Bound by Fate (Cauld Ane Series Book 10)

by Piper Davenport

  “That is what you remember but I suspect there is more.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Memories you are unable to access.”

  “Like amnesia?”

  “No. Amnesia is memory loss due to brain trauma. This is magic.”

  “Magic,” I huffed. “Oh, sure. Magic. That explains everything, doesn’t it?”

  “What explanations can you provide, young Arric?” Haddi challenged, the smile dropping from his face. “For instance. How do you explain having me tattooed on your chest?”

  “What?” I asked, once again utterly confused at a time when I was expecting clarity.

  “That symbol, there,” he said pointing to one of the nine shapes that made up the circle on my chest. “That is the ancient Icelandic rune that represents me.”

  “Just because some shape looks like your name—”

  “No, Arric. It’s not a shape and it’s not merely a name. It’s a unique rune, assigned to me by the original council of oracles.”

  “How can you be sure?” I asked.

  “Because the rune next to mine belongs to my brother.”

  “And that’s the one Haddi gave to me when I was officially named as an oracle,” Andi said.

  “We have no more time to waste,” Haddi said. “I must light the flames immediately.”

  Without further warning Haddi threw a handful of sand into the fire pit causing bright blue flames to ignite in spectacular fashion. The flames stretched at least forty feet towards the night sky but emitted no heat. Haddi produced a folded piece of paper from his pocket and placed it in the fire.

  “Now, you must go into the flames,” Haddi said.

  “What?”

  “Step inside them, quickly,” he urged.

  “Are you fucking crazy?” I asked.

  “Do not be afraid, Arric. You must trust me. The flames will not harm you. You must go into them and retrieve the ashes from the paper. Quickly before the flames go out. My powers are not strong enough to keep them lit for much longer.”

  I leaned down and gave Isla a kiss before stepping into the fire.

  Haddi was telling the truth when he said the flames would not harm me. I felt no heat from the fire and my flesh remained unburned.

  The flaming shit show inside my brain was another matter entirely. A flood of what I can only describe as interactive memories rushed into my head. Fragments of violent and immersive sensations hit me like waves. One after another. My pulse raced as I tried to process what I was experiencing. Visions of a hundred lifetimes surged through my brain like lightning strikes.

  I was transported back to the battlefields of Iceland, then to the streets of New York City during the 1970’s, then to the countryside in Florence, Italy sometime around the turn of the last century. In each scenario, I was alone and completely isolated. I was myself but felt as though I was wearing another person’s soul. I relived scene after scene, lifetime after lifetime. Wave after wave until I thought I would go mad. Then I heard Isla’s voice telling me to pick up the ashes.

  “You’re okay,” she crooned sweetly, and I began to relax.

  I concentrated on the sound of her voice, desperately needing to keep the connection with her.

  “It’s okay, Arric,” Isla said. “You can do it. Gather the ashes.”

  I did as she instructed, scooping up the small pile into my hands, causing the flames to stop immediately. I fell to my knees, and Haddi rushed to me, quickly taking the ashes from my hands, and rubbing them onto his face like warpaint. He staggered backward, with a look of shock and terror on his face and I knew that he’d seen what I had seen.

  “Getur þetta verið satt?” Haddi rasped, helping me back to my seat as Isla came to my side.

  “It’s true,” I grunted out.

  “Is he an oracle?” Kade asked.

  “Já, Majesty, but there is more,” Haddi said turning to me. “Arric, you must listen to me carefully. You must not leave the castle grounds until I tell you that it’s safe. In fact, we must all stay here together until I have regained the strength to light the flames again. Until I can see more.”

  “What is it, Haddi? What did you see?” Kade asked, impatiently.

  “Arric is not just an oracle. He is a heimsgöngumaður. A world walker.”

  “What the hell is that?” I asked, struggling to catch my breath.

  “The heimsgöngumaður have increased strength and sensitivity in the mystical realm, as well as the ability to withstand high temperatures that would normally kill our kind. This gives you the ability to live among the humans without detection.”

