Tapping his fingers against the deck, he weighed his words before he spoke them. “She keeps insisting that we get closer, that it will help us get in sync.”
Delia didn’t seem surprised by his answer. If anything, relief softened her face. “I assure you, she and I haven’t discussed any of this, but she is right. You need to deepen the bond between you and her.”
“How?”
“Confide in her. Let her confide in you.” Her eyes dropped to his hands. She waited until his fingers stilled against the board before she continued. “She’s meant to be your best friend, Layne. Be her best friend too. The closer you get, the easier your abilities will come and the more powerful they’ll be.”
“God,” he grumbled, placing his face in his hands. “I don’t know how to deal with any of this. It’s more than I wanted or needed. It’s more than I can take.”
“You can’t run away from fate, Layne. If you try, you’ll lose everything, just like Nate did.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to turn into Nate.” Rubbing his face in a circle, he finally pulled his hands down to his lips. He blew out a breath of fear and prepared to tell her the rest. “I care about her, Delia. A lot. More than I should.”
“The things we care about most are the things we’re willing to sacrifice ourselves for. You’re supposed to care about Heaven, to be impassioned with her and her safety. Your greatest happiness will revolve around her.”
It was nice to know that at least one of them would be happy, though he never doubted it would be Heaven. She had her soulmate. The love they shared would increase once the baby was born. Was he really fated to watch their happiness from the outside? Was he fated to be alone for the rest of his life?
“I thought you said that unfortunate pairs can move on and find happiness elsewhere.”
“Yes,” she nodded, focusing her attention on the trees spread out before them. “They can leave to find happiness. Many of them do, but I didn’t say you were a part of an unfortunate pair.”
How could he not be if Faith was part of the pair? Their relationship had affected Heaven and Dylan on more than one occasion, more so after it ended. If the unfortunates were meant to cause chaos for the fortunate, hadn’t they already begun that process? “You seriously don’t think I am after what happened with Faith?”
“No. Everything in my gut says you aren’t.”
Her and her damn gut instincts. He couldn’t deny they were good, but he questioned how accurate they were about this.
The question hung on his lips, where it would remain for another time. He didn’t want to talk anymore. They’d wasted enough time on this subject with no resolution in sight. There was no need to keep rehashing it. Heaven and Dylan would be back soon. He needed to escape to his room. He needed to be left alone.
As if she’d sensed his decision, she rose to her feet and returned to the deck. She said nothing as she made her way back to the screen door. Her fingers curled around the handle before she pulled it open. Instead of stepping inside the house, she faced him once more.
“There are some things in life that we can’t control. Destiny is one of them. Your destiny is interlocked with Heaven’s, Layne. The longer you fight it, the more you put her at risk. Learn your abilities so you can protect her.”
“How?” he snorted, causing her to pause in the threshold as he shot off one last question. “How are my abilities going to protect the most powerful Seeker in the world?”
“Because,” she answered, pinning him with her all-knowing gaze, “you’ll be the most powerful Keeper.”
CHAPTER 15
The smile tightening Dylan’s cheeks eased the moment his mother returned to the kitchen. It wasn’t because she looked upset, but more because she didn’t. His gut begged to differ with her deceiving appearance. The knot forming within it sent every nerve buzzing to life. She’d either had a rough conversation with Layne, or she hadn’t found him. At this point, he didn’t know which would be better news.
Hovering near the archway, she gazed around the room, hesitating on the spot that Anna and Nicholas occupied during their earlier conversation. Her forehead creased when she found the empty bench.
“They went into town to pick up some stuff for the house,” he said as he unwrapped his arms from Heaven and stood. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” She cleared the thickness from her throat and worked her hands together. “May I have a word with you? Alone?”
“Um.” He turned to look at Heaven, who was pushing herself up to her feet. What would his mother want to say to him without her being present? Did it have something to do with her discussion with Layne, or did this have to do with their latest secret—the cottage explosion?
His mother came further into the room, staring in Heaven’s direction. “It’s nothing to worry about, dear. I just need to be a mother for a moment.”
The questionable look on Heaven’s face said she wasn’t buying her answer any more than he was. “Is Layne okay?”
“Layne is Layne. Once he processes everything, he will be fine.” When his mother finally joined them near the table, she rubbed Heaven’s shoulder. “Why don’t you lie down for a bit? You should take advantage of naps while you can still get them.”
Irritation spiked in Heaven’s energy. She didn’t like being lied to any more than she liked secrets. Layne had that much right. Knowing she sensed one or the other meant his mother’s impending conversation had something to do with his friend.
“Yeah, I suppose I could take a nap,” she replied. “My brain is feeling a little fried after our discussion.” She turned to meet his gaze. Questions played in her eyes, questions on whether he was keeping stuff from her.
It wasn’t until he sent her a reassuring pulse that she looked away. Curls bounced about her shoulders as she shook her head and walked toward the hall. The thrum of her emotions faded with each step she took.
Christ…
The moment he heard the back door close, he glared at his mother. “This better be good,” he grumbled, taking a few steps away from her. “My connection with her just weakened, and you know what that means. You said yourself that we had to quit stressing her.”
