Forged by Fate (26 page)

“This all feels like a dream. A crazy dream, you know?” she whispered.

To him it was a fantasy. One he’d dreamed of for so long.

“You said Halena could marry us?”

His heart pounded. Was she agreeing? Tonight maybe? No. He needed to help her find her parents. Find answers. She needed that first.

But dear Great One, he needed her. So badly.

“If we find my parents, maybe.” She swallowed hard and pulled away just a fraction. “If they—well, maybe they could be with us when we got married.”

“Are you saying you’re ready?” He wove his hand around her neck to grip her nape.

“Getting there.” She claimed his mouth with an urgency that triggered a raging need deep inside him.

He buried his fingers in her blond locks and drew her closer. Without disconnecting with him, she shifted her weight so she almost completely faced him. Her leg was bent in front of her, and she leaned over it. Her hand propped on the seat beside him.

Strength streamed off her body into his through their joined mouths, triggering tendrils of energy coiling around his arms and wrists. Power infused his lungs and sent his heart racing. Her tongue caressing his ignited a fury of tightness through his stomach, fueling his desire for her, his urge to unite with his Mate.

He heard talking, low voices, from the front of the plane, and Sadie pulled away from him. He chased after her bottom lip as she put distance between their mouths.

“Someone could walk in.”

Justin, don’t come back here.
“I’ve told Justin not to.” His voice came out raspy, deep.

She leaned back and glanced up to where Justin and Dasha were. “With your telepathy?”

“Mmm.” He traced his hand over her breast, along the curve of her hip, and hoisted her onto his lap.

She sat astride him, and even through the fatigues he felt her heat.

“Oh,” she gasped. “Someone will see.”

“They won’t. No clothes need to come off.” He snaked his hand up the back of her tank. “I just need to be close to you. They understand. They won’t disturb us.”

She rested her cheek against his as if reveling in the connection, too. Maybe on a subconscious level she did need his touch as much as he physically needed hers. She gripped the seat behind his head and held herself steady as he ran his hands up and down her spine, moving her against him. The friction triggered another storm of fire raging through him.

His gums itched, tingled. The fangs wanted down. Wanted release. He peeled away from the kiss and turned his head.

“What?” she asked, breathless. “Is someone coming?” She leaned back.

He tightened his hold, dropping a hand lower until it was beneath her waistband and he was cupping her butt. He held her tight against him, reveling in the pressure. Needing more.

“Why’d you turn away?” She leaned to the side, capturing his focus. “Am I doing something wrong? I wouldn’t be surprised, you know.”

“No. No.” He skimmed his other hand up her spine, pulling her flush against him. He had to stay focused. No fangs. “You’re perfect.”

She pressed her lips to his as she cupped his face, and he started moving. “God, you feel good.” She licked his bottom lip, then nipped at it.

The sting of the fangs pushing through his gums enhanced the feeling. He couldn’t stop them. He leaned back, but she followed.

“Wait,” he said, but the pointed teeth dropped.

She flinched but didn’t pull away. Instead, she moaned. Her kiss intensified. He didn’t dare kiss back for fear of cutting her.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, angling his head for deeper access. “Not sharp.”

He dueled with her tongue and felt them. Dulled tips. Not lethal. Yes. He would never hurt his Mate; his body knew it, felt the connection with her. Wanted her.

“It’s okay,” she hummed into his mouth. “I love it.” She kissed his lips. “It feels good.”

Boy, did it ever. The energy coursing through him was electrifying. Nuclear.

The plane shifted, signaling the descent of the plane. Except he flew. He held on tight and took her with him.

Chapter Forty

A dark-haired man stood before Theo, talking. His hands waved wildly, and the man nodded several times. Sadie focused on Theo and tried to jump into his head with her mind. Nothing happened, but she figured she should at least try. With all these other things happening with her mind, body, and soul, she felt like she could almost fly.

Especially after the plane ride. It was so intense, and she felt so connected to him, but now, it was like he had a stone wall around his brain. Or maybe mind reading wasn’t one of her new abilities.

“Who do you think that is?” Dasha asked.

“No clue.” Sadie glanced at Justin. “Do you know?”

“Nope. But I wish he’d hurry up. I’m starving. The food was in
your
part of the plane.” He glared at her, teasingly.

