Twisted Fate (5, Rhyn Eternal)

by Ford, Lizzy

  “Good,” Fate answered.

  “Wynn wants you to report to him.”

  Fate considered the order. “When this is over,” he replied.

  “He said now.”

  “Then he can come here. I’m busy.”

  Kiki’s sigh was much like Stephanie’s, and Fate began to wonder what other traits she had in common with her brothers.

  “He said it’s about Steph.”

  “What about her?” Fate asked casually.

  “Dude, seriously.” Kiki yanked out a chair and sat. “Can you play along with him?”

  “I spent six weeks in the dungeon. What do you think?” Fate replied.

  “I think we don’t know what’s going on, what Wynn’s planning, and if you get kicked out of here, she’s got no one to help her.”

  “She has you.”

  Kiki shook his head. “My sole mission in life has become preventing the Immortals’ infrastructure from collapsing. If you think I have time for drama, you aren’t paying attention to how bad things are.”

  Fate met his gaze for the first time since Kiki approached him.

  “Forget I said that,” Kiki said, awareness on his features.

  “This is the first thing you’ve said of interest to me,” Fate replied with a smile. “How bad is it?”

  “It’s none of your business. If you don’t go see Wynn, he’ll kick you out.” Kiki rose, irritated. “I can’t watch over my newfound sister and keep the Immortals afloat.” He strode away.

  Fate stood and approached the table. He leaned down, lips brushing Stephanie’s ear to send another spark of need through them both. “I need to check in with Wynn. If you get stuck, wait for me.”

  “I can handle it,” she replied tersely.

  He zapped her.

  Stephanie elbowed him in response.

  Fate left the audience chamber and went to the study, where he assumed Wynn would be waiting.

  The Ancient Immortal didn’t disappoint him. Fate walked in and closed the door. Wynn sat on the edge of his desk, legs crossed at the ankles and brilliant eyes hard.

  “You look well,” Wynn said.

  “Called in a favor,” Fate replied with a shrug.

  “My daughter no doubt told you how she freed you.”

  “She did.”

  Wynn was pleased, if not secretly gleeful, and Fate felt a flicker of true annoyance. He could overlook being a virtual prisoner in favor of staying close to his mate, but Wynn’s quiet triumph angered him.

  “I have a mild problem you may be able to help me with,” Wynn said.

  “You’re calling in your favor already?”

  “Not quite. More along the lines of us having a common goal.”

  “Such as?”

  “Darkyn.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “He’s been quiet lately. Our spy network is much compromised after the past couple of years, but we’ve started to hear rumors. He’s seeking souls again for his Army of Souls,” Wynn said.

  “He’s been building it for thousands of years,” Fate countered. “This isn’t news.”

  “Then perhaps this is. Through whatever means, he’s been made aware of Stephanie. No human or immortal has ever been born soul-less and managed to survive. As you can imagine, Darkyn is overly interested in my daughter.”

  Fate didn’t say what he wanted to, that he was pretty certain Wynn had probably told Darkyn about Stephanie’s unusual circumstances. Fate trusted Deidre to keep a secret from Darkyn more than Stephanie’s father.

  “He can’t reach her, as long as she’s here,” Fate said. “Assuming you don’t let another round of demons in.”

  Wynn studied him. “I had to know who her mate was.”

  “At the expense of what? Twelve Immortals?” Fate shrugged. “None of my business, but you’re running out of Immortals as it is.”

  “Which is none of your concern,” Wynn snapped. “What happened to her soul is a mystery, even to me. What should concern you: She’s become a target for Darkyn.”

  “Convenient timing,” Fate murmured. “She’s a target when I have no power and you hold all the cards.”

  “Motivation to play nice with others, which you don’t usually do.”

  “Is it wise to make your daughter the target of Darkyn? From what I understand, the Immortals aren’t in a position to take another hit from the demons,” Fate said.

  “Like you, Darkyn’s always willing to negotiate.”

