What the Heart Needs

by Kelli McCracken

  He wished he held the same confidence that she and Heaven’s parents held. They seemed so sure that he and Heaven were a fortunate pair. They’d convinced him of the same. But how could they be if she kept things from him?

  Of course, he’d kept things from her, too. Like the package. The one with the newspaper clipping. Both he and Layne managed to keep that a secret.

  Layne was good at keeping their secrets. But what about his own? Did he kiss Heaven because of the booze, or did he want her?

  Had any other soulmates faced a similar…

  You are meant to be with her. Even if there are times that it doesn’t feel that way. Take it from someone who knows.

  “Holy shit.” Each beat of his heart beat against his eardrums, making his head spin. He stepped closer to his mother, doing his best to steady himself on the rock. “I get it.”

  “Get what, sweetheart?”

  “What Nicholas said to me earlier, when we were getting ready.” Staring in her wide eyes, he struggled to form words. How had he not figured it out before? “I know why he and my dad ended their friendship. They ended it over Anna.”

  His mother’s eyelids snapped shut as the color drained from her face. She gave him a slow nod before reopening her eyes. “Yes, Dylan. It ended over Anna.”

  “My dad was in love with her.”

  Another nod had Delia turning toward the beach. Her shoulders sagged as her head tilted forward. She didn’t want to talk about this. With good reason. It brought up painful memories for her. How could it not when her soulmate fell in love with her best friend?

  “You have to understand the bond between a Seeker and her Keeper,” she began, wrapping her arms around herself. “There is a natural pull, similar to the one between soulmates. There has to be.”

  “Why?” He shifted his stance, half dreading to ask more questions, yet curious to know more about their kind.

  “Her life depends on his ability to keep her safe. He has to care about her, has to value her life more than his own. That passion can be confused with love if the Seeker and Keeper aren’t mates.”

  “Seekers and Keepers can be soulmates?”

  “Yes,” she chuckled. “Your dad and I are, even if we are unfortunate.” Hooking her arm in his, she urged him to follow her toward the beach as she kept talking. “For those who aren’t mated, the Seeker’s feelings will be more platonic. But the Keepers feelings can go either way. As in the case with your dad. He let his love for Anna turn into an obsession.”

  Warm sand spilled into his shoes as they stepped from the rock to the sand, but he didn’t stop to remove it. Couldn’t concentrate on anything else but the words coming from his mother’s mouth.

  “When Anna made it clear that she was in love with Nicholas, it destroyed the light inside your father. Darkness overtook him and he turned from the path of light.”

  “I guess I can see why he hates Heaven so much. She reminds him of Anna.”

  “That, and the fact that Anna told him that she was pregnant after he confessed his feelings for her. He ended up lying to me, telling me that she’d come on to him. He thought it would end our friendship.”

  “But it didn’t,” he said, noting his villa in the distance. Was Heaven still inside? The pull of her energy tugged at his gut, though he still couldn’t gauge her emotions. But it didn’t seem to come from their villa.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart? There’s something else bothering you. Beside what you found out, today.”

  “There’s so much wrong, I don’t know where to begin. It’s not just the fact that Heaven kept what happened a secret. I feel like I’m losing her.”

  Delia unhooked her arm from his as she turned to meet his eyes. “Why do you feel like you’re losing her?”

  His mother’s words lingered in the air as he searched for Heaven’s emotions. He couldn’t even push his feelings toward her, like something blocked them all together. “Something keeps disrupting my connection to Heaven. There are times I can’t sense what she’s feeling, like she’s blocking me.”

  As her brows pinched, she studied him a moment before continuing. “When did this start?”

  “A few weeks ago. About the same time I proposed to her.” He didn’t like the look on her face. The way the crease deepened in her forehead. How she kept rubbing her hands together. Even the way she kept looking back at the villa had his heart beating faster. “What is it, Mom?”

  “I don’t think Heaven’s blocking you. But I think someone is.”

  “Let me guess. It’s Dad.” Wasn’t he to blame for everything wrong in Dylan’s life? Sure seemed that way.

