Fates Entwined

49

"There you are," Jordan said, wrapping an arm around my waist as I approached. "Care to dance?"

"Sure, after I drink this margarita."

Jordan suddenly stiffened beside me, and I turned to see Ethan approaching. He looked as handsome as ever tonight, but he'd never made my pulse race like Jordan did.

"Hello, Ethan," Jordan said in a tone that was anything but friendly. Ethan only smiled, as if Jordan's attitude just amused him. "I'm so very happy for you both," he said, embracing me in a warm hug. I could practically feel the air heating up as Jordan imagined setting Ethan on fire.

"Thank you," I said.

Ethan offered his hand to Jordan, who reluctantly shook it. "Good to see you, Jordan."

We exchanged a few more awkward pleasantries, and then Jordan’s displeasure turned into a full-on glare as Ethan walked away.

I nudged him in the side. “Stop it. There was never anything between us.”

Jordan let out a low growl. “Maybe, but I know he wanted more with you."

“He did, but it was never going to work out between us. Besides, ever since I met you, you were the only one I wanted. No matter how much I tried to deny it."

Jordan dropped the glare and flashed me a cocky grin. "And who could blame you?"

I rolled my eyes. "I take back everything I just said."

"Too late." He dragged me close and kissed me. "You're my mate now and everyone knows it."

I let out a dramatic sigh. "I guess you really can't fight fate."

He gripped me around the waist and dragged me close. "No, but why would you want to?"

Before I could answer, he pulled me in for a kiss, and several people around us let out a cheer. I laughed against his lips as he suddenly lowered me into a dip, showing off for the crowd. And for the first time in months, instead of rejecting my fate, I embraced it with open arms.

WATER FATED

MIRA & WESLEY

CHAPTER ONE

Being a single mom was a lot like being a really exhausted superhero.

Case in point: I was dragging my large suitcase across the frozen ground with one hand while pushing Adriana in her stroller in the other hand, while simultaneously juggling her diaper bag on my arm plus a gigantic bag of presents for Ayla and her baby. How? I had no idea. This kind of coordination had never been possible before I became a widow and a mother, but now I was a freaking expert at doing ten things at once—and doing everything on my own.

"Thank you so much for coming to get us," I said to Larkin, who stood waiting for me in the ice-covered front yard. She was bundled up in a big poofy jacket that only made her look even more like a kid. Sometimes it was hard to forget she wasn't really one.

"It's no problem at all." She gave me a big smile, which highlighted the cute freckles on her nose. "I'm happy to help since Ayla is too pregnant to teleport anyone these days. Here, let me take that." She reached for my suitcase.

"Thanks. I had no idea that all Moon Witches could teleport."

"We can teleport to Lunatera and that's it, thanks to this tattoo." She raised her hand and showed me a moon tattoo on her finger that matched the one I'd seen on Ayla before. "But we can open portals to Lunatera for other people too, and from there, we can open another portal back to anywhere on Earth that we've been before. It's like teleporting but not as fast, and a bit more work."

"We really appreciate it." I checked on Adriana, but she was happily bundled up in her stroller and babbling away.

"Are you all set?" Larkin asked.

I glanced back at the house where I'd been living ever since I'd joined the Pisces pack here in Alaska. It was cute and cozy, but it was Aiden's parents' home, and I still felt like a guest there. I had a bedroom I'd once shared with Aiden, and that was it. Now all it did was remind me that he was gone. I was eager to get away from it—and my in-laws—for a few days.

I turned back to Larkin and plastered on a smile. "Yes, we're ready."

She raised her hand and said a few words I didn't understand, opening a shimmering silver portal in front of us. "Go on in."

I took a deep breath and pushed the stroller through, then let it out once we were on the other side, standing on a beautiful beach with a large full moon hanging low over us. I'd never been to Lunatera before, even though I had a tiny bit of Moon Witch blood in my veins. I could summon some moonlight to lighten up a dark room, but that was about it. There had never been any reason for me to visit before, nor any time, but now I found myself wishing I could see more of it. Someday maybe, when Adriana was older. Larkin stepped through, dragging my suitcase, and the portal closed behind her.

I listened to the tranquil lap of waves while a light breeze tickled my hair. The weather here was warmer than it had been back in Alaska. "It's so beautiful."

"It is."

Larkin allowed me a few moments to soak it all in before she opened the next portal. I adjusted the bags on my arms and pushed Adriana through it, feeling a little tingle on my skin as the magic touched me, and then I was standing outside of Ayla and Kaden's large house on the edge of a forest. A few snowflakes hit my face, but the ground wasn't covered yet, which made me think it had just started snowing.

“Kaden said it was going to snow today,” Larkin said after she came through the portal and closed it behind her. “I didn’t think it would be until later though.”

The front door opened and a very pregnant Ayla beamed at us. "You're here!"

I maneuvered the stroller up the stairs and then gave Ayla a big hug. "I wouldn't miss it! You were such a huge help to me after I had Adriana, and I want to be there for you too."