6. Strings of Fate

ALDRICH

If there were any doubts in my mind about helping my ray of sunshine before, they have all vanished after what just transpired. I was not prepared to go back to that world fully. I was even less prepared to do so with Clover and run into Morfran’s remnant.

He reached for her.

And I stood there like a damn fence post. I’ve fought that bastard a hundred times. What is wrong with me? What if she were injured or hurt?

I run my arms all over her body and through her hair, checking for injuries, and thank the goddess when I find none. My panic starts to dissipate now that I know that she’s here and whole. A flash of yellow catches my eye as I pull her in for another kiss, this one less frantic. I pull back after a moment, kiss her forehead, and stare down at three bright yellow lines that lead away from Clover’s chest. Those must be her mates. Disappointment I wasn’t expecting hits me, and I grunt. The more time I spend with her, the more I feel myself being pulled to her. I don’t know if it’s because she could be my only ticket out of the other realm, or… other reasons.

I just can’t deny the drive I feel to help her change her fate. Just thinking about a world without Clover… I clench my fists. I won’t exist in a world without Clover. Not now. Not ever.

If she uses her mates to hone her power, she could likely free me from this personal hell. Then I can stay by her side, and if her mates protest, I can always kill them once I have access to my power or make them leave. After all, there are very few who rival the Fae in power, and unless her mates are a demon, a god, or another Fae, I shan’t have any problems ridding myself of them. But I have to do this right.

I release her and grab her hand, tugging her in the direction of Suisy. “Did you know that you have fated mates?” I say, eyeing her carefully.

She frowns.

“What do you mean, mates? Like, little besties? Because Mip is definitely a bestie for the restie!”

“Damn right I am!” the little menace says, teleporting onto Clover’s shoulder and jingling the keys as he hands them to her.

I sigh as she opens the sliding door.

“No, I mean mates as in partners or lovers, if you so choose. Witches find their mates to help ground them and their power, or so I’ve been told.”

“Don’t listen to him, Clover. He just wants in your pants!”

“Hush,” she says, patting the ugly little doll on the head. “Go on, Aldrich. How do you know that I have fated mates?”

“Everyone has them. Fate leaves no one alone,” I mutter. I don’t know if what I’m telling her is the truth or bullshit. I have met some who didn’t have heartlines, but damn, if I’m not convincing.

“That makes sense,” she says, her expression thoughtful.

“I’ve been thinking about your curse. I want to help you, Clover.”

Her expression doesn’t change, but her eyes sparkle with pure hope. Fuck me.

“You can help me? Help me break the curse?”

My chest tightens. “I think I can.” Lie. “Your mate lines just came into focus, so perhaps that’s a part of it all. Finding your mates might be the first step in lifting the curse.”

“Hmm… All right, then. Which way do I go to meet these mates?” she says as she pulls out an old crumpled paper from her van and pinning it to the front of her Suisy near the wheel.

“Just like that? You believe me?”

“I’ve read a ton of strings of fate stories. It’s not a stretch to believe they’re real if witches and Bigfoot and Fae are all real.”

I didn’t expect it would be this easy. Then again, I keep underestimating my sunshine.

“All right, then. If you drive, I’ll guide you.”

Mip eyes me suspiciously, and I give him my most charming smile. “Why can’t Clover and I see these supposed strings?”

I shrug. “I am not sure. I’ve only just now seen them. Maybe kissing you helped me recover some of my magic,” I say sweetly, enjoying the little blush that tints her cheeks. Mip hrumphs, and I sigh. “Or we weren’t in range before, but now we’re close enough, they’ve shown themselves?” I keep to myself that most Fae can see everyone’s fated mates, if we try to do so. “You, my dear, have three.” I focus my vision on the three yellow lines of her mate bonds.

I see no frays or tears. Her mates will be strong and loyal.

I glance down to where my fated mate line should be; though I know it won’t be there. It vanished the moment I stepped into the other realm so long ago. Any chance for connection to anyone, let alone the beautiful woman next to me, who stares at me like I have hung the sun in the sky, is an impossibility. A longing I had forgotten ices through my bones.

