Maybe Fate: A Novel (New Adult Paranormal Romance) (11 page)

Someone
had actually tried to kill me.

“
Wait,”
I said suddenly, darting my wide eyes back to the blonde man. “You
talk like you know who that was.”

He
hardly moved, but I could sense his amusement. “I do, yes.”

“
Alright,”
I said, preparing myself for what felt like a big revelation. “Then,
who is he?”

Rubbing
his neck uncomfortably, he let out a huff of air. “Telling you
that might be a bit of a mistake.”

“
I—what?
This guy tried to kill me! This twaelin or whatever, I have a right
to know his name.”

Nethiun
waved his hands side to side, as if to mollify me. “You're
already having trouble swallowing everything you've been exposed to,
shouldn't you want to step away from all of this? Not get involved
more?”

Stunned
by his reaction, I leaned backwards. “Do you really think
knowing his name will somehow pull me
more
into this?”

He
sighed like he'd been defeated. “At this point, there's a
chance everyone involved could walk away and leave you be,
certainly. Slim, but it's there.”

“
And
me knowing who the guy was that cut the string of the dagger over my
head makes me unable to back out?”

The
way he looked at me, his brows drawn low over his opal eyes, it sent
a shiver into the base of my skull. “It's the path that leads
to knowing something far bigger, someone pulling strings even
higher. That person, that's the one that will not allow for retreat,
my dear Gale.”

Is
he serious, someone else is involved too? So, if I don't pry
further, this weird stuff might all just... go away after all?

And
if I push forward, that's it?

“
Nethiun,”
I said quietly, choosing my words precisely, “give me a
straight answer here. You told me you're watching me, and that
someone tried to kill me... but
why
try
and kill me? I'm not anyone important.”

His
snicker was dark as coal. “Perhaps not. But at least one other
person thinks there is something about you worth keeping an eye on.
At this stage, I'm rather sure myself there might be more to you
than it seems.”

Looking
down, I watched the birds fluttering into the paper bag. It occurred
to me, if I closed it on them, they would be trapped unless I let
them free.

Is
that me right now?

Reaching
down, I trembled at how easy it would be to catch the animals
inside. Instead, I tapped the bag, scaring the birds out in a
flutter of chirps and wings.

My
mind wandered to the book Mr. Birch had loaned me, how it was
sitting on the floor of my room. M
aybe,
without anyone knowing, I could find out what I need to know in
there still.

Standing,
I dusted off my jeans. Nethiun watched me, not blinking once.
“You're leaving?”

Glancing
upwards, I noticed how quickly evening was rolling in. “You
just told me if I pried too far, I'd lose my chance at walking
away.” Peeking over my shoulder, I leveled a serious stare at
him. “I'm not ready to go all in, not just yet.”

Smiling
easily, he rose in one smooth motion. “Perhaps a wise
decision.”

He
was incredibly close, it made me notice how the top of my head only
came to his collar bone. Bending down, his hair shading his eyes,
Nethiun reached out to me.

It
was so sudden, I just went stiff. I didn't know how to react, or
what he was about to do.

One
thin finger brushed against the corner of my lips. Smirking, he
straightened up, sticking his digit in his mouth briefly. “You
had a bit of chocolate there.”

Blood
rushed to my face, my hand scrubbing at my skin in disbelief. I
couldn't even speak, I just didn't know what to do.

Luckily,
I was spared having to say a single word. With a casual wave of one
agile hand, Nethiun vanished away in a ripple of fading grey.

Long
after he was gone, freeing me from his precise movements, those hard
eyes of his, I stood there in the park.

I
stood there, not knowing what to think at all.

Nethiun

I
was beginning to get too much delight in the reactions I could
elicit in Gale Everette.

Remembering
the bloom of shock across her cheeks, the hot release of her
confusion when I darted my fingers so close to her lips, it thrilled
me.

There
was something to be said about the wild, blatant release of emotions
humans so helplessly gave.

It
tasted extravagant.

Flickering
through the air, blending from one plane to the next, I finally
arrived in the stormy darkness of my Mistress's chambers.

Bending
to the ground, my forehead almost brushing the shining onyx, I shut
my eyes and waited. Waiting was what I had become so used to over
the years.

Now,
with everything happening suddenly, it was difficult to remain so
patient. So stoic.

And
she noticed.

“
Why
are you so amused?” she purred, stretching out on her throne
with a sigh.

