Abram turned to him. “My best friend?”
“Yes, the red-headed one that never stops talking.”
“Ezra?”
“God of Souls, yes.” Thomas looked at him. “Tell him with love comes deception. But with deception comes the truth.”
Abram turned toward me and grabbed my hand.
“Oh, god of gods.” Thomas stopped him again. “You cannot change her fate. Evenyouare bound by the heavens’ crueldesign. But you knew that as soon as you read it in the Book of Knowledge. You chose to ignore the warning because you didn't want to believe that Elowyn was not yours.”
Abram started at Thomas with so much hatred that it almost rippled in the air. But I dropped Abram’s hand and stepped toward Thomas so I could say something to just him. My gaze met his, and I saw his pity for me. My tears fell silently.
“I already love him,” I whispered.
He grabbed my hand and gave me a look of pity.
“I know you do, child. I saw it as soon as I saw you.” His hand squeezed my hand. “It was always going to lead to him. Even if you fought it harder, you would have always found yourself choosing Abram.”
“Will you tell me anything that can help me?” I begged.
“Your heart was always going to be broken by Abram. There is no escaping that fate. You will love, just to lose it. Your curse has already started to begin, but you knew this already.”
I closed my eyes as tears fell down my face.
“Your heartbreak will bring together a bond that needs to be forged,” he said.
My eyes searched Thomas’ for meaning, but I knew what he was saying.
I was leading Abram to his mate.
“Will Abram be happy in his future?” I asked.
Thomas looked over my shoulder before looking back at me. Pity took over his features as he watched me fall apart silently.
“Yes.”
I nodded and swallowed hard. Then that was good enough for me.
“Thank you.”
I turned toward Abram, and he was watching me closely. His eyes searched mine, wondering what I had said to the old man. But I just took his hand and led him outside into the storm thatwas raging. I looked up at the rain and wished he hadn't talked in such cryptic riddles.
We stepped onto the street and were about to leave when Abram stopped. His body was rigid, like he was scared of something. I glanced around but didn’t see anyone lingering except Thomas watching us. Nate looked concerned as he stepped toward Abram.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Chapter 16
Abram
“What’s wrong?” Elowyn’s soft voice echoed in my mind.
My heartbeat roared in my ears. Light suddenly flared inside my chest, too bright and too sudden to brace for. I felt the air leave my lungs as a bright golden thread tore out of my chest and shot forward, blazing like a sunrise I had no control over. It shot down the street like it had been waiting centuries for this moment. I watched it race into the distance, watched fate choose for me, watched it disappear before I could stop it.
“Abe?” Elowyn’s voice snapped my gaze from my mating bond. “Are you alright?” she asked.
I forced myself to look at her. If she saw the truth in my eyes, everything between us would shatter. Something inside me had fractured when the bond didn’t go to her.No, it’s supposed to be her.
