Fate

by Nadine Nightingale

  The never-consort-with-witches-and-demons rule? “I’m out of options, Jess.”

  “They’re demons,” he barks.

  B wrinkles her forehead. “Demons, huh?” She slams her hands on both hips. “You were okay with a demon healing your brother, weren’t you?”

  “That’s something entirely else,” Jesse says, eyes clouded with…pain? Regret? Fear? A little bit of everything.

  Wrong answer dude. B is boiling. No kidding. Her face is redder than a glass of Merlot. “I see.” She throws him a disgusted look. “It’s okay to work with hell as long as it benefits your brother. But when it comes to Amanda, the rules change, right? Why, Jess? Because she’s a witch? Her life isn’t as worthy as that of your jerk brother, is that it?”

  Jesse shakes his head. “I never said that.”

  “You didn’t have to,” B shoots back. “Your actions speak louder than words, hunter.”

  He narrows his eyes at her. “So we’re back to the hunter thing, huh?”

  JJ hauls Bay to the door. “I think we’ll crash in our room.” In other words, they’re exiting the war zone.

  Damn, I wish I could tag along. But those two might kill each other without a buffer. “Guys.” I hold my palms up. “Just—”

  “Stay out of this, Alex.” Whoa, it’s official. My little brother has turned into a full-blown bitch. He returns his focus on B. “I’m not the bad guy here. I want Manda and Leandro to be okay, but—”

  “Not as badly as your brother.” B laughs. “I know, hunter. You made that perfectly clear when I shared my suspicions with you and you demanded not to mention it to your brother. I don’t forget when someone threatens me, you know?”

  “Threatened you?” Sorry, I don’t want to get involved in their shit. It’s just I have a hard time believing Jesse would do that.

  “What?” Dark laughter escapes the mamba’s mouth. “He didn’t tell you how he threatened to send hunters after my family?”

  “You did what?” I yell, unable to comprehend Jesse would do such a thing. He might not admit it, but a blind man could see he’s head over heels in love with B. No way he’d threaten her family.

  His gaze drops. “I was afraid, B. Afraid to lose my brother to hell. You, of all people, should get that.”

  Wait a minute. Was that an admission of guilt?

  Bitter laughter crawls up the mamba’s throat. “Should I, now?”

  “Yes,” he says, shoulders dropped, head hanging low. “You know how it feels to lose a sibling. I already lost a sister; I couldn’t lose my brother, too.” He exhales, sharply. “That’s why I said all those things to you. I was scared you were right about Manda trading places with Alex. I just knew Alex would never accept that and I thought—”

  “You thought I would find a demon who would trade again?” The second I say those words, I’m hit by a pang in the chest. Jesse had mentioned B’s suspicions. He apologized for not telling me the truth, but now I understand he was ready to sacrifice Manda’s life for mine.

  He nods, never looking me in the eye.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you, Jess?” He’s the good Remington. The one who has compassion, a damn heart. “You love Manda. Why would you—”

  “I don’t know, okay?” He throws his hands in the air. “I don’t know what was going on with me. I thought of those past few months, the constant fear of watching you being dragged to hell, and I just…I snapped.”

  I get it. He didn’t want to lose me. “But threatening B’s family?” I can’t believe he went that low.

  “I didn’t mean it,” he assures me.

  “Sure, you did,” B hisses, before spinning on her heels.

  She slams the bathroom door so hard, I’m afraid it might come off its hinges. The shower comes on. I get the feeling B is trying to wash off the hurt my brother caused her.

  Jesse stares at the door. I’ve never seen him so low, so ashamed of himself. “I fucked up, huh?”

  He lied to me, threatened B’s family, and would have happily let Manda rot in hell. “You think?”

  “I’m sorry,” he says over and over.

  Sorry, doesn’t always make shit right. “I need some air.”

  ****

  “B!” Jesse bangs against the bathroom door. “Did you drown in the shower?” She’s been in there for over two hours. He’s running out of patience.

  “Relax, dude. You screaming at her won’t make her come out faster.” A little birdy called intuition tells me it has the opposite effect. B’s deliberately trying to piss Jesse off.

  “But she’s been in there forever,” he justifies his worries.

