Page 22 of Touch Of Fate
Mara is special.
She has thought of her gift as a burden to overcome. I want to show her the beauty of what she can do. Pain will never affect her again. Adeline said it was her destiny, and maybe it is, but I don’t want her to think she must kill all the bad in the world. I’m all for doing good, but she shouldn’t have to spend her life dedicated to others. She needs to live. From the little I’ve learned about her, she hasn’t done much of it. I feel like I have lived enough for both of us, and I’m ready to make a home in one place, with her. Traveling the world is wonderful, and the places I have seen still amaze me. I would like to show her all the things she’s dreamed of.
“Do you want me to go to the hotel?” Archer asks softly.
“I would rather have you close,” I mumble. We are hardly apart, and even though we give each other shit, our love is a brotherly bond. He always has my back, and I would kill for him. Mara and Lace have joined the short list of those I protect.
“We live in a duplex,” Lace says as she turns into a quiet neighborhood. “A short path connects our places. Each house has two bedrooms and two baths. I have a spare bedroom.” She glances at Archer. “You can stay there.”
“Thank you,” Archer says.
“Are there others close by?” I ask.
“There are others across the street, but not connected to ours,” she explains. “It’s a new development, and our place is set back from the neighbors.”
“We didn’t want someone that close,” Mara whispers. Her eyes are closed, and I thought she was sleeping. “Lace insisted on having separate homes. I would have been happy living together.” Her tone is teasing, and the subject seems like one that has been discussed many times.
“I didn’t want to hear Mara snore,” Lace says, grinning.
“Whatever.” Mara tips her head back, but her eyes don’t open. “I don’t snore.”
“Well, Rome does,” Archer chimes in.
“Just a little,” I say, curling my finger and running it down her nose.
“I won’t mind,” she whispers.
“You say that now,” Archer says dryly.
“Asshole.” I glare at the back of his head.
“We’re here.” Lace pulls into a driveway between two small houses. “It’s not much, but it’s ours.” Archer gets out and opens my door so I don’t have to let go of Mara.
“It’s great,” Archer replies, securing the car before following her.
We stop on a worn path between them. There is a small table with two chairs next to the door on the left, and a bench by the one on the right. Dozens of pots of flowers are scattered over the area, and several trees can be seen behind the houses. A large bird feeder is attached to each house, and what looks like a perch for the birds at the end of the pathway. One home is painted red, and the other blue. It’s charming and something I would imagine two witches would live in.
“This one is mine.” Lace steps to the right, the blue, and unlocks the door. She hesitates, watching Archer. “You can go in while I open Mara’s.”
“I promise you will be safe,” I say seriously. “Archer is my friend and would never do anything to hurt you.”
“I can go to the hotel,” Archer offers.
“No. It’s odd, but I know you won’t hurt us,” Lace says, shaking her head.
“Lace,” Mara whispers, and she steps closer. “They are good. He won’t do any harm.” Mara struggles to open one eye to stare at Archer. “If he did, I would turn his dick green.”
Archer grins. “I would expect nothing less.” Lace motions with her hand, and he nods at me before disappearing inside.
“You owe me, sister,” Lace teases, unlocking the door.
“I know,” she mumbles, and I follow Lace inside.
“Her bedroom is the door under the stairs,” Lace says, turning on the light. She cups Mara’s cheek. “Sleep well, sister.” Her hand trembles. “I’m still shocked. I can touch her without fear.” Looking at me, she smiles, “Thank you.”
“Night, Lace,” Mara whispers.
“I’ll lock it behind me.”