  “No, Dylan. It’s not your dad. In fact, I don’t think the person responsible even realizes what they’re doing.”

  “You don’t think it’s…”

  The words stuck in his throat as a wave a panic fluttered in his soul. Heaven’s panic. The more her fear wound around his soul, the more he struggled for a breath. She wasn’t just upset about what had happened between them. She feared for her life.

  “Dylan? Are you okay? You’re face just went white.”

  “Something is wrong with Heaven,” He said, turning back toward the villa as he forced himself to walk faster. “She’s terrified, Mom. She…”

  Just as quick as the emotion jolted through him, their bond fell silent. Completely silent. Not even a hum existed between them.

  “Fuck,” he whispered as he took off running.

  “Dylan?” His mother called from behind. “Dylan, hang on!”

  He couldn’t wait. He had to find Heaven. Had to find out what had her in such a panic. Had to find out why their connection fell void of everything. Of emotion. Of energy. Of life.

  * * *

  The front door swung open as Dylan barreled through the house, calling out for Heaven. Bypassing the sitting room, the lower lever bedroom door smacked against the wall, revealing nothing more than the four-post bed. Only one more place to look for her.

  The upper level.

  Rushing back into the hallway, he eyed the spindles in the staircase, anxious to take each step so he could put this worry to rest. She had to be up there. Had to be okay. He’d never forgive himself for the way he’d treated her if anything happened.

  “Dylan, tell me what’s going on.” His mother met him at the bottom of the staircase. Her chest heaved so hard between each breath, he didn’t know if he should check on her first or continue up the steps.

  “I have to find her, Mom. I can’t…I can’t sense her at all.” He started up the stairs, hearing her steps fall in behind him.

  “You just said that you’d been losing your connection with her. Is this what you’re talking about?”

  “No,” he said, meeting her eyes over his shoulder. “Even with the fluctuations in our connection, I can at least sense her presence. Right now, I can’t feel anything.”

  He took another step before his mother’s fingers curled around his shoulder. “Dylan.” Her voice filled with concern as she pressed her lips together, like she was debating telling him more. “There are only two reasons you wouldn’t be able to sense Heaven at all. The person blocking her went into survival mode and is shielding her, or she’s dead.”

  Her words bounced around his mind, drawing out every ounce of adrenaline in his body. The staircase became a blur as he raced up the steps, taking two at a time. But when he rounded the corner, his heart sputtered.

  Layne sat outside the master suite. His head pressed against the wall until his eyes fell on Dylan. He didn’t waste any time getting to his feet, nor did Dylan in approaching him. “What’s going on?”

  A metallic taste teased Dylan’s tongue as he bit the inside of his jaw, fighting the urge to cuss at him. He didn’t have time to deal with his friend’s questions. Not with fear pounding through every fiber in his body. “Where is she?”

  Layne’s attention drifted to Delia, who’d joined them in the hall. “She’s in the bedroom,” he said, tilting his head toward the do
or.

  The brass knob barely had time to cool Dylan’s hand when Layne stepped in front of him. “You can’t go in there.”

  Anger resurfaced in Dylan’s heart, fighting to burst out of his body with one single blow to Layne’s chin. “Who says I can’t? She’s my fiancé.”

  He tried pushing his friend out of the way, but Layne brushed off his hands. “I can’t let you go in there, Dylan. I won’t let you hurt her again. You did enough damage the first time.”

  What the hell?

  “Layne, step aside before this gets ugly.” Dylan warned, yet Layne didn’t seem to care. Kept using his body to block the door from Dylan’s path.

  “No.”

  A bead of sweat formed at Dylan’s brow as he struggled to stay rational. But the longer he stared at his friend, the more he wanted to punch him. “I don’t know who you think you are, but if you value your life, you’ll move.”

  “And if you value yours, you’ll get away from this door.”

  The cotton dress shirt crumpled inside of Dylan’s fist as he pulled Layne toward him. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

  “The person looking out for her. The one trying to spare her more heartache.”