  Pressing the heels of my palms against my aching temples, I focus on my breathing. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. The shit usually helps me deal with aggressions. Not today, though. I walked around aimlessly for over an hour, trying to put myself in Jesse’s position. I get why he was afraid. What I don’t get is how he was so quick to give up on Manda, the girl he calls a sister. Anyway, being mad at him ain’t helping us. I’ll deal with his lies when this is over. “Just leave her be, all right.” There’s an edge in my voice I can’t cover up.

  “Whatever,” he grumbles.

  Silence stretches between us. It’s a haunting sound, especially because it makes the voices in my head so much louder. She almost killed you. Did you see the look in her eyes before she slammed you against the wall? Do you really think Berith will tell you where Leandro is? Are you sure you can stop Manda without hurting her?

  The dungeon flashes across my mind. Manda summoned me there when she was still herself. She knew what was about to happen to her. The reason she practically begged me to end her life before it’s too late. After everything I’ve said and done, she thought I could kill her. God, I’m such a bastard. How awful did I treat her to give her—a witch who can read people like a damn book—the impression I wouldn’t think twice?

  Before the nasty voices in my head answer that, B marches out of the bathroom. She pays no attention to Jesse. Instead, she sits on the bed next to me.

  “You okay?” I can’t believe I actually care.

  She shrugs. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  My gaze darts to Jesse. He stands by the window, drowning in his own guilt.

  “Have you heard from Berith?” she asks, changing the focus of our conversation to more pressing matters.

  I grab my phone and show her the text I got earlier. “Tell them we’ll met at the Redrock Café, seven a.m. Sharp,” B reads.

  “I already texted Carter and Amelia,” I explain. “They’ll tell the others.”

  B bites her lower lip, occasionally shooting Jesse a killer look. “My mom and my brothers should be here around six a.m.” She stares at the windows. “I’ll tell them to come here, first.” She pauses. “If that’s okay?”

  “Sure.” It’ll give us time to prepare them for what’s to come. Can’t be pleasant for them to walk into a café full of hunters and demons. A little heads-up seems appropriate.

  Jesse flings himself onto the free bed. “What about Leandro?” He sounds all business, but his voice trembles. “Did the demon say anything about his location?”

  I wish Berith would drop from her high horse. I’m the hunter, she’s the demon. And why would I abandon the mission, anyway? It’d be Manda’s certain death. “Only that I should pick someone I trust for his rescue.”

  Jesse squints. “Wait, so we aren’t going to get him out together?”

  Yeah, I don’t like that part of the plan either. “No.” I steady my breath. “The demon thinks it’s better we do it simultaneously. That way the First Knight can’t interfere.”

  B lies back, gazing at the ceiling. “So whom did you pick?”

  “Come again?”

  She props on her elbows. “Whom do you trust enough to get Leandro back?” She smirks. “And before you say me, I should probably let you know my abilities are required on the battlefield.”

  Damn! I was going to pick her. Looks like I
have to go with the next best option. “JJ and Bay.”

  “What?” Jesse jumps up. “You’re trusting that Malleus dick with my nephew?” He’s disappointed and hurt I didn’t pick him. I’d feel the same if the roles were reversed. But this isn’t just about what he did. Jesse is one of the best hunters I ever had the honor to work with. I need a man like him beside me.

  “Like it or not,” I say. “They both adore Amanda.” Bay a bit too much, if you ask me. “I’m pretty damn sure they’ll take good care of her son.”

  “Opposed to me?” he shoots back.

  In a few hours, we’ll host one of the most awkward meetings ever. I need to catch some sleep before that happens. “Let’s hit the sack.”

  Jesse’s eyes are full of pain. Any other day, I’d do my best to make it go away. This week has been rotten and I just can’t deal with him right now. “Night,” I say, rolling over.

  Chapter 36

  I tossed and turned all night, playing out a million horrific scenarios. They all ended in Manda and Leandro’s death.

  Crossing my arms behind my head, I gaze out the window. The sun slowly rises. Possibly for the very last time. If the First Knight succeeds, the world we know will no longer exist. All the scum locked up in hell will be freed; the final battle—whatever that is—initiated.

