Bound by Destiny

by Stephanie Yarns

  Above that pain, she could feel her hand, the one that branded Sebastian, blazing. Was she hurting him too? She dropped to her knees, clawing at the gathering snow. Anything to ease the intensifying firestorm in her blood; on her skin.

  “Get her away from me!” She was going to die from this. And when she did, the energy would go everywhere.

  There was a new voice now. “It’s okay. I’ll protect her.”

  The energy seared her, burning her, turning her to ash.

  “Let go, beautiful.” The words commanded her, and she obeyed.

  “Eve!” her mom shouted.

  But it was too late as she threw her head back, mouth open in a scream she couldn’t release. The power inside her reached new level and she rose up on her knees, flung out her arms and everything inside flew outward.

  #

  “I thought I succeeded in protecting her,” Rosewen’s voice wove its way into the darkness of her sleep.

  She wanted to open her eyes, but they hurt too much. Everything that made her, down to her cells, ached.

  “Could someone have tampered with the binding?” Gideon sounded much closer and she could only guess that it was his hand that smoothed over her forehead.

  Was Sebastian safe? Did she kill him? She couldn’t have. Could she? If she hurt this bad, she could only imagine what he felt like. If he could still feel at all.

  The fingers on her skin stilled. “Eve? Are you awake?”

  She could feel a tear escape from her closed eyelid to sear a path down her raw skin. She opened her lips. “Is…” She couldn’t ask. Couldn’t hear the answer.

  “He’s fine, beautiful.”

  Her exhale turned into a sob and she was able to finally open her eyes. Everything was blurry and it took a few blinks to get the tears out of her eyes. Rosewen sat at her side, holding her hand. Gideon was above her and she realized her head was on his leg. There was pressure on her other hand, and holding back new tears, she turned her head. Micah.

  “Baby, I’m so sorry,” Rosewen said and Eve looked back to her.

  Fighting the pain, she squeezed her mother’s hand. “We can have that talk now.”

  A brief laugh erupted from the woman that gave her life. “Not tonight.”

  “Where is Sebastian?” she asked, glancing up at Gideon.

  He gave her a small smile before saying, “Out.”

  “I want to sit up, but I hurt too bad.”

  “You are fine where you’re at.” His smile widened a bit.

  “I thought I killed him.” She shuddered at the thought.

  “Why do you say that?” Rosewen asked.

  “The mark.” She nodded to the hand she was holding.

  Rosewen glanced at it, frowning. “There’s nothing there.”

  “Not yet. But if I… get hurt, then Sebastian takes the damage,” she said, closing her eyes at the thought of what she put him through.

  “That was why…The explosion. The back of your jacket was blown away, but you weren’t hurt.”

  Eve’s eyes flew open and she tried to sit up. Gideon held her down as Micah’s grip tightened. “I forgot about that. Oh, God, he must hate me.”

  “No, Eve. That’s the last thing he feels,” Micah said. “Trust me on this.”

  She relaxed after realizing she was never going to be able to sit. She met the honesty in Micah’s eyes. And once again, she blinked back tears.

  “That was how we knew you were in trouble.” He held up their hands. “Well that and this.”

  “May I see?” Rosewen asked, her voice soft, unsure.

  Micah glanced at her before back to Eve.

  “I’m okay.” She breathed out, willing it to be so.

  Slowly, he let go of her hand. Eve held it out to her mother, and she gasped. “You shouldn’t be able to do this.” Letting her other hand drop, she gripped the one with the softly glowing rune.

  “Yeah, well, tell it to my hands. They have a mind of their own.”

  “No, you don’t understand.” She gripped her hand tighter. “How long has this been here?”

  Micah spoke up, “A few days. Why?”

  “Let me see yours.” Rosewen straightened her back.

  Micah tilted his head but held out his hand. The mark was much lighter. Sebastian’s would be almost non-existent.

  Rosewen closed her eyes, muttering curses. “Let me guess, this Sebastian has had his longer?”