  “Is that how he was able to survive all alone without knowing he was Cauld Ane?” Isla asked?

  Haddi nodded. “It also explains how he’s stayed hidden from us for so long.”

  “I thought world walkers were only legend,” Andi said.

  “Not legend,” Haddi replied. “Part of the prophecy.”

  “What do you mean?” Isla asked, reaching for my hand, and linking her fingers with mine. My heart calmed at her touch. “What prophecy?”

  “Vakningin Mikla,” Haddi said.

  “The Great Awakening,” Kade said.

  “Explain,” I demanded.

  “The Great Awakening was prophesied by the original council, and it tells of a time when the Kalt Einn will walk freely among this world. Free from the dangers of both the sun and of man,” Haddi said.

  “Weren’t the council divided about the interpretation of the prophecy?” Kade asked.

  “Já, but this does not change the fact that the events of Vakningin Mikla have already been etched in the stone of time.”

  “What does any of that have to do with me?”

  “Everything,” Haddi replied. “The arrival of a world walker is the first sign of the fulfillment of the prophecy, making them immensely powerful, which is why they were hunted to extinction long ago by our enemies. In fact, the last known heimsgöngumaður was Ketill Feilan.”

  “The warrior?” I asked, flashes of battle racing through my mind.

  “I told you earlier that I sensed you were known to me,” Haddi said.

  I nodded.

  “I now know this to be true. The last time I saw you was the night you struck down an army and freed those of us taken into captivity.”

  “What the hell are you saying?” My head buzzed like a hive of angry hornets.

  Isla settled her hand on my knee, calming me.

  “After the battle, you were tired, wounded, and exhausted to the point of death,” Haddi continued. “I gathered the other oracles that had been in captivity with me, and we laid hands on you. We brought you back from near death and in doing so, I believe set the prophecy into motion.”

  “But how is that possible?”

  “Ketill Feilan had already showed the signs of being a powerful oracle, but after that night, I believe you became something else.”

  “Ketill Feilan?”

  Haddi smiled, his eyes filling with tears. “You have been lost to us for centuries. The brave warrior to whom we all owe our lives.”

  “I…I don’t understand,” I said. “I’m Arric Mann. I remember my childhood. I remember growing up on the road with my mother. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with you people or why you’re doing this to me.”

  “World walkers possess the ability to take on the psychic identity of certain humans. It’s a defense mechanism used to hide their true identities from both humans and the Kalt Einn.”

  “Psychic identity?”

  Haddi sighed. “You must accept the fact that you are not who you think you are. You have assumed the identity of Arric Mann, but you are the oracle warrior, Feilan. You will live longer than most Cauld Ane and you have powers that even other oracles cannot possess.”

  “You’re saying I have powers?” I scoffed. “I think you’ve ingested way too many magic mushrooms, my friend. I’ve felt weaker every day since I’ve been here.”

  “Let me guess. O
nly when you try to leave,” Haddi chuckled. “I told you, fate has brought you here and will keep you as such until your destiny is fulfilled. Many things about you are still cloudy to me, Ketill Feilan, but this is not.” He met my eyes. “As an oracle, I have always served both the remaining Kalt Einn and Cauld Ane, but the dangers now facing both clans is simply too great for me to handle on my own.”

  “What danger?” Kade asked.

  “I’m afraid that’s all I can tell you at this time, my Lord,” Haddi said with a bow. “As nothing more has been revealed to me.”

  “No. None of this makes sense,” I growled. “My name is Arric Mann. I’m twenty-four years old, I’m a welder, and I currently live in Port Thunder Alaska.”

  Haddi ignored me. “The strength and control over your powers will increase once you’re bound, but others will manifest when they are most needed. Normally, by now, I would know much more about you, but your future is clouded and uncertain to me.”

  “Uncertain? I thought you were supposed to be Magic Mr. Knowitall,” I challenged, nodding toward Andi. “If I’m like Andi, how come she took a knee when we met?”

