Chosen Destiny

2

Zeke’s emerald eyes darkened, and his face twisted in agony. Stepping away from the corner of the house, he rolled up the sleeves of his pale-yellow button-down shirt, revealing more of his dark-olive skin. Adult me noticed there was more black than gray in his hair, unlike his salt-and-pepper look of today. “We need to talk,” he said softly. “We’ve been best friends for forty years—you can’t just throw us away.”

My stomach clenched. Zeke never talked to anyone like that. He seemed genuinely hurt.

“I’m with Richard.” She tugged me behind her. “We have two kids, and we love each other. You need to get that through your head. You and I have always been friends. Nothing more.”

I froze, my blood turning to ice. Zeke had been in love with my mother.

“But—”

Mom sighed and linked to me, Care, I need you to go to the study. I’ll be there soon with your favorite snack.

Chocolate ice cream! I replied. Gone was my discomfort about whatever conversation these two adults were having.

Adult me screamed at young me not to go inside, but my little legs propelled me into the house. I guessed it didn’t matter since I couldn’t change the events of this memory.

As I hurried into the basement rec room, I heard Daddy telling Samuel good night. Without pausing, I took the wooden stairs straight ahead to the main floor. At the top, I turned left, rushed through the kitchen and dining room, and made it to Daddy’s study in less than a minute.

I walked past the huge mahogany desk and hurried to the globe that sat in the far-right corner in front of a built-in bookshelf beside the brick fireplace. When Daddy joined me, the first thing he would do was light the fire. Then we’d sit and talk about whatever business he wanted to keep me in the loop about. He always asked for my opinion and listened to what I had to say, even if he didn’t take my advice. He said I had a unique way of looking at the world, and he treasured the insight I gave him.

I spun the globe, playing a game my friend Bodey and I often played when our dads met. Bodey would spin the globe, and wherever I was pointing when it stopped would be one of the places we’d visit together when we got older. The idea of traveling with him made my stomach feel funny.

Adult me knew why it did. Bodey and I had been drawn to each other because we were fated mates. That was why I needed to wake up and get to him now.

Daddy stepped into the study, smiling warmly. He arched a brow. “No snack this time?”

Turning around, I pouted. “Mommy said she’d bring it in a minute. Zeke stopped her outside.”

His smile changed into a deep frown. “She’s talking to him.” His eyes glowed, indicating he was linking with Mommy.

“Should I have not left her?” My head hung. “I’m sorry—”

“Oh, baby girl.” Dad came over and kissed the top of my head. “You didn’t do a thing wrong. You listened to your mother.”

My bottom lip quivered. “But—”

“She’s heading up now.” He winked, though adult Callie could see his tension. “Everything’s fine. We just might not see Uncle Zeke for a little while.”

“That’s good with me.” I nodded eagerly.

Daddy laughed. I liked the sound of his laughter. It was one of my favorites, besides Bodey’s.

Sounds of Zeke and Mommy echoed through the house, and Daddy scowled. He turned and headed back toward the foyer as he linked, I’ll be right back. If you hear Mr. Valor come in, don’t be alarmed. I asked him to return to help with Zeke.

Zeke’s, Mommy’s, then Daddy’s voices grew louder, and I wrung my hands. I didn’t like how they were all fighting.

“Why don’t you go into your study?” Zeke growled. “This is between Mila and me.”

“There’s nothing left to discuss,” Mommy replied. “You need to leave.”

“Come on, Mila,” Daddy said. “Follow me.”

“Mila, wait,” Zeke said. “Just talk to me a little longer. I need you here for a few more minutes.”

All three sets of footsteps headed toward me, and the three of them paused in front of the study doorway. Daddy’s face was flushed in a way I’d never seen before. His nostrils flared, and his eyes glowed. “Leave our house. Now.”

Something powerful laced his voice, and my wolf trembled within me.

Zeke flinched.

“He didn’t want to do that.” Mommy shook her head. “I think it’s time we cut ties. Lynerd will be announced as the new Oregon royal advisor soon. Go back to your wife and son. Spend time with them. Let me go.”

Zeke bowed his head as he strained not to walk away. But his feet moved, step by step, away from the study.

I heard the front door open. Mommy stayed put as if to make sure he’d left as Daddy went to the fireplace.

He’d bent down, his finger touching the button to turn the fireplace on, when Mommy spun around, her eyes locking on mine. She raced toward me, yelling, “Richard! Don’t!”

Bile churned in my stomach as Daddy’s head turned toward us. Mommy’s body crashed into me, shoving me against the wall just as the world shook all around us.

Hot air hit every piece of me, and my mother’s body sagged against me like dead weight. The stench of burned flesh and the sound of crackling flames were the last things I experienced before blackness engulfed me.

My body was being jostled, and each jerk felt as if I were burned alive. The movement stopped, and I looked up to see Zeke’s tortured eyes staring into mine. Tears dripped down his cheeks as he shook his head and glanced back at the house.

I managed to turn my head enough to see flames shooting from the study’s window. Zeke hurried to a car parked at the edge of our property and slid me into the back.

“f**k,” he growled. “f**k. f**k. Fuck.”

“Samuel,” I croaked. He’d been downstairs.

“Michael’s here.” Zeke ran his hands through his hair, his expression strained. “I can’t get him, so we’ll do the next best thing. You’re coming with me.” He closed my door and went to the driver’s seat.

The car moved, and my chest constricted. “My brother.” Even the little girl version of me knew it was pointless to ask about Mommy and Daddy. My current heartbreak blended with hers, and the tears in our eyes and the pain of our loss hurt worse than her burned skin.

Zeke slammed his hands against the steering wheel. “Shut up!” His breaths came out in whooshes. “Let me think. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to lose her.” His voice broke on that last word.

Even as his words rang in my little-girl ears, my surroundings faded again.

I tried to force my eyes open. Maybe I’d regret it later if this was the way to get all my memories back, but now I knew Zeke was to blame. He’d been behind everything.

“Callie,” Samuel’s grown-up voice sounded far away, but something inside me stirred.

Whatever I’d done was working. I just had to keep it up.

A hand gently slapped my cheek, barely making it sting. I wanted to smile, knowing Samuel was probably cringing from such a minor thing.

“Everyone, help search for Bodey,” Samuel commanded out loud, not having the luxury of being able to link with everyone like Bodey and I could since being marked as king and queen.

My eyes popped open, and the afternoon light startled me. “Bodey,” I whimpered, sitting up. I needed to find him. Through our fated-mate bond, I had the best chance of tracking him down.

But as I tried to stand, my head pounded, and I nearly fell over.

Lucas’s strong hand gripped my arm and held me upright. My head throbbed as if a hammer had beaten my brain into a b****y pulp. It felt the same as when Sybil had tried to free my memories.

Sybil.

I turned and saw her dead body a mere ten feet away from me. Blood oozed from her ripped-out neck, and her bronze skin was pasty. Zeke stood by her, staring at me warily.

“Don’t move too fast,” Lucas said as he moved, blocking my view of the dead witch. He squatted, his dark hair messy from the fight and his dark-brown eyes filled with concern. Blood trickled from the scratches down his arm.