Never saw the boy I’d saved.
The boy I’d loved.
“What are you doing?” I tried to yank my hand out.
He wouldn’t look at me.
It was a rule all servants and bodyguards followed, but it had never been one Theo had obeyed. Not with me.
He’d grown into his features, his jaw now square and hardened. His cheekbones so sharp they were almost hollowed. Thick, silky, lustrous brown hair fell over hazel-green eyes so clear they were like gemstones.
He was in a suit too.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Theo in a suit. It was tailored perfectly to his tall, lean muscular build.
“Your poor bodyguard is already having to save your ass,” Gemma said.
“My—my what?” I stammered.
He still hadn’t released me, the blood draining beneath his touch.
Heat rose to my cheeks. I tried not to think about how it was Theo touching me and instead attempted to pull my arm from him. He held tight, fingers bruising.
I was above him. I shouldn’t be thinking about the delicious, spicy way he smelled, or his calloused touch. Did his voice still catch on a growl?
“You’re my bodyguard?” It came out on a whisper. “Why?”
But then Gemma laughed, Theo’s gaze snapped to her like a magnet, and I knew.
“Have fun with your new personal babysitter.” Gemma waved airy fingers over her shoulder, her laugh disappearing down the polished halls.
All at once he dropped me.
The heels I still carried clacked to the floor.
It was just me and Theo, alone.
I peeled my eyes from my manicured fingers.
Theo was watching me. I sucked in a breath. If I said something, I could get him fired. I was drawn to him, though. He looked at me with nothing in his crystal-clear green eyes save callousness. I picked at my blush nail polish, staring right back.
“Are you really my new guard?”
Aren’t there easier ways for him to get closer to Gemma? I wanted to ask.
Less… painful ways? For me.
The grandfather clock ticked away a full minute as I waited for him to respond. In the end, I caved.
“Are you back for me?” My words slid out as a confession.
Are you finally back?
He arched a dark, impassive brow. “What do you think?”
It wasn’t necessarily a no, but the way it was spoken made it clear it wasn’t a yes.
I’d waited years for Theo.
Five years I’d waited for a word from him, five years I’d yearned and tried to hate him, and only ended up hating myself.
In the end, this was how he came back, with more betrayal.
Down the hall paparazzi were being shuffled in by staff, getting ready for Gemma’s birthday party, one of the bigger parties this summer. It wasn’t uncommon for them to be in Crowne Hall, and I chewed my bottom lip.
Theo’s eyes narrowed on my lip right before I lunged at him, pressing my lips to his. Theo was stone beneath me, just like he’d been the night I’d kissed him, the night before he left.
He shoved me off, and I stumbled back.
Hurt ricocheted inside my ribs.
“I love when you tell me how hard you’re going to fuck me,” I yelled, eyeing the paparazzi.
Our eyes locked, the flashing of cameras reflecting in his glare, and then Theo gripped my wrist, yanking me out of their view into the ornate hall. I let him tug me down the hallway, our footsteps echoing.
The exterior of Crowne Hall was famous for its inky black shingles and castle-like spires; inside it was pearly white with gold trim. It was a darkly romantic aesthetic, black railings and white, matte walls with intricately cut molding, the occasional gilded accoutrement, and the inescapable smell of salt air.
“Grandpa will fire you when he sees the photos,” I said with a smile, masking my hurt in triumph.
I couldn’t let him know how much power he still had.
Theo drew his thumb across his lush bottom lip, dragging it out in a distracting way, before ending on an exhale.
“Spoiled little princess… you know better. House paparazzi don’t publish anything without written approval.”
Hurt welled in my chest.
Where was my Theo? Did he ever exist? This heavy-lidded, gaunt, square-jawed imposter was just like everyone else now, seeing only my scars.
His pale eyes narrowed. “You have a party to get ready for, Ms. Crowne.”
He said my name with such venom it slid inside my blood and burned; then he grabbed my arm, tugging me toward my wing.
Gemma’s birthday party had been planned months before, but I couldn’t help but wonder, Would I meet my fiancé tonight?
“I can—” I yanked myself free. “I can walk.”
My chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, and his eyes dropped to the movement before sliding back up my neck. There was no heat in his gaze, just ice, and it burned in a different, more painful way. He raised a brow, slightly tilting his head toward the wing. I summoned all of my imperial, God-given Crowne right to raise my chin, and I walked past him.
Even though everything in me wanted to crumble.
Especially as I felt him behind me, like a hot, heavy shadow.
Theo Hound wasn’t like the other bodyguards in my grandfather’s employ. Once upon a time, he was mine. We were just teenagers then, but I found Theo. I kept Theo. I almost gave him my heart, but like everyone else, he chose my sister.