  Eve heard the door open then a voice she was longing to hear said, “Yes. I’ve had mine longer.”

  She tried to sit again and this time, Gideon helped her. “I’m so—.”

  He cut her off as he walked up to her side. Without so much as a ‘may I’, he leaned over her and tilted her head back. His lips touched hers in the sweetest of kisses. He rested his forehead against hers and he spoke. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. My heart can’t take it.”

  “What—”

  He touched his fingers to her lips. “I’m certain you’ll figure it out.” His lips curled slightly before he stood, turning toward her mother. “I’m also sure you wish to see my mark.” He held his hand out. “It’s almost gone.”

  His heart… Well, yeah, she almost got him killed.

  “So it is,” Rosewen murmured.

  “What does that mean, Mom? Is he going to be free of me?” She was still turning his words over in her head when she saw his shoulders stiffen at her question.

  Her mother’s eyes moved between hers and Sebastian and back. “I… I can break this, if that’s what you want. But you must decide before tomorrow night. After that, it will be permanent.”

  Eve sucked in a breath. That was too close. “I don’t have to decide anything. Get rid of it,” Eve said with a painful laugh. How was that even a question? She glanced at the back of Sebastian’s head, expecting him to turn and smile. He didn’t. That was what they were wanting, right?

  But wait, her mother could get rid of it? How? Fae blood. Things were starting to fall into place. But now was not the time.

  If Rosewen could get rid of his, then she could get rid of Micah’s. Her chest tightened, emphasizing the ache in her body. That’s what it was. It wasn’t pain from the knowledge that she would no longer be needed. Nope.

  “Breathe,” Micah said softly, and she gave a shuddery laugh. She would never hear him say that again.

  Rosewen studied Eve’s face before she gave a tight smile. “I can’t do anything about it until tomorrow. Think about it. Talk about it. We can have our discussion after.” Her smile eased into something more natural. “I think we should both get some sleep first. It’s been a long day.”

  Gideon stood and moved around the statue that was Sebastian. He opened the door to the bedroom. “I hope our earlier discussion helped, Rosewen.”

  Eve watched her mother look from Gideon to Sebastian, to Micah. “To a degree. But I’ll need some time to learn to work through the past.” She looked back to Gideon and he gave her a nod.

  “I understand.”

  “Goodnight, my daughter,” she said, glancing back at Eve. “I’ll be next door if you need me.”

  “Goodnight, mom.”

  She turned and walked out and Gideon closed the door. He stood there, back to them and his hand on the door. Why couldn’t she feel him? What was going on in his head.

  After a moment, he turned toward them, face expressionless.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “Yes, we need to talk,” he said.

  She repressed a shiver at his tone. Was he going to tell her what she already knew? It was time to get rid of the marks. Time for her to go back to her life. To get out of theirs.

  Sebastian finally moved, sitting in the chair he claimed his first night in her room. His face was as devoid of emotion as Gideon’s.

  She turned, swinging her legs off the bed. Her body still ached from whatever it was that she did earlier, but she could hide it. Besides, it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.

  “Well, men,” she sa
id, trying desperately to keep her voice light. “This is what we were wanting, right?”

  Eve stood, aware of the eyes on her. They could watch, but she wasn’t going to let them see just how much this was going to destroy her. Just how far past ‘caring’ she had gone. She could leave them in peace. Take the danger that was following her back to Iowa. They would be free to live out forever in their sanctuary.

  “Micah won’t have to worry about me waking him out of sleep because something scared me.” She glanced at him, smiling in his general direction. Don’t look too long. He might see something. She certainly didn’t want pity. “And you!” She pointed at Sebastian. “I could have killed you.” She laughed. “The exact thing we were worried about came true.”

  “Eve—” Gideon said but she wasn’t going to listen. Wasn’t going to hear him say the words.

  “You don’t have to tell me to leave, Gideon. I’m going.” She turned away, blinking. The storm. Shit.