  “You son-of-a—”

  “Dylan, no!” His mother’s words echoed in his ears as she pulled on his arm, stopping him from delivering the blow to Layne’s face. “You can’t hurt him, Dylan.”

  “Why the hell not?” Layne’s bangs flew up as Dylan spit the words, inching closer to his friend’s nose.

  Trying to wedge herself between them, his mother stared him in the eyes, spewing words that rocked him to the core.

  “Because he’s Heaven’s Keeper.”

  CHAPTER 25

  The longer Dylan stared at Layne, the harder he gripped his shirt. Not so much from anger, but from disbelief. His mother’s voice grew desperate with each second but no words made it to his ears. Only the thump of each heartbeat.

  How could she think Layne was Heaven’s Keeper? Layne didn’t have any abilities, except smooth talking women. And a good right hook. She had to be mistaken. Layne betrayed Heaven when he helped his father. How could a Keeper do that to the one he’s created to protect?

  Then again, his father betrayed Anna. Even threatened to kill her. All because she’d refused him. Would Layne do the same when he realized that Heaven would never be his?

  His gut churned in disagreement. Not that he cared.

  Slamming Layne against the wall, he leaned his weight into his hands, pinning his friend’s shoulders. Layne didn’t fight him. Didn’t even look at him. His eyes hadn’t left Dylan’s mom since she uttered the shocking admission.

  “Don’t hurt him, Dylan.” His mom’s voice finally broke through the haze of confusion fogging his mind. He loosened his grip on Layne’s shirt, though he didn’t back away.

  “He can’t be her Keeper. He betrayed her, Mom. He tried to help Dad get rid of her.”

  “He also came close to killing your father the day he tried to choke Heaven.”

  The words had him grinding his teeth. “I’ve come close to killing him. Doesn’t make me her Keeper. He doesn’t even have any abilities.”

  Layne’s focus shifted back to him. His brows folded as his eyes roamed Dylan’s face. He wanted to ask questions. The way his mouth parted to speak said as much. Probably would have if his mother’s voice hadn’t stolen the silence.

  “I don’t know what his abilities are, but I think Heaven can help us figure that out. If she can sense psychic energy…”

  The anger fueling Dylan receded, like someone had shut off a faucet. Heaven still hadn’t admitted that she could sense psychic energy. So many secrets remained between them.

  The faded newspaper clipping flashed through his mind, along with the words written on the bottom. You don’t belong to him. You are mine. You’ll see.

  Guess she wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.

  “We can ask her later, after I know she’s okay. And, after she and I talk.” He glared at Layne, daring him to argue. He didn’t. Though he would have. Even opened his mouth to comment when a voice cleared behind them.

  Dylan ignored his mother, but she captured Layne’s attention. “I know all of this sounds crazy to you. It did to me at first. I promise you, I’ll explain everything later. Right now, we need to find Heaven. Are you sure she’s in there?”

  Not waiting for his answer, Dylan released Layne’s shirt, leaving his mother to console him. He gripped the door handle, heart beating so fast, it seemed to rattle his brain. Time wasn’t even a factor. The only thing that mattered was seeing Heaven.

  When the door swept open, he rushed inside, scanning every inch of the room. The bed was still made, though not as neatly as the day before. Heaven had sat upon it at some point. Moving further into the room, he eyed the door to the private bath. Still no Heaven.

  “She’s not here.” The thickness in his voice garbled his words. Each breath grew harder to take as the walls shifted around him. Or was his head spinning? He fell against the wall, fighting to regain his balance as well as his connection with Heaven.

  He had to find her. Everything in his soul demanded as much.

  The minute his mother and Layne entered the room, Dylan rushed his friend, backing him against the interior wall. “I thought you said she was in here.”

  “She was. I haven’t left the door since I came up here. No one’s went past me. Not even Chelsea, when she showed up twenty minutes ago.”

  “Are you sure Heaven came up here?”

  His mother came between them again, pressing her hand against his chest. “I watched her walk up here, Dylan. Once I knew Layne would keep an eye on her, I came to find you. Anna went to look for Hope and Faith.”

