Warrior of Fate Read online

  “So what, I’m just supposed to give into this thing?” Tessa threw up her hands. “I’m not sure I trust the guy a hundred percent. He’s always had some secret agenda he’s kept from us. What if he’s the inside man my father once accused you of being, Faith?”

  “Adrian, a Trojan horse?” Cara shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think the agenda is out in the open now; he’s working for that temple. But the temple seems to be on our side in this war, so maybe that’s not a bad thing.”

  “Normally I’d ask Darius for a read on him,” Faith said, “but I don’t think you want to do that.”

  “You’re right,” Tessa said. “The last thing I want is for Darius to pick up on this attraction. It’s fierce and very sexual. All the men in my family are already in maximum protection mode, keeping me out of things, not including me when I could help.”

  “Oooh, don’t you hate that?” Cara said.

  “That seems kind of dumb,” Faith said. “You’re a True Seer, probably the most powerful of all your family. Why would they keep you out of it?”

  “Exactly!” Tessa pointed a finger. “They all think I’m fragile. So I have voices in my head twenty-four-seven. That doesn’t make me a delicate flower.”

  “You hear voices?” Cara slid her a sidelong glance.

  “All the time,” Tessa said. “And only humans. Which is why I always know what you’re thinking. You keep telling me it’s rude to read your mind, but most of the time it’s right there, as if you’re shouting it. I can’t help but hear, or sometimes see.” She sighed. “This whole situation would be easier if I could read Atlanteans.”

  “Ah, for what it’s worth,” Cara said, “humans can’t read each other’s minds, and we get along just fine. Mostly.”

  “And Darius can read everyone, even Atlanteans, so forget about trying to surprise him with anything,” Faith said. “Be careful what you wish for.”

  “But what am I supposed to do here?” Tessa, dropped her head in her hands, spearing her fingers through her hair. “Whenever Adrian is around, I lose all common sense. I find myself doing and saying things I would never have done or said in a million years.”

  “How strong is your bond?” Faith asked. “Does it look like a silver thread or a raging silver river?”

  “What do you mean, what does it look like?” Tessa jerked her gaze to Faith’s. “How am I supposed to know?”

  Faith parked her fist on her hip and leaned forward, chin jutted. “You’re a Seer, aren’t you? Haven’t you looked?”

  Tessa frowned. “No. I didn’t know I could.”

  “Oh, for pity’s sake!” Faith took Tessa’s hand and jerked the ring off her finger. “Look now.”

  The world exploded in her mind with a babble of voices and colors and swirling emotions. Tessa clenched her fingers around Faith’s and held on as she tried to control the flow. So many people. So many minds. Reality began to slip away. The cabana faded from view. She stood alone in a tornado of human thoughts and feelings.

  “Her eyes are turning white again,” Cara whispered in a shaky tone from somewhere nearby.

  “Let’s try something,” Faith said. “Give me that.” Moments later, Faith spread Tessa’s palms and placed something hard with sharp edges there, then cupped her own hands around Tessa’s, folding both around the object.

  Tessa jerked at the surge of power that jolted through her mind. “Is that what I think it is? The Stone of Ekhia?”

  “All three stones together are called the Stones of Ekhia,” Faith said, “but they have individual names, too. This one is Igarle, the stone of the Seers.”

  “Igarle,” Tessa whispered.

  Seer. The voice was unfamiliar, raspy and ancient.

  Tessa jerked. “Who was that?”

  The stone, Faith said into her mind. It can speak to you through me, and through it, I can show you your link to Adrian.

  Tessa sensed Faith now, a brilliant green light in a mêlée of white and shadows. I can see your energy. How is that possible?

  I am a Stone Singer, a conduit between Atlanteans and Stones of Power, Faith answered. Through the stone, I can guide you on this plane.

  Seer. The stone spoke again, its tone joyful. At last. At last.

  Igarle, this is Tessa, Faith told the stone. The many-times great-granddaughter of Agrilara.

  Agrilara. Grief slammed into Tessa, clogging her throat and sparking tears. From the stone, she realized. The stone had known her ancestor.