  She spun back around. “The storm. Do you have snow chains? I can use them and then… Damn, logistics. How do I get the car back to you? Because I’m not going to keep it.” She knew she was rambling, but if she was running off at the mouth, she didn’t have to worry about breaking down in front of them. Wasn’t their fault. None of it was.

  “Are you in that much of a hurry to get away from us?” Sebastian finally spoke, his voice low, almost a purr, but dangerous. “You’re willing to drive off in the middle of a snowstorm?”

  “Well, not tonight.” She waved her hand at him. Trust her to pull out and start crying and end up back in the river.

  “How soon are you thinking?” Gideon asked.

  “Oh, hell, who’s in a hurry now.” She forced a laugh through the lump forming in her throat. She glanced back at Sebastian. “You won’t have to worry about your heart anymore.”

  His lips twisted.

  “Okay, gentlemen.” She had to get them out of her room. She was so close to losing it and she would be damned if she cried in front of them. “If we are through with this ‘talk’, I hurt down to a cellular level and would like to get a shower and some sleep. Mom was right. It’s been a really long day.”

  Sebastian shook his head. No, she had one more night to spend with them. And it was going to be the most excruciating night he ever had in his long life.

  “Not in here.”

  She looked at him and he smiled. “I’m still in danger,” he said with a shrug. “Until tomorrow night.” He almost felt bad at the panicked look on her face. But as it was, he buried the feelings he had developed for her. He knew better then to let that happen. Somehow, she slipped through the cracks in his walls and touched him in a place he thought long dead.

  Micah stood and Eve watched him leave the room without a word. Frowning, she turned as Gideon spoke. “I know it’s been a trying day, so, I bid you a good night. But I will talk to you tomorrow. And you will listen.”

  Her heart thumped in her chest at his words. Why? She was going to give them what they wanted. She gave him a brief nod and he left.

  Sebastian stood without a word and took her hand, pulling her into the hallway.

  Tears came closer to the surface. How were they back to square one? While she didn’t feel his anger, it was threaded into every movement he made, down to the touch of his skin on hers.

  He opened his door and only then, let her go. He motioned for her to enter and she did. “I’ll be outside. If I’m not, I’ll send someone else to guard you.” He strode to the table and switched on the lamp. Silently, he studied her. “If you wake during the day, Duglas will look over you. Goodnight, Eve,” he said before leaving her, almost slamming the door behind her.

  What was wrong with him? What did she do but to pretend to be happy that they were getting their freedom? She was keeping her end of the bargain.

  Stunned by the brusque treatment, she moved to the bed. No, she couldn’t lay there. Not where they… That pain was beyond an ache. It was sharp, stabbing, ripping into her heart.

  To never see them, talk to them, touch them… It was going to kill her. Even Fallon, confusing as hell Fallon. What happened to clean breaks? Being an adult?

  She pulled the pillows off the bed and tossed them on the carpeted floor. Next was the blankets. After arranging the last bed, she was going to sleep in in this house, she moved into the bathroom. Just looking at the shower was exhausting. Not this one. Far too personal. She tried to smile, and it felt awkward on her face.

  Stripping, she wrapped herself in his robe. It reminded her of a warmer Sebastian. A more caring version of the man outside the door.

  She picked up her jeans and folded them. Next was her sweater. Only then did she see the shredded material. Sebastian felt that. Lived through that. Took that pain for her. And now he was angry.

  The ruined cloth fell from numb fingers and she turned off the light. The lamp was next then she slowly felt her way to her pallet and pulled a blanket over her.

  It was only then she realized her mistake.

  His scent filled her, and her calm facade shattered.

  #

  Sebastian stood in the hallway, damning himself to hell and back. He’d predicted the outcome before it even became a possibility. He knew better. Only willpower kept him from banging his head against the door. Damn the hope he had. The hope that had sprung with her seeming acceptance of them. As soon as she could, she dashed it. Couldn’t she have pretended to think about leaving them? Acted like… Like what? Had anyone ever outright said they wanted her to stay after the mark was gone?

