Page 26 of Called By Fate

I nod and retell everything, starting with seeing my parents, to the Triad revelation, to giving Vin a piece of my soul, to seeing Ash’s parents and what they told me about Mickey.

“Moons above. I wonder if you’ll have a wolf?” he asks when I’m finished. “Since we soul bonded, have you had any new feelings? Can you feel another presence in your head?”

It totally sounds creepy when he puts it that way, but I don’t comment on it. I shake my head. “No, nothing like that. I’m only a quarter wolf, so I don’t know if I’ll even have one.”

Vin looks a little upset with that statement, but it’s gone in a flash. “That’s okay, my Moon. You alone are enough for me and my wolf.”

Gah, swoon. Everything between Vin and I has been fast and hard. Falling for him is going to be no different.

“What about that creepy statement from the Elders?” Dante asks. “What the hell did they mean by, ‘We’ll see you when it’s time?’”

Kaos shakes his head. “I don’t know. I’ve been trying to work through what it could mean, but I have no idea.”

“Something with the prophecy and Sadie, I’m sure,” Reed says thoughtfully.

There’s a pause as everyone trails off into their own trains of thought. “Is this where you grew up, Red?” I ask, changing the subject.

“No, this is only here in case of emergencies.”

“Huh, interesting. Well, it’s a good thing the Light Weavers thought ahead,” I respond.

Vin clears his throat. “We talked a little about this in the In-Between but needed to get home before we could finish. Did you want to talk about the shadestone more?” he asks. “Maybe I can provide a fresh perspective? Or the others will know something I don’t.”

I nod. “Good thinking, Vin. What I was trying to make sense of and what I still don't understand is why, when Elron handled my dagger, it burned his hand and he was forced to drop it. I can't imagine it deemed Elder Reginald, of all people, worthy to wield it… yet it didn't seem to affect him at all, so what gives? My shadows also slid right off them.”

Vin considers my words for a moment. “I'm not familiar with all types of magic, since there are so many, and most of the mechanics are hush-hush around my kind, but is it possible they've found a way to shield themselves from harm? All the assassination attempts I’ve heard about have also failed, so they either know they’re coming… or they’re protected somehow.”

“That would make sense,” Elian responds, pondering Vin’s words.

“Yeah, it does,” I agree. “But if Weavers and shifters alike have tried to kill them in the past, what the hell am I going to be able to do to stop them? Before I ran into Kaos—"

“Literally,” Dante butts in with a chuckle. It makes us all dissolve into giggles. Thank the Goddess for his comedic relief.

“Before Iliterallyran into Kaos,” I amend. “I was just a girl from Kentucky with a shit past. I wasn't anyone special.”

Vin growls at that, Dante loses his smirk, Kaos scowls, Reed frowns, and even Elian looks like he disagrees. “You were always special, Angel. Don’t ever forget that,” Dante tells me fiercely.

“Damn right, Weaver,” Hemsworth concurs, and I give him a little head pat for it.

“I don't want to lie and say I have all the answers, because I don't,” Vin starts. “But I do trust in the Goddess, and I know she has a plan for you. Plus, you have us now, we'll figure it out together.”

“Ha, yeah, we can thank her for that,” I say, smiling brilliantly at them.

Reed sits forward, drawing our attention to him. "Vin, can you tell us what happened back at the estate while we were with the Elders? How did they manage to get to you all?"

A haunted feeling resonates down the bond and across Vin’s face but he manages to pull himself together and nods. “The details are a little hazy as I was still dealing with the effects of whatever was in that orb I took for Sadie—” When I wince, he moves his hand from my leg and places it in mine. "And I wouldn't change a damn thing about that day either. Who knows what they would've done to you, my Moon."

"It's hard not to feel a little guilty," I whisper.

"Please, don't. I'd do anything for you. We all would."

“Fuck yes we would,” Elian says while Dante squeezes my thigh in agreement and Kaos and Reed’s eyes tell me the same.

Vin continues with his story. "I could tell something was off when I woke up. There was a crash, so I went downstairs to investigate and found Bedi fighting with Elian's father. There was an unknown man, which I now know is Sadie's uncle, standing to the side watching the whole thing with glee. Emma was passed out on the ground and Ashley was sobbing. She said something about how they weren't supposed to hurt us, and you were never supposed to know."

My heart pangs, but I motion for him to continue. I'm still upset with Ash, but at the same time, after having talked to her parents, I can almost understand. Almost. She was so close to them, and I know she did it because she thought she could bring them back, but I’m still extremely pissed at her for what her actions caused. That won’t go away overnight, but her absence does make my stomach twist. I make a mental reminder to bring up a rescue plan with the guys later.

"He told her he lied and then hauled her from the floor by her chin." The others grunt their disapproval.

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