Autumn Dawn (Fate's Intent Book 11)

by Bowles, April

  “About what happened.” Adele said

  “Don’t worry about it. Please. It’s no one’s fault but my own and after the days I just had, I don’t regret any of it.”

  She smiled at my response. “Very well but let us do something for you.”

  She looked over at Jaylyn with a nod and she got up and walked over to me. “Show me again so you may be rid of its memory.”

  I turned around and took off my shirt just from my back so they could see it again. Jaylyn rubbed her hand along my wound as her eyes started to glow and I felt that it had begun to disappear. I could now move my shoulder back without feeling the pain of it and was glad. I sighed in relief and could no longer see it down my side. “Thanks, Jaylyn.”

  “You’re very welcome. I’m sorry it couldn’t have been done after it happened.”

  I pulled away from her warming hug with a smile and tried not to cry. “Don’t worry about it. I survived, didn’t I?”

  “We should have never of doubted it. You’re one of us.”

  “Thanks. It feels good to be.”

  “You may go.” Adele said. “We will have the official celebration to welcome you back properly.”

  “Thank you. See you then.”

  Dirk was right outside of the door when I walked out. “Are you okay?”

  “Of course I’m okay.” I smiled. “They only wanted to apologize a few times and heal me.”

  Dirk put his hand on my back under my shirt and felt the smooth skin. “I’m glad. I was kind of hoping you didn’t want to keep it.”

  I laughed. “Why? Didn’t like it?”

  “I wouldn’t want to always be reminded about what you went through or what I went through because of it. Our future is much brighter than any of that.”

  “I guess you could say that. I’m ready to celebrate it.”

  He smiled deliciously and leaned into my ear. “Think of it as our wedding. Everyone will be here to see you.”

  “I can do that but I’m not wearing white.”

  “You don’t have to. In fact, I want you to wear something you love. It’s your night.”

  “Ours.”

  Chapter 56

  Dirk

  I couldn’t describe what it was like to have her back in my arms but I enjoyed every second of it and I would never look back.

  We had another three days together before the big night we liked to think of as our wedding but, of course, told no one of it. I never thought about how easy it was to keep secret. It was never really something that would have come up even on accident through conversation but that didn’t make us any less married because we were.

  Everyone was seeming to rush around at the last minute to make sure everything was in order before the guests arrived and also rushed to put on the new clothes my mother was charged with buying for us to wear tonight.

  I wasn’t that enthused about it but Lana looked absolutely perfect in her fire themed dress. It had red sheer sleeves that hung from her shoulder bone and the corset top was lined in colored gems that looked like fire. The skirt was a ton of fluffy ruffle layers in shades of yellow, orange and red but it left one half of her completely exposed and sexy where her leg was decorated to match. She was stunning.

  Everyone commented on it as we were introduced and walked into the ballroom. I didn’t have to be near her at all for it to look good but it only made people point out how amazing we were together. They were right.

  We headed straight for our table and the final announcements for the King and Queen sounded everyone’s excitement. They gained the most praise while walking through here but they were well deserving of them. They were truly the greatest of leaders.

  Zayden held up his hand when he reached his table with Adele and the crowd started to settle down as he spoke. “On this night, we gather to officially give praise upon our glorious victory against the world’s revolt now that we have been so graciously reunited with one of our lost comrades, Lana.” He held out his arm to her and looked over. “May we all welcome her back and pray that she may never lead us astray again for our hearts could not bear such a precious loss. Yet let us also show our greatest fortitude for the fallen ones. The ones who have gave their blood so that this country may once again remain in power and your freedoms continue. Let us now lower our heads in their honor as we proceed through a moment of silence for the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to make this night possible.”

  Everyone lowered their head and the entire ballroom was silent for a moment.

  Zayden reach down for a glass of wine on the table in front of him and held it up then everyone did it after him. “On this night we remember those who gave for us and may we always remember they did not die for no cause but for the greatest cause of all, our evolutionary right to remain as the dominant force in these lands. So here’s to them, the victorious dead and on this night, we praise to our own fates as we now move forward to a new chapter in history together but may we never forget such a history for it defines us all. Now let the night begin. We’ve waited long enough to celebrate our everlasting victory!”

  The crowd cheered then everyone took a drink.

  It was a stirring speech but everyone started to get quiet to the sound of a soft singing voice. It seemed louder when everyone was quiet and that’s when we saw it coming from Adele. She wasn’t looking at anyone but the words were beautiful.

  Fate has given so much.

  Look what Fate has given to us.

  Can you feel it’s praise tonight?

  See the fires in between us.

  It’s the light that’s in your eyes.

  What Fate has given to us.

  It was kind of cute in a way when she began to watch Zayden with her words. You could see the fire she was talking about between them that was their love and Zayden started to sing back. I’ve never heard him do it before but it was just as amazing.

  It’s this glory that defines us.

  Our strengths that can’t deny us.

  This long awaited victory

  And when we see again.