  “Damn it!” Moving across the floor, he made his way to the window. Had she jumped? He gripped the bottom pane, flexing his arms as he pulled. But the window didn’t budge. The lock remained untouched. He checked the next window only to find the same scenario. “If Layne’s been by the door and these windows are locked, tell me how the hell she left this room.”

  “I don’t know, Dylan, but don’t waste your energy on fighting with Layne. You need to go find her. Both of you.”

  Dylan didn’t want Layne’s help, even though he’d originally asked for it. Didn’t want to accept the fact that he might be Heaven’s Keeper. Not if he had feelings for her. But they could sort that out later, once he knew she was safe.

  “Where do we start looking?”

  Layne’s voice rattled his nerves like nails on a chalkboard, but he pushed his irritation aside. “I don’t know. I still don’t know how she could have left this room if you—” Dylan’s stomach tightened, like someone had punched him. Then a line of fire zipped through his core. His connection with Heaven flickered to life, bringing with it every ounce of fear in her soul. One word repeated in his mind.

  Help!

  * * *

  A gentle hushing echoed in Heaven’s ears, sending her in and out of a dream like haze. She blinked her eyes, wishing the fogginess would leave her vision. Life would be even better if her temples would quit thumping.

  Relying on her other senses to decipher her whereabouts, she wiggled her fingers in the same course dampness cradling her back. Grit wedged between her nails as the cry of a bird hovered above her. A seagull maybe. The scent of coconuts lingered in the air. She had to be at the beach. Or not far from it. A boat perhaps…

  No. Her body didn’t rock from waves. Instead she shivered from the coolness surrounding her. Coolness that had to be wet sand.

  If only her eyes would cooperate, she’d know for sure. Another round of blinking failed to clear the fog. She wanted to sit up, to rub her eyes and look around, but her body wouldn’t move, save her fingers.

  A wave of panic spread down her neck, over her chest, until it pooled at her core. Something was missing. Each beat of her heart grew heavier, feeding the void inside her chest. What could she have lost to cause s
uch mind-boggling pain? She needed to remember. Needed to find the source of the longing.

  Something tugged at her mind. No. More than that. It pulled at her soul. Whatever she couldn’t find in the fog wanted her attention. It wanted to be found.

  But did she want to find it? The weight on her heart thrummed a no, crushing her to the point that her legs wouldn’t move. But her soul wouldn’t let her forget. She continued along in the gray abyss, focused on the force pulling at her navel. If she could use her legs, she’d run. Go as far away as she could. Seek her answers. Pray the entire time that she’d find what she sought.

  Too bad her body told her to go to hell. And she was in hell. An imageless purgatory that seemed more like a dream. Maybe this was a dream.

  Her belly fluttered. Dream or not, she’d be sick if she couldn’t find the source of her ache.

  Dark eyes flashed through her mind, weaving warmth throughout her body. Had her prayers been answered? The spark in those eyes said yes. As did lips so perfect, so kissable, so everything she needed and more. The smile that curled them toward the sky only increased the need building in every one of her cells. Did she know him?

  The tug in her gut strengthened to a constant pull. His pull. She liked his presence. Liked knowing that from the moment he came to her, nothing else mattered. Nothing but the tiny hairs standing all over her body.

  Until those perfect lips turned down. An onslaught of words followed, tearing at her heart. She fought to hear each one, regardless of how slowly they played through her mind. Or how much they twisted her gut when one phrase repeated.

  I don’t want anything from you.

  Her ears thumped with an annoying beat. Her head. Her heart. Her soul. Everything in her ached as a montage of images played before her. A large sitting room. A group of familiar faces. Dark, angry eyes turning from her. As did he. Then the room shifted. Voices buzzed in the background. Carpet cradled her knees. Air dissolved from her lungs.

  Every ounce of love in her heart seeped from her body, turning to liquid ice as it slid down her face. How could he walk away? He promised he wouldn’t. Ever. Would always be there. Would always love her. Because he was meant to love her. God wanted it. She wanted it. He wanted it. At one time.