Twisted Karma

by Lizzy Ford

Wynn remained focused on the fire. “She has to learn.”

  “If you truly want change, if you truly want her to lead, then you can’t do to her what you did to us.”

  Wynn met his son’s gaze, not expecting the most civilized of his sons to confront him a second time this week. Andre always chose his battles carefully and interfered only when necessary. He spoke out of emotion this night.

  “You want her to lead because some part of you knows she’s what our people need. But you’ll destroy the part of her you admire, if you continue on this path.” Andre’s eyes flashed with anger. “She deserves better.”

  “You assume I know how to do better,” Wynn said icily.

  “I assume nothing. I know you genuinely care for your family, in what manner you can. I’m saying it’s not enough to do what you’ve always done,” Andre replied. “You can’t push her away, Wynn. You can’t afford to make the same mistakes with her that you made with us.”

  “What would you suggest? We hold tea parties and hug?” Wynn snapped.

  “She doesn’t trust you.”

  “She shouldn’t trust anyone.”

  “Yes, she should! Starting with her own father.”

  Wynn tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair, irritated by the changes in his life and how control was gradually slipping out of his grip. “What you ask is not what I can give.”

  “Bullshit, Father. All you must do is speak to her. Honestly. Tell her what you’re doing and why. She’ll listen. She wants to be part of her family, our family, but you make it almost impossible. She’s alone and scared,” Andre continued. “Her mate was her rudder in a world new to her, and he’s gone. She’s lost and hurting. You should understand that much.”

  Wynn’s jaw clenched. “Fate is beyond my reach. There’s nothing I can do.”

  “You don’t have to bring him back. You just have to let her know you care.”

  Wynn was silent.

  Peace sighed. “Please consider it,” he said. “You see her potential. She wants to make a difference. She brought your sons together once. She can do it again.”

  “I’ll consider your advice,” Wynn replied.

  His oldest son rose and left. Wynn sensed Andre was disheartened, if not disappointed by the talk.

  Wynn didn’t know where to start with what Andre had said. There were too many reasons for him to remain distant from his family, starting with the long list of enemies he’d collected over the years.

  He went to the diaries behind his desk and gazed at the wall of secrets he’d spent two lifetimes collecting. Every deity and Immortal in his library had a reason to murder him. If he showed any weakness, if he displayed his concern for his family, those he cared for were as good as dead. He had to remain invulnerable, untouchable.

  He’d hidden the volume Karma wanted in the one room in the castle she wouldn’t enter: the office in the catacombs where he’d trapped her. He didn’t doubt she was capable of smashing his library into pieces to break the spells protecting it, if she became too frustrated. Their deal had not included a timeframe; he could hang onto the diary for all of eternity.

  Wynn recognized the presence of his second visitor without seeing her. He remained facing the journals, frame relaxed. He didn’t need someone else showing up and telling him how to run his family and life. Had his guest been anyone else, he would have sent her away.

  “Hello, Deidre,” he said softly to the woman he’d tried to kill and colluded with Past-Death to have sentenced to Hell.

  “Hello, Wynn,” was the quiet reply.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Karma.” And Deidre laughed. “Like my pun?”

  Wynn faced Deidre. The tiny human-turned-demon wore a silky black gown that flowed to her feet and seemed to move of its own accord.

  She smiled. He never understood how, after all he’d done to her.

  “Have a seat,” he said and circled the desk.

  They sat across from one another in leather armchairs.

  “We have a problem,” Deidre said.

  Wynn refused to display his frustration. “She’s not my problem,” he said, even as the scent of Karma on his skin sent his heart racing.

  “If you’re okay with this suicide mission of hers, then by all means, hide in your study,” Deidre said. “But … I know there’s a side of you no one else believes exists. The side that apologized to me after all we’d been through. The side that tried too late to save me.”

  Wynn held her gaze, unwilling to show any sign of how much her words disturbed him. The one true mistake he’d made in this life had been to place her innocent soul in danger.