  Just what we’ve never been.

  These days of peace will conquer then

  Everything that they were saying was true but they didn’t much see what was going on around them. It was just them and Adele ended it.

  Can you feel it’s praise tonight?

  What Fate has given to us.

  Everyone cheered when they kissed. It was still nice to see how in love they were at times. It only made me hopeful for me and Lana. I wanted our bond to be that strong and it had only just begun when music started to play. Lana was most eager to get this night started and she pulled me out of my chair onto the floor so we could dance. I went with it, happy that I was with her and we lost ourselves in the crowd.

  “Isn’t this fun?!”

  “I guess.”

  “Come on.” She wrapped her arms around my neck so she could lean into my ear and speak only to me. “Our wedding, remember?”

  “I know. This is fun.”

  She pulled away with a smile and was immediately distracted by seeing someone. “Sharlet?!”

  I was looking around but didn’t know who exactly she was looking at.

  “Come on! You have to meet her!” She took my hand and led me toward a woman I didn’t recognize that was looking around for someone. “Sharlet!” Her head turned and Lana let go of me so she could hug her. “You’re here?! I didn’t know you were coming!”

  “I was graciously invited. Look at you! You look great!”

  “Thanks and so do you! Come on!” She took Sharlet’s hand and led her through the crowd. “You have to meet everyone!”

  “All right.”

  I followed them through the crowd toward the head tables where she was taking her.

  Lana stopped at our table first and was breathing heavily with excitement. “Everyone, this is Sharlet. The one that saved my life.”

  Naomi gasped and reached out her hand to her. “It’s so nice to me
et you. We can’t thank you enough for finding her.”

  “It was not a problem. I was the one leading her to me and she made it just in time.”

  Cadence smiled. “Well, we thank you. We don’t know what we would have done without her.”

  “It was the least I could do. She must be a big part of your lives.”

  “She is.” I said while I sat. “But she’s everything to me.”

  Lana smiled as she came around to me and sat in my lap.

  “You must be Dirk.” Sharlet said. “I should have known. You’re a spitting image of your father.”

  “That’s what they tell me.”

  “Lana is truly a lucky girl.”

  Lana smiled.

  “Sharlet!”

  She heard her name called from behind her and looked up to see Adele waving her over. “Would you excuse me for just a moment? I must go see Adele.”

  Lana nodded as Sharlet started to make her way over to the other head table. They were talking and Lana was looking that way the whole time.

  “She’s nice.” Naomi said.

  “Well, she did save me.”

  “How exactly did she find you?” Bryce asked. “Was she roaming the middle of nowhere?”

  “She lives out there and she kind of has a gift too.”

  “Really?” I was surprised. I haven’t heard about this before.

  “Yeah. She can communicate through your mind. You know, telepathically? That’s how she found me. She just kept telling me to keep going and I actually listened until I couldn’t anymore.”

  “Interesting.” Seth said. “Hasn’t any of you noticed that we always seem to come across people that are like us?”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Well, first there was Sedrik then Porter and now Sharlet. Every one of them all had powers like us. It makes you think about how many people there are that we have no idea about.”

  There was a pause while everyone thought about it and realized Seth was right.

  “Huh. I guess we haven’t really thought about it.” Bryce said. “It makes you wonder how many are in this room.”

  Everyone looked around at each other then at Cadence. “What?”

  “Can you tell?” Lana asked. “Are there others here like us?”

  She looked out into the crowd and tried to get a sense of any other powers present. “No. There’s just the twelve of us here and Sharlet. I can feel hers.”

  “Well, I guess that’s good news.” Naomi said. “They all seem to just bring trouble.”

  “Sharlet didn’t bring trouble.” Lana cut in.

  “Yeah?” Naomi wondered. “Look at Ruby and tell me she doesn’t look pissed.”

  I turned my head and looked to the other table. My mother was just sitting quietly back in her chair with her arms crossed and her eyes occasionally flashed red.

  “Well, I guess she does look a little mad.” Lana said. “But why?”

  “Maybe it has to do with Sharlet helping to save Meg.” Seth said.

  “My mother?” Cadence wondered.

  “Oh, yeah.” Bryce said. “Ruby hates Meg, doesn’t she?”

  Seth nodded and I was just remembering this conversation about my father once being with Meg.

  “Why does she hate her?” Naomi asked. “We never knew that.”

  Seth looked right at me and I guess he was looking for my approval to talk about it because I walked out last time but I answered her question for him. “My father has been with Meg.”

  “When?!” Cadence asked.

  I shrugged. “I didn’t hear it that far.”

  “We didn’t go that far.” Seth said. “All we know is they’ve been together.”

  “Oh, she must be one of many from his past.” Naomi said.

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Like you don’t already know.” Seth said. “Darius used to go through women like you before he met Ruby.”

  “I didn’t know that completely. Just that he’d only be with them once.”

  “That’s true.” Naomi said. “But we’ve heard he’s been with hundreds only once.”

