Page 51 of Forsaken Fate

“Okay,” I said, drawing the vowels out.

“I came home early so I could spend the morning with you. Now I need to take a shower and get to the airport. Theo’s set up a meeting for me with a few of the board members of Wild Lake Outfitters. It’s important. The Wild Lake wolf packs are among the few that kept their fortunes after the war. They aren’t involved in New York politics, but if they come out in support of me, it will hold sway here too. They’re well respected.”

What the what now? As far as I knew Theo had held his ground about not helping Grayson unless he turned over his dad’s lands.

“When did that happen?” I asked; it was the first honest thing I’d said since I walked in the door.

“About ten minutes ago,” Grayson said. “Theo called and told me to book a flight.”

I nodded. I didn’t know what to feel. I wanted to be very careful not to let any emotion show on my face. Not at the mention of Theo or my spinning head and what Theo’s motivation might be.

“Should I pack a bag, too?” I said, my mouth wasn’t fully connected to my brain. Should I seem upset?

“Not this time,” Grayson said. “We’re too close to the Gathering. You need to plan the ceremony. Mrs. Barlow’s going to help you with that. It’s important, Brynna. If everything goes well, we’ll be adding some important guests to the list.”

I nodded blankly and Grayson stepped forward again. He put his hands up but didn’t touch me again. Did I flinch? I tried to keep a simple smile on my face. “I think I can handle it by myself, Grayson.”

“Brynna,” he said again. “I can’t afford to have anything screwed up. Mrs. Barlow knows exactly what my mother would have done. There’s only two days left. Let her help you. In fact, I’d rather you just let her do it.”

He said other words but the phrase that resonated was “two days.” Two days. In two days, I was supposed take Grayson’s mark, linking him to me telepathically forever, opening the door to his mind.

“Whatever you say, baby,” I said. “I want it to be perfect, too. I’m just sorry I missed you this morning. I really am. I’ll make it up to you when you get back. Will it be tonight?” God, please don’t let it be tonight.

“Probably,” Grayson said. “But will you hang on to your phone and actually answer it this time so I can let you know?”

I nodded. “I promise, baby.”

Grayson set his mouth into a line. He leaned forward and kissed me. My mouth was dry and I hoped he didn’t notice. He turned then and bounded back up the stairs to shower, change and leave.

Leave. Grayson was leaving. Maybe for as long as twenty-four hours again. This time, I would stay right here. Let Mary Fucking Barlow bury herself in guest lists and plans. I had rooms to search. I wanted to start in the attic. It was the most likely place and I think I had the keys.

With any luck, in two days I’d be long gone.

CHAPTER 19

Brynna

As soon as Grayson left, I showered and changed into a fresh t-shirt and pair of jeans. I ran a hand over my bare knee as I pulled them up. The skin was rough and peeled from the rug burn I got last night. A flash of heat coursed through me at the memory of what I was doing when it happened.

Theo.

The craziest thought popped into my head. If I told Theo what I was doing, maybe he would help me. He said something to me when I left him that I only just now appreciated. I’ll be there when you do it. If you actually go through with it. He knew. He knew I was lying and didn’t care. He had his own reasons for hating Grayson and Diana. Was he an ally?

No. I couldn’t risk it. Not if there was even the slightest chance Theo wouldn’t understand. Except I’d been trusting him all along, hadn’t I? Giving myself over to him had been the biggest risk of all and he’d kept the secret.

Why had I done it? Why did I want to keep doing it? I knew the answer as soon as I thought it. Because the only time I felt like myself was with Theo. The only time I felt anything at all was when he touched me. He made me come alive. He made me feel like I was born for him. I shivered at the memory of it.

Born for him. I was his. He was mine. My whole life I’d heard what it was supposed to feel like when you find your fated mate. I’d watched so many wolf shifters get wrecked by fate. Torn apart. Left vulnerable during the war. The fae had used that magic against them. Controlling the strongest shifters by kidnapping their human mates. I wouldn’t be that. It was the one promise I intended to keep.

I reached to the bottom of my bag, opening the hidden compartment. I closed my fingers around the small glass vial with the green, glittering liquid inside of it. I could feel it warm under my touch. A simple magic. But the most powerful. When the time came, I prayed it would work. That it would protect me. I didn’t get the thing I wanted most in the woods with Charlie’s mage. But this might be the next best thing.

I went to Diana’s room, back to her vanity and the pyramid of jewelry boxes she kept there. Where had I seen it? There. In the smallest box at the base, covered in shiny black enamel. I slid it out, careful not to topple the rest of the boxes. I opened it to reveal the set of keys nesting in red velvet.

I took an elastic band out of my pocket and gathered my hair into a ponytail. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I knew I was ready. I brought a flashlight along, just in case.

“It’s almost over, Diana,” I said into her mirror. “I know where you keep your secrets now. You can’t hide anything from me anymore.”

I rose and stepped out into the hallway. “Mrs. Barlow,” I called out at the top of my voice. Only my echo down the marble staircase answered back. I walked over to the wall. Diana had installed a whole house intercom. I pressed the call button.

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