  We need your help, Faith said, remarkably calm. Tessa seeks her destined mate. Will you help her see, as you did for me?

  Ye-s-s-s, the stone responded. Something pulled away from the jumble of voices and thoughts, becoming brighter as everything else dulled. A shining silver ribbon, just as Faith had described. Tessa seized it with mental “hands” and let the energy flow into her. Immediately the chaos in her mind settled to the hum she’d always known, the voices mere whispers again instead of shouts. She followed the ribbon. It seemed to lead to a brilliant golden light in the distance.

  That’s it, Tessa, Faith said. That light, that’s Adrian. As long as you can get to him, you will always have an anchor when things get crazy.

  It’s true, Tessa said. We really do have a link.

  Welcome to the club.

  Tessa pulled one hand free and swiped at the annoying tear trickling down her cheek, then put her hand back, this time on top of Faith’s, pressing it against the stone.

  The vision exploded in her mind. Faith. Darius. And … impossible. Couldn’t be. She jerked her hands away. The stone hit the carpet with a dull thud. She opened her eyes. The world was back to normal.

  “Tessa, what the hell?” On her knees in front of her, Faith leaned over to scoop up the stone from the floor, then turned back, a scowl on her face.

  Tessa stared at her, the vision—a vision that should never have been possible—fresh and bright in her mind. “You’re pregnant.”

  “What?” Faith stood, the Stone of Igarle in one hand. “You’re crazy. I’ve known your brother for less than a month. And since when can you get visions about Atlanteans? Didn’t you just finish whining about how you couldn’t do that?”

  “I can’t.” Tessa clenched her shaking fingers together. “I couldn’t.”

  “Maybe it’s because of the stone,” Cara said, her own face a mirror of shock and delight. “I saw Tessa have a vision once, and her eyes never went all white like they did today.”

  Faith scowled at the stone. “I knew this thing was trouble.”

  “Ask the stone,” Tessa said. “Could it tell you?”

  “Probably.” Faith closed her eyes and tightened her fingers around the crystal. Moments later, she paled. Her eyes popped open. “Son of a bitch.”

  “Tessa and I are going to be aunties!” Cara cried and jumped up to hug Faith. “Congratulations!”

  “This can’t be happening,” Faith muttered. “Not now.” She untangled herself from Cara and put the stone back in its box.

  “The timing could be better,” Tessa agreed. “But there’s nothing to do about it now, is there?”

  “Is there?” Cara asked, her eyes widening. “You wouldn’t—” She pressed her lips together.

  Tessa didn’t need to read minds to know Cara was worried about options Faith might exercise. The expectant mother didn’t seem too pleased with her new condition. “Faith?”

  “Of course not.” Faith slammed the lid closed on the box. “I love Darius, and he loves me. The thing is, it’s all so new. We barely acknowledged our feelings a few days ago, and now suddenly we’re going to be parents.”

  “Chances are it only just happened,” Tessa said, “so the tests probably wouldn’t even show anything yet. You’ve got time.”

  “Who needs tests with this stupid thing around?” Faith gestured at the box. “I don’t know how to be a mother. I’m not ready.”

  “I’m not ready to bond with Adrian yet, either,” Tessa said, “but sometimes the universe
has a way of pushing us into things we don’t think we’re ready for.”

  “I’m sure as hell not ready for this.” Faith turned away, swiping her hands over her face. “I’ve been an orphan since I was nine and was raised in an orphanage that was basically a military training camp. What do I know about being a mother?”

  “You know how to do what’s right,” Cara said.

  “Faith.” Tessa stood and went over to her. “So you don’t know how to raise a kid right now. That’s okay. You have nine months to learn, and my mom will help you. I know she will.”

  “Darius is going to freak,” Faith replied. “He’ll go into overprotective mode and try to force me to stay on the sidelines.” She turned to face the two of them. “We can’t afford that, not now. I’m the only Stone Singer on the planet, and you’re going to need my help to get the other two Stones of Ekhia from the Mendukati. So that means…” She took a deep breath. “That means Darius can’t know, not yet.”