  “I’m here as a friend,” Deidre added. “I’m not in the position to help Fate, but I can help his sister.”

  “By appealing to me.”

  “By reminding you of the piece of you capable of caring for someone else. I’m living proof of it.”

  Wynn rose, jaw ticking in irritation as he clenched his teeth. He paced a short distance away and stared hard at the books lining one wall.

  “I see it in your eyes when you look at me.” Deidre’s tone was gentle. “A man capable of regret is capable of good, too.”

  “It’s too much to ask.”

  “How so?” Deidre challenged.

  Wynn looked at her once more. “She’s not part of my plan.”

  “And I was?”

  “You were a means to an end. A favor returned.”

  “I don’t believe that, Wynn.” Deidre’s smile was warm. “But I know how methodical you are. I know your plan, whatever it is, means more to you than anything else in this world ever has, and you’ll do whatever it takes, no matter who gets hurt in the process. I’m living proof of that, too.”

  “What do you want from me, Deidre?” Wynn asked, hating the raw edge in his tone he couldn’t hide.

  “I don’t want to see you hurt. I don’t want you to regret losing the only person who can fill that hole in you, the one that drives you and makes you reject everyone in your life.”

  “I’ve worked for two lifetimes for this.”

  “Are you content to have power and lose yourself and your mate in the process?”

  Wynn didn’t answer. He was treading on thin ice with Deidre, not wanting to admit she was right about anything. His insides twisted at the thought of Karma being hurt or worse, rendered dead-dead. If he regretted Deidre, what would he feel about Karma? Did this feeling have a name? He didn’t know, because deep emotions had never been part of his being.

  “By now, Karma’s taken out two deities and is probably hunting a third,” Deidre said at his silence.

  “Who?” His focus sharpened.

  “Spirit and Mayhem are gone. She’s trying to find Hope,” she replied. “In Hell, we don’t really care. But there are rumors flying around that some of the other deities do, and there may be an alliance very quickly forming against her. Apparently, she’s made at least one sketchy deal and tried to make a couple more. If she goes around murdering deities, this alliance can take a different approach.”

  When Wynn had told Karma to make an example out of someone, he’d meant for her to balance him or her, not murder anyone! Deities would never tolerate one of their own killing others.

  In a rare outside sign of his agitation, Wynn ran a hand through his hair. “She’s a fucking fool!”

  “She’s in over her head in a game you’ve mastered. You’re her only chance, Wynn.”

  His mind raced. Karma played by no one’s rules, even her own. He unwrapped the bandage around his arm savagely and threw it aside, revealing the mark naming him Karma’s mate.

  “Looks like I need to pay a couple of deities a visit,” he said with calm he didn’t feel.

  Deidre released her breath, as if she hadn’t been sure about what he would chose to do. “We’ve been through too much for me to want to see you hurt.”

  Wynn’s gaze lingered on her. “It pleases me to no end to know you’re happy, Deidre,” he
said and then smiled. “And the Dark One.”

  “Darkyn runs things. I just have the cool job title.” The petite demoness grinned, displaying her fangs. “Do the right thing, Wynn.” Without waiting for him to respond, she summoned a portal and glided into it, back to her domain.

  Nothing about this felt right. He’d fucked a woman once and was ready to take on the deities to ensure she didn’t end up dead-dead.

  What happened to the man he used to be, his first time around? Would he have made the same choices?

  Would I have had any choice at all, once the mating mark appeared? In any life, with any power, Wynn would have been crippled by the ritual. If demons and deities couldn’t resist their mates, then neither could he. He was still ahead of the game; if he acted now, he could retain what he needed to regain his full power and simultaneously prevent his mate from setting the world on fire. His fate was tied to Karma’s. He had to do something to curb the damage she was causing.

  Wynn summoned a portal before he was certain of where he went first. Or perhaps, because he was certain of where he went first.

  Karma.

