Page 55 of Lovers Fate

“It’s temporary,” I say tentatively.

“You could stay with us,” Kaden offers, earning a hard glare from Draco.

“That’s impossible,” I stammer, and from the look of contempt on Draco’s face, I could tell it’s not an option if I agreed.

I’m convinced that what the fortune teller told me about my past, my purpose, and him might be true. I’d want to know more if I could. I woke up today feeling a stronger connection to what she had said, and I now know more than ever that Draco, by showing up at the most random places, feels the same connection.

She said he was stubborn. I can see it in his eyes.

“Why not? We have room,” Kaden says, too convincingly.

“I don’t know you that well,” I counter as an excuse.

“Then get to know us,” Kaden says hopefully. “We won’t charge you. It’s not like…”

“She said she doesn’t know us well. She wouldn’t feel comfortable,” Draco interjects.

“She wouldn’t feel that way,” Kaden promises. “I would make sure she wouldn’t feel that way. She could stay with me in the…”

“We don’t allow outsiders into our circle,” Draco snaps. “It ends badly.”

I could sense the tension growing thick between them as Kaden frowns at Draco disapprovingly. I don’t want to causea rift, and it’s clear Draco doesn’t want me in his circle. It’s obvious what his intentions are. What I’m good for. I intrigue him sexually, but I’m not allowed to get too close.

When I swipe my phone off the table, grab my small bag, and slide out of the booth, ignoring the crestfallen look on Kaden’s face, I don’t care if I’m being rude.

I need to leave. To get away from him before it was too late. He’s already taken too much time and space in my head.

“Could you cancel my order?” I rush out standing at the end of the table. “I just remembered I have to do something.” I turn to leave. “See you around.” I push the door to the diner and walk out.

EIGHTEEN

DRACO

“What the fuckis wrong with you, Draco?” Kaden growls. “Why did you say that to her?”

“Because she isn’t one of us,” he says through clenched teeth.

“Who the fuck are you to say she isn’t?”

“Be careful, Kaden,” I warn.

“You said you would keep an eye on her, and this was the perfect opportunity for her to agree to stay with us, and you ruined it.”

“Ruined what?” Dahlia says, sliding into the seat Athena vacated.

“Nothing,” I reply.

As Judy, the server, places Athena’s cup of coffee, muffin, and breakfast sandwich in a to-go bag on the table, her eyes shift to Kaden, hoping for him to say something I don’t want her to know.

“Here you are,” she says, giving me a wink. “I put two just in case.” I slide a hundred-dollar bill across the table to her.

Judy’s smile brightens when she stuffs it in her apron pocket. “Hurry up; she headed west. You might catch up with her.”

I push Kaden so he can slide out of the booth, grab the food and coffee, and rush out of the diner. The clouds start to move away as the sun beams on the hood of my black car.

The engine growls as I turn down the street with the windows down. I catch up to her less than half a mile down the road. She is walking with her bag close to the side of her body as she scrolls on her phone. I can tell she sees me from the corner of her eye because I catch her eye roll.

“I didn’t mean when I said, ‘See you around,’ for it to be this soon.”

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