“Jerk.”

Dasha looked at Justin, then to Sadie. “Huh?”

“Nothing.” Justin smiled.

“No. Seriously, what?”

“Let’s just put it this way. Remember how I said you never want to get in between a mated pair? Like, if you want to live? Well, that isn’t only when one of the Mates is threatened.” He grinned.

Sadie knew what he meant right away, because she felt it. If someone would have come in on her and Theo while they were close like they were on the plane, she might have gone bonkers.

“Okay,” Theo said, walking up to them. “Guys, this is Ramos.”

After quick handshakes, Theo nodded for him to talk.

“Vee haff found a lead.”

His accent caught Sadie by surprise. She swept a look over this stranger’s sharp jaw, butch-cut hair, and thick neck. Intense wasn’t a strong enough word to describe his look.

“What do you mean you’ve found a lead?” she asked.

“Of da four leads offered, three ver dead ends.” He shifted his weight to his other leg and glanced around as if looking for something.

A tingle ran up her spine and pooled at the base of her neck. Even though it was the end of May, the unstable Colorado weather had tossed in some stinging wind. The tank top she had chosen to wear was not the smartest idea she’d ever had. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to try to chase away the chill.

“It’s not a chill, love,” Theo whispered into her ear. “I feel it, too.”

“Demons.” She whirled around, looking at the scenery. Across the street, pine trees shot up to the black sky, and buildings lined the other side. Windows were dim or dark and only a few people loitered outside what looked to be a small restaurant, two doors up.

“Are they close?” She squinted into the trees, assuming the demons would come from there instead of walking down the street in plain sight.

“Not here yet. The splice is opening.”

“Unbelievable,” Justin said. “You’re feeling a splice, aren’t you?”

Theo watched her with wide eyes, and she could feel the pride billowing off him. At least
he
felt good about this new little power display, because all this changing was starting to scare the shit out of her.

“We need to get Dasha and Ramos out of here, then,” she said.

Theo dipped his head. “Ramos. You have weapons in your SUV?”

Weapons? Ramos was aware of all this?

“Trouble coming?” He smiled, revealing long white teeth. They weren’t quite as long as fangs, but close enough.

“Nearby.” Theo looked at Dasha. “Stay close to Ramos.”

She nodded and stepped toward the towering man. He wasn’t so much tall as thick and powerful-looking. Like he could take down a building by ramming into it like it was a tackling dummy.

“Dr. Carrigan and his wife, Nicole, live in a small house a couple of miles outside the city.” Theo glanced at Sadie. “We’ll ride over in Ramos’s SUV. Keep your eyes open and ready for anything. Aggie’s been a step ahead of us somehow, and I’m sick of it.”

Theo scanned the area and dug out his cell phone while a couple holding hands strolled by. Once they passed, he went on. “Nicole and her husband moved here due to her husband’s work transfer about ten years ago. They’re in their midseventies and appear to live alone.”

“This vas the last known address.” Ramos grinned, his thick lips stretching wide into a thin smile. “Vee lucky they no move.”

“How’d you do all this?” Sadie asked Theo.

“Made some calls before we got here. Had Ramos and his team check a few things while we were in flight.”

“Resourceful,” Dasha said.

Another prickly, cold tingle raced through her and landed like a swift kick to her gut. She jerked and turned around. “Something’s wrong.”

“I can’t believe you can sense that.” Theo moved beside her as they looked up the deserted street. “Ramos, this direction?”

“Ya. Three blocks up. Turn vright at Johnson Street. Head out of city.”

Theo nodded at Ramos. “It’s a couple of miles, but the pavement ends after about a quarter mile, and from what Ramos tells me, there are quite a few switchbacks.”

“
Great
.” Justin shook his head.

“Okay. If there’s trouble, Ramos, you take the SUV and get Dasha to the rendezvous.”

“How do the demons know about these people?” Sadie asked.

“They may not know,” Theo said. “They could be here for you.”

“My guess is they
do
know about Nicole and they don’t want you to meet up with her,” Halena said. “Which I find very interesting.”

“It’s like that damn Aggie has ESP or something,” Justin said.

“I wouldn’t put it past him. They’re evil and have access to some serious magic. But it’s strange. I don’t sense him here.” Theo started moving toward the SUV.

