Destiny, YA Paranormal Romance (Brightest Kind of Darkness Series, Book #3)

by Michelle, P. T.

  I turn and quickly rifle through a box of papers under my bed. I start to pull out the letter he’d left me that Sunday morning, when the ring my aunt had made to keep me safe in Ethan’s dreams drops on the floor.

  Ethan quickly picks it up before I can and looks at me. “Why aren’t you wearing this?”

  My gaze flicks to his hand and my stomach twinges; he’s still wearing the ring I put on his finger in the hospital. I can’t tell him it hurts to wear something I might have to take off later, that I’m holding on to it until he can tell me everything, so I take my ring from him and say lightly, “Your tattoo was damaged. I worried it wasn’t doing its job and that you were stuck in your dream world.” A wry smile twists my lips as I slip my ring back in the box. “Since that lion nearly bit our heads off, I’d say it didn’t work so well.” Straightening, I hand him the letter. “Here, read this.”

  Ethan takes the letter, but doesn’t read it yet. “Thank you for having it made. It did help, more than you know.”

  I smile and then nod for him to open the letter.

  Nara,

  I’ll be back by Monday night. Don’t take off the necklace I gave you. It will keep you safe. I might not know how I know that, but I just do. Please trust me on this. Stay safe, and…no more Internet searches, library research or interviewing people about ravens, swords or tattoos. I promise to share what little I know when I get back. I have more questions about your connection to ravens too.

  Happy birthday, Sunshine! I hope you enjoy your present.

  TTTWFO,

  Ethan

  His eyes snap to mine, acceptance reflected in the deep blue depths. He can’t deny his own handwriting. “Where’d I get the necklace? And protect you from what? Did I give you your present already?”

  “Yes, you gave me my camera. Thank you for such a great gift.” I smile, continuing, “You said you found the medallion in a turn-of-the-century house. That you were drawn to it.” I step closer and grab his hand. “Watch this…” I lift his palm and lay the medallion against it.

  The moment the metal touches his hand, he clasps his fingers around it, awe in his voice. “It’s warm.”

  I nod. “You have some kind of connection with it.”

  He slides the medallion into my shirt, then rolls the chain between his fingers, his knuckles brushing my neck as he says softly, “Just like us.”

  Ethan’s magnetic presence takes up the whole space in my room, his warmth sliding over me in pulling waves. I lean into his touch, feeling absorbed by him; my traitorous heart ignores my resolve to stay focused, yearning to fall into him.

  Shaking my head, I take a step back and rub my suddenly sweaty palms on my jeans. “I read last night that sometimes going back to a place you’ve experienced but can’t remember might trigger memories.” I pretend not to hear his regretful sigh as I grab my keys from the desk, then head toward my doorway.

  “Guess I’m up for that.” Ethan’s fast on my heels, following me so closely down the stairs, I swear I can feel his warm breath on my neck. I pick up my pace, almost tripping over Houdini in my haste to get to the bottom floor. I’ll have to keep Ethan at a respectable distance. Every time he steps into my personal space, he slams against my emotions like a gale force, quickly eroding all my carefully erected layers of resistance.

  As soon as we get to school, I jump out of my car and start walking briskly. “The locker hall is still under construction, but hopefully just seeing it might help,” I ramble as Ethan walks along beside me through the mostly empty parking lot, hands pushed in his jean pockets.

  “Nara!” Drystan looks me up and down, a slight scowl on his face as he approaches. “You’re going the wrong way for practice. You’re coming tonight, right?”

  As he halts in front of us, I take in his athletic fleece, shorts and soccer flops, and grimace. “Crap, I forgot about indoor. Looks like I’ll have to miss the first practice, Drystan. I have something to do.”

  “The coach should be okay with it since we have practice again tomorrow.” But Drystan’s not looking at me anymore. He’s eyeing Ethan with a hard gaze. Ethan’s returning it, his whole frame suddenly tense.

  “Drystan, you remember meeting Ethan at the dance,” I say in a light tone, then glance at Ethan. When Ethan starts to shake his head, I step a bit closer to tell him, “I told Drystan you lost your memory in the accident. He’s here on the exchange program.”