  One of the lemon-hued portals glowed in response, beckoning him towards it.

  Wynn stepped through – and froze.

  Deidre’s timing hadn’t been random or coincidental.

  Death, Karma, and two other deities – Hope and Vengeance – stood in a field beneath the stars. The bodies of Mayhem and Harmony lay at Karma’s feet. Her back was to Wynn, her loose hair down her back. It flashed different colors too quickly for any one color to be clear. The unstable energy he’d first witnessed in the catacombs when he tried to trap her was magnified a hundred times over. She was breathing hard, trembling, and tense, ready to pounce on another deity.

  His surprise was quickly replaced by his survival instinct. Karma was a threat to everyone but him. She could hurt him, but her magic wouldn’t allow her to kill him. Of this, he was assured after his research.

  Ignoring the breeze tossing Karma’s hair around, Wynn walked forward, assessing those present with the finely-honed skills of an expert politician. Death was tense, and Wynn suspected Gabriel was attempting to run damage control. Hope radiated agitated energy, a sign he was ready to act. Vengeance appeared startled. But Vengeance wouldn’t hesitate long. If challenged, Karma would kill, and she couldn’t be permitted to murder any more deities.

  As for the wild goddess … she was completely, utterly out of control. The sight of her wild and free stirred emotions deep within him, lust, pride and fear. Wynn had never once in either life felt the need to protect or possess. In that moment, he experienced both instincts with such force, he had to slow his step, lest he acted without thought.

  His mind was his greatest weapon. The situation before him was ready to explode, and he wasn’t about to let a hasty move on his part ignite the fuse.

  Wynn rolled up the sleeve of his shirt enough to display Karma’s name on his forearm.

  “Have I caught you all at a bad time?” he asked casually. His movements were deliberate and sure, his destination Karma.

  Everyone’s but Karma’s attention shifted to him. The magic around her became even more agitated, to the point she radiated electricity that sent fire through Wynn. The bond was compelling him to her, and her magic only seemed to enhance its effect. It was pure madness to be around her without touching her.

  Wynn concentrated on reading the fears and secrets belonging to the deities in front of him.

  “I’d say you were just in time,” Gabriel replied tersely.

  “We have no business with you, Immortal,” Hope said.

  “Be that as it may, perhaps I can assist you all by mediating,” Wynn replied. His voice was low and calm, confident and quiet. It was his negotiating tone, the one he used among opponents hostile to him or his cause.

  “From what I can tell, these three aren’t happy with Karma and decided to pay her a visit,” Death answered. “It didn’t end well for one of them.”

  “The business of deities doesn’t concern an Immortal,” Hope insisted.

  “When said Immortal knows about a deity’s broken vow to Darkyn’s predecessor made during the first demon incursion, and the other deity doesn’t want anyone to know about a matter of a particularly humiliating nature involving his … performance, it might be worthwhile to listen,” Wynn replied. “I don’t think either of you want this information to be shared with Hell.”

  Both gods focused on him.

  “I heard you came back without your abilities,” Hope said.

  “Seems you were mistaken,” Wynn replied, deferential yet firm.

  “Maybe we should test that theory.”

  Karma started towards the god threatening Wynn.

  Aware of every inch of her skin, Wynn neatly caught her forearm and held her back. Sharp, hot electricity sizzled through him, awakening his blood as only his bond with Karma could. Pain raced through him as well, the effects of power too great for the goddess possessing it to control.

  “The last time our paths crossed, where did you end up and for how long?” he asked, eyes on the more troublesome of the gods.

  Hope flushed, and his eyes sparked. “Fuck you, Immortal,” was the acidic response.

  Vengeance had already retreated several steps.

  Wynn stared down Hope. When he needed to, he didn’t back down from a god, especially when he had the upper hand. He was acutely aware of Karma’s breathing, as erratic and uneven as her heartbeat. She was close to snapping, and nothing he could do would prevent her from unleashing hell upon the gods.

