Cursed by Fate

by Renee Shearer

  Looking down at her feet and sniffling, Avery nodded. “Sure, I guess. Should I go pack now?”

  Roman entered at that moment, the rose and note in hand. “Yes, baby, please do. You can bring whatever you want. Make sure you bring enough clothes for at least a week.”

  Avery shouted okay and ran to her room. Ariana couldn’t take her eyes off the objects that were slowly being crushed in Roman’s fist. Ariana had a feeling he did not want to tell her what the note said, but he knew her enough by now to know she would just hound him until he spilled.

  When Roman opened his mouth to speak, she shook her head. “Gimme one sec.” Ariana scooped Zoey up again and took her to her room. Tucking Zoey in for her afternoon nap, Ariana kissed her and sent up a prayer to whoever was listening. “Keep them safe.”

  Twenty-Three

  Ariana

  Ariana took a moment for herself in the bathroom to breathe and get her nerves in order. Her hands were shaking and sweaty and her was heart pounding. Ariana splashed some cold water on her face. She could get through this. It was just a note, for fucks sake! Finally getting herself together, she strode confidently back to Roman and held out her hand.

  “I would rather you not touch it, Ari-Lass. I dunnae detect any magic, but that dosenae mean it’s not there.” His Scottish brogue was thicker, a clear indication he was upset. Roman had lapsed into it from time to time in the two days he had been with her and the girls. Despite her apprehension, a shiver went up her spine. She loved his accent when it got all thick, and often wondered if he would lapse into it while making love.

  Shaking off her thoughts, she once again concentrated on the note. “Just show it to me then. You hold it and I’ll read it.”

  As Roman reluctantly showed her the note, Ariana’s vision swam with the handwritten words.

  Roses are red, the color of blood and dread

  Black is the color of death and you will soon draw your last breath

  You can try to run and hide, but once you’re outside

  YOU WILL BE MINE!

  Taking a deep breath to control her trembling, Ariana couldn’t stop looking at the note. As crude as it was, it still managed to terrify her to the point she thought she was going to vomit. All of her illusions of this being nothing more than her paranoia went up in flames.

  “Well, his writing is atrocious at best, don’t you think?” she quipped. Suddenly, Ariana turned and ran to the bathroom, losing her lunch in the toilet. Resting her head on the cold tile floor afterwards, she stared up at the ceiling. How could this be happening to her? What the hell did she ever do to deserve this?

  Oh, that’s right. I was born in the wrong fucking family! She snorted at herself. Her world was being turned upside down and inside out all because some stupid Mage had her heart broken. Ariana wanted to go back there and strangle the bitch. It wasn’t like she was the first woman ever to have her heart broken by some guy, and lord knows she wasn’t the last. So, what made Rowena think she was such a great catch that if she couldn’t be happy then no one could? This is all so messed up. She needed to talk to Alaina again. Ariana jumped up from the floor and quickly rinsed out her mouth, flushing the toilet before she ran back out and skidded to a stop in the living room.

  “What the hell? How did all of you get here so fast? We just got the note not ten minutes ago.”

  Roman looked at her strangely. “Ari-Lass, you’ve been in the bathroom for half an hour.”

  “What?! No, there’s no way.” Ariana stood shaking her head from side to side. Why didn’t she notice the passing of time? Anything could have happened to her girls while she had been locked in a sea of self-pity. I’m was so stupid! When will I learn to get a better handle on shit. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Okay, okay. Whatever, you’re all here now. Aiden, we’re leaving tonight after I contact someone.”

  Aiden breathed a visible sigh of relief, the tension leaving him. Did he really think she would stay after this? Okay, so she had been just a teensy bit stubborn on the issue. But seriously? This was way more than she could handle right now.

  “Contact who, Love?” Easton walked towards her, and when he reached out to rub his hands down her arms, she flinched back. A look of hurt flashed in his eyes, and Ariana felt like scum. All he wanted to do was comfort her, but she still reverted to her old self when she was stressed.

  “Alaina,” Ariana said. Mateo and Roman nodded in agreement, while Easton retreated to the window; he wouldn’t look at her. Aiden scowled like usual, and she didn’t have a clue why he had a problem with her contacting Alaina. Grayson and Jayden were casually leaning against the living room walls smiling at her.

