Maybe Fate: A Novel (New Adult Paranormal Romance)

by Brint, Cynthia

  Gasping, I wobbled on my feet when we appeared on a beach. Nethiun grabbed me around the middle, steadying my balance.

  Grateful, I gave him a weak smile while my guts felt like they were rearranging. “That was less bad than the first time you did it,” I said.

  “Perhaps you're adjusting.”

  I didn't know about that.

  Turning around, I ran my gaze across the expanse of sand. The crashing of the waves, wild in the rising storm, was intimidating. “Where did you bring us?”

  “The ocean, not too far from where your college is. Perhaps only a hundred miles or so.”

  Only a hundred. Sure.

  “You really can travel amazingly far, and fast, doing that thing you do.”

  “It's called shifting. Or it's what we've always know it as, which probably makes it the proper title.”

  I wasn't watching him, I was staring out into the beast that was the ocean. It clawed at the shore, stole what it could with every attack.

  Pushing my hair back, the wind only ripped it out of place again, slapping the strands against my neck. “I've never been to the ocean during a storm.”

  “It's a fantastic thing, isn't it?” He stood next to me, arms folded behind his back. I could see the wind tearing at his shirt, whipping it like a sail on a ship.

  “Alright, I need to ask. It's been bugging me for a bit.” Wrapping my jacket harder, my teeth chattered, breaking my words up into pieces. “Are you really not cold? Like, ever?”

  Nethiun turned his head, just enough to show I had his attention. “I'm aware of it, it's just as if I'm experiencing it from a distance.”

  “So why bother with clothes at all, then?” I joked.

  “You make a good point.”

  “I—what? I do?”

  His finger crawled down the front of his shirt, undoing the buttons so fast I couldn't speak in time. “Yes, it does seem needless.”

  Unable to tear my eyes from the sight of his hard, lean chest, I forgot all about my dignity. “Oh, no no no! I was just... it was a joke, I mean...”

  Those quick fingers touched the top button of his trousers, making me squeal. “Nethiun, wait!”

  Laughing, he leveled his smirk on me. “There are far better ways to get me to take my clothes off than playing at clever jokes, Gale.”

  “I was seriously just teasing,” I muttered, face sizzling.

  He turned back towards the water, letting his shirt billow around him. That skin of his, it was marble in the dim light; almost glowing. He was thin enough that I could see the lines of his ribs, but muscles rolled beneath his flesh in an easy display of strength.

  He looks like a swimmer. My thoughts were stuck on him, as much as my eyes tried to not be. Beside such a vision of beauty, I felt more like a trout than anything else.

  The sound of the water drew me back, serving as a distraction. It let my mind relax, my heart start to calm.

  That is, until he reached over and took my hand. “I took us here for a reason, if you recall.”

  My eyes lit up. Yes, that's right, he talked about flying. “How will we do this, what's the plan?”

  In a single, grand motion, Nethiun scooped me into his arms. A few things shot through my brain in that moment. Things that made me nervous and have second thoughts.

  “I—wait, this is a little, um...” Cozy? Intimate? Inappropriate? Yes, maybe that one.

  Flashing me a confident smile, the twaelin only said one thing. “Shh.”

  Then we were gone.

  The shifting reality of moving from one place to another, all in a few seconds, still left me dizzy. But this time, when we returned into the fresh air and bright colors of the world, I was too stunned to consider the affects.

  Below me, the ocean raged. Waves climbed high, wanting to reach us, begging to fly as high as we were. And we, well, we were quite high.

  Staring down, I gaped at the monster of green sea foam, thinking it was how seagulls must feel as they floated on the wind.

  “We're really flying,” I whispered, voice lost in the crush of the waves. Looking up, I met his pleased look, how his white eyes burned. “Nethiun, this is—we're actually in the air!” I shouted, laughing with mixed fear and amazement.

  Nethiun cradled me tightly, arms hooked under my knees and around my shoulders. “We haven't even started,” he said with a grin. “Hold on tightly, Gale. It would be a shame if you fell.”

  Biting my lip, I threw my arms around his neck. Even in exhilaration, I was aware of how his bare chest felt through his open shirt, so close to my cheek. “You wouldn't actually let me fall, would you?”

  “Well,” he said carefully, “not intentionally.”

  I squeezed his neck just a bit tighter.

  Who could claim they'd never dreamed of flying? To zoom through the sky, unhindered by the cruel fact of gravity.

  People sometimes regret getting their wishes. At least, in wise tales and old stories meant to teach lessons.

  This was not one of those moments.

  Hanging on to Nethiun, I felt my stomach drop when he dove down towards the ocean. We moved so fast, I didn't have time to get enough air in me to scream.

  That was good, I didn't want him to think I was scared. He probably feels everything, anyway. But... am I scared? I think—this is elation. Yes, yes this is—because I'm flying—I'm...!

  Sea spray hit my cheeks, cool on my skin. Around me, my hair was a red flag, dangling up and no doubt whipping Nethiun in the face.

  We flew like a jet, perfectly level over the rippling, tearing water only feet below us. I'd never felt so aware, so... alive.