  “He’ll figure it out,” Tessa said. “At some point, he’ll sense the baby.”

  “But not today,” Faith said. “Promise me, both of you. Let me tell him in my own way, in my own time. That means not telling anyone else, either. Not Rafe. Not Adrian.” She stared at them until both mumbled reluctant promises. “Okay, good. Lesson over for today.”

  “Wait, I have a couple of questions about all this,” Tessa said.

  Faith glanced at the clock on the wall. “Ask, but I should point out that it’s five thirty already. Aren’t we all supposed to be by the pool at six for a barbecue?”

  “You’re right!” Cara said, jumping to her feet. “Ask fast, Tess.”

  “Okay,” Tessa said. “First question: do I need the stone in order to see the mating bond?”

  “No,” Faith answered. “Now that I showed you what it looks like, you should be able to find it every time.”

  “Even I can see mine with Rafe,” Cara said.

  Tessa closed her eyes and looked and discovered Faith was right. The silver link shimmered in her mind as soon as she looked for it. “Okay, great. Second question: why did the stone’s power hit me so hard when I first came in, but now I’m back to normal?”

  “Best guess is because I introduced you,” Faith said. “Igarle was able to read your energy patterns, and now it will always recognize you and function within your limits.”

  “If we’re done here, we should scoot,” Cara said. “I’d like to at least run a brush through my hair before we have to gather at the pool.”

  “Me, too,” Faith said. “Maybe things will go easier now that you’ve acknowledged Adrian as your mate, Tessa.”

  “I’ve acknowledged there’s a link between us,” Tessa said. “I never said I’d take advantage of it.”

  Cara and Faith exchanged a look. “Yeah, good luck with that,” Cara said.

  “If you last another day, I’d be surprised,” Faith said. “Now everyone clear out of here so I can lock up the stone. The last thing we need is someone running off with our only leverage over the Mendukati.”

  As Tessa followed Cara from the room, she looked inward for the mating bond. There it was, trickling along like a silver creek, with the gold glow in the distance that was Adrian. Good thing Faith had taught her how to see it.

  Because now she’d know how to avoid it.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  When Adrian and Larina got back from patrol, the barbecue was in full swing. They stepped out onto the patio and paused, taking in the scene. John manned the grill, dressed in old jeans, a sweat shirt, and an apron that read YOU’LL GET THIS SPATULA WHEN YOU PRY IT OUT OF MY COLD, DEAD HAND. The CEO of Montana Security laughed with his family as he flipped burgers. The scent of crisping beef drifted through the air. A table nearby practically groaned beneath the weight of steaming corn-on-the-cob, lush potato salad, a pile of fluffy burger buns, a bright, leafy salad, burger fixings, and pork ’n’ beans. Adrian caught a whiff of maple syrup. From the beans, he realized. Someone had doctored them up. His stomach growled.

  Larina laughed and slapped the back of her hand against his abs. “Right there with you, A.” She moved out onto the patio.

  He sensed the change in energy as the Montanas realized they’d arrived.

  “Smells great,” Larina said.

  No one spoke for a long moment. “Plates are on the table,” Cara finally said. “Grab a bun and tell John how you like your burger.”

  “Excellent.” Larina did as Cara asked, snagging a plate and bun and then going to talk to John at the grill.

  Adrian followed more slowly. Beneath the smells of the feast, a more subtle one reached him, more alluring and provocative than anything else. Tessa. He’d know that scent anywhere.

  Dressed in jeans and a pink hooded sweatshirt against the late October chill, she sat at one of the tables, chatting with Rigo Mendez. The head of John’s security team looked better than the last time he’d seen him. Mendez was getting his color back, and the sick look was fading from his eyes. Carter came over to their table, balancing two plates of food. Dragging a chair away from the table with his foot, he sat down and put one of the plates down in front of Mendez, then set the other in front of himself. He smiled at Tessa and said something, and she laughed.

  Adrian clenched his hands. Her easy manner with the two ex-Marines was so different from the sometimes wary way she interacted with him. Well, at least when they were talking. When they didn’t talk, they communicated just fine.

