Fate Forgotten Read online

  As if he heard her thought, understanding shone from his eyes. “Don’t thank me for that.”

  After a moment, never losing sight of her eyes, he said, “I have to go.”

  He said it like he wanted to stay, and it made her pause. She remained frozen in place. Jake walked away, then came back with Annie. They said their goodbyes. The whole time, Val wondered if she’d dreamed up everything that had just happened.

  “I’ll see you later.” He then walked away.

  She unfroze, realizing something she avoided thinking about until that moment. He wasn’t just leaving, but leaving to fight an enemy, the same who killed her coven, her family. She bit the side of her lip, then moved straight to him. A couple of feet away, she blurted, “You’ll be safe?”

  He angled his head to her and kept walking. “Yes.”

  She walked faster. “But you have weapons and—”

  “Yeah, I do. Plenty.”

  But what if something bad happened to him? “What if I need to get in touch with you?”

  He paused, faced her, grabbed her hand, and drew it to his lips, then softly kissed her palm. “My cell number’s on the counter.”

  For the second time that night, she froze.

  “I’ll be fine, Val. This is what I do, the only thing I’ve ever been good at.”

  She trusted him, he’d been a warrior for centuries, but she couldn’t help worrying. And even with his assurances, she couldn’t keep those worries away. “But…sorry. I just—”

  His hand cupped the side of her face. Without thought, she leaned against his palm, the touch sending shivers through her.

  Bending to her, he then pressed his lips against her cheek, pausing briefly at the nape of her neck. “Thank you, Val.”

  For? She hadn’t done a single thing except lose it in front of him and worst, in front of Annie. But she couldn’t find her voice. Before she could say anything else, he disappeared.

  ****

  The second Jake materialized in his living room, a quarter after two in the morning, his gaze gravitated to her sleeping figure on the couch.

  On her side facing the television, her head rested on a decorative pillow. Face relaxed in sleep, breathing deeply, soundlessly. Her long auburn hair spread out in waves around her.

  Absolutely. Beautiful.

  “Mine,” he whispered, in awe. He still couldn’t believe it.

  She moved slightly, and a strand of her hair fell onto her face. Carefully, he rested his weight on one knee and pulled her hair away from her face. He could stay there and watch her sleep forever.

  Not hours ago, he felt every ounce of her pain and grief as if it were his own. It tore into him, shredding his composure, his resolve. His demon promised vengeance. His very soul cried.

  He should’ve expected it. His life had been filled with bittersweet moments. His sister’s death brought Annie into his life, while his fated’s grief had done the same.

  He hated leaving them both. He wanted to spend every second he could with them, but that wasn’t possible. A warrior, born and bred, it was all he knew, and now more than ever, he had to fight, to try to create a better future for them, a future where they could live without the threat of Malums.

  That night, his duty took him away, and because of him and his brethren the world was short ten Malums. He had the honor of killing two. And he did it without hesitation, knowing they wouldn’t hesitate to hurt his mate or his niece. He did it with pride, not avenging himself like he’d done for centuries. He killed in their honor—vengeance for all they’d lost, for all they deserved to keep.

  Valerie shivered. Acting instinctively, he carefully snaked an arm around her neck, the other under her knees and lifted her, effortlessly. Draped across his chest, she mumbled incoherently. Jacob found himself smiling. He walked the short distance into his room and laid her in his bed, pulling the covers over her. He had no qualms about lingering to watch. Only when he couldn’t fight sleep any longer did he leave her.

  ****

  Stretching, she buried her head into the pillow, and the scent of the man Valerie dreamt of invaded her senses.

  Jake. Her eyes snapped open, landing on unfamiliar blue pillows and sheets. She shot up in bed and frantically glanced around. The large room decorated in blue tones. The bed, huge, bigger than a king, and no doubt custom-made.

  Jake’s room. Everything in the room reminded her of him. The sleek dark wood furniture, the pile of clothes laid astride a couch to her left, not to mention the scent of him. She had no idea how she’d gotten there. Last night, she watched Annie for the first time, and after Annie fell asleep, she watched TV. She must’ve dosed off then. He must’ve moved her. Though it meant he’d made it home safe, she wondered why he hadn’t woken her. She could’ve gone to her own bed.