  And then I saw the wave, curling over our heads. “Nethiun!” I managed to gasp, tasting salt on my tongue while the shadow grew to over take us.

  We're too close, we shouldn't be so close!

  I almost closed my eyes. Almost.

  Together, we vanished in a flicker of jagged blackness. It was only a moment, enough that the sound of the world was sucked away, leaving us in a private bubble of nothing. I saw colorless things, grey and smokey.

  This is how he moves, is this... an actual place?

  I'd never considered it before, but it seemed logical that the twaelin wouldn't be living, hiding out, in a normal place like Massachusetts. But did that mean they were on a whole other world entirely?

  We popped back into the chilly, familiar air. This time, we were much higher up; we almost nudged the rumbling clouds. “Are you alright?” he asked, making me glance up.

  My heart was thrumming, a drum beat at a raging tempo. Staring into his concerned, yet still curious eyes, I remembered how tightly I was hugging him. The knuckles of my hands were bloodless from my grip.

  We almost got eaten by a wave, because he flew us too close. Because he FLEW us... I...

  My laughter was bright, so loud only the crashing of the angry sea could dare to muffle it. But Nethiun was near enough, he didn't have any trouble hearing me; and that was fine.

  I felt like laughing was all I could do. Let him hear it, let him see the joy on my face, how red my lips were.

  The air was heavy, threatening rain. That wasn't enough to dampen my mood.

  I'd just been flying.

  “What is it?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. He actually looked worried, something I wasn't used to. All those smile he always had... was my reaction so weird?

  He's reading all my rattled emotions, and watching me laugh, and isn't sure what's actually going on. I've confused him, for once.

  Leaning forward against his chest, his smooth skin sliding under my arms, I brought my lips hungrily to his.

  I didn't need to try and speak.

  Chapter 16.
r />   Gale Everette

  Watching October become gloomy, warning of storms and the coming chill of November, my thoughts should have been far bleaker.

  They were anything but.

  Over the next few days, I wandered through my classes with the stupidest smile. The weather didn't bother me, my teachers didn't bother me, not even Ethlyn could bother me.

  Even when he sat beside me in English, alternating between ignoring me or trying to get my attention, it didn't squash my joy.

  I didn't think anything could.

  The night I'd flown with Nethiun over the ocean, it consumed my thoughts. I day dreamed about it, stared out the windows at the grey skies and just let myself enjoy the memory.

  I knew what was happening to me, as much as I both fretted over it, how I felt guilt over the way I'd mocked the concept.

  This was me, falling in love.

  I am such a hypocrite.

  Even that thought didn't ruin my mood.

  Scribbling in my notebook, I only half-listened to Mr. Birch—no,Valenforth—ramble on about whatever bit of literature he was. Amazingly, in spite of my obvious lack of caring, he left me alone.

  It was very unlike him, considering how he'd focused in on me so much at the start of the semester.

  Maybe things change when your student realizes you're some big bad Corpse King.

  Truthfully, I was grateful he wasn't bothering me. When I didn't let my paranoia dwell on the twaelin, the ones in my god damn class room or the ones just outside my reach, my life felt normal again.

  That was more than fine, really.

  Something small bounced off my shoulder, landing on the desk in front of me. Startled, I sat up and eyed the crumpled wad of paper that had ended my wandering thoughts.

  Glancing around, I found the perpetrator easily. Ethlyn was looking my way pointedly, making it quite obvious he'd thrown the paper. He stared at me, looking from my face to the wrinkled object. It was almost comical.

  I debated brushing it off my desk, but I was too curious. Pulling it close, I unfolded the ball—did he really need to make it so tight?—and stared at the writing on it.

  He wants me to talk with him after class. Ethlyn had been avoiding me for some time, though I didn't have a clue as to why. With the way he'd been hovering around originally, his change in behavior was weird.

  Gale, the day after the festival, had told me she thought 'Ethan' was acting strange. I'd played dumb, though I didn't know if I was so convincing. I was relieved to see them not attached at the hip, even if Gale didn't seem ready to let him go yet.

  I had asked her, if he was being so distant, why didn't she just end the whole thing and move on to someone else?

  The look she'd given me, it tugged at me a bit. Her answer was even worse.

  'If you love someone, if you're meant to be together, something like time doesn't matter. I can wait for him.'

  Frowning, I crumpled the note back up, flicked it off my desk. Ethlyn's look of distress soon smoothed into relief when I glanced at him, my nod tiny and quick.

  I would talk to him, if just to see what he wanted.

  Better to know now than later.

  ****

  When English ended, I gathered my backpack, heading down the long hall. Without glancing back, I knew the twaelin would be following me.

  I wasn't sure where we should go to talk. A break from alleys or loud clubs seemed key, but the world outside was too chilly to just stand around in.

  He'll tail me wherever I go, so... let's just head to the food court. Should be quiet enough there for us to sit out of the way, I really don't need people listening in and thinking we're both insane.

  When I reached the building, I shot a glance back as I opened the door. There, some distance behind me with his hands shoved in his peacoat pockets, was Ethlyn.