  Fate hid his rising uneasiness, not liking the idea of Wynn controlling Stephanie’s future. “You said we had a common goal. I’ve yet to hear what it is.”

  “Protecting Stephanie, of course.”

  “Of course.” He managed to can his sarcasm.

  “Encourage her to stay here, where it’s safe. If she leaves, Darkyn will grab her, and I won’t stop him.”

  “You should know better than to make a deal with the Dark One,” Fate warned. In just under four months, when he had his powers, he could protect Stephanie from Darkyn. But now … Wynn was playing a dangerous game with dangerous deities.

  “I have an out,” Wynn replied. “Namely a favor from you.”

  “Everyone wins,” Fate said. “Except me.”

  “Exactly. I knew you’d understand.”

  “Effective plan. Short sighted but effective,” Fate allowed. “Lucky for you, I have nowhere else I’d rather be right now.”

  “Good. It’s in your best interest to keep her here.” Wynn circled his desk to sit behind it. “I hope that doesn’t interfere with your love of free will.”

  “I’m learning free will and mates don’t exactly go hand in hand.”

  Wynn chuckled, amusement in his gaze. “No. They don’t.”

  Once again, Fate had the sense Wynn wanted something from Stephanie, something he was willing to make a deal with the one deity no one ever wanted to deal with. He hated not knowing, hated the idea she was in danger, and he had no way to stop whatever might be headed her way.

  “How are the petitions going?” Wynn asked.

  “She’s a natural.”

  Wynn appeared pleased by the news. “Perhaps this half-breed will turn out better than the last.”

  More anger stirred. Fate didn’t reply. He had the sudden urge to hide Stephanie away from Wynn.

  “Dismissed,” Wynn said, focus on his laptop.

  Fate left and walked through the chalet, mind on Wynn’s subtle threat. To negotiate with Darkyn then use the deal against him was smart, except he wasn’t the sole determining factor in whether or not Stephanie stayed. She was too strong willed to remain somewhere she didn’t want to.

  Returning to the petition chamber, he resumed his seat and submerged himself once more in watching those around him while his mind skipped from thought to thought. Karma’s timing was monumentally horrible. He’d wanted to experience what it was like to be a human, to live in the moment and fear the next, and he was being granted his wish. How bad this experiment was going to affect the world, he didn’t even want to guess.

  “How do you always know?”

  Fate withdrew from his thoughts, barely aware of the last petitioner leaving. Stephanie stood before him, eyes lined with dark circles. “You figure it out over time,” he replied. He reached out to her automatically and took her hand.

  She gazed at their clasped hands but didn’t move away. It was too hard, even for him, not to touch when they were so close. “But every time? You just knew.”

  “I’m that good,” he said with a smile.

  “At manipulating people.”

  “At everything.” He winked and rose, stepping into her, until their bodies brushed. “You have plans this evening?”

  She reached for him, stopped herself, and awkwardly shoved her hand in her pocket. “Plans? Like leaving this nightmare behind me?”

  “I was thinking more like a date.”

  Her eyebrows rose.

  “Our first one was interrupted,” he reminded her.

>   “You go from being pissy with me for using your power to wanting a date?” She scrutinized him.

  “I think we could use some us-time, don’t you?” he asked and cupped her cheek with one hand. “You and me. Nothing formal. We can talk and ... whatever else.”

  Interest flared in her gaze, and she started to nuzzle his hand before yanking out of the spell threatening to mesmerize him as well. Stephanie stepped back, fighting the pull.

  He zapped her, and she growled, slapping his hand. “Come on. Don’t be scared,” he teased and tipped her chin up.

  Another zap and she ducked her head but not before he saw her smile starting to form. “You are such a jerk!”

  “Ahhh. Knew that, too,” he said and touched her again.

  She batted his hand away. He caught her wrist and tugged her into him once more, satisfied to hear her breath catch at their contact.

  “Date?” he prodded.