  Ethan takes advantage of my sudden closeness and slides his arm around my waist. Pulling me against his side, he dips his head in a curt nod to Drystan. “How long you here for?” Instead of curiosity, Ethan’s question sounds more like an irritated demand.

  Drystan tugs his duffel bag up on his shoulder, a challenge in his eyes as he slides a smirk my way. “Long enough to do some damage.”

  When Ethan stiffens and his arm cinches around me, I pull out of his tight hold. Right now I want to choke both of them. “Just be sure not to slide tackle anyone at practice, Drystan. It’s illegal in indoor league. Ignoring the rules will get you kicked off the team faster than it’ll take for your check to clear.”

  Drystan’s attention flicks to me. “I’ve been looking forward to playing with you, so I’ll be sure to be on my best behavior.” Saluting us, he continues on, heading for Matt’s car, but pauses to call over his shoulder once he’s several feet away, “By the way, our first game will be at that school adjacent to our park.” Pausing, he ignores my narrowed gaze and gives me a thumbs up. “It’s going to be a brilliant season.”

  “Our park?” Deep creases form around Ethan’s mouth as I slide out of his hold. “What’s he talking about, Nara?”

  Drystan had recently been training me in self-defense at the Stonehaven park, but I’m not ready to talk about that yet with Ethan. Irritated that Drystan peppered the conversation with double meanings, then left me to deal with the heat, I shove my clenched fists into my coat pockets. It’s the only way I won’t pick up the closest pebble and chuck it at the back of the boy’s head. Drystan doesn’t know about the tension between Ethan and me, nor does he know anything about Ethan’s abilities, but purposefully antagonizing Ethan doesn’t help matters. I’m so going to kick that Welsh boy’s ass the next time we meet for a training lesson.

  For now, I shrug off my annoyance. “Ignore him. He’s trying to yank your chain.”

  “It’s working, brilliantly.” He glares after Drystan as he drives away. “Where’s he from, Ireland? I really don’t like his accent.”

  Even meeting Drystan the second time around, Ethan hasn’t changed his opinion. Not that Drystan makes it easy. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “He’s from Wales.” Drystan and Ethan are sparks in their own puddle of gasoline; the question is, which one will ignite the explosion first. “Come on. Before we check out the locker hall, maybe if we retrace a few steps from that night it might help you remember.”

  Once Ethan and I reach the gym entrance, I say, “We stood out here talking for a bit. Do you remember anything?”

  He glances around, then shakes his head. “Nothing.”

  I sigh and head off down the path that leads from the gym. I keep my gaze away from the field house as we start to pass it.

  Ethan catches up and glances down at me, warmth seeping into his gaze. “What did you wear?”

  I wasn’t expecting him to ask that. My voice shakes as I stare forward and describe my dress. “I wore a strapless white dress with a silver beaded bodice and a matching silver shawl.”

  “I hate that I can’t picture you in your dress. I’m sure you took my breath away.” Recognition sparks in his eyes and he pauses. “Did you wear your hair up?”

  I stop and face him, elation filling me. “You remember that?” His eyes light and he touches my hair. “I just got a quick flash of curls around your face.” Stepping close, he slowly wraps a blond strand around his finger, continuing in a softer tone, “Like this.” A second passes and his unfocused gaze shifts back and forth as if sifting, rewinding. Then h
e closes his eyes and inhales. “I remember the smell of menthol and rubbing alcohol.” His nostrils flair. “And your floral shampoo. A dark room. Light coming through half-closed blinds. Trophies.” He tightens his eyes and shakes his head. “I’m furious, jealous. Both. Did we fight? I’m kissing your neck. Your skin is so soft; I’m running my hand along your leg. Your bare leg, back of your thigh—”

  My stomach flutters and panic sets in. I take a step back. Now isn’t the time for him to remember the hot kiss we’d shared in that coach’s office. I need him to stay focused on remembering everything else. The second I pull away, his eyes snap open, frustration and dark desire swirling in the deep blue pools. “What happened between us, Nara?”

