A Matter of Truth (Fate Series 3)

by Heather Lyons

  Anger and confusion root me to the spot I’m standing in.

  “I can’t believe I was able to find everything on the list,” Will says, reappearing from wherever he took off to five minutes before. He shakes his basket. “And then some.” It’s then he notices Sophie; there’s no doubt he recognizes her from earlier in the week, since the Muse is such a siren it’d take amnesia to forget such a face. A glance is thrown between us ladies. “Right, then. We need to get moving; no time for crazies. I’ve got a sauce to whip up.”

  Let me count all the ways I love Will, starting with this one.

  Sophie draws in a sharp breath. I nearly laugh, because, outside of the twins, it’s rare for any man to not immediately fall to his knees in obsession. “Excuse me?”

  But then, Will probably matches her in terms of physical attractiveness, so he’s used to ignoring irrational ogling with the best of them. “That’s funny. I’m quite sure I was clear in words and meaning.”

  Her glasses are shoved to the top of her head; blue eyes blaze in return. “You don’t know the first thing about me.”

  “Actually, I believe I know more than I’d ever like to.”

  Interesting. Will isn’t lying when he says this, but as I wasn’t the one to spill the beans on our shared sordid past, does this mean he talked to Kellan about it? I know they’ve become friendly with one another lately; it’s almost humorous that Kellan would talk to Will about his dating problems.

  By the looks of it, I’d say Sophie wants to tear Will’s head clean off and throw it as far as she can after this comment.

  Which doesn’t faze Will in the least. “Are you ready?” he asks me.

  I nod, but as we approach the cashier, I turn back to Sophie. “I know it doesn’t mean much, coming from me, but maybe it’s time to move on.”

  She turns on her heels and leaves; even in anger, she appears as if she’s gliding.

  “She’s a wee bit terrifying, isn’t she?” Will asks as we pay for our food.

  Yes, but not necessarily for why he thinks. She’s terrifying because her anger today was tenfold to what it was after her breakup with Kellan, when it ought to have finally diminished into acceptance and regret.

  And that understanding leaves me uneasy, to say the least.

  Astrid’s expansive kitchen is a dream come true to Will. As Cameron and Astrid awkwardly, yet adorably catch up in the sitting room, drinking a wine that Callie sourly admitted came out of Astrid’s special, private reserve, I hang out with Will, helping him prep dinner.

  “I thought you worked in a diner.”

  Will looks up from his pot, frowning at Callie’s comment. “So?”

  My friend looks gorgeous tonight, wearing a silky silver dress that matches her hair yet leaves her appearing out of place in the kitchen. “I guess I’m surprised that you’re not making . . . I don’t know. Diner food.”

  What surely must be a sharp retort is cut off by Will’s cell phone going off. It’s Becca’s special ringtone; I watch the muscles of his shoulders tighten, almost like somebody slapped a whip against his back.

  I think Callie sees this, too, because her eyes widen in confusion.

  But then Will pulls out his phone and sends the call straight to voicemail. “Sorry to disappoint you, princess. Were you hoping for diner fare, then?”

  Callie leans against the counter, sighing loudly through her nose. Will shoots me a pointed look from where he’s sautéing onions.

  As he’s done for me in the past, I change the subject. “I still can’t believe that Cameron and Astrid used to date each other.”

  And . . . maybe that wasn’t the topic to choose, because Callie practically snarls, “What I can’t believe is how they’re out there sitting on the couch next to each other. It’s gross.”

  Will rolls his eyes and says flatly, “The bloody nerve, sitting on a couch together. Jesus. What’s this world coming to?”

  Callie comes closer to where he’s standing by the stove. “You think this is a joke.”

  He sets the wooden spoon in a cradle nearby. “Not at all. First of all, I don’t see what the big deal about two adults sitting on a couch together is. If you and I sat on a couch together, would that mean we were . . . shagging? That’s what you’re insinuating, isn’t it?”

  For the first time in my presence, cool-as-a-cucumber Callie Lotus flushes bright red.