“Minions?” Halena asked.

“Possibly,” Theo said. “Regardless, if they’re on the same trail we are, then the Carrigans are in danger. If they have information about Sadie’s parents, we have to assume the demons know that, too, and are here to get them, as we are.”

“Agreed,” Halena said as she took to Theo’s side.

“Let’s go,” Theo said and hopped into the driver’s side of Ramos’s SUV.

Within minutes, Sadie found herself in front of a single-story house with brick columns on either side of the white panel door. A small window was in the middle, and it was illuminated, so she assumed the Carrigans must be home.

Theo urged her up the five steps to the front door with a gentle nudge to her lower back. She knocked, and when the wood met her knuckles, her heart hammered almost as loudly.

Another round of knocking ignited a porch light. Seconds later the door swung open and there stood a man, nearly six feet tall, with a shotgun cocked and aimed.

“What do you want?” The white beard on the guy wiggled as he bellowed.

Dasha squealed, and Ramos stepped in front of her.

“Sir?” Theo said. “We’re not here to harm you. We only seek answers about a night eighteen years ago. Your wife, Nicole, worked at a group home down in Arizona.” Theo held eye contact as he squinted, as if picking through the man’s brain.

“Sir,” Theo said as he stepped forward. The man relaxed, and Sadie knew Theo was trancing him. “We’re okay. Please invite us in, and we can ask our questions and leave. We mean you no harm.”

The man nodded, finally lowering his weapon.

“Richard, who is it?”

A sense of familiarity came into Sadie’s being at the sound of the woman’s voice. Harmonic. Like a finely tuned violin.

A skinny, hunched-over woman stepped into the hallway.

“Nicole Carrigan?” Sadie inched forward.

“Yes, honey. What can I do for ya?” She glanced at Richard and smiled. “Put that gun down, dear.” She waved her hand at the man and shook her head. “He’s so jumpy.”

“He’s smart to be,” Theo said, standing next to Sadie. “May we come in?”

“Sure, hon. Come on.” Nicole grabbed Richard’s elbow, and they shuffled into a small living room rich with dark walls, plush carpet, and recliner chairs that faced a small box TV.

It was as if Sadie had stepped into the 1950s.

Richard brushed Nicole’s shoulder with his massive hand. “Nicole, this gentleman wants to know about a night at work eighteen years ago.” He shook his head. “Like you could remember that.”

But the ashen face staring back at Sadie clearly said she knew something.

“It’s you,” Nicole gasped, putting her hand to her mouth. “She said you’d come looking.” The elderly woman’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“What?” Sadie’s lungs emptied of air as she struggled to snag one of the million thoughts bombarding her brain. “Who said I’d come?”

“Ma’am. Please, what do you remember?” Theo asked.

“I remember everything.
Everything
.” She grinned, cupping her face with her wrinkled hands. “All these years, it’s like a dream. One I couldn’t quite remember, but knew happened.”

“She could never say anything.” Richard gulped as he looked at his wife with wide eyes. “You remember now? All of a sudden?”

She nodded, keeping her focus on Sadie. “So many times I tried to tell my Richard what I’d seen that night. But I couldn’t quite remember. I tried and tried, but I couldn’t even speak about it.” A tear slid over the woman’s cheek. “I thought maybe I had gone mad or something.”

“Angels,” Theo whispered.

Nicole snapped her attention to him. “Yes. That feels right.”

“They prohibited you from saying anything until due time.”

“Please, tell me,” Sadie said.

“Come, sit.” Nicole shuffled toward a couch on the other side of the room.

“We must hurry,” Theo said. “I’m sorry, we won’t have time for pleasantries.”

“Then let me sit.” She plopped into a chair.

Sadie knelt before the aged woman and covered her wrinkled hands with her own. Halena, Dasha, and Justin formed a half circle behind Sadie and Theo, while Ramos guarded the door. “Please,” Sadie whispered.

“A woman with tall, flowing hair and a man just as tall but with cropped hair showed up at the front door to the home. The woman held a baby in her arms, claiming it was a newborn. But it looked older, was more coordinated. They’d said she was a princess and needed a safe haven until her Mate arrived. I tried to tell them they had to leave the child at the hospital per procedure.” She gulped and fixed her glazed-over stare on Sadie. “But they refused.”