Page 34 of Forsaken Fate

“Hey,” Grayson said. “Look, I don’t like how we left things. I did some looking when I got back to the house. I think I may have found that jewelry you were talking about, the stuff of your mother’s.”

I was close enough to hear Theo’s end of the conversation and he met Grayson’s words with silence. It was a fucking lie and I knew Theo was aware for the same reason I was. Grayson pulled that engagement ring from this very box and lied about not knowing where the rest of it was.

“So,” Grayson said. “By way of peace offering, do you think you could come back to Albany? I need you, Theo. I need you at the Gathering by my side. I need you to tell the packs that you support me as governor. Then I’ll give you this stuff. That’s fair. You know it is.”

“I’m not sure I can do that, Grayson,” I heard Theo say. “But tell Brynna I’m looking forward to being right beside you when you mark her. I’ll come back in a few days, okay? Maybe we can all get together for dinner.”

My heart was a jackhammer behind my rib cage as Grayson looked at me, gave me a sly smile and winked. He thought he was a master manipulator. He thought he was smooth. He had no idea how wrong he was.

And yet ... the thing making my heart race was that Theo would be back and I’d see him again.

CHAPTER 15

Theo

I knew when I told Vince I planned to take another trip to Albany he would plot my murder. I figured I might end up buying those two tickets to Fiji for him yet. He handled it well ... sort of.

“You’re a gaping asshole, Theo Dorran,” Vince said. “See this, though?” He tapped his ever-present earpiece. “This is a communication device. I can send a signal that you can answer and talk to me when we aren’t in the same room together. Got it?”

I put my hands up in surrender as Vince finished his stomping circle around my desk. “Got it. But don’t underestimate your own abilities to handle stuff. You can meet with clients, Vince. You can field questions from Bas. That’s one of the reasons I hired you.”

“But they like you better,” Vince said. “You’re prettier and have those manly pecs.”

I flipped him off.

“I don’t know why you insist on spending so much time in that place. Albany is dreary and that step-brother of yours is rude. I won’t vote for him.”

I shrugged. “Well, you can’t vote for him, Vince. You’re registered in Michigan. Neither can I. How’s that for a silver lining?”

Vince flapped his hand at me in annoyance. “When are you coming back?”

“I haven’t even left yet.”

Vince opened his eyes impossibly wide and stared at me.

“Depends,” I said, trying to placate him. “We’ll see how things go. The Gathering is like a week away. I’ll be back right after. Or I may end up murdering Grayson for sport. In which case I might have to go on the lam for a while.”

“I don’t understand what the draw is of the Gathering. What’s the point?”

“It’s old fashioned. Hundreds of years ago, it was a way to keep the peace between the various shifter groups and covens. Before cell phones and airplanes and the internet. A place for mates to be claimed in full view of other packs so there would be no ambiguity about alliances. Everyone takes a neutrality pledge. No unsanctioned wolf pack or bear clan challenges. It’s a no fight zone. Since the war ended, I don’t know. A few pack and coven leaders thought it would be a good idea to reinstitute it. A way to hopefully avoid another apocalypse.”

“I hope it works. And other than your murder plot, what might keep you out there?” Vince arched a brow up and down. He knew me well enough to suspect something drew me back to Albany other than not-even-real-family obligations.

Something indeed. I’d been back in Michigan just a couple of days and couldn’t stop thinking about Brynna. Grayson was a shitty liar. When he called, I knew damn well he didn’t just find my mother’s jewelry box. Brynna must have told him about it and convinced him to give it back to me. Why? For some unfathomable reason I’d already told her I’d come back for the Gathering. Why had she encouraged Grayson to ask me back as well?

I wanted to see her again, badly. I was dumb enough to think distance would quiet the second pulse I felt beating alongside my own. I would not give voice to what I knew that meant.

“So…at this Gathering,” Vince said. “You said alliances are formed. Grayson’s planning on taking a mate. Why don’t you?”

“What?”

“I did some of my own research. This Gathering…pre-arranged matings take place. But I heard there are also plenty of human shifter mates who show up hoping to hook up when they get there. You could take a mate of your own, Theo. I’m sure you could find someone there that would suit your needs. It might be good for you, no?”

I stood and snapped open my briefcase. It was late, past seven, and I could finish the rest of this shit at home. I spread a few files out on my desk, deciding which ones needed the most immediate attention.

“That’s a horrible idea. A mate is the last thing I need. I like my life the way it is.”

“Well,” Vince said. “You’re changing, Theo. You know that, right? You’re more hostile. You’re needing to hunt more and more and I know it’s not taking the edge of for you. I know mating sickness can be a thing. Aren’t you worried?”

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