  “Why? The sooner we leave the better,” Aiden snapped at her. Ahh, so that was his problem. He got what he wanted, but it wasn’t fast enough for him.

  “Because, you ass, I need answers from her!” Ariana snapped back.

  Ariana was at the end of her rope. It was now the beginning of June. She only had nine months left to beat the curse and somehow get over her hang-ups enough to be with the guys, or she died. Ariana still hadn’t told the guys that. There was never a good time to just say, Oh, hey by the way, I have to be a fucking superhero: pass the trial, break the curse, and mate with all of you by the time my next birthday comes around, or all of this will be for nothing. Why, you ask? Because I’ll be dead.

  Ariana chuckled and shook her head. The guys were once again looking at her like she’d lost her mind. They were doing a lot of that lately. However, she felt like she was losing her mind sometimes, so she couldn’t blame them. Remembering Mateo could read minds like her, she snuck a glance at him. His mouth was set into hard lines, and his eyes were panicked. Shit! Why did I always forget his power? Damn it all to hell.

  Ariana spoke directly into his mind for the first time. How much did you hear?

  Enough to know you will die when you are twenty-two if we don’t figure this out.

  Please don’t say anything to the others yet, she pleaded with him.

  They need to know, Ariana!

  No, they don’t! Not yet. Its my fucking life, Mateo. I will tell them when the time is right.

  She could hear Mateo snort in her head. You just said there never was a good time.

  I don’t care what I just said in my head! Stay the fuck out of it, Mateo! I have the same ability you do. I don’t go peeking around people’s heads all the time listening in on their private thoughts and rantings. It’s rude, ya know?

  Mateo narrowed his eyes at her. Fine. I will do as you wish. For now. But they need to know. We all agree that we are your mates. This affects us as much as it does you.

  I’m glad y’all agreed on something that’s my call.

  Ariana. Mateo sighed. You know this is the truth.

  Doesn’t mean I have to bow down and just accept it, now do I? No matter how hot you all are.

  He grinned wickedly at her. So, we’re hot huh?

  Oh, shut it you! Ariana chuckled and shook her head.

  “Nice chat?” Aiden snipped at her and Mateo, glaring at them both.

  “Yep, it was fantastic. I’m going to pack and see if I can get Alaina to respond.”

  Grayson

  Laughing along with the rest of the guys, he watched Ariana’s ass as she sashayed out of the room. She had a really nice ass—firm and round. Gray had found himself staring at her ass more than once on his day with her and the girls. At one point Avery had scowled at him and kicked him in the shin, telling him to knock it off. He still chuckled at that. He had fallen hard and fast for this little family of three. Ariana with her spunkiness and slightly unhealthy obsession with coffee. Gray had also learned of Ariana’s love affair with chocolate covered pretzels. She always had a bag stashed somewhere; he had even found one in the bathroom cabinet. He loved Avery’s protectiveness and sass, and the way she was always observing everyone around her. Zoey’s laugh and sparkling eyes were adorable. He could see the intelligence and the gears working all the time in h
er head as she tried to figure out something new. Every one of the girls lit up a room when they walked in.

  Seeing Ariana so terrified to the point of throwing up, pissed him the hell off. Even his fox was scratching to be free. To hunt and rip out the throat of the person who dared to threaten their mate. This latest ‘gift’ from the stalker was the worst so far; it actively threatened her. It was worse than the dead sparrow, with its thinly veiled threat. As far as he was concerned, no one was going anywhere near these girls even if he had to chain himself to them. His fox yipped his agreement. Easton and Roman were driving everyone nuts trying to follow the magical signature of the ‘gifts’, but without any luck. It was one of the reasons all the guys were on so on edge.

  Gray had searched through Ariana’s files to see if there was something there he could go on. It was very thin. It only had an account of the first attack, and no hair or fibers that belonged to the sick fuck were found. The crime photos of Ariana had given him nightmares for days. He and his fox had wept at the hell their girl had been through. She was the strongest woman he knew. Gray didn’t think he would have been able to survive the shit she had experienced. Let alone be able to smile and laugh ever again.