  You kissed me with a hunger and passion you never have before. You made me not care who discovered us. All I wanted to do was drown in you, but we were interrupted and ended up hiding in a closet. I straighten my shoulders and shrug off the emotions. “Nothing more than that.” I take a few steps away and turn back to him. “Focus, Ethan. Your life. Our lives are in danger until you can remember more about what happened while you were gone. Walking around blind isn’t good for either of us.”

  “What else happened?” he repeats, his expression resolute. He starts to take a step toward me when a blur cuts between us.

  “Where’s Drake?” Harper’s bony fingers clamp painfully on my shoulders like eagle talons. As she aggressively shoves me back toward the storage building in a mere flash, I’m shocked by how fast she moves and how completely different she looks. Black leather and mesh have replaced her preppy clothes, and her once long silky dark hair now stands in pixie-cut spikes.

  But it’s her eyes that render me immobile; they’re dead, evil. Just like Harper’s boyfriend Drake’s were when he attacked me in the locker hall. The Harper that had gone after me and Lainey in the bathroom had been crazed and vicious, but not like this. Something else is spewing in my face; her strength, the sounds she’s making, and the sheer depravity in her expression project something not quite human. Not anymore. “Actually, all I really want is that book he’d bragged about finding. Where is it, bitch?”

  As she focuses her dark gaze on me, a chill—colder than the air around us—whips through me, making me shiver. At the same time I try to twist from her vice hold, Ethan tugs hard on her shoulder, commanding, “Let go of her!”

  Harper swivels a hateful “drop dead” look Ethan’s way, and an otherworldly snarl erupts from her throat as she swings her arm wide, knocking him in the chest. Her powerful hit sends him soaring across the walkway and into the field house building twenty feet away.

  My worried scream for Ethan dies on my lips as Harper turns her attention back to me. Tilting her head, she studies me with detached interest, like I’m a piece of gum she got on her shoe and she’s not quite sure how to remove me.

  “What are you?” she asks, shaking me until it feels like my neck might snap. Certainty quickly fills her expression and she sneers, “You’re too weak to be Corvus.” I don’t get a chance to answer before irritation settles in her features. “This is taking too long. I’ll just take the information from you.”

  The second she looks deep into my eyes, a surge of dark energy thrusts against me, making me cringe. I grit my teeth and fight the skin-crawling sensation of worms squirming along my skin, seeking an entrance to invade my body and mind.

  “You’re blocked!” she snaps, her black eyes full of wrath. “Where do you have it on you?” She roughly skims a hand down my arm and pushes my sleeve back, then does the same to my other arm, looking for something.

  I have no clue what she’s talking about, but before she can touch me any more, I take advantage of her arrogance that I won’t fight her and drill my fist into her throat as hard as I can. “Here’s my block!”

  While Harper gasps for air, I don’t wait for the evil inside the girl to recover. Past experience has taught me that they bounce back far faster than a normal person. Grabbing her jacket lapels, I jerk her sideways to send her off balance. The second she stumbles, I pull her toward me and jam my booted foot against her stomach, sending her into a set of prickly bushes next to the storage building.

  “Come on, Ethan!” I run toward him, my breath coming out in frosty plumes.

  Ethan is just getting to his feet as I reach his side. His stance is a little unsteady and he’s rubbing his shoulder as if he’s in pain, but his expression is one of vengeful concentration. “Go now, Nara!” he commands, his posture straightening.

  His eyes might have turned the color of coal, but he still seems a bit conflicted. The Ethan who fought Drake that night had focused, deadly intent in his eyes—a sense of calm righteousness that couldn’t be denied. In my gut, I know this isn’t good. As Ethan’s hands bunch into fists and he starts toward the bushes where Harper landed, I step in front of him and grab his arm, whispering frantically just for his ears, “You need your sword!”

  He jerks his gaze to me, brows pulling down. “What are you talking about?”

  A furious growl shakes the bushes. Branches begin to break inside the greenery.

  Oh, God. He doesn’t know about his sword. He must be going after Harper purely on instinct, which means he doesn’t remember how to defeat her. He has no idea how strong she’ll be with that evil inside her.

  When Ethan dodges around me, I do the only thing I can to save him. I turn and jump onto his back. Wrapping my arms and legs around him in a tight squeeze, I scream in his ear, “No, Ethan!”