  “This won’t go unanswered,” Hope said at last and moved away.

  The two of them summoned a portal and left.

  “This shit has to stop,” Death said, eyes on Karma.

  She wrenched away from Wynn, refusing to acknowledge either of them as she strode away.

  “Stop,” Wynn ordered softly.

  Karma froze.

  Gabriel looked between them before shaking his head. “Fix this shit,” he said for Wynn’s ears only.

  It struck Wynn as strange that Gabriel had chosen to interfere twice in his business with Karma. Death could’ve sent any death dealer in the universe to challenge Wynn in his home the other night. As a soul-eater deity, Karma consumed the souls of her victims. Death’s presence was not required this day, either.

  Wynn didn’t have time to question the deity or dig into his mind to discover why Death was diligent about tracking what Karma did. Wynn’s eyes went to the distressed goddess.

  “Don’t say a word!” she snapped, sensing him move towards her.

  Wynn didn’t touch her, though he yearned to, but circled her and stood in front of her, close enough for the hot, lustful electricity of their bond to sizzle between them. Karma had been crying at some point, and tears streaked her cheeks. Her eyes remained black, her energy out of her control, emotions crossing her beautiful features as fast as her hair changed colors. She was shorting out.

  “Look at me, Karma,” he said calmly.

  She did. He held her gaze and remained quiet, respecting her space and her inner struggle for control and also assuring her with his presence he wasn’t about to leave. His concern for her outweighed his lust.

  He’d never seen any deity this far out of control. He admired her power and beauty, the lethal nature of her gift, and the supple body that responded to his commands alone. She was the unique combination of power and submission, a sign they’d been created solely for one another, for she was everything he could ever want in a bed partner.

  She couldn’t hurt him, but he innately knew he would drive her away, if he didn’t allow the wild goddess the space she needed. In this condition, she’d run if she felt at all pressured or trapped and massacre anyone in her path.

  There was no containing this storm. He had to let it pass.

  He remained steady and quiet, trusting his subtle healing power to soothe her. If her focus was on him, he had a chance to stabilize her.


  Gradually, Karma’s rainbow hair rotated through three colors instead of all the hues of the universe, and her breathing grew steadier. Her shoulders dropped. She no longer shook, and her agitated energy returned to its normal level of instability.

  Wynn continued to wait, assessing her as he did. He studied her features closely to determine the moment she was ready. He understood already what tore her apart: her brother’s absence and the bonding that caught both of them by surprise. Karma, naturally volatile, had reached her limit after their night together.

  Wynn shifted closer with the caution a hunter used tracking a predator. Karma didn’t move or speak. He cupped one of her cheeks in his hand.

  She lifted her chin to break the touch, fire in her gaze. Some part of her understood she needed him, or she would’ve fled the second after the other gods left.

  Entertained by her last ditch effort to defy him, Wynn smiled and touched her again. She didn’t move away but released a deep breath.

  Lightning flew through him, igniting his desire. Her pupils dilated in response.

  Death watched from a distance. Wynn sensed Gabriel leave once he was assured that neither Karma nor Wynn was about to murder one another.

  “I’ll help you,” Wynn said quietly to his mate.

  She opened her mouth to object.

  “Not for a favor,” he said. “I’ll help you in exchange for you showing up every night in my bedchamber.”

  Red flushed across her face, and desire lit her gaze. “It’ll only make this worse,” she said, conflicted. “We’ll never be able to walk away.”

  “We can’t walk away now, Karma. Some part of you knows this,” he replied firmly. “We both have a cause. The longer we fight the bond, the harder it becomes for us to focus on anything else. If we surrender to it at night, perhaps we will have some freedom from it during the day.”

  “Will that work?” she whispered.

  “I don’t know,” he replied. “We can’t avoid each other. We know that much.”

  Her raw emotions were painted across her face and eyes. He never let his show, and she never tried to hide hers.

  “We’ll handle this together,” he said.

  Doubt and suspicion crossed her face.