  He shook himself from his thoughts as Ariana walked back into the room shaking her head. “Alaina isn’t answering, or whatever it is that she does. Looks like we’re on our own for this.”

  “That’s fine. I like it better that way.” Aiden looked at Ariana’s three bags. “Is that everything?”

  “No, I have to pack Zoey’s bags but can’t until she wakes up from her nap. Shouldn’t be too much longer. How about I make some dinner before we go?”

  Gray’s mouth watered. He loved Ariana’s cooking. She was always trying something new, and it all tasted delicious. He hadn’t been able to grab more than a quick snack at work before being called here. “What are you going to make tonight for us, Foxy lady?” Gray winked her making Ariana laugh. Her laugh sounded like the sweetest bells ringing to him, sweet, pure, and full of joy.

  Ariana shrugged her slim shoulders. “I was thinking of stuffed chicken cordon blue with a parmesan cheese sauce, sautéed green beans in bacon and garlic, and mashed potatoes?”

  Grayson just about swooned, and his stomach let out a loud growl. Everyone laughed while he ducked his head sheepishly.

  “That answers that question then. Huh, Gray?” Ariana winked at him and turned to go into the kitchen to start preparing dinner.

  “Do you want some help?” Jay asked as he followed her.

  “Sure, if you think you’re up for it, big boy.” Was her saucy reply.

  Gray watched as Jayden threw back his head and roared with laughter. Despite the tense circumstances, all of them had been laughing and smiling a hell of a lot more than they used too. Even Aiden, who was Mr. By-the-Book and ‘fun led to carelessness which led to dying’ was laughing. Gray owed it all to Ariana and the girls; being around them made them all happier.

  Gray could envision a future with them. He could see them helping put the girls to bed at night before going to bed with Ariana. Gray had been dreaming of stripping Ariana bare and tasting every inch of her. He recalled the dream he had last night.

  Ariana was in the big glass shower at the cabin. He could see her through the steamed-up glass. As she tilted her head back towards the warm spray, he silently took off his clothes and joined her. When he slid his hand down her curves, a smile on her formed on her lips. He grabbed her head, gently tangling his fingers in her red hair and pulling her mouth to his. As their tongues tangled, he slid his rigid cock between her legs—not entering her but rubbing and teasing her clit and folds. Teasing them both. Ariana gasped and clung to him, whimpering softly when he pulled his mouth away. Only to moan as he kissed and suckled her breasts. Replacing his cock with his fingers, he rubbed and plucking at her already swollen nub. One finger, then two, slipped into her and he pumped his hand slow at first, then faster as her breath started to hitch and her moans became louder and longer.

  She begged him not to stop and reached for his hand as he pulled away. Only to watch, fascinated, as he dropped to his knees and buried his face between her legs. She went wild. Yelling and swinging her head from side to side, calling his name and scratching his scalp as she pushed him harder against her. Ariana screamed his name once more as she came.

  Not being able to wait any longer, Gray surged to his feet, picking up her limp and sated body. He pressed her against the wall of the shower, slamming her down on his cock and sliding home with ease. She cried out in pleasure as he started to pump in and out of her tight pussy with long, slow strokes. “Grayson! Harder!” Ariana cried out. Gray sped up just a bit, plunging into her harder. Ariana gripped him with her legs to help lift herself up and slammed down on his cock over and over. Nearing his peak, he wanted to feel her squeeze his cock first. Gray slipped his hand down her body, rolling and pinching her nipples on the way to her clit. As soon as he had flicked it with his fingers, she came hard. He could still feel the way her walls had clenched around him as she came undone.

  As good as that dream had been, he couldn’t wait for the real thing. He would bet his life savings that it was going to be even better and hotter than what his imagination could think up. Grayson had to adjust himself as his jeans were trying to strangle his hard cock. He was used to it by now; he had been in a perpetual state of arousal ever since meeting Ariana. It was made worse now by images of her in a towel and kissing Roman. He was waiting until they got to the cabin to kiss her. She deserved romance and flowers, and Gray was determined to give it to her. He had it all planned. He would take her to his spot. No one else ever went there, though he was pretty sure that Aiden knew since it was his property, but Aiden respected all of their needs for privacy and each member on the team had a favorite spot.