  Stephanie gazed at him for a long moment, relaxing into his hold. “Okay,” she said. “Date.”

  “Meet me on the front lawn in an hour? We can walk to the lake.”

  She nodded.

  Fate released her once more. She hesitated then moved away, cheeks red. He watched her go, eyes roaming over her tall, trim frame in appreciation. The warm energy of her touch faded before she reached the door, and he grew concerned once more. He was going to have to warn her about not leaving the property, at least, not until he had his power back. Wynn had sent one son to Hell; he’d do it again. The Dark One never turned down the opportunity to cage a deity. But with Stephanie, Darkyn was likely to torture her or conduct science experiments to see why she was able to live without a soul.

  Fate returned to a thought he hadn’t wanted to acknowledge fully. Chances were, he’d have to approach Darkyn with a deal before this mess was over, which Wynn and Darkyn probably knew going into their deal. Darkyn would pursue Stephanie as he had others in the past. He was relentless, unstoppable. With or without his power, Fate was going to have to confront the Dark One to keep his mate safe.

  Pensive, Fate returned to his room to get ready for his date. An hour after leaving her in the audience chamber, he went to her door and tapped.

  There was no immediate response, so he opened the door.

  The air smelled of a recent shower, and the drawers of her bureau were open.

  But Stephanie wasn’t present.

  Uneasiness growing, he searched her room and determined she hadn’t left long before he arrived. They didn’t pass in the hallway, and he saw no sign she’d even put on shoes.

  Someone had taken her.

  For the first time since losing his power, Fate resented the lesson he was supposed to be learning. He had no idea what had happened, what would happen or even who took her. He was, for the first time in his life, completely blind.

  Chapter Fourteen

  One minute, she was getting ready for her first real date in … well, ever. The next, she had a bag over her head, and someone slung her over his shoulder. She felt the cool mist of the place-between-places then heard the unmistakable sound of the ocean lapping shore. Seconds later, they went back into the misty portal, out, back through and out again. This occurred several more times, and she squirmed, only to have her captor’s grip around her tighten.

  She went still and waited.

  A blast of cool air hit her, and she was lowered to the uneven ground.

  Stephanie yanked off the hood and looked first at the tall figure with a shock of white-blond hair then at her surroundings. She was beside a lake surrounded by vibrant green trees.

  At least I’m in the human world.

  She climbed to her feet with an annoyed glance down. She’d gotten one shoe on before being kidnapped.

  “I’m Kris.”

  Her gaze lifted. It took a moment for the handsome man’s name to click. His eyes shifted from blue to amber as she watched. “Uh, aren’t you supposed to be dead?” she asked.

  “I was.”

  Stephanie sighed. She straightened and faced the latest of her brothers to barge into her life. Built like a cross between Tamer’s bulk strength and Kiki’s lean athleticism, Kris’s blond hair stood out in stark contrast to his honey colored skin.

  “You could’ve knocked instead of kidnapping me,” she said.

  “I had to take precautions.”

  If she had learned one thing about her brothers, it was they knew how to make an entrance. “Whatever. So … where are we and why?”

  “Come with me.” He whirled and strode away, into the forest, towards a small cabin perched on the edge of the lake.

  She snorted at the stiff order before recalling he’d been in charge of the Council for many years. With nowhere else to go, Stephanie followed him, stepping carefully so as not to injure her exposed foot.

  Kris disappeared into the cabin and left the door open. She entered several steps behind him. The cozy, two room cabin was made of thick logs and featured a stone fireplace at its center. She liked it instantly and sat on the couch while Kris went to a minibar and poured them both whiskey.

  He sat down across from her, giving her a look very much like one Wynn had issued her on many occasions.

  “I hear I have a sister,” he started and sipped his drink, eyes turning from amber to green.

  “Yep. Half breed,” she said. “Seriously, why didn’t you just knock?”

  He lowered the drink and swirled it, gazing at her briefly. “It’s complicated.”