  Weird. It kinda looks like any other sunrise to me. Maybe that’s the point, though. You never know when it’ll all be over. One second, the world revolves around the sun. The next, it ceases to exist. Life is unpredictable like that.

  “Here.” B shoves a steaming mug of coffee under my nose. “You look like you need it more than I do.” I doubt that. She’s been up all night, too.

  “Thanks.” Taking a few sips, I ogle the mamba. She’s so fucking nice to me it’s sorta scary. I am, after all, the Remington brother she can’t stand. Hey, I’m not complaining. The last thing I need is her hating on me.

  She plummets down next to me, watching my brother sleep. I recognize the look in her eyes. She still cares about him, despite the shit he’s done. I used to think witches were the source of all evil, but they happen to be more forgiving than most humans.

  “So,” she says, eyeballing Demon-Boy. He walked in here a little while ago. Without his other crewmembers. “You sure your boss is in?” She points at the guitar-shaped clock on the wall. “They’ve been gone for a while.”

  Demon-Boy leans against the wall. “They’ll be here.”

  “If you say so,” B grumbles, less than convinced.

  “Hey.” Demon-Boy smirks. “Don’t bitch at me because you have trouble with your boyfriend.”

  Yeah, he shouldn’t have said that. B is on her feet in a nanosecond. Her index finger comes up. “One: he’s not my boyfriend.” Her middle finger follows. “Two: mind your own damn business, asshole.”

  Demon-Boy lifts his hands. “Easy.” He shoots her an annoying-as-hell grin. “I’m just saying I didn’t screw you over.” He tilts his chin at Jesse. “He did.”

  B moves to the door. “I’m going to check on Bay and JJ.”

  She’s back in less than two minutes. “JJ is in the shower. They’ll be here soon.”

  Sounds good. The shower part, I mean. I smell my shirt. It’s disgusting. Happens when you don’t change in two days.

  Grabbing a towel, I move toward the bathroom when Demon-Boy shouts, “They’re here.” He paces the room like a maniac, searching for the quickest escape.

  The commotion wakes Jesse. “What’s going on?” His voice is sleepy and rough.

  “They’re here.” Demon-Boy brings him up to date.

  Jesse rubs his eyes. “Who’s here?”

  B’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Do me a favor?”

  “What’s that?”

  The ghost of a smile appears on her lips. “Try not to be your usual jerkish self.” She heads toward the door. “My family isn’t big on hunters.”

  Jesse puts one and one together. “Shit.” He’s out of bed in no time. “Give me that,” he barks, snatching the towel from my hand.

  Next thing I know, the bathroom door slams shut.

  Son of a bitch.

  Demon-Boy hides in the corner farthest away from the door. “A word of advice?” he says, acting all Scooby-Doo. “Don’t fuck with them.”

  “Wasn’t planning to.” The Lacroixs put the fear of God in a demon. Who am I to screw with them?

  “Mom,” B squeaks, jumping at a woman that can’t possibly be her mother. She appears thirty max; her petite, curvy body is the definition of “wow,” and her face…man, it’s so perfect, Tyra Banks—a goddess in my book—can’t compare to her.

  The woman—still can’t believe it’s Mrs. Lacroix—kisses B’s cheek. “I missed you too, honey bee.”

  I’m trying to wrap my head around the reality this is B’s mom when Hulk—the dude’s broad shoulders barely fit through the door—sweeps the mamba off her feet. “How many times have I told you to eat your spinach, sis?”

  B’s bitch face comes on. “I’ll eat my spinach when you stop pumping weights to impress all those fake Hollywood chicks.”

  His eyes—they have the same cognac color as B’s—light up. “Gosh, I fucking missed you,” he says, hugging her so tight, he’s practically suffocating her.

  B hides a proud smile behind her famous bitch mask. “Of course, you did.” She runs her knuckles over his short-cropped hair. “No one else gives you hell.”

  “Hey,” he grumbles, pulling back. “You know I—”

  “Hate it when I do that,” she finishes for him. “That’s the point.”

  Hulk frowns. “You’re such a—”

  “Goofball,” a darker voice chips in.