  “You are not like her,” he replied. “Or even me. That’s enough information for now. I don’t want to overwhelm you,” Haddi suggested.

  “Enough information?” I growled, releasing my hand from Isla’s, and standing. “No one here has told me shit. For every so-called answer you give me, I end up with two more goddamned questions! I’ve had enough of all of this and I’m leaving tonight even it kills me.”

  “Stöðva,” Haddi ordered, and I froze in place, but only for a moment. As my rage deepened, I was able to break free from his control, and I turned to face him.

  “Get the fuck out of my head and leave me alone. That goes for all of you!” I bellowed, my tattoos glowing bright red.

  Isla

  ARRIC’S TATTOOS BURNED with such intensity, the ambient heat from his body caused my core temperature to rise.

  “Stop!” I begged, and Arric froze.

  Haddi’s body visibly relaxed and I wrapped my hand around Arric’s arm. That’s when everything went red.

  Arric and I were suddenly psychically linked, and his rage was now my rage. I couldn’t focus on anything but the anger, inadvertently adding to his emotions.

  “Shite!” Kade hissed.

  My eyes flew to his and I watched in hopelessness as he jumped out of the way, turning the stone bench he’d just been sitting on into cinder.

  “She’s going to burn everything to the ground,” Kade warned. “You need to get them calm.”

  “How exactly am I to do that?” Haddi demanded.

  My eyes darted his way and he jumped away just as I sent a ball of flame toward him.

  “Arric!” Kade called. “You need to find her link and calm her. No one else can do it.”

  Isla?

  I can’t control it, Arric. I want to kill them all.

  “Arric,” Kade pressed. “You are the only one who can calm her.”

  My eyes flew to my uncle and he did his best to get out of my way. Not quite soon enough for the hem of his kilt, however.

  I felt Arric’s hand go to my chest, the warmth of his palm seeping into my heart.

  Breathe with me, baby.

  I focused on him, meeting his eyes which were still glowing red.

  I shook my head. It burns.

  I feel it, baby. Need you to breathe slowly.

  I took a shallow breath.

  That’s it, Arric encouraged. I’m calmer. You’re calmer. It’s okay.

  I stared into his eyes, now starting to return to their pretty blue and I felt my pulse slow enough to be able to take a deeper breath, then another.

  “I’m okay,” I whispered, dropping my head to Arric’s chest.

  His arms wrapped around me and held me for a few precious seconds before I pulled away, turning to my uncle.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  Kade smiled gently, giving me a quick hug. “It’s alright, lass. You’ll soon learn to control your abilities.”

  “God, I hope so.”

  He grinned. “Come on. I think we’ve done enough to deserve a whisky.”

  He made sure all the fire was out, then we headed back to the castle as a group. Arric stuck close to my side as we walked, but we didn’t touch.

  I did not like this one bit, but I had no say in it until we could be bound. He still didn’t fully understand.

  Once back at the castle, my mother spirited me away, forcing me to eat, which was her way of making sure I was okay. I let her fussing wash over me, staying close to her as the night wore on.

  Sometimes, you just needed your mummy.

  Grace MacMillan, Max’s mate, was sitting at the island, her head bowed over her phone, showing Charlotte something that was making both of them laugh.

  “Oh my god, that girl is so weird,” Charlotte said, and smiled at me. “Show Isla.”

  Grace slid her phone over to me and pressed the play button. It was a GlibGlob video of Melody Morgan, arguably the most famous pop star in the world, doing some weird pole dance for charity.

  “At least it’s for charity?” I said as more of a question, and chuckled.

  “Sure,” Grace replied. “We’ll go with that.”

  I grinned sitting on the barstool next to Charlotte. She slid my hair off my shoulder and cupped my cheek. “How ya doin’, Isla Persephone?”

  “That’s a loaded question, Auntie.”

  She smiled gently. “You need to be kinder to your mate.”

  “He needs to be kinder to me.”