“That’s why I told her to lie down. She needs to rest so she won’t be thinking and worrying.”
“You know she won’t. She’ll do the exact opposite.”
She didn’t respond to his comment. Her eyes fell to the book on the table beside them as she stroked its corner. “We can’t continue to keep stuff from her. You know that as much as I do. I know you want to protect her and the baby, but keeping her in the dark isn’t the answer.”
“I’m assuming this has something to do with Layne since your lecture sounds a lot like the one he gave me yesterday.”
“It’s not a lecture,” she snapped. “Yes, this has something to do with him, but it has a lot to do with you too.”
“Yep,” he snorted, sitting down on the edge of the bench. “You’ve definitely talked to Layne.”
“Dylan, you know I love you and that I want the best for you, but there are some things you can’t control.”
“What am I trying to control?” He fought to hide the anger in his voice, but each word shook just the same.
His mother slid onto the bench across from him, softening her face as she parted her lips. “You’re trying to control destiny. No matter how much you dislike it, Layne is part of Heaven’s life. I know you’re uncomfortable with their connection.”
“Believe me. I’m trying to accept it. It’s harder than what I thought it would be.”
“I realize that,” she said, reaching across the table to grasp his hands. “But you have to realize that other people will be a part of her life in a way you may not understand or even want. It doesn’t mean it’s not right, and it sure doesn’t mean she loves you any less.”
“I’m not doubting her love for me,” he growled, drawing his hands away from hers. “I’m doubting his ability to do his job. He told me
he doesn’t have control of his abilities.”
She huffed at his answer and hung her head. “Why do you think that is, Dylan?”
“I don’t know, but if my gut serves me right, you’re about to tell me it’s my fault.” Her silence confirmed what he feared. She did think he was at fault. “Do I need to remind you that he’s the one that broke my trust in him? I don’t care what he or anyone else says. He didn’t kiss her because he was drunk. I know it’s more than that. It’s something deeper.”
Admitting the words aloud only increased the anger lying beneath the surface, anger he’d been trying to keep at bay since he and Heaven spoke inside the cottage. It pulsed in rhythm with his heart, with the tiny jolts zipping through him.
“She has to mean something to him on a deeper level. She has to be his world.”
“Why?” he shouted, slamming his fist against the table. “Why does he have to feel so passionate about her? She’s my soulmate. Where the hell is his?”
Leaning over the table, his mother rested on her elbows as she stared him dead in the eye. “You think it would make a difference if he had a soulmate here? It wouldn’t, Dylan, because Layne and Heaven share an affinity.”
“What the hell is that?”
“It’s complicated to explain, but I will tell you this. It’s the strongest bond between a Seeker and Keeper. His passion for her is what fuels his fire. He needs that passion to master his abilities.” The more she talked, the more anger shook his soul. If she sensed it, she chose to ignore it because she continued spewing words that enraged him. “Those abilities are all that stand between life and death for your wife. If you want Heaven safe, you have to allow him to thrive on his passion. You have to allow him to love her.”
Something in his chest snapped.
“I don’t have a problem with him loving her!” He jumped to his feet and leaned against his knuckles with such force they cracked against the table. “I know he feels something for her. I’ve known for a while. Whether or not it’s love, I don’t know, but it’s the most he’s ever cared about a woman. I gave him a chance to be up front about his feelings for her, but he couldn’t. If he can be dishonest about how he feels, what else will he lie about?”
Rising to her feet, she met his stern gaze with one of her own. “You can’t expect him to be honest when he can sense your resistance. He still cares what you think. His biggest concern was losing your friendship over this.”
The news caught him off guard. Layne didn’t seem to care about his feelings on anything lately. It was hard to believe he did now. “I, uh… I don’t know how to respond to that any more than I know how to accept their relationship.”
“Think about what Layne is really doing in all of this. He’s willing to give up his life for her. Don’t begrudge the feelings he has. It’s what drives him. She’s all he has.”
“What about me?” He jammed his finger in his chest as he asked the question. “He has me too.”
“Does he?”
“Yes.” The word sounded as hollow as it felt to say it. His mother didn’t let it go unnoticed either. Her brows rose as she feigned surprise.
“You don’t believe that any more than I do. Besides, your actions say otherwise.”
He parted his lips, ready to blast another retort, but the words fell short. Arguing with her wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t change the truth of what she said. He hadn’t been there for Layne.
Pressing his lips back together, he slid away from the bench and walked toward the counter. His shoes squeaked against the tile with each hasty step. The noise faded once he gripped the porcelain edge of the sink and stared out the window.
“So much has changed between Layne and me. I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know if it’s fixable.”
“Things may never be the same between you and him, but if you don’t try to make it right, you’ll regret it.”
“Did Nicholas resent Dad’s relationship with Anna? Is that what sent Dad over the edge?”
“I think it had a lot to do with it, yes,” she said while sliding past the bench she’d been sitting on. Her fingers trailed the edge of the book once more as she sighed. “You must realize that no soulmate is perfect. We can’t be. It would equate us to God. Yes, we’re his special creations, but we’re flawed. We make mistakes. No matter how perfect a female Seeker may appear, there is one thing that keeps her imperfect.”