  He would take her and the girls there first before he took just Ariana. Avery and Zoey would love it. Maybe Ariana would even let him show his fox to the girls; Grayson couldn’t wait.

  Twenty-Four

  Ariana

  Aiden and Ariana argued over whether or not to take her car. She patiently explained that in no way would they all fit into the SUV the guys drove. Not to mention it was a bitch and a half to get the car seat for Zoey out. Aiden argued that the stalker could have put a tracker or a bomb on her car. She didn’t think the stalker would go that far, but had allowed the guys to do a thorough search of it just in case. She had no idea that Mateo was the resident mechanic and bomb expert for the team. She had been shocked and worried when they found a tracker attached to the underside of her hood. Aiden then argued that she should let one of the guys drive her car with the kids while Ariana rode in the SUV. They would take separate routes. That way if the stalker was watching and saw her get in the car, he would follow them. Avery and Zoey would be safer, and Ariana quickly agreed.

  They were running two hours late; it was now completely dark out as they finished loading the cars. Ariana strapped Zoey into her car seat and kissed her. “I’ll see you soon, baby girl.”

  Turning to Avery standing on the sidewalk, Ariana squatted next to her pouting daughter. “I’ll see you soon too, Munchkin! Don’t worry. Easton will take good care of you. Right Easton?”

  “Of course!”

  Jayden stepped up to Aiden. “I should be the one driving, man.”

  “I know you feel that way…”

  “Of course I feel that way! I’m the fucking driver! Has anyone else on this team driven race cars? No. I fucking have. I should be driving!”

  “I have my reasons. Now stand down! Easton can handle this!”

  Ariana watched as Jayden stormed away shaking his head. Hmmm… that was interesting. Avery tugged on her hand, gaining Ariana’s attention again. “Mom, can’t I ride with you?”

  “Honey, I told you. I need your help to keep Zoey company okay? You know how she can get in the car.”

  “But, it’s only an hour away mom. She’ll be fine!”

  Ari
ana sighed. “Just get your pomegranates in the carriage.”

  Avery rolled her eyes. “You mean car, Mom? It’s a car. Stop quoting Mulan, it’s embarrassing.”

  “Just get in please!” Ariana hugged and kissed Avery, then turned to Easton.

  She spoke in a low voice so Avery wouldn’t overhear. “I swear to God, Easton, you had better keep them safe. If anything happens to them, I will gut you. I don’t give a shit if you are my mate or whatever. I. Will. End. You. Are we clear?” Ariana knew it was an idle threat on her end, but she needed to stress the importance of what those two little girls meant to her.

  Giving her an exasperated look, Easton replied, “Ariana, I don’t know if you know this or not, but we all love those little girls like they are our own. I swear to you, if anything happens to them, I will gut myself. Got it?”

  Ariana’s throat closed. She couldn’t speak so she settled for nodding instead. Staring into Easton’s eyes, she saw the truth shining there. They really did love her girls. How could this be? These six wonderful, handsome men loved her girls like they would their own. She had seen it this past week with the guys but had refused to believe it. To hope. Ariana tumbled even further down the rabbit hole of love with them. Reaching up, she cupped Easton’s jaw. He stiffened, not used to her being the one to touch first. Raising her other hand, she cradled his face. Easton’s eyes widened when she stood on her tiptoes to lean closer to him. He sighed in relief when her lips met his. Heat licked up Ariana’s spine as he brushed his mouth against hers, quickly taking over the kiss.

  Ariana moaned and wrapped her arms around Easton’s neck, leaning into him as he ramped up the passion. Parting her mouth on a gasp as fire raced along her veins, his rough, yet silky tongue glided inside, learning every nook and cranny of her mouth. Desire swamped her; she could feel her Light Magic racing along her arms to gleefully merge with his. That was new. Her magic had never reacted like that. It was constantly swirling inside her ready to jump to her defense when she needed it. Now though, it seemed to almost dance in glee with Easton’s magic. Ariana felt dizzy and needy all at once. She almost whimpered when he pulled away, lightly nipping her bottom lip as he retreated.