  “Well, here’s the rub, baby girl. He doesn’t understand what’s going on. You’ve had twenty-five years to figure it out. Not to mention, a large family who loves you.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “I know. I really do. It’s just that he gets so angry and when he lashes out, he freaks me the hell out.”

  Grace reached over and squeezed my arm. “He will never hurt you, you know that, right?”

  I settled my head in my palm. “How can you be sure?”

  “Because even though he doesn’t know you’re mates, his heart’s already turning toward you. It would be impossible for him to do so. Not impossible for him to be an asshole, but impossible for him to hurt you.”

  “She would know, honey, she’s mated to Max,” Charlotte said.

  Before Grace had met Max, he’d been the biggest rock star in the world, with an ego to match. She’d come along and softened him, which everyone apparently appreciated. All of this was before my time, of course, so Max was just my dad’s best friend who I’d adored forever.

  “All I’m saying is try not to let him push your buttons,” Grace continued. “He’s really not trying to… he’s just a ball of confusion and emotions right now, and you need to guide him through it.”

  “Okay,” I breathed out. “I’ll try to be more patient.”

  Charlotte grinned, giving me a gentle hug. “There’s my girl.”

  Mum slid a sandwich toward me and smiled. “Super proud of you, baby girl.”

  I waved my hand toward Charlotte and Grace. “You planned this, huh?”

  She shrugged. “I plead the fifth.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her.

  “Eat your sandwich.”

  I did as I was told, surrounded by my loving aunties, grateful for their advice. They were right. I needed to help Arric, not bust his balls.

  * * *

  “Isla!” Arric bellowed as he ran toward me. I turned to face him but found myself lifted off my feet and flying through the air before I could speak.

  “We’re in a dre—”

  “Stay down!” he growled as arrows shot over our heads.

  Fear and rage poured off him reeking with the malodor of death and I knew he was dealing with a level of confusion that his brain couldn’t work out.

  “Arric, breathe,” I pressed, but he covered me even more. So much so, I was having a hard time breathing myself.

&nbs
p; “Don’t move,” he growled.

  “Arric.” I slapped my hands on his cheeks and tugged on his face. “We are in a dream. None of this is real. See?” I reached my arm up, but he dragged it down.

  “What the fuck are you doing, woman?” he demanded, pinning my arms to the ground.

  I closed my eyes and focused, following his emotion and walking into his mind. “Arric. It’s a dream, love. Wake up.”

  I was suddenly released and back in my bedroom. I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I took a few deep breaths.

  Arric—

  What the fuck was that?

  I sighed. You were dreaming and dragged me into it.

  What the fuck does that mean?

  I need you to take a deep breath, then focus on me, I directed.

  Isla—

  Please, love. Just focus on me.

  I threw back the covers and slid off the mattress, stepping over to my window and settling my forehead to the cool glass. I felt Arric breathe, and my body relaxed as he finally did.

  Good, love. Keep breathing.

  * * *

  Arric

  I’m coming to you.

  As soon as I’d spoken the words in my mind, I calmed. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize I wasn’t doing shit.

  Isla was.

  Aye, I am.

  I scowled, slipping out of the guest house at the edge of her father’s property and heading toward the main house. Get out of my mind.

  And chance you raging the world down? No way. Where are you now?

  Walking up your stairs.

  I arrived at Isla’s door just as it opened.

  “Come in quickly,” she whispered.

  I didn’t hesitate, walking inside and pulling her close, drawing in her clean, fresh scent before kissing her.

  “Hey,” she whispered, cupping my face. “We’re okay.”

  “I am never going to be able to wrap my mind around this shit.”

  Isla smiled gently. “Yes, you will. You’ll look back on all of it and laugh.”

  “I highly fuckin’ doubt that.” I took her hand and pulled her over to the chair by her window, sitting and pulling her onto my lap. “This helps, though.”

  She grinned, running her thumb over my lower lip. “I’ve got your back, love.”