  “No shit. Try me.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Something about half-breeds …” The disapproval was subtle. “In any case, our father can’t know I’m here.”

  “Here or … not dead?” she asked.

  There was a pause, and he tilted his head. “Both.”

  “Is there something about me that just screams tell me your secrets? When will you people stop telling me things?”

  “I’d say it’s your gift.”

  She frowned. “Come again?”

  “My father … our father doesn’t make mistakes. He chose your mother like he chose the mothers of all of us,” Kris replied. “There had to be something special about her in order for him to choose her.”

  “So I do have a gift?”

  “Yeah.”

  “We just met. How do you know?”

  “Because that’s my gift,” he said with a slow smile. “I just know.”

  “Okay. Then what is it? What’s my magic power?” she asked, unable to help her curiosity. Would there ever become a day when she wasn’t lured into a discussion with one of these people by her curiosity?

  “Secrets.”

  “Meaning …”

  “Ever notice how people tell you things? Randomly? Without you asking or even knowing their names?” Kris replied. “What did I say after ‘something about half-breeds’?”

  She chugged the whiskey and hissed as the heat tore down her throat. “This is just stupid. You said Wynn couldn’t know you were here.”

  “Did you hear the words or know them?”

  “Heard them. Because you said them.”

  “I didn’t say them. You read them from my mind.”

  She reviewed their conversation mentally. “That makes no sense.”

  “My guess is you haven’t been tuned into your gift. Each child of Wynn has one. Assuming your mother was human, you wouldn’t inherit the gift from her. You probably got it from Wynn.”

  “Wynn knows everyone’s secrets?”

  “I’d say so. There’s nothing else that explains his ability to manipulate as well as any deity with no real power to match. We’ve always known he was an incredibly powerful healer, but it never explained how he could get to people the way he does. I think you just confirmed he’s got a secondary skill.”

  Stephanie absorbed the information. She’d always wondered why people told her such odd, personal things upon meeting. It never occurred to her that she might be reading the secrets out of their minds.

  “Tha
t was easier than I expected.” Kris rose and returned to the kitchen. “Now. I can’t send you back, or Wynn will know.”

  “So if he can read secrets, and I can read secrets, do we cancel each other out?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “I’ve never heard his secret.”

  “Wynn’s gift has been a secret for a few hundred thousand years. He knows how to hide it.”

  “Then I can learn, too, and go back.”

  “Go back?” Kris faced her. “Why would you want to go back?”

  Fate. She cleared her throat. “It’s not that bad.”

  “You’re not leaving.” He gazed at her hard. “You’re going to help me get rid of him for good. It’s why I was brought back. Wynn is fucking up the world or will soon. He’s running the Immortals into the ground. Pretty soon, we won’t be able to defend ourselves against Darkyn let alone save humanity from the Dark One.”

  It was the first thing he’d said that made sense to her. Stephanie sat up straighter. “Everything seems fine there,” she said, puzzled. “You’re saying he’s working to destroy everything in the background.”

  “He’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants.”

  “What does he want?”

  “No one knows.”

  Stephanie chewed on her lower lip. No one knew what Wynn was after, and everyone feared he was going to drag the world down his obsessed trek with him.

  “This was why he was rendered dead-dead in the first place,” Kris added more quietly. “This is why I took over. He went mad, and he’s about to do it again.”

  “That’s good but … he’s going to notice I went missing and follow.”

  “I took multiple portals through multiple places. He can’t find us.”

  “Neither can Kiki. I can’t leave Kiki alone.”

  “Why do you want to go back?” Kris demanded bluntly.

  “I’m not saying I do.”

  They stared at one another.

  “All right, fine! I was about to go on a date with someone who actually wanted to go out with me for the first time ever!” she exclaimed beneath his intent look.

  “So the fate of the world is less important than fucking some idiot?”

  Stephanie gripped a pillow on the couch, put it to her face and screamed into it, fed up with everything being on her shoulders and so overly dramatic, she was never going to say anything right to these people.