If you love bully, bodyguard, enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, revenge, and second chance romance, you need Heartless Hero. This story bled from me! Click the title and find out why this story had me labeled “an emotional terrorist.”
Don’t forget to preorder Forbidden Fate for the special preorder price.
If Grayson Crowne and I are fated, then our fate is forbidden.
Our happily ever after will only end one way…in heartbreak.
What’s next
I didn’t plan for this to be a cliffy, but Story + Gray needed more than one book! I’m asking you to please not spoil the ending for everyone else. Of course you can still talk about the book!! I’m always so grateful when readers review and share their love of my stories! But please don’t spoil the ending. I will always, always seek to give you the best, most immersive story possible. My goal is to rip you out of this world and into another one, and so I’d appreciate it if you can help me keep that goal for the next reader.
RAGING ABOUT THE ENDING?
Click here to join the spoiler room!
You can also add Forbidden Fate on Goodreads right now! Click HERE
Sign up for my newsletter for sneak peeks! New subscribers also get get a free book! Click me to sign up!
Text MCGBOOKS to 77222 for live book alerts only (US only, sorry!)
If you’re not following me on BookBub, be sure to click and follow if you want to be first to hear about my sales!
BLOGGERS, BOOKSTAGRAMMERS, AND BOOKTUBERS CLICK HERE
Books by Mary Catherine Gebhard
Crowne Point Universe (standalone)
Heartless Hero
Stolen Soulmate
Forbidden Fate
Gemma and Grim’s book
* * *
The Hate Story Duet
Beast: A Hate Story, The Beginning (FREE!)
Beauty: A Hate Story, The End
* * *
Standalones
Dirty Law
* * *
Owned Series
You Own Me (Owned #1)
Let Me Go (Owned #2)
Tied (Owned #2.5)
Come To Me (Owned #3)
* * *
Patchwork House
Skater Boy (Patchwork House #1)
Patchwork House #2
Patchwork House #3
Patchwork House #4
www.PatchworkHouseSeries.com
Find Me
Join my reader group if you love making friends and
getting free stuff!
CLICK ME
Follow me on Bookbub to be the first to find out on deals
CLICK ME
Are you active on Instagram? Lets be friends!
CLICK ME
* * *
EVERYWHERE ELSE
WEBSITE
GOODREADS
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
Acknowledgments
I always feel like I should keep this short and sweet, because I don’t want anyone to skim! But it’s impossible. My list keeps growing, because those I’m grateful to keeps growing. Those I’m forever thankful to for helping me bring Stolen Soulmate out into the world includes, but isn’t limited to:
* * *
The readers! Every one of you who asked about Gray and Story, who wondered about their relationship, you helped bring this into the world!
* * *
My street team, The Diehardy Girls. You promo your asses off, but more importantly, you are a genuine sisterhood. I always know I can count on you. My favorite thing is to wake up and see our hilarious chats.
* * *
My reader group, GetHard. You continue to be a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place on the internet.
* * *
The bloggers, readers, and bookstagrammers. You sign-up and devote your free time, your passion and dedication is unrivaled, and I’m so grateful to all of you.
* * *
The authors in this community. Those of you who build up instead of tear-down, who took their time to offer me sincere advice or friendship, you are gems in this community.
* * *
Aundi, Ellie, and Paramitra “Pipa.” You are women who are very much not mean girls, and are some of the amazing people that make up this bookish community.
* * *
My dream team of PAs. Mel and Serena, you have my back, and, maybe more importantly, you keep my head on straight.
* * *
My betas. You read the raw versions of Story and Gray, and helped me turn it into something shiny. Sonal, Sarah, Rukaiya, Serena, Mel, your feedback was imperative, and your reactions when you realized this was a cliffhanger made me laugh way too hard.
* * *
Chelé. I am so, so thankful to you for doing a sensitivity reading! It was really important to me with writing this book that I didn’t feed into any negative stereotypes.
* * *
My editors. James Gallagher of Evident Ink, Rumi, and Ellie with My Brother’s Editor, you polished my story into something beautiful.
* * *
My cover designer. Hang Le, you once again perfectly depicted the insides of this book with a beautiful outside.
* * *
Sarah with Teasers by the Modern Belle. You continue to blow me away with your gorgeous graphics. #hotmesstwins
* * *
My promo team. Candi Kane, Give Me Books, this was my first time doing wide release and you were there every step of the way.
* * *
My husband, family, and my friends.
* * *
And to everyone and in-between…I love you!
* * *
If you’ve read my books before, you know I would love if you write your name in down here. Whether it’s in ink in your paperback or a highlight on an ebook…
* * *
__________________________________
* * *
Because I am so grateful to YOU for helping me on this journey and continuing to support me.
Stolen Soulmate Page 34