  “Unless this is a Magical custom that I am yet unfamiliar with. Chloe?” I start when Will says my name. “Have you forgotten to fill me in on this? All these times we’ve ever sat together somewhere, were you secretly planning on us shagging? Because if that’s the case, I apologize for leaving you unfulfilled.”

  It’s completely unattractive, but I let out a cross between a snort and a laugh.

  “You know that’s not what I meant. It’s just . . .” She pushes stray hairs off her cheek. “They’re acting happy about all of this.”

  The nod Will gives is facetious at best. “Ah. Now I see what you’re getting at. You’re upset that your esteemed, blueblood of a Magical mother is friends with a peasant like my non of a father.”

  I didn’t think it was possible, but Callie’s even more red now. “That is not what I meant, either!” She grits her teeth. “Especially since my biological mother was a non, too.”

  He dumps a small bowl of crushed garlic into the pan. “I know it seems like a antiquated, bizarre idea and all, but I like the idea of my father being happy. If catching up with your mum happens to make him so, then I don’t see what the problem is.”

  This surprises Callie. “They used to date.” Her palm presses flat against the counter, propping her up. “I would have thought, of anybody here tonight, you would understand this.”

  A small smile tugs at his lips.

  She switches her attention to me. “Chloe. Explain this to him.”

  Yeah, right. “No thank you,” I tell her sweetly.

  “Let me explain something to you, then, Callie.” Will adds some rosemary and salt. “I am well aware of what this could mean, if, indeed, it means anything at all. See, I’ve done some prying of my own. Your mum and my dad were quite serious once upon a time for teenagers. After they broke up, my dad nursed a broken heart until dating my mum.” She opens her mouth, no doubt ready to counter his accusation, but he keeps going. “My parents had a fantastic marriage that seems pretty fucking impossible to replicate. They were happy. Not put-on-a-show for the neighbors happy, but genuinely happy. But she died, and he didn’t, and the last thing she’d ever want is for him to pass by a chance to experience happiness again, even if it’s with her former friend. Even if it’s merely as friends.”

  “Callie, why is this so upsetting to you?” I ask, cutting a French loaf into thick wedges. “It’s not like they’re dating or anything. Plus, your mom admitted Cameron was her first love, too.”

  “Exactly.” She swipes the butter dish away from me and begins to add chopped bits of garlic and seasoning. “This guy was her first love. When she told him she couldn’t have kids, he ditched her for her best friend. And now that his wife is dead—”

  Will is flat-out glaring.

  “Sorry. I don’t mean that as an insult or anything. Now that he’s single, it’s like she’s some kind of back up. Second choice. Mom should never be second choice to anyone.”

  “That is most certainly not what happened,” Will snaps.

  Kellan chooses this moment to walk into the kitchen, and I’m instantly a thousand times happier than I was just a minute before. He trades the bottle of wine in his hand for a piece of bread I’ve just sliced. “Whoa. Why all the hostility?”

  As he pops a large piece in his mouth, I say tartly, “That’s for dinner. Also, they’re arguing over whether or not they ought to be pleased their parents are becoming reacquainted.”

  “I don’t like how he can do that,” Will mutters, and then Callie surprises me by voicing her opinion that Emotionals are true pains in the ass, too.

  Interest
ing.

  Kellan’s amused, too. He eggs Callie on with, “Is that what we’re calling it? Reacquainting?”

  Oh, boy. It’s Callie’s turn to glare.

  “You can put on your bitch goggles all you like,” he informs her, serene as can be, “but just remember, I’m impervious to your vitriol.” To me, he says, “Personally, I think it’s great.”

  “Really?” I grin up at him. Happiness of my own floods my senses at how easy things are between us despite our talk yesterday. Maybe we can do this after all. “Me, too.”

  “Traitors,” Callie mutters. She pulls over the bread so she can butter the slices.

  Kellan leans down and whispers in my ear, “Wanna know a secret?”

  Must. Not. Focus. On his breath. On my skin. I suck in a deep breath, which is a stupid thing to do, because now I’ve got a lungful of his yummy scent. We’re friends. We decided to be the very best, very closest of friends. Oh gods. He smells so good.

  One day at a time, Chloe.