  The memory of her small hands bringing him to hot, explosive orgasm singed his brain. His body responded, warmed, hardened. Everything earlier had happened too fast, the moment gone too quickly. He wanted to get her alone and take his time, peeling off those jeans, uncovering that golden flesh an inch at a time, savoring the taste and scent and sight of her. He’d drive them both up slowly, excruciatingly. And then, when they were both shaking and sweating and half out of their minds, he’d claim her. Slide into her sweet body and send them both spinning into oblivion with blinding pleasure.

  Tessa turned her head and met his gaze. Maybe she’d felt him watching her, or maybe she’d sensed his hunger through the mating bond. Their connection burned hotter as their eyes lingered, taking in small details about each other that echoed with weighty meaning. The world shrank down to just the two of them.

  Adrian took a step toward her, and found his way blocked by Darius.

  “You want to tone it down there, pal?” Darius growled. “You two keep looking at each other like that, and you’ll set the place on fire.”

  His first instinct was to shove Darius out of the way. He stopped himself just in time and turned away from Tessa. “Are we going to have another discussion, Darius?”

  “I said my piece earlier,” Darius said, “and Tessa said hers to me after that. She tells me she’s an adult, and I’m trying to remember that. But I’m still resisting the urge to punch you in the face for what you’re feeling about my sister.”

  “Well, I’m resisting the urge to knock you down because you’re standing between me and her.” Adrian looked Darius straight in the eye and didn’t even try to hide his emotions. “Good thing we’re both men of strong will.”

  “Yeah, good thing.” Darius didn’t move.

  They might have stood there all night, except Faith came outside just then. Darius jerked his head up as if called. He spun away from Adrian and hurried over to her, his pace surprisingly quick for a man with a limp and a cane. She looked up at him as he reached her, eyes wide and lips trembling. Her cheeks glistened in the dimming light. Tears. She handed him what looked like a newspaper.

  “What is it, Darius?” Maria asked. All of them had gone quiet, gazes fixed on the couple.

  Darius half turned to face them, sliding the arm with his cane around Faith, the paper in his other hand. “It’s a little weekly newspaper from Albuquerque. Lucita sent it to Faith. It’s … ah … it has an article in it about Ben.” At his words, Faith buried her face in his chest, and he pulled her closer
. “Talks about his work and his place in the art scene here in the West. Sort of a tribute to his memory.”

  Breath froze in Adrian’s lungs as if a boulder crushed his chest. His throat clogged, and his fingers curled into fists—the better to not shake. He’d held it together through the battle with Azotay, through losing the stone, through nearly dying, through being dressed down by the Council. But Ben’s death, so fresh, so senseless, hovered in his mind like smoke after a fire.

  And it was his fault.

  “Oh, Faith,” Maria said and sank slowly into a chair. John came over to her and trailed his hand down her arm. Their fingers entwined.

  “Will you read it?” Cara asked. “I think we’d all like to hear it, even though most of us never got to meet Ben.”

  “I only met him the one time, but he was a good man,” Darius said, stroking his hand over Faith’s bent head. “He was like a father to Faith after she lost her own. Adrian knew him, too.”

  Everyone turned to look at Adrian. Were they judging him? Did they blame him? They should. The Mendukati had gotten past him, and Ben—his friend—had paid the price.

  “How long did you know him, Adrian?” Maria asked.

  “Years, wasn’t it, Gray?” Darius prompted. You’ve got to deal with this, man, he said into Adrian’s mind.

  Adrian glanced from one person to another, their expectant looks like a garrote tightening around his throat. Maria and John, holding hands. Cara, eyes red, with Rafe’s arm around her and his expression stony. Larina stood near the grill, her burger still resting on an open bun, her face stoic. He glanced at the two ex-Marines. Like Larina, their grim features reflected they were no strangers to death.

  And Tessa. He could see the distress in her eyes, could practically feel it, but there was tenderness, too. For him. She knew how upset he was. Maybe more than anyone. The comfort of her arms called to him.