  He had hoped that she would realize what he meant when he said his heart couldn’t take it. Ah, that word again. But she mistook it as him worrying about dying. He couldn’t blame her. Not after what happened. That would be an easy enough conclusion to jump to.

  But no, she said ‘be free’ like it was some prison sentence getting commuted. Hell, she smiled and laughed, practically danced at the idea. His hands balled at his sides.

  None of it was her fault. He knew she had a life. Knew she had something to go back too. Something that wasn’t them.

  What was she doing now? Thinking about how happy she would be to be sleeping in her bed? No, she was probably asleep, tucked into his bed. He growled at the explosion of pain in his chest. Did it mean anything to her? Damn him. And once again, it wasn’t her fault he dragged her to his room and practically shoved her through the door.

  She needed rest, sleep. Had he not had that mark, then she would have died. The explosion would have killed her. As it was, it hurt him. The pain she took from her powers breaking free, that was the worst part. He could only watch it happen. That was all on her.

  And now she was going to remove the mark and leave and if she was ever hurt, he wouldn’t know. Couldn’t protect the woman who crept deep inside him and made herself comfortable.

  There was a sound. Was she having a nightmare? His hands fisted tighter. He couldn’t be there for her anymore. Another sound. But he couldn’t stand there and do nothing either. Cursing himself once more, he softly opened the door.

  Why was she on the floor?

  He glanced at the bed. All the blankets were off. The pillows too. Did she hate the idea of what they did there? She has asked him if he had regrets, but did she? He frowned, closing the door behind him. It was then he heard her breathing, ragged, rough.

  “Eve?” he asked, kneeling beside the pile of blankets.

  “Don’t turn the light on,” her voice was shaky. “Please.”

  Easy enough request to fill. He didn’t need the light to see. “I won’t. But what’s wrong? A nightmare?” He longed to reach out and run his fingers through her hair. Just one last time. But that wouldn’t help anything. He watched as she pulled a pillow over her mouth and squeezed her eyes closed. He could see the traces of her tears on her skin.

  “Why are you crying?” His hands shook, but he kept them to himself. “You’re going to be free soon.” The words tasted vile to him but that was what she
wanted.

  If anything, her silent sobs grew stronger. Her back shook with the force of them breaking free.

  “I can’t—” She broke off as another wave took her.

  Sebastian couldn’t stand it any longer and his fingers traced the silvery path across her face and came away wet. He adjusted his position before pulling her up and into his lap. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she buried her face on his shoulder, the silence of her cries giving way to sound. And such sounds.

  “Eve, hush.” He stroked her shaking back.

  “I… I—” She kept trying to talk but her body wouldn’t let her.

  “Sweetheart, it’s okay.”

  She shook her head against him before growing still. She said something into his shirt.

  “I didn’t quite catch that,” he said, fighting a smile. How did she have that ability? How could she make him smile when his heart was shattering?

  Slowly, she lifted her face. “You called me sweetheart.”

  “Did I?” He didn’t mean to. But damn his soul, it slipped out.

  She nodded, nibbling her lip. “Why?”

  He moved a hand to cup her cheek. “Is it important?”

  She nodded again, turning her face into his hand.

  “Why are you on the floor?” he countered, and she gave a watery laugh.

  “Do you always answer questions with questions?

  His smile widened. “Do I?”

  She was silent and the lip was back in her teeth. Her eyes darted around, but she couldn’t find him because of the pitch black of the room. He took a tiny breath and could tell she was nervous.

  “Fine,” she finally said. “I’m on the floor because I can’t be up there without you. Not when you are back to being mad at me. Not when I have to go.”

  It did affect her. It wasn’t that she hated the thought of what they did. No, it was better. He felt that hope again, beginning to drip from the cracks he hadn’t fixed yet.

  “Why?” he asked then snapped his mouth shut. He didn’t need to know that. The details were none of his business.