  Except, the urge to kiss him right now nearly renders me speechless. So I end up saying, oh-so-eloquently, “Urgh?”

  I can practically feel his grin growing against my earlobe. Delicious shivers wrack my spine. “Forget about what’s happening out there with Astrid and Cameron. It’s these two you ought to be paying attention to since they’re incredibly attracted to one another. Did you know that?”

  He pulls away and I’m frozen for a moment before bursting out in laughter. He’s got to be kidding. Astrid and Cameron, okay, I can maybe see that. They have been talking a lot lately and used to date. But Will and Callie? No. No way. They’ve done nothing but argue since the moment they met. Callie’s hung up on Jonah and Will’s unfortunately still stuck on Becca. “Are you serious?”

  “Yep.” His grin is adorably naughty as he helps himself to another piece of bread.

  “Serious, serious?”

  Two fingers are held up. “Scouts honor.”

  My sides hurt, I’m cracking up so hard.

  Both Callie and Will ask what Kellan’s just told me, but we’re too busy laughing to answer. “Screw you two,” Callie finally snaps, and when Will agrees, I reach the point where tears leak out of the corners of my eyes. It feels good to laugh this hard. It feels better to do it with Kellan. Like the promises we made each other last night will be kept. And that we can do this.

  Dinner is highly entertaining for once. Every so often, Kellan nudges me with his foot when either Callie or Will slide furtive glances toward one another in between insults and debates. They think they’re being so sly, staring at each other when they think the other isn’t looking. How had I not noticed this before? I try not to giggle at the table since, while they’re watching each other, Kellan and I are watching them. And Astrid and Cameron? Forget it. They’re in their own little world where they’re only noticing each other. They’re not doing anything other than talking, but they’re totally enraptured with each other.

  Afterwards, the unbelievable happens—Astrid and Cameron encourage us kids to go get ice cream. I’m not kidding. They said ice cream in unison and passed over money to us twenty-somethings, which forced another round of tear-worthy laughter from me and Kellan and confusion and annoyance on behalf of Will and Callie.

  Halfway down the block, as we trail behind the constantly bickering pair, Kellan says to me, “Astrid is really glad to have Cameron back in her life.”

  Which makes me so very glad. Nothing inappropriate had happened tonight—I don’t think I saw them touch once, but the joy I saw in both Astrid and Cameron’s eyes when they spoke to one another was so sweet. “They’re cute, don’t you think?”

  “Like puppies.” He fails at keeping his face straight. “Actually, they are. Ridiculously so. FYI, Cameron is pretty happy, too. I tried not to pry too much into their feelings, though. I mean, Astrid’s my mom. I may be twenty years old, but I still don’t want to know if my mother is digging on some guy or not, you know?”

  I kick at a stray rock on the sidewalk. “Isn’t it weird though? I run all the way to Alaska, and I end up hooking up with Astrid’s old boyfriend of all people.”

  Kellan lifts up an eyebrow, his lips curving in a smirk. I burst out in another round of laughter and swat at his arm. Which . . . was a mistake, because touching leads to longing and . . . no. Don’t go there, Chloe. “Gods, no! EW! Not hooking up, you skeevy perv.”

  “You’re the one who said it. Not me.”

  “You know what I meant.”

  He shoves his hands in his pockets and gives me that half smile of his. Will I ever become immune to it? “It is pretty crazy, though.”

  What’s crazier yet is that we’re going to go get ice cream, and we’re laughing and joking and things feel so easy between us. And it makes me feel like anything is possible.

  “You realize,” he says, “that if these two hook up, we will officially win the prize for most incestuous family ever.”

  I can’t stop laughing with him tonight.

  He taps his chin playfully, pretending to be deep in thought. “Let’s see. My mom—well, you know what I mean—and your dad (again, you know what I mean) are hooking up. Pardon me. I mean, getting reacquainted, although I’d lay money down that they go on an official date within the next few months. It’ll take them awhile, you know. There are a lot of strong feelings in their history, some very hurtful ones, too. A lot of water under their bridges that they need to cross. Yet I digress. J and Callie dated, even though they were, in essence, brother and sister (at least that’s how Astrid sees us, anyway). Cal is lusting after her mom’s old boyfriend’s son, who is virtually your brother, although she’d rather stab him than admit that out loud. He’s pretty hot for her, too. You dated both me and J.”