  Annie stepped into the room, then rubbed her eyes. “Val? Are you awake?”

  She kicked the covers off. “Good morning, sweetheart. Are you okay?”

  “I’m hungry.” On cue, her stomach growled.

  Valerie was too, starved, in fact. She’d skipped dinner the night before. “Where’s your uncle, honey?”

  “He’s sleeping. I think we should let him sleep because he never does.”

  He never slept? How did Annie know? “We should. I can make you something. Do you want to help me?”

  Her eyes gleamed. “You’ll let me?”

  She smiled. “Sure.”

  Her excitement died a split second later when she said, “I don’t know if I should. Uncle Jake says I’m not allowed to cook because of the fire. He’s afraid I’ll get hurt.”

  Such a sweet girl. Most children her age would’ve taken her up on the offer without mentioning they weren’t allowed. Tucking her hair behind her ear, Valerie smiled. “You can be my assistant, and you won’t go near the stove.”

  At that, a bright smile lit Annie’s face, and she giggled.

  ****

  Jacob awoke refreshed for the first time in more than a week. He glanced at his watch, nine in the morning. Startled, he jumped off the white couch in Annie’s room where he slept. His gaze darted to her empty bed. Her room was empty, too.

  Walking out of her room, he shouted, “Annie?”

  “We’re in the kitchen.”

  We’re? His heart started pounding louder and louder. When he reached the kitchen, it stopped dead.

  Valerie, wearing the same clothes, her hair in a messy knot at the top of her head, exposing her neck and the curve of her jaw, stood at the stove cooking bacon, from the smell of it. Annie sat at the counter on a stool, a whisk in hand beating eggs.

  Damn, but what a way to wake up: his mate and his niece looking right at home and happy.

  He smiled.

  “Uncle Jake, I’m helping make breakfast.”

  “Don’t worry, she hasn’t gotten near the stove,” Valerie said without sparing a glance in his direction.

  Disappointing.

  “You should’ve woken me. I usually don’t sleep this late.”

  Val removed strips of bacon from the frying pan. “If you did, then it’s because you needed it.” She paused a moment, then still engrossed with making breakfast, asked, “Did you move me last night?”

  Shit. He sensed it. She kept her emotions in check, but he caught it in her voice. She wasn’t thrilled he’d moved her into his room. Running a hand through his hair, he admitted, “Yeah. When I got home, you were asleep on the couch.”

  “You could’ve woken me. I would’ve gone to my place.”

  Yeah, he could have, but he didn’t want to wake her. He hadn’t wanted her to leave either. “You could’ve woken me, and you wouldn’t have had to make breakfast.”

  Placing the pan on the burner, she faced him.

  He smiled, so she’d know he meant it lightly.

  She returned his smile. “I don’t mind.” Her gaze shot up to his hair.

  Damn. His hair was a mess, always was in the mornings, especially when he left it longer like it was now
. The reason why he tried to keep it short, no fuss, no muss. As of late, he hadn’t had time. But it wasn’t an excuse, considering even before he had Annie, he always found reason to put it off.

  Self-consciously, he ran his fingers through it trying to tame it.

  Valerie’s smile widened, and then she turned to Annie. “Are those ready?”

  Annie nodded.

  “Did you add a little salt?”

  Annie handed her the bowl of eggs. “Yep.”

  Valerie turned and dumped the eggs in the pan. He walked the short distance to the counter. Kissing the top of Annie’s head, he whispered, “Good morning, pupa,” then took a seat beside her.

  From there, his gaze went to Val. He watched her hips sway with each move. Perfect. Every inch of her. It didn’t change the fact he had to take his time with her. He couldn’t mess up more than he had already. It would be hard, the hardest. He wanted her the minute he laid eyes on her. As an immortal, she was his fate. It went against nature to take his time. His demon, who wanted to claim her just as badly, further complicated it.