  Whoa. And here I thought Hulk was intimidating. Let me tell you, he’s nothing compared to Goliath. B’s other brother is at least two heads taller than I am. Built like a damn tank, he’s ready to waltz down anyone dumb enough to stand in his way.

  Goliath drops his bags, pulling B in a tight embrace. “Looking good, sis.”

  B throws her arms around Goliath’s neck. “As charming as ever, Raphael.”

  “So.” Hulk cracks his knuckles. “Where’s the fucktard of a demon messing with my favorite Bishop witch?” he asks, immediately zooming in on Demon-Boy.

  “N-not me,” Demon-Boy assures him, hands up in defense. “I-I’m…team witch.”

  Hulk and Manda are close. A stab of jealousy pricks at my gut. They’d make a great couple. A witch and a brawny, way too handsome—Scott Eastwood with better skin color—voodoo priest. A match made in witch heaven.

  B rolls her eyes. “Chill, Constantin.” B faces her mom. “We’re pretty sure it’ll go down tonight.” B already told them about the raising hell part. She points at me. “Alex heard them talking about the full moon.”

  “Makes sense,” B’s mom says, while her sons kill me with their eyes. “According to old legends, the gate was sealed during a winter solstice.”

  “A what?” Sorry, I don’t speak witch just yet.

  B is all set to translate, but Constantin aka Hulk has other plans. “Well, well. If it isn’t Alexander ‘the dickhead’ Remington.” He scans me head to toe. “Gotta say, I don’t see it.”

  Defensive, I cross my arms. “See what?”

  He approaches me, murder on his face. “How a girl like Amanda could fall for an asshole like you,” he replies, matter-of-factly.

  You have no idea how badly I want to aim my fist at his nose. Only reason I don’t? The dude’s not completely off the charts. Amanda does deserve better. Doesn’t mean I’ll admit that. “Guess I’m just awesome like that.”

  His steaming breath beats against my forehead. “Awesome?” He draws to his full height, not once taking his prying eyes off me. “You hear that, Mom? He thinks he’s awesome. Ain’t that sweet?”

  Mrs. Lacroix straightens her cashmere coat. “This isn’t the time, Constantin.”

  “I think it is,” he shoots back. “He should know how awesome he was when he
abandoned a pregnant girl, who had nowhere to go.” Constantin closes the tiny gap between us. “Did you know she had to get food from a shelter while carrying your son, Mr. Awesomeness?”

  Cold shivers curse down my spine. “I—”

  “You what?” he barks, voice filled with disgust and hate. “You celebrated your awesomeness while she was in labor for over eighteen hours? Where were you when I held her hand during an emergency C-section my brother had to perform?” He spits on the floor. “You’re right. All that awesomeness must be acknowledged, Alexander.”

  I’ve been shredded to pieces by a hellhound, assaulted by several deadly weapons, and thrown against a damn wall by the girl I love. No pain I suffered compares to the one Constantin just inflicted. My chest cramps. Hell, I can barely breathe. But I don’t deserve better. I left Manda to fend for herself while she was pregnant with my child. I pointed my fucking gun at her head when his heart was already beating inside her. I can’t even begin to imagine how terrified she must have been when she learned about Leandro. She had to go through all of it by herself because I was so damn awesome.

  “What?” Constantin flashes me a wicked smile. “Ain’t got nothing to say, Mr. Awesome?”

  Old me would jump the dude. New me is tired of living a lie. “I’m sorry.” The words are barely a whisper.

  His eyes widen. “Come again?”

  I swallow all the self-loathing crawling up my gullet. “I’m sorry,” I repeat a little louder. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when she needed me. And I’m sorry I didn’t get to see my boy’s first breath, smile, or hear him say his first words. I wish I could go back and change it, but―”

  “You can’t,” he barks.

  I shake my head. “But I can make it right. I can and I will.”

  Goliath aka Raphael is next to his brother. One hand on his shoulder, he says, “He deserves a chance, Constantin.”

  Constantin frowns. “Why?” His gaze stays glued on me. “He’s just like all the other hunters. Thinks he’s better than us. That his mighty ancestors had a right to burn our families at the stakes for no fucking reason.”