  Harper crawls out of the bushes. Once she stands to her full height, she sends an angry, eerie snarl in our direction. Ethan tenses and grips my arm in a painful hold, continuing forward with determination.

  Harper bares her teeth once more, then she takes off running.

  Ready to spring after her, Ethan’s breathing ramps and tension ebbs through his muscular body. As she disappears around the corner, he takes several steps, his pace increasing, frame coiling tighter like a winding spring. At any second he’ll toss me to take off after her. Despite the pain he’s inflicting on my arm, I speak forcefully in his ear. “You need your sword to defeat her. Please stop before you get us both killed.”

  Ethan halts and takes several deep breaths. Once his breathing settles, his grip on my arm loosens. I slide to my feet and absently rub my arm as he turns to face me, his expression far from calm.

  “I had every intention of ripping that thing to pieces. What is she? Was she talking about that Drake guy I killed? And what book is she looking for?” His brow creases as he thinks out loud. “I thought I heard her say Corvus, which is the technical term for raven. And that’s the second time you’ve brought up a sword. When you mentioned a sword in my dream I thought you were speaking symbolically.” Clenching his fists, he works his jaw. “The sword, the ravens…this is all connected to me somehow, so why did she attack you?”

  “It’s about both of us.” I push my hair back and exhale deeply. “I think she attacked me because she thought I was Corvus. She doesn’t know that you are.”

  “I’m Corvus? What does that even mean?” He takes a deep, calming breath, then pins me with an intense stare. “I need you to start talking right now, Nara. No more scenic routes. I need the express lane to yank my memory back to the present. Your safety depends on me remembering what the hell is going on.”

  Chapter Nine

  Nara

  “You said the locker hall looked like a war zone, which is a very apt description.” I pause and slide my gaze to Ethan sitting in my passenger seat as I drive back to my house. “You didn’t just fight Drake that night. You obliterated him.”

  Ethan winces briefly, then deep furrows form around his mouth. “What do you mean obliterated him? I didn’t kill the guy or the police would’ve arrested me at the hospital. You said he intended to hurt you, so I’m not sorry if I did take him out, but I’m just trying to understand what you mean.”

  “I mean, you obliterated him, as in poof, turned him into ash.”


  He shoots me a “that’s bullshit” look and I glare at him. “Do I look like I’m trying to screw with your head? Your dreams do a good enough job of that. You obliterated him with your sword.”

  He crosses his arms, his face turning to stone. “What sword?”

  I turn into my neighborhood and glance his way. “There’s a reason that sword on your back looks so real. It has the power to turn a person to nothing but ash.”

  Ethan swallows several times, his face turning pale. “This is all so unbelievable, I—”

  “Look. I know it’s a lot to take in. And maybe if you remembered part of what you learned while you were gone for a month this wouldn’t sound so…well, crazy.”

  “What did I learn while I was gone?”

  I turn into my driveway, then pull into the garage, cutting the engine. As I get out of my car, Ethan quickly follows suit and holds my gaze across my car rooftop. “Well?”

  “That’s just it. You didn’t tell me much while you were gone this past month. As far as I knew you were camping, snowmobiling, and going to concerts with your dad.”

  Ethan’s cheeks flush slightly, but he keeps his gaze locked on my face. “How did you learn about me being this…Corvus? Did I tell you?”

  I use the excuse of shutting my car door to glance away as I answer. “Fate told me.”

  Ethan’s behind me in a nanosecond as I open the house door and step into the kitchen. “When did you talk to Fate again?” he asks, disapproval dripping in his tone. How hasn’t he noticed the changes within him, how fast he moves? It’s beyond normal.

  “Why would you do that when you know he wants to kill you?” Ethan continues, following right behind me.

  Houdini jumps up on Ethan and me as we stroll through the kitchen toward the living room. I pet my dog’s massive head, then scrub his neck fur. “It wasn’t intentional. Fate zapped me into a conversation while I slept.”

  Ethan’s warmth envelopes me from behind as his hands land on my shoulders. “You’ve only been able to speak to Fate if I held you while we were asleep,” he says near my ear in a low, rumbling register. “I stayed here Saturday, didn’t I?”