  In an effort to keep his craving at bay, he focused his attention on Annie. “How did you sleep, pupa?”

  “Good.”

  Had she slept through the night? He made a mental note to ask Val about it later.

  Valerie served Annie first then, to his surprise and delight, she served him a plate of eggs, bacon, and sausage. Last, she served herself, then sat on the other side of Annie.

  As they ate, Annie chatted happily, telling him all she and Val had done the night before. When Annie finished, she asked if she could play with her dolls. He agreed, but made sure he told her to wash her hands and brush her teeth.

  When Annie slipped away, Valerie reached for his plate. “I’ll help with the dishes.”

  He snatched his away, then grabbed her plate, stacked it on top of his, and did the same with Annie’s. “You cooked. I clean.”

  He moved around the counter. “Did she wake up last night at all?”

  “She didn’t. We fell asleep on the couch,” she admitted. “I moved her later.”

  He stopped and faced her. “She didn’t wake at all? No nightmares?”

  She shook her head.

  He set the plates in the sink, then quirked a brow. “What did you do? I mean…how did you manage it?”

  She smiled. “Do you want a play by play?”

  “Yeah,” he said, instantly. “She keeps having nightmares and…” Feeling the heat of her hand on his forearm and wanting to savor it, he trailed off.

  “We watched a movie. She started getting tired and laid her head on my lap. By mid-movie, she’d fallen asleep. I was scared of moving her at first, so I waited until the movie was over. When I did, she mumbled a little, so I stayed with her for a while, and then I came back to the couch and fell asleep.”

  He thought perhaps she’d done something else, something out of the ordinary he wasn’t aware of—a trick to keep the nightmares away. But this was better. It gave him hope. Maybe Annie had adjusted to her new life with him. Or maybe it was just Valerie. Maybe she was as special to Annie as she was to him, soothing with her presence.

  She removed her hand, then blurted, “I should go.”

  He didn’t want her to go. He wanted her to stay—forever. She was his, belonged with him. But he knew the best course of action: let her get to know him, slowly.

  He had to think about what was best for them, too. Valerie grieved for the family and life she’d lost. Annie had begun to adjust to living with him. How would she feel having Valerie around all the time?

  “You’ll be back tonight?”

  She smiled. “Of course.”

  Chapter 16

  The sun shined high in the cloudless blue sky. Nothing Valerie loved more than a beautiful day, but she didn’t enjoy it. Biting the side of her lip, she wrung her hands together.

  “Relax.”

  Her gaze met Nathan’s.

  “It’ll be fine,” he assured. “I’m here. I’ll protect you.”

  She forced a smile. “That’s not why I’m nervous.”

  “I know you’re anxious about breaking up with him.”

  Her brows drew together.

  He smiled. “You told me yesterday. I listen. Yet I have no advice to offer in that respect.”

  “Really?”

  “Why would you—”

  She narrowed her eyes, playfully. “Oh, Nathan, are you one of those guys?”

  Lifting both brows, he asked, “One of what guys?”

  She smiled. “You know self-conscious…”

  He chuckled. “Touché.”

  “Come on, you can’t be serious?”

  “I told you I never know where I stand with women.”

  “And I didn’t believe it then either. You’re attractive in a very obvious way.”

  He tensed, then looked away from her.

  “I’m not hitting on you,” she said, “I’m being honest.”

  He relaxed. “I get it. You’re jesting.”

  “No, I’m not,” she assured. “I am being honest.”

  His eyes widened briefly, and he took several steps away from her.

  She laughed aloud. “I’m a virgin,” she blurted. Her face heated. She slapped her hand over her mouth. “I meant to say…I’m not coming on to you. I’m really just being honest.”

  He flushed. “Um…Thank you.”

  “Most importantly, you’re noble.”

  His gaze fell away from hers. “I’m glad you think so,” he whispered.

  “I know so.”

  Suddenly, he grabbed her arm and hauled her behind him. The quickness of the action dizzying. She heard her name called out, poked her head out from behind Nathan’s towering frame, and saw Glen rush over to them.