  My lips twitch. “Anything between you and Callie to admit?”

  “Believe it or not,” he says slyly, “we made out once. And I can attest it was like kissing my sister. How Jonah managed it for years is beyond me. I had to gargle with mouthwash afterwards.”

  I resist the urge to ask if he ever felt like he was kissing his sister when his mouth was on mine. And then I have to resist the flood of memories of kisses we shared that were so hot I nearly lost my mind. “What about you and Will? C’mon, C. You can tell me the truth. It’ll make the incestuousness complete. Did you two hook up in Alaska?”

  He’s calling me C again, which warms my heart considerably. “Nope. Not a single kiss. Not once.”

  He’s skeptical, but jokingly so.

  “I mean, he’s kissed me on the head or cheek before, but that’s hardly romantic.” I clear my throat. “You and Callie actually kissed? When was this?”

  He wags a finger at me and tsk-tsks, purposely ignoring my question. “I’m disappointed in you. You’ve let me down here. Our circle is incomplete. You must go up to Will right now and lay a big, wet one right on his lips.”

  Yeah, right. I kiss Will in front of Kellan, and there’s no doubt a fight would break out, even though they’ve begun to be friends. Just like I think would happen with Callie if I ever witness another kiss between her and either Jonah or Kellan, even though I love her. Still, I find myself shaking my head, grinning like I’m drunk or something.

  This is what Kellan does to me.

  “How about Cal, then?” He motions towards our friends, clearly arguing, yet walking mere inches away from one another. “Willing to go kiss her?”

  “Ha! You wish.”

  The light in his eyes is impish. “I do, actually. It would be incredibly hot; the memory might just get me through many a lonely night.”

  “Oh my gods. Kellan.”

  He breaks down in boyish giggles, and I swear, I once thought Will’s laughter was pure, addictive happiness. I was wrong. Kellan’s is, and there’s no comparison.

  Exhausted from the third Elders mission I’ve been on since coming back to Annar, I practically collapse onto my bed. Ever since Russia, we’ve failed to take any of the Elders out; it’s like, once these Ma
gical ancestors see I’m there, they disappear without a trace. After today’s failure, Zthane put a temporary halt to our missions until the Elders Subcommittee can reconvene to discuss the situation. Until then, the Guard’s attention has switched to implementing protective measures for the identified Métis colonies on the various planes.

  Erik and Cameron are down at Guard Headquarters nearly every day discussing the situation. A new Council Subcommittee is currently forming to help build and strengthen diplomatic ties. It’s a slow start—there is unfortunately deep-rooted bias on both sides, but conversations are taking place. It certainly helps that Karl has thrown his full support behind Zthane and Erik’s initiatives.

  I’ve offered my support, too, but as I’m still on an unofficial time out from the Council, it doesn’t mean much yet. Every day I work toward changing that. I may not be going to Council meetings yet, but I faithfully read the minutes (even when they nearly put me to sleep). I vote, even though it’s via computer. And I strategize with Zthane and the rest of the Guard about the best ways I can be used to get the Elder problem under control.

  As for right now, I’m almost too tired to even change into my pajamas. I debate even leaving my muddy shoes on as my eyes drift shut. It’s much nicer to lay here, reminiscing about this one time Jonah and I went hiking on the outskirts on Annar and I ended up wimping out halfway up the trail because, no matter what I like to think about myself, I am not a natural hiker nor am I inclined toward outdoor sports. We ended up resting near a really beautiful waterfall, and we’d really talked about our future that day—not the future he saw for us, or the one that I imagined, but the one we wanted together. It wasn’t an exciting day, nor an overly romantic one in our history as a couple, but I hold on to it now because of its simplicity. How it made me feel normal, like I was just a girl and he was a boy, and we were in love and it all just was, rather than us being Council members who dabbled in the worlds’ affairs when we were still teenagers.