Page 65 of These Dangerous Fates

Sam’s smile turns wicked. “Thomas Kennedy isn’t your dad, Ellis. Noah Martin is.”

* * *

Sam left the room not too long after he dropped that life-changing bomb on me. He got a call, and although I couldn’t hear the person talking on the other end, whatever was going on pissed him off. He muttered something about the warehouse and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

I sit in a daze, trying to process everything I just learned. Thomas Kennedy isn’t my dad. That changes so much. He can’t force me to marry anyone. However, if what Sam revealed is true, that makes Noah Martin my father. And apparently, he wants me dead. Not sure that’s much of an improvement.

My mom had an affair. And not just once, but twice. My guess is, Noah found out my sister and I were his, and he took care of the issue by trying to remove all three of us. But why? And why he’s let me live all these years, I have no idea. Maybe Sterling really had done something to change his mind.

As soon as my thoughts turn to Sterling, I force them away. I can’t handle thinking about him right now. The pain is too fresh, the betrayal burrowing deep in my soul. I rub at my chest to relieve the ache. I rub my chest. Looking down, I realize my hands are free. The green bands of magic are gone. I was so lost in thought, I didn’t even notice.

Jumping to my feet, I rush to the door but stop before I grab the handle. There is no way Sam would just leave and let his bindings disappear. I drop to my belly and peer under the door. In the little sliver between the doorframe and the floor, I can just make out a pair of boots. So, he let his bindings go, but left a guard. If I’m going to escape, I need a weapon.

Returning to the desk, I open the top drawer and paw through the contents. My adrenaline spikes when I find a letter opener fashioned after a dagger. This will work perfectly. I take a few deep breaths to calm my body and clear my mind. The tremors will only hinder me, and I need my focus to be on my surroundings. All the lessons I learned at the gym and with the guys come flooding back. I know what I need to do, and I need to move fast. The element of surprise will be the one thing to save me. I have no doubt the guard is a mage, and I can’t go up against a magical without powers of my own.

Slowly and silently, I turn the doorknob. Taking one last breath, I fling the door open and step out into the hallway. The guard turns to me with a lazy grin. No doubt underestimating me, a human girl. Faster than I’ve ever moved, I jump forward and jam the letter opener into his neck.

His eyes go wide, and I don’t give him any time to recover. I drag my weapon back and forth, ignoring the way it catches on muscle and tendons, ensuring there is no way his magical blood can heal him. His life force bubbles out of the gash and coats my hand, warm and sticky. It’s similar to the time I stabbed Sam. The mage uselessly attempts to stop the flow of blood, but it’s too late. He drops to the floor and the letter opener slips from my numb fingers.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

On shaky legs, I run to the elevator. It’s not until I’m inside and on my way to the ground floor that what I’ve done finally registers. Oh, fuck. I killed someone. I stare at my blood covered hand, fingers trembling with adrenaline and fear. Bile climbs up my throat, but I swallow it down. There is no time to think about what just happened. I have to get out of this building.

I hold my breath as the elevator doors slide open, praying there’s no one there. I dart from the elevator, as silently as possible, and make it through the lobby to the front doors before someone sees me.

“Hey!” a man yells.

Heart in my throat, I dash through the doors and out into the warm night. I risk a glance behind me as I run down the front steps. Two mages race through the lobby, straight for me. I push myself faster. If I remain in their line of sight, there is no way they won’t catch me. I rush across the street and in between two buildings, hoping to get to the next block so I can round the corner and put the buildings between us.

A blast of blue light hits the wall next to me, spraying brick in all directions, slicing into my exposed skin. I gasp. These guys aren’t playing. That would have killed me if it hit me. I put on another burst of speed and round the corner, already thinking of my next move. There’s an alley to my left and I dart inside. My legs are burning, my lungs protesting the lack of oxygen. How will I ever outrun them?

“This way!” one mage yells. “And don’t kill her!”

Their boots pounding on the ground behind me are like a noose slowly tightening around my neck. At least one of them remembers Sam wants me alive. Pushing myself even harder, I whimper. I’m not going to make it. There is no way I’ll outrun them, and with their magic to aid them? I can’t go back. Tears blur my vision, but I blink them away. Not now. I won’t cry now. I need all my energy to keep running.

Keep running. Keep running. Keep running.

My mantra plays over and over in my head as I run through downtown Altair. Always staying just out of reach of their magic. Blasts hit the corners as I turn each one. Just a little slower, and they’ll have me.

A cramp in my side makes it even harder to breathe. I’m gasping, trembling, and my legs can’t go any faster. Something catches the toe of my shoe and I stumble as I turn the next corner. This is it. I can’t go any farther. I can’t outrun them. I’ve pushed my body to the limits, and I can’t push it any more.

The intersection ahead of me seems like it’s miles away. I’ll never reach it. The mages round the corner behind me, and I know this is it. Just as I’m about to give up, three figures appear from around the corner in front of me. Even in the darkness, I know who they are. The tugging in my middle pulls me to them. I sob, almost falling to my knees right there.

The sight of them gives me the strength to push on another fifty feet. Sterling dashes past me in his wolf form, with Cade on his heels. I spare them no mind as I crash into Malakai, and all my strength leaves me.

He wraps me in his arms, holding on tightly. “Ellis,” he breathes onto my neck.

I sob against his chest, so thankful to have his arms around me again. With them here, I know everything will be okay. It will always be okay as long as they are with me.

He pushes me away to run his gaze over my body. “Are you hurt?” His nostrils flare as he grabs my blood covered hand. “It’s not yours,” he says to himself.

I shake my head, unable to form words through my crying, and he tugs me against him again, his hand tangling in my hair as he presses my head against his chest. Under my ear, his heart beats the same rapid rhythm as mine. I could stay like this forever, but Sterling growling behind me draws my attention away from Kai.

I turn around to see Cade picking himself up from the ground, favoring his right arm. Sterling’s jaws are wrapped around one mage’s throat. The guy’s screams are brutally cut off when the wolf shakes his head, tearing through flesh and muscle. My heart stutters to a stop in my chest, and I watch the remaining mage level his hand at Sterling. The world slows down, as blue light blasts into Sterling, sending him rolling down the street, to land in a heap of fur against a building.

Between one blink and the next, Sterling shifts back into his human form, his body lifeless and unmoving. A blindingly bright light erupts from Cade as he roars and launches himself at the mage. I stare unseeing at Sterling’s body, until a choked sob escapes me and I dash to him. Dropping to my knees, my hands shake as I hover them over his naked body. He really isn’t moving. His chest isn’t rising and falling. I scream. It rips from my throat, echoing off the brick buildings. That connection between us, the one I now know is the mate bond, is thin and wavering. My body shudders with the force of my crying and I collapse on top of him, burying my face in his chest.

It can’t end like this. There was so much between us. He can’t die before we figure it out.

---