“What?”
By the way she kept averting her eyes, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. He inhaled a deep breath, noting the lemon-scented soap near the sink. It made his stomach churn, but not as much as waiting for her answer.
“Her imperfection is her love for her Keeper.”
Snapping his eyes shut, he focused on the beat of his heart, trying to keep the rhythm steady. Heaven could be tuned in to him. She was still awake. He sensed that much, though he couldn’t gauge her emotions. If he gave in to the pain his mother’s words caused, he knew his wife would sense it.
“I’m not really sure what you mean by that, and to be honest, I don’t think I want to know. Isn’t ignorance bliss?”
The sound of her steps had him reopening his eyes as she moved in his direction but kept her focus on the floor. “Sometimes you have to sacrifice everything you are and everything you want for the person you love. It’s selfless and humbling, but in the end, you know it’s right because that’s what true love is about. It’s unconditional.”
“I’d sacrifice my life for her. Don’t you know that?”
“I believe you, Dylan, but I also know that the trials you face will make you question everything. When it does, I want you to remember one thing.” She gazed just past his shoulder, as if she were watching the future unfold. “No matter what you face on your journey, know that Heaven is your soulmate. Never give up on your love for her. It’s what The Fallen want.”
“She and I are never going to have a normal life together, are we?”
Coming to a stop in front of him, she leaned against the counter. “You were a celebrity, Dylan. Even if this hadn’t happened, your life would never be normal. But you will have happiness if you remember what I told you.” She studied his face a moment, then gave him a comforting smile. “Before things get more hectic, why don’t you take Heaven away for the weekend. As long as you’re not far away, we can reach you if something happens. It wouldn’t hurt to have her out of sight for a few days, especially if someone is looking for her.”
The idea of alone time with his wife helped diffuse his frustration. He’d make the most of every second they had, would make sure she knew how much he loved her, that no matter how she felt about her Keeper, he was her soulmate.
“It doesn’t take long to get to Brightsville. If the people that blew up the cottage are heading this way, Heaven and I need to leave first thing in the morning.” He started to step away, but her fingers curled around his shoulder, holding him back.
“Hang on a second. Make sure you tell Layne what’s going on before you leave. They share a connection, Dylan. It’s only fair that you clue him in on where she’ll be. If something happens and you need him, he’ll be able to find you quicker.”
Like storm clouds coming to rain on a perfectly sunny day, the thought of Layne ruined the moment. Just because he was Heaven’s Keeper didn’t mean he had to know her every waking move…did he? If so…
“I didn’t mean to upset you by saying that, sweetheart.”
He waved away the apology he knew she was trying to make. This wasn’t her fault. “I know it shouldn’t bother me, but it does. I can’t help it. I’m afraid of—” He choked back the bitter taste of fear as he shook his head. “What if I can’t do it, Mom? What if I’m never able to accept their connection?”
“Then your greatest fear will come true,” she whispered. “You’ll lose your wife, Dylan. You’ll lose Heaven forever.”
* * *
The cottage door swept open once Heaven twisted the handle. She hesitated in the t
hreshold, overwhelmed by the cinnamon-scented diffuser she’d opened this morning. It wasn’t the only thing that overcame her senses. A fierce surge of annoyance split the air around her, drawing her eyes into the dining room. Layne stood a few feet away, near the door to the back deck. He stared at her with the same amount of intensity stirring his soul.
She wasn’t sure if she’d caught him coming or going, but the second her eyes landed on him, he froze in place. The natural throb of his energy ran high. She’d figured that out in Jamaica. Yet the second she closed the door behind her and walked his way, the rhythm changed to a staccato.
“Are you okay?”
He remained speechless, as far as words were concerned, but his eyes always told more. They smoldered with fire as much as ice. Fire, for the passion she evoked in him; ice, to numb the blisters the passion left in its blazing trail. He wanted to be numb when she was around, wanted to pretend like she didn’t mean anything to him.
They both knew better.
“I’m fine, Heaven.” The lie slipped out of his mouth with ease. “I was about to head to my room.”
“Oh.”
She ignored the pull of his soul, the way it encircled hers, tugging, pleading, aching for something more. He could try to escape her presence, could try to escape whatever emotion she evoked in him, but he couldn’t escape the truth.
And she couldn’t escape the questions on her mind.
“Delia suggested I take a nap while she talks to Dylan. The thing is, I’m not tired. In fact, I’m more curious than ever on why she insisted on talking to him alone.” She noticed him shrug his shoulders and gaze away. His detached reaction incited her more. “I find it strange that she insisted on all of this right after having a conversation with you.”
That gained his attention.
“What do you want me to say?” He gritted the words through his teeth. “She’s the one who sought me out. I did my best to avoid her.”
If this was his attempt to distract her from the truth, it wasn’t working. “You shouldn’t avoid her, Layne. Delia is a wealth of information. Pay attention to anything she tells you.” Her eyes remained locked with his as she stood at the edge of the dining room. “Since we’re on the subject, what did she tell you that you find so strange?”
What the Heart Takes Page 18