  Moving into the warm air of the cafeteria, I was surprised to see it busier than I'd expected. Everyone hiding out from the cold today, I guess. Spotting a small table way in the back, I made a beeline for it.

  Hanging my bag on the back of the chair, I settled in, waiting for my cohort to join me.

  Ethlyn slid into the building, looking around until I was sure he saw me. But, instead of coming my way, the tall man went and got into the cafeteria line.

  What the hell is he doing now?

  Dressed in that jacket that accentuated his broad shoulders, Ethlyn was drawing a few eyes as he towered over the other students.

  With my recent infatuation—could I call it that?—with Nethiun, I'd forgotten how attractive the golden-eyed fellow was. Lucky me, to have the girls standing around ogling him as a reminder.

  Slinking down into my seat, I endured what felt like the attention of ever person in the room as Ethlyn headed my way.

  Distracted in my embarrassment, I was surprised when he set down two cups of hot cocoa on the table between us.

  “What's this?” I asked.

  “I owe you a drink.” His gruffness confused me, so did how he seemed to have trouble looking me in the eye.

  Unsure what was going on, but never one to turn down free food, I sipped the hot drink. “Well, thank you. I appreciate it, actually. Some sugar is just what I need right now.” I flashed him a smile, which he tentatively returned.

  “You're welcome.” Reaching over, he eagerly took a big chug of from his cup.

  It was strange, thinking about how typical this felt. How only recently, I'd been terrified of Ethlyn, what he could—or would—do to me.

  For a long minute, I studied him, expecting him to explain himself. When he seemed content to just sit in silence and drain his cocoa, I cleared my throat. “So, uh, why did you want to talk to me?”

  The twaelin slid forward, hunching in close so he could whisper to me. “Becky confided something to me last night, something that's been burning a hole in my mind ever since.”

  “Um,” I said, a bit stunned. Talk about dramatic. “Alright, what did she say?” I hoped it hadn't been a confession of love.

  His eyes fixed on me, steady. “She said she thought you and Nethiun were dating.”

  Hot chocolate spilled everywhere, soaking the table. In my shock, I'd knocked my cup over sideways. A confession of love, but not about him and her.

  Ethlyn made a sharp, dejected sound, hurrying to catch the cup. Sitting there, I watched the brown liquid drip down to the floor, my body frozen. “I—she said what?”

  “You wasted so much of this...” Grunting, he pulled some napkins off of a nearby table, mopping up the mess diligently. “She said she was sure you and him were together. I told her she was crazy, which, by the way, she didn't take so well. But she has to be joking, right? There's no way you'd do something so reckless as getting close to Nethiun.”

  Reaching up, I covered my mouth and looked away.

  “Gale? Gale, tell me she's wrong.”

  I stared at the floor next.

  “Gale,” he growled softly. His hand reached out, touching my forearm. That was enough to make me jerk away, our eyes meeting with wildly different expressions; mine was guilt, his was surprised anger. “No,” he said. “No, you're kidding. Tell me you and him aren't...”

  I just shook my head, knowing that lying was pointless. “It's none of your business what he and I—”

  “It is!” His fist came down on the table, making it shake with his force. It was a hard, violent sound, and it drew the blatant eye of students who had already been watching us covertly. “Gale, how can you be so stupid?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nethiun! He's a monster, don't you get that?”

  I felt my eyebrows lowering to the point of skin-tightening discomfort. “How is he any more of
a monster than you are?”

  “Him and I are not the same,” he snapped. Slowly, he sat back in his chair, hands folding on the table like he was getting control of himself. “Gale, why don't you listen to my advice, to Valenforth's advice?”

  “So he told you about that day in the park.”

  “Of course he did, and I'm glad he talked to you. I thought that would have given you some understanding of your position.”

  I smoothed my face, tilting my chin down an inch. “I'm sorry, 'my position' you said?”

  Again, he reached out for me. This time, I pulled my hands off the table before he even got close. Through my haze of irritation, I spotted the flicker of paint on Ethlyn's face.

  What is that about?

  “Gale,” he started carefully, “you're not thinking about this right. I'm not telling you to avoid Nethiun because he's a twaelin like me, but because he's at the whims of his Mistress.”

  “And you're at the whim of your Corpse King,” I replied flatly.

  “Yes, but we want to keep you safe from whatever Nethiun's Mistress wants with you.”

  “Do you?” I asked, staring him straight in his rich yellow orbs. “You don't know what anyone wants with me still, right?”

  “I—well, no, but—”

  “Then,” I whispered, grabbing my backpack. “Don't claim things you can't be sure of.”

  “Gale, wait.” That time, I couldn't pull away before he had my wrist. His touch was firm, it held my like iron. “Listen to me. I want to—to protect you.”

  Tilting my head, I felt my hair tickle my neck. “Protect me from what, Nethiun?”

  “Yes, exactly!”

  “He told me something very similar,” I said, and suddenly, my brain began to click a suspicion together. It was a frightening assumption, and my lips parted as the idea crossed my mind.

  Staring down at Ethlyn's hand on me, how he held me tight, the way he was professing his desire to keep me safe... Oh, no, please don't tell me he—no, it can't be.