Focus, Aldrich. You didn’t survive centuries in that hell to give up your first and possibly only chance at freedom just to save some woman’s feelings from being hurt. Even if that woman is Clover.

My jaw clenches, and I quickly relax my features into a soothing smile.

“So, three mates, huh? Three!” She wiggles as she takes her seat, looking like a child who got told they can choose whatever they’d like from the candy store. “And you think my powers have something to do with putting Mip and his friends in their bodies?”

“You’ve done that for more than Mip?” I ask incredulously.

“Of course I did. Mip told them about donuts, then half the village wanted a body. I spent a solid week making the cutest little dollies. I even ran out of buttons!”

I fight not to roll my eyes. Such a strong power being wasted on greedy little donut-loving thieves.

“Yes, I have met some witches with only one or two mates, but in most cases, the stronger the witch, the more mates she has. And I’ve yet to meet a witch with your particular power. It’s probably not the only one you have, either. Finding your mates could unlock others.”

She chews on her lip as she drives. Her eyes are on the road, but I’m not sure if she’s really seeing it.

“Can you see the strings?” I ask her.

“I can’t, but I haven’t tried to see them either.” She glances down, but quickly returns her eyes to the road as she pulls us onto the street.

“Focus on your heart. Do you feel like you’re being pulled toward something?”

Her eyebrows scrunch. “Would they be in front of me?”

“Yes.”

After about five or so minutes of adorable nose scrunches and head tilts, she sighs. “I can’t see them.”

I squeeze her hand gently. “Give it time. It’s possible now that you know about them, they’ll make themselves known to you.”

I don’t tell her that her chances of seeing the bonds are minimal. Most human creatures aren’t honed or in tune enough with fate to see the bonds. Which will work to my advantage. I ignore the twinge of regret that bubbles in my gut.

“Seems like a lot of speculation on your part, bub.” Mip glares at me, crossing his tiny arms.

“I don’t control Fate, runt.” I stare at his mismatched button eyeballs until he turns away.

I may be full of shit, but if my hunch is correct, these mates of hers could be instrumental in defeating the shadow. And if something happens to them after that and I get Clover all to myself once more, then maybe, regardless of mate bonds, we can be… more.

“The next city is only like one hundred and fifty miles out!” Clover says, pointing to the map she put up and smiling. “Maybe one of my mates is here.”

My heart twinges in my chest as I prepare to lie to her once more. I place my hand on her forearm and the lie falls from my lips with practiced ease. “You’ve already found one of your mates.”

She gasps and jerks the wheel, pulling us over to the side of the road. Her eyes are alight with hope and another emotion I don’t want to define yet.

I put on a smile and hope she can’t see the guilt in my eyes. “You’re my destiny, Clover, my mate, and I won’t leave your side. We’ll find the others and figure this curse out together.”

“You physically can’t leave her side,” Mip mutters.

She beams at me and that twinge turns to a full-blown jagged knife that starts dancing and stabbing inside of me as she squeals excitedly and pulls me to her, catching me by surprise as her lips meet mine. I’m certainly going to hell after I undoubtedly perish.

I quickly forget the pain and guilt, though, as her soft lips press into my own. She is utterly perfect. Can I really do this?

Goddess, she tastes better than the sweetest nectar. Like berries and sunshine and hope. Fuck it, I never was a good person. I wrap my hand into her hair and all but devour her.

I ignore the sting of the tiny sword that rakes down my neck as we get lost in each other for what feels like both forever and the briefest moment of my life. I want more. It has been so long since I tasted and felt a woman, and never one as perfect and sweet as Clover.

She pulls back panting and giggles, looking down at the annoyance that just interrupted the greatest kiss of my life. “Sorry Mip, I forgot in my excitement,” she says cooly before reaching up and grabbing my shoulders, staring into me with those perfect ocean eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll save you from there and break this curse.”

Yup, hell for sure.