True Fate (29 page)

"Hey,” Adam said as
Rhea took a small bite of pizza. She smiled a saucy smile and tried not to
laugh
 
her food out of her mouth.

"You wanna talk...
or I don't know.... do something? Wait I don't mean what that may sound like I
meant, um... ahh crap.” he said hanging his head.

"It's okay I get it,
this is awkward I know. Sharing a room is a little weird but not really, right?
I mean we've had sleepovers together before you know.” Rhea said trying to ease
the pressure she knew was there.

"Don't try to be
someone you're not Adam, just be you! I mean, I know the real you and I really
like that guy." she said more confident than she felt. Adam smiled, nodded
and got up from the chair, he grabbed the pizza and put it in the fridge.

###

Lilith paced unsure what
she would do if what she'd felt was true. Certainly he had no clue of the
connection she had made to her but she felt like something big had changed.
While she had little to speak with Nia about, she needed to see if 'Eric' had
any major change. Their bond had weakened and she needed to know exactly why.
She'd thought that sending Darragh along would give her an insight to anything
that could possibly go wrong, but apparently she'd misjudged his loyalty to the
group.

He was always level
headed and a greater good sort of guy so she’d have to figure out how to find
out what made their bond begin to weaken. If it got too slight Nia could break
it and give him his life back. No, she thought, no she couldn't lose the
control over him she'd had for so long. Surely Nia didn't know his true name
and what she'd be capable of if she did.
 

No one was as good as
Eric at blocking her mind invasions, no matter how subtle she tried to be. She
wasn't worried he'd accidentally let it slip but what about that little twit,
Avery. She had to find a way in, she just had to.

###

"We can't just tell
them everything.” Avery said sounding a little worried. "I for one am not
getting into trouble over this!” she added with her frustration apparent.

Eric rubbed her shoulder.
"Look, we all have something to lose but I think people's lives are more
important than that.” Eric said slowly.

Nia was glad someone was
on her side.

"I think she can
handle it and Adam is like a brother to Nia.” Aaron added.

"I'm going to go get
them.” Nia said moving towards the door.

Darragh quickly moved to
block her way. "I don't think we're ready for them just yet. They can know
that there's danger and they can know that we're here to protect you, but that
is all.” Darragh said rather demanding.

Nia took a step into him
narrowing her eyes as she looked up to meet his glare. Aaron grabbed her arm
trying to pull her away. "They are my friends and I will tell them what I
want to and no one can stop me. Get it.", she said as she shrugged Aaron's
hand off of her.

Eric moved closer, he
knew she was about to blow and he knew Darragh had little tolerance for such
things.

"I'm tired of this
crap! Tired of not knowing and definitely of no one telling me anything! I am
so ready to see Aunt Amarie and get this, this, whatever the hell it is over
with! Forget the stupid scenic route! Forget the week we were going to take
too! I want answers now! And as far as my friends go consider them in the
loop!” Nia screamed like a pissed off child. She knew she sounded like she was
throwing a fit but she didn't really care.

"I keep hearing how
this is going to change everything. Really!! Cause the last time I looked my
life has already irreparably changed! I'm hardly speaking to my dad. I can't
sleep right, my best friends are in harm’s way for god's sake! I am being
hunted by who knows who and I'm sharing a room with a man I barely know because
of some cosmic freaking promise! EVERYTHING in my life has changed and I don't
even know the reason why!” she continued with tears brimming now.

"Nia, please calm
down.” Eric pleaded being careful not to touch her as her eyes flashed a fiery
gaze his direction.

"I need to talk to
you.” she said barely meeting Aaron's eyes as she turned looking at everyone and
Darragh moved from the door.

"In the morning
we're leaving and we're not stopping again unless it's for the restroom gas or
food!” Nia said with as much commanding presence as she could muster. She
walked out the door without as much as a look over her shoulder.

Aaron was stunned and
hurt but Eric was heading for the door so he stopped him. "I got it,
man.", he said clenching his jaw. He was relieved to spot her pacing in
front of the ice machine by their room. She was mumbling and biting her lip as
tears sparkled in her eyes.

"I don't have my key.”
she garbled out knowing the sobs were about to overtake her. Walking the short
way to the door he whispered. "I'm sorry Nia.” Then swiped the key card.

He held the door open as
she passed him and went straight to standing in front of the bed then she sniffled
and grabbed her last bit of strength. "You have nothing to be sorry for! I
just...” she said with a sigh mixed with her shakiness. "They needed to
know that everything in my life has been altered. Aaron you're the only part of
that I'm happy about.” she said with trembling lips and tears flowing.

###

Darragh was outraged,
"I was merely going to explain.” he said to Avery.

She patted his shoulder,
"I know, but this was a meltdown a long time coming if you ask me." she
said matter of factly. "Heads would have rolled long ago if I were in her
shoes,” she added as Eric nodded his head and laughed.

“Oh yeah, you can say
that again.” Eric said with a serious look on his face.

He ducked just in time
for the pillow that Avery had thrown at his head to hit the wall with a thud.
“Hey!” he complained looking at a narrow eyed Avery. Darragh looked between the
two of them with a small smile trying to form on his lips.

"Just give her a
little while before we head out to see Lilith, okay?” he said to them both.

Darragh nodded, "In
an hour then," and Eric nodded back.

