when bold blue letters stared back at her, she made for the staircase, dragging Dylan along with her.
* * *
The heat of Heaven’s body radiated to Dylan’s chest as she stood before him in their bathroom. Her reflection revealed what he sensed in her soul. Curiosity. The way she bit her bottom lip, the telltale sign of her nervousness.
She leaned her head back, raising her eyes to meet his. The breath that she’d been holding blew past her lips, tickling his nose with its minty scent. Their wait would be over soon. Just a matter of seconds according to the clock on the wall.
“It’s time, isn’t it?”
Caressing her nose with his, he closed his eyes, focusing on the positive vibes reverberating in his soul. He pushed them toward her, hoping it would ease the tension flooding their connection. “Relax. Just pick it up and see what it says.”
He opened his eyes in time to see Heaven stroking the edge of the counter, fighting with the curiosity and fear building around her. Her fingers clasped the item in her hand, but she didn’t look at it. Simply dropped her hand at her side as she sucked in a deep breath.
Slipping his arms around her, he trailed them down the curve of her hips until they made it to her stomach. He laced his fingers below her navel, stroking the skin just above it with his thumb.
“Is it…” The words failed to form as he rested his chin on her shoulder, brushing his lips against her neck.
“Yeah,” she whispered back.
The answer sent a thousand jolts through his skin, causing goose pimples to spread over every inch of his body. Tightness burned the center of his cheeks. He didn’t think this day could get any better. Not after he got his one wish. To marry the love of his life.
Though he wasn’t sure how this affected his bond with Heaven, he knew his mother would explain. Right now, he wanted to bask in the moment with his wife.
“You’re sure there are two?”
She nodded once more, bringing the object closer to his face. When his eyes trailed across the double blue lines, all the love burning inside his heart spilled over. He leaned his head over her shoulder, curling his arms around her as they began to sway.
“I love you,” he whispered, planting his lips on hers as he caressed her stomach.
Afterword
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading What the Heart Needs. Sharing Heaven and Dylan’s story has been a pleasure for me. I hope it’s been a great experience for you as well. Rest assured, the story doesn’t stop here. Book Three of the Soulmate Series is in the works. You’ll get to read more about Heaven and Dylan in late 2013.
If you enjoyed reading What the Heart Needs as much I’ve enjoyed writing it, I hope you will help spread the word about the Soulmate Series. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, and of course, please leave an honest review on Amazon.com.
Thanks again for taking this journey with me. Stay tuned for the rest…
Works by Other Authors
If you liked the fated-love and supernatural elements in What the Heart Needs, you are going to enjoy A Love Soul Deep by Amber Scott.
A gold locket catches her eye and her heart. Inside the tiny gold frame is a picture of the one man she compares all others to. The one that got away…
Can this locket, one wish, bring back the love she lost?
To sample or purchase A Love Soul Deep, click here
About the Author
Most days you’ll find Kelli McCracken pecking away at the keyboard, sharing secret stories about those pesky little people inside her head. Or arguing with her characters about a scene. Other days she’s hanging out in her secret Facebook group with readers, chatting about books and upcoming writing projects.
“Gone are the days of quiet housewives who clean, cook, watch soaps, and eat bon-bons. We’re all about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Scratch that. We’re about sex, chocolate, and rock and roll. Add in some great books and we might let you live in the same house with us.”
Kelli lives with her husband and children in the Ohio River Valley region in the United States…at least she thinks that’s where she lives. It could be a nice, white, padded room. Hard to say with that darn vivid imagination.
Contact Information
Kelli McCracken
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Acknowledgments
I’m blessed to be surrounded by so many supportive people. Without a good support system, a successful writing career just can’t happen. I’m one of those lucky people who gets to say how much they love their job. For those people who help make that possible, thank you.
To my husband and children. For not calling the men in white coats yet. For countless hours of trying to get my attention when I’m ‘in the zone’. For still helping me with those darn chores. Seriously, when will laundry start doing itself? Thank you for believing in me and supporting me. You are the loves of my life.
To Amber, for showing me that anything is possible as long as you believe. For having the courage to make a stand when it seems everyone is against you. For showing me that friendship happens when you least expect it. And that friendship will last a lifetime.
To Jess, for helping me find that inner light that others tried to extinguish. For making me believe that there are people out there who give a damn without needing something in return. For being my friend because you like me for me. Nothing more, nothing less.
To Maryellen, for reminding me that I’ve come a long way on my writing journey. For all the encouraging emails and pictures (wink wink) and for allowing me to see that I’m not in this alone. United we stand, always.
And to Elena. I can never put into words what you mean to me. I don’t know that there are words to describe it. Thank you for making me laugh, for the vent sessions, for giving me the shoulder to cry on. For being the perfect example of what a true friend should be. You are my soul sister, my confidant, and the best friend a person could have. I love you dearly.
Copyright Information
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, places, and dialogue are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Text Copyright © 2011 by Kelli McCracken
Twin Flames Press
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
About the Author
What the Heart Needs Page 31