  “Hundreds?!” I was honestly surprised it was that many.

  “Really?!” Seth laughed. “What a lucky guy!”

  Cadence laughed after him. “Yeah, if you say so. One of them was—”

  “Don’t you even!” Naomi cut in. “If you tell him that you know she will kill you.”

  “What? Who?” Seth asked.

  “Never mind.” Cadence said. “It’s no one.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I can’t. I promised.”

  “Cadence.” Seth said, still trying to get her to tell him.

  Lana was sitting next to him and sighed. “Your mother, Blue-Eyes.”

  “Lana!” Cadence cut in.

  “What? I didn’t promise.”

  “What are you saying, my mother?”

  “His father.” Lana said, pointing to me. “Slept with your mother.”

  “What?!” Seth and I shouted it at the same time, equally surprised to be hearing about this.

  “When the fuck was this?” I went on with the questioning.

  “Back before any of us were born.” Lana said. “And do you blame her? I mean Darius is really—” She stopped herself from continuing.

  “My father is really what?”

  Lana cleared her throat as she picked up her glass and brought it up to her mouth. “Good looking for an older guy.”

  She took a drink and I was just staring blankly at her. It was the first time I knew she felt this way and honestly, it angered me a little. I had to keep my hair from catching fire.

  “Oh, that’s nice. My girl wants to sleep with my father.”

  “Now wait a second. I never said that.”

  “You didn’t have to. Excuse me.” I got up from my chair and walked down off the platform into the crowd.

  “Dirk!” Lana shouted but I didn’t turn back. I couldn’t be there right now and hoped she wouldn’t follow.

  Chapter 57

  Darius

  I noticed Dirk leave his table alone. He looked angry and Lana looked concerned but she didn’t seem brave enough to follow him. I only thought that I should.

  “I’ll be right back.” I said to Ruby.

  She nodded and I walked off into the crowd after Dirk. I moved around the people looking over them and saw him leave the ballroom. I quickly made my way to the main hall and had to stop and look around. I saw a shadow move around a corner to my right and knew it had to be Dirk. I walked down the hall following him and walked all the way outside toward the private arena.

  Dirk was sitting up in the stands as I approached but still didn’t look happy. “Dirk! What are you doing out here?”

  “Nothing I want to talk to you about.”

  I was confused and sat down next to him. “What is that supposed to mean? What just happened back there?”

  Dirk sighed and leaned back. “I said I don’t want to talk to you about it.”

  “All right, then I’ll ask Lana.” I stood up and started to leave because I knew she would have actually explain the reason to me.

  “No!” Dirk snatched his words and I turned back to him, looking into his red eyes as fire started to come off his hair. “I don’t want you anywhere near her!”

  “What? Put those away and tell me why?” I sat back down, hoping to get something out of him this time.

  Dirk sighed and it caused his eyes to fade back. “Because―she has a thing for you.”

  “Oh. I knew that.” It wasn’t news.

  “What?” Dirk’s eyes turned red again. “You knew and you didn’t even tell me!”

  “Would you stop getting mad over something this stupid? I didn’t think I would need to tell you. I’m sure it’s just a phase.”

  “Did you sleep with her?”

  “No. Why would I do that?”

  “I know about your past and the hundreds of women you’ve been with. I’m y
our son! How come you never even told me it was that many?”

  I put my head down with a regrettable sigh. “Because that’s just what it is. It’s my past. That’s who I was, not who I am. I needed to get away from it and I did when I met your mother. She changed my life for the better. Don’t punish Lana for her thoughts on me. It was your mother that first got her thinking about it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your mother has shared stories with her when they trained.”

  “What kind of stories?”

  “The private kind.”

  “Oh, I see. Why don’t you ever share those stories?”

  “You wouldn’t want to hear about your mother, would you?”

  “No but I know there’s one you could talk about.”

  “What?”

  “The time you slept with Adele.”

  My eyes got wide and I quickly looked around to make sure no one was coming. “Where did you hear about that?! Who told you?!”

  “Lana told us.”

  “Us?! You mean everyone knows now?!”

  “Yeah. Is there something wrong with that?”

  “We all agreed to never speak of that again. I can’t believe they told the girls!”

  “Does that mean you can tell me? I mean, they did break their deal.”

  “It was a long time ago. A lot has been forgotten.”

  “Oh, come on, father. This is Adele we’re talking about here. No one could forget ever sleeping with her.”

  I sighed because I knew he was right. It’s been over eighteen years and I have yet to forget my encounter with Adele even if it was because I was internally panicking. I gave in and looked around one last time. “All right. What do you want to know?”

  “Everything.” Dirk smiled.

  “Everything? Like what?”

  “Let’s start with where were you?”

  “We were outside. A long the road to the mountains palace where we were supposed to be clearing it.”

  “Right outside, huh? That’s always fun.”

  “You have to know that it wasn’t planned. We all went through a lot because of it.”