This would be his window
of opportunity to go see Savannah, he'd have to hurry. He knew Avery was not
going to be happy with him for not giving her fair warning but he didn't want
to be stopped or talked out of what he was about to do.

###

Aaron stood directly in
front of Nia, her body was radiating an intense heat in his direction. It
wasn’t hard to feel her hurt, confusion, anger and frustration flowing off of
her in cresting waves. Taking her face in his hands gently he swallowed the
knot in his throat and spoke softly, "Nia I'm scared too, I promise I will
keep you safe and Adam and Rhea too. I'll learn how to protect you to the best
of my abilities and I know they'd all lay their lives down for you too. It may
be orders they're following but I think some of them truly care, if not all of
them. I know I do.", he said inching closer to her mouth drawn in by the
intense longing in her amber eyes.

Nia's tears found their release down Aaron's thumbs
and he felt her sorrow in the pit of his stomach. ”I will get you there as
quickly and safely as possible Nia. You have my word on that and if you want to
room with Rhea I'll completely understand.” he said dangerously close to her
lips now. Nia sucked in her lip and bit it unable to focus due to Aaron’s
proximity, her warm breath danced on his lips almost ordering his surrender.

She shook her head slowly raising her gaze from his
lips to his cerulean eyes, "No. Don't leave me. I... I need you," and
that was all Aaron needed to hear. He softly kissed her lips and then each eye
lid as gentle sobs claimed her shaking form.

Pulling Nia into his arms he held her close like
they were the last moments of their lives, like he may never get the chance again.
Nia was a strong person but right now she was precious and fragile. Having
never told her he loved her, it just didn't seem right at the moment, it was
too soon. But he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he felt it.

Aaron's arms were quickly becoming Nia's safe
haven, her favorite place on the planet even. She was sure she'd hurt him too
much for him to forgive her. But asking her for forgiveness? That was just
crazy. He'd really done nothing wrong but be there for her through all of this
despite their short time knowing one another. All she could feel coming off of
him was pure love and it enveloped her making her want to get lost in it
forever.

'Aaron, I think I love you,’
she whispered through the bond, too choked up and terrified to say it out
loud. What if he didn't feel the same what if she'd misread him? It seemed like
forever would pass without a response when he leaned away from her with tears
of his own in his eyes and looked into his future.

"I think I love you too Nia and I really don't
think anything can ever change that. I know this is right and I know that you
are my forever.” he said slowly and held her close until her breathing slowed
and he knew she was calm. Certain he meant everything he'd just said Nia smiled
and wiped at her eyes it was the truth and now she knew it, she could feel the
truth of his words vibrate through their bond like tiny flutters that gained
strength with each passing second.

Thirty minutes had passed and Aaron held her, he
moved her to the couch and cuddled her there, using kisses to take her mind off
of the situation at hand. She was feeling better, calmer, but not any less
wary.

After a little while Nia got up and paced the room
trying to decide exactly what to tell her friends. "We have to go talk to Rhea.”
Nia told Aaron while getting water from the mini fridge,

"Okay, whenever you're ready.” Aaron said
glancing at the clock. "We only have a half hour though, okay?” he added.

Nia nodded back and they headed for the door.

Rhea was sitting next to Adam on the couch they had
been watching funny videos after dinner. Rhea's cheeks were reddening just
sitting so close to him. She loved watching him laugh at the silly videos they
had been watching. There was a knock on the door and it scared her out of her
swooning.

"I got it!" she said a bit too loudly and
Adam looked at her confused as he closed his laptop. She looked through the
peephole and opened the door immediately.

Nia was trying her best not to fidget but she was
nervous about the entire situation. "Adam, Rae, I have something I need to
tell you both.” she said not meeting Rhea's eyes.

"Okay?” Rhea said letting them in. "What
gives?” Rhea said narrowing her eyes at Nia and glancing at Aaron.

Nia took a deep breath, "I have a lot to
explain and only a little bit of time.” she said and Rhea nodded sitting on the
edge of the bed. Adam went and sat beside her, close enough for their knees to
touch which sent goose bumps shooting down her leg. She was thankful for the
warmth and the strength it gave her. She was definitely glad he was there with
her and she wasn't the only '
normal
' person in this mess. His closeness
made her feel loopy so she focused hard on listening to Nia.

Leaning up against the wall Nia sighed as Aaron
pulled up a chair for her, she shook her head and he sat instead.

"So Rhea you know that I'm different...” she
said slowly. “Adam there's a lot of things to explain but I'm going to leave
most of that to Rhea.” she added. "Rae just tell him what you know, it’s
okay.” she told her and Rhea nodded in acknowledgement.

"The closer I get to finding out why I'm “different”,
the more dangerous this trip becomes. You are both putting your lives on the
line if you continue on with us. I'm not going to ask you to leave, but I will
ask if you stay, to learn how to defend yourselves. Darragh, Avery and Eric can
help with that. They're here to protect us all, it's what they do.", Nia
explained. Aaron nodded in confirmation clutching his hands together in front
of him.

"Nia we love you and we aren't going
anywhere.” Rhea said patting Adam on the leg surprising herself at her boldness
but wanting to ease the discomfort that was oozing off of him since Nia said
lives were on the line. "We'll do whatever it takes.” Adam said as he swallowed
the lump in his throat, he nodded so she knew he agreed.