Gods and Mortals: Fourteen Free Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels Featuring Thor, Loki, Greek Gods, Native American Spirits, Vampires, Werewolves, & More (215 page)

Claire’s voice turned murderous. “Where is my dad?” At this, Sarah stepped forward. Her glare was only slightly less condemning than her daughter’s.

“He is being dealt with,” her mother said. “All that matters now is that you’re all right.”

“No,” Claire said, her gaze darting back and forth between me and Daniel, “that isn’t all that matters.” Her voice was shrill and scared. She looked at Daniel and lost all momentum. Faced with the inexplicable pull we could all feel between them, everything seemed to become clear. Her body pulled away from me slightly. The pull was so strong, but she managed to hold back long enough to say, “Oh, Uriah, I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t understand,” Daniel said quietly. “Does she feel what I feel, or does she still love Uriah?”

I pulled Claire away from my chest. I needed the same question answered. “Claire?” I asked. “Do you still love me?”

“Yes, of course, but…” she hesitated. Claire glanced around the room, fearful of what everyone else might be thinking of her.

“Remarkable,” Quaile whispered. My body froze at the sound of her voice. I didn’t want to hear anything she had to say, but Claire didn’t know of her treachery yet.

“Quaile, what’s going on? I still love Uriah, but it’s different, like a memory I can’t quite remember. Daniel being here, it’s changing everything.” Her gaze rolled over to Daniel slowly. “I don’t even know him, but…I love him, too. Or, I feel…I don’t know what I want. What’s happening to me?” she demanded of Quaile.

“It’s the bond, Claire. I told you this would happen. Daniel is your Twin Soul. You belong together. You always have,” Quaile said.

“But…I didn’t want this,” Claire said desperately. Daniel took a step closer to her and she shuddered under the power of the bond. “I mean…I do, but this isn’t right. It can’t be right. I don’t want to let go of Uriah. He’s everything to me.”

Daniel’s face fell. “You don’t want me?”

Claire’s eyes flew wide. I could feel the atmosphere between them change. Claire reacted to his pain, pulling away from me and reaching for Daniel. I couldn’t bring myself to let go of her other hand, but Daniel was quick to take the hand she offered him. Claire stood, fixed between us, torn by memories of our past together and the promise of a future with Daniel.

“Daniel,” she said, her anguish melting in the face of their contact. My hand slipped from hers. She looked back at me apologetically even as she stepped closer to Daniel. “I’m so confused.”

“Daniel,” Sarah said, taking him gently by the shoulders, “why don’t we step into the kitchen for a few minutes. You must be hungry after your ordeal.” Daniel tried to protest, but Sarah gently pulled his hand out of Claire’s and pushed him out of the room. Taking the hint, Cole helped my mother to her feet and they followed Sarah into the kitchen. Quaile was the last to leave, but finally I was left alone with Claire.

The thought of snatching Claire off the bed and running for the truck grabbed me, almost strong enough to actually make me do it. Her hand was still outstretched, exactly where Daniel had left it. “Claire,” I said softly. My hand closed over hers and pulled it to my chest. My steady heartbeat pulsed under her hand. It still beat for her, only for her. I was begging her feel me now. I was begging for one more chance to keep her.

“Uriah,” she said. “Please don’t leave me.”

“I won’t leave, Claire,” I said, “not unless you want me to.” It killed me to utter the words. I would force myself to live up to them, but the words felt like a dagger. I waited for her response. It should have been easy for her to say she would never ask me to leave. She’d said it so many times before, but I waited. “Please say it,” I said without realizing the words had actually left my lips.