  She pulled away from Nathan. “It’s okay, Nathan. It’s Glen.”

  The next instant, Glen’s arms encircled her. His familiar sandalwood scent hit her. When it did, she couldn’t help but snake her arms around his waist and bury her head in his chest.

  She needed a friend more than ever, but with his arms around her, even as familiar and as wonderful as it felt to reconnect with someone from the beautiful life she had before, she couldn’t help but notice Glen didn’t soothe her like Jake did, not even close.

  “Jesus, it’s you,” he whispered against her ear. “It’s really you.”

  Pulling away from her briefly, his hands at her cheeks, she managed a weak smile.

  “I couldn’t believe it when you called. I just kept thinking I’d imagined the whole thing.” One hand at her neck, the other drifted to her back. He crushed her body to his again. The breath swooshed out of her. He then buried his face in the crook of her neck and chuckled.

  “Watch it,” Nathan barked. His tone fierce, unyielding and quite frankly, scary.

  Glen drew away from her. His face and stance hardened. His eyes narrowed, showing no fear in the face of a demon who towered a good five inches over him. “I would never hurt her.”

  It made her realize several things. First, Glen could get as angry as Jake and Nathan. Glen either hid it from her, or he’d never had reason to be angry around her. Second, she realized she really didn’t know Glen all that well. And last, from seeing both their reactions and being around Jake and Clyde the last several days, she started to believe immortal males had issues with their tempers.

  Placing herself between the two men, she said, “Please, don’t.”

  Nathan and Glen’s gazes shot to her, and then they relaxed. Likely, only to appease her, but she didn’t care.

  “Nathan, please let me have a minute alone with Glen.”

  He hesitated. His eyes hardened and narrowed on Glen, but then he relented with a statement that sounded a lot like a warning. “I’ll be watching.”

  Glen watched Nathan until he was out of earshot. His attention shifted to her. He smiled. “I still can’t believe it. Do you have any idea how relieved I was to hear your voice yesterday? How rel
ieved I am now to see you in the flesh?” His gaze grew distant. He rubbed his palm against his chest. “I thought you were dead. I thought I’d never see you again…God, I’m so sorry. I should’ve been there. If only—”

  “You would’ve been hurt or killed.”

  He shook his head.

  “Yes. It’s quite possible I would’ve been captured if it hadn’t been for the Guardians, and…”

  “How are you? I mean I know…” He shook his head. “No, I don’t know. I’ve never lost my coven, and I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

  “I didn’t get out of bed for several days.” She fought the tears welling her eyes. “I know I should’ve called you before. It’s just—”

  “Don’t you dare apologize for not thinking of me. You were grieving, still are.”

  Truth. “I try to keep myself distracted as much as I can. The Guardians have been great to me. They’ve tried their hardest to make me feel welcome, and I’m…okay.”

  “Nathan?” His gaze lifted, shooting behind her. “He’s a Guardian?”

  She nodded.

  “He may have a crush on you.”

  She smiled, shaking her head. “He’s just good at what he does.”

  He gave her a disbelieving look. She didn’t want to talk about that though, so she asked, “How are you?”

  His shoulders slumped, slightly but enough for her to notice. “Guilt-ridden.”

  She grasped his hand. “Glen, there’s nothing you could’ve done…nothing at all. Please—”

  His eyes held hers, he sighed. “You didn’t know this, Val. Your sisters didn’t want you to know because you’re so young, but the war with the Malums has been escalating for some time now. Our covens agreed to fight them side by side. To the Malums, to achieve what they want, everyone’s a target. Knowing that, doing what we were doing, fighting them, we should’ve expected something like this to happen, and we should’ve taken better precautions.”

  Stomach turning, she looked away from him. “How long…When…”

  “Four years.”

  It had been years, and she hadn’t had a clue. She noticed some of her sisters leaving at night and returning in the early morning, but they’d lied, told her they were going out for dinner and drinks or a late movie. As a homebody, she never cared to go. Knowing the truth now, she couldn’t help but feel hurt.