Her
cool, flat words sent a shard of ice deep into my chest. “Forgive
me, Mistress. I was only watching the human, as you instructed.”

“
I
know what you were doing,” she murmured, sitting up and
crossing her bare legs. “I always know what you're doing.
Don't become more involved than I told you to, Nethiun. You're to
observe, not to mingle beyond that.”

Flinching,
I touched my forehead to the ground. “Of course, Mistress.”

Tapping
her nails on the hard throne, her words were more dangerous than any
who didn't know her would guess.

But
I knew her, I knew her well.

“
You've
already gotten the attention of Valenforth, now
he's
wondering why I'm having you follow the girl around.” Her sigh
was long. “I wonder why I'm having you do it, as well.”

Lifting
my eyes, I stared from her feet, up to her face. Those thick-rimmed
eyes weren't looking my way. “Have you not recalled the
meaning of your dream, still, then?”

Lazily,
she rolled her gaze to me. “Just keep following her. Whatever
the reason for Gale Everette appearing in my dreams, for that sense
of graveness, it should reveal itself in time. I want to make sure I
understand before I decide how to handle it.”

Crouched
there, I awaited for her next sentence. When it didn't come, I
steeled my nerves, dancing around the edge of what I was sure was a
dangerous line of thought. “And, if Ethlyn attacks again?”

“
He
won't attack again. He only did that to get you to prove I was
involved. Really, you should have let the girl get crushed, if it
was going to happen. Perhaps that would have ended this thread of
fate that ties her to me somehow.”

Inside,
I felt a twist of guilt.
Yes,
perhaps I should have, but... but I didn't.

I'm
still not positive why.

Brushing
away my needling thoughts, I lifted my voice again. “Mistress,
if he
does
attack again—”

“
If
the foolish servant steps in, do what you must, Nethiun. I'd prefer
we not have Valenforth at our door because you took out one of his
own, so unless it's truly needed, don't get too serious.”

Bowing
my head once more, I smiled in the shadows surrounding me.

That
was all I had wanted to hear.

“
Yes,
Mistress.”

With
that, I was gone.

Gale
Everette

Returning
to my dorm was no easy feat. Pacing outside the hall, I finally got
the courage to knock on the door.

No
sound came.

Frowning,
I moved to knock again, but the door was tugged open so fast the
resulting wind tossed my hair. Becky stood there, her stance wide
like she was ready to take me down in a wrestling move.

“
Becky!”
I blurted, eyes bulging. “Uh—I—look—um—”

“
Get
in here,” she growled, yanking me by the front of my jacket.
Wincing, I stumbled onto my bed, turning in time to see her slam the
door. The sharp sound made me flinch, one eye squinting shut.

Lifting
my arms to guard me, I began to babble nervously. “Becky!
Please! I'm sorry, I swear, it was an accident!”

“
Did
you not SEE the sock on the door!?” Lifting her arms, she
gestured with them in wide swathes. “Don't you know the god
damn CODE for
hello
don't come in?
”

I
was doing a very good impression of a fish gasping for air. “Uh.”

Grinding
her teeth, she dropped down on her bed and hung her head. “Ugh.
I can't believe you walked in on that.”

Biting
my cheek, I looked to the side, then back at her hunched figure.
“So, well. I mean.” Glancing away again, I drew out my
next word. “Who...?”

“
Just
a guy I met,” she muttered, propping her head on her hand,
glaring at me.

“
Right.
Just some guy.” I couldn't keep the biting implication from my
tone.

Scoffing,
she pointed at me fiercely. “We weren't having sex, don't get
the wrong idea. Just some making out, that's it.”

Remembering
how I'd witnessed her rather bare chest, I turned red from chin to
scalp. “Mmhmm. Yup.”

“
Gale,
next time, just knock. Better yet, turn around and go do something
else for awhile.” Pouting, she flopped back on the mattress,
glaring at the ceiling. It felt good to not be on the other end
anymore.

Poking
dejectedly at my thigh, I watched her from the corner of my eye. “I
am really sorry.”

Inhaling
audibly, she breathed out, sitting up with a weak smile. “Eh,
whatever. Sorry you walked in on it. It could have been worse.”

I
didn't want to imagine how.

“
Oh!”
she said, standing and digging under her bed. “Here, think
this is yours. I kicked it out of the way when Ethan left.”

“
Who?”

“
Ethan,”
she said, crawling backwards. Lifting my thick book proudly, she
offered it to me like a peace treaty. “This is huge, by the
way.”