Page 68 of Threads of Fate

“What in the abyss is that?” Ferric says. The static man is yelling, drawing the attention of fae I didn’t even know that were out here. The soldiers stand behind us watching whatever I’m holding.

“You can see him now?”

“No but I can see your magic is latched onto something.”

I’m about to tell him ‘I don’t know’ when the creature's face falls slack.

“Use your light energy Dana. Bring him into this realm. Make the light show you the truth.” That voice from earlier whispers.

“I don’t know how to do that.”

“What?” Kreed asks.

I shake my head at him. “The voice.”

“Feel for it, you need to do it fast. Magic is about intent.”

“No pressure.” I think about what I want. I want the light to show me the truth, I want to know what this creature actually looks like. I want to know why it’s following me. That scream doesn’t happen twice by coincidence. Light sparking with like flares of sunlight piercing through crystal wraps down my forearms, twisting around the green smoke. When the light reaches the static man he screams. A blood curdling scream. Then his features shift. His body becomes more rigid. His facial features become more apparent. Lyra walks up beside me and pulls out some chains.

“When he’s done…” She trails off trying to find a word.

“Becoming a real boy?” Kreed offers. I bark out a laugh despite the serious nature of this moment.

“Yes,” She side eyes Kreed, “can you lower him so I can restrain him.”

“Yes. I think. I mean, I just found out I had these abilities a few days ago. So bare with me.”

“I’ll stand ready.” She walks a step forward ready to cuff this man or whatever he is. I look back up at the man and he looks like a solid person. I talk to my magic. Willing it to bring the man down to the ground. It does, just swiftly, causing the man to hit the ground roughly. He lets out a groan. Lyra looks at me and I give her my ‘I tried’ smile. She crouches down by the man waiting to tie him up with the help of several other fae. I funnel my magic back into me and dissipate the smoke.

The man looks odd. Like he’s too symmetrical. Too perfect? His skin looks tight across his face. It looks literally poreless. His eyes are a solid black. No whites or anything but it’s hard to tell with the sun sunk behind the horizon. He’s tall, well built and he is mean muggin’ the shit out of me right now.

“You will perish, Dana. I knew I had to do this myself.” Lyra kicks his knees out forcing him to the ground.

I look at Kreed not knowing what to say or do. I just stand there dumbly.

What is life?

Chapter 23

Dana

Kreed takes me into the house while everyone else takes the man to the cells under the main building they hold court and such. Kreed leads me to his room and into his bathroom. He stands behind me, wrapping me in his steady warmth and security.

“Perish.” I whisper to myself but Kreed hears it.

“No. You have three tethers, we will not let that happen. I will be bringing them both here. Immediately.” When I start to protest. “We were given to you for a reason. We all bring something to the table. There has to be a reason Chandie granted your mother that knowledge. Tonight I will take care of you and tomorrow we grab your soulmate and soul bond.” He kisses my neck while he loosens the ties and buttons that line the spine of my top. He pulls the sleeves down my arms and places the leather on the counter. He moves his hands up and down my arms, then he reaches in front of me to untie my pants. He unties my boots, pulling them off, along with my pants.

“I will keep you safe. We will keep you safe. From every villainous creature out there.” He pulls me toward the shower. He steps inside to turn it on. Walking back out of the shower Kreed pulls his shirt over his head, tossing it to the side. He undoes his pants while he stares at me. A look that tells me he is going to devour my soul. I think that is exactly what I want. He was definitely made for me. I can see that. I won’t let him go now. He has proven to me that he can handle me at my lowest, he can handle my petty nature and he can make me feel cherished. The banter between us is everything to me. I love the fight he gives me. I love how he knows my body and in such a short time.

Kreed pulls me from my thoughts when he grabs my hand and pulls me into the shower. The hot water is an instant relief to everything. My aches from learning to wield a staff, to the sweat clinging to my body and to the man who told me I will be dying.

“What are you thinking?” Kreed asks as he rubs a soap bar between his hands. He motions for me to turn around. I obey and turn to stare at the wall. He runs his finger through my hair scraping his nails along my scalp. Sending shivers down my back.

“I’m thinking I feel like I have been given a life raft to endure a one hundred year storm in the middle of the North Sea. I feel like my mother should have told me so many things a long time ago. I feel like the gods,” I spit, “should have told me something. Prepared me. I don't know how to fight. I don’t know how to use my magic. I am twenty fucking one for gods sakes. A woman who thought she was human up until a week ago. What the fresh hell were the gods thinking? Am I destined to save lives or am I destined to die?” Kreed turns me around and rinses my hair for me.

“I have to believe the gods did not let me find my tether so late in life just to take her from me.” He reaches over to grab another soap and runs the bar through my hair and speaks again. “I think you, Dana Oriden, are meant for great things. Things that none of us can even comprehend. I do not know why they chose a twenty one year old woman but from where I am standing you are more than you appear to be.” He puts the bar back and grabs another to run along my body. “You are just like your mother. I can say that with one hundred percent certainty. Even if I have only been around you for a week. You are strong willed just like her. You do what you want, you don’t let anyone walk all over you. You guard your heart but you have love to give. You care for people you don’t even know. We could have all been hurt earlier but you listened to your gut. Ignoring my caveman tendencies.” He squats down to run the soap along my legs. “You make it very easy to fall in love with you. With every action.” He kisses the top of my foot and moves up kissing my shins. “With every little fight.” Then up my thighs. “With every word.” He kisses up my hip and across my stomach. Heat pools between my thighs. My breaths come faster, shallower. My hips grind up towards his face. “With every touch of your skin.”

He pulls my thighs apart and dips his tongue between my thighs. His tongue finds my clit immediately. I let out a breathy moan. I run my hands into his hair, tugging at the strands. One of his hands grips my ass as he uses the fingers on his other hand to run on either side of my clit. He spreads me open, giving him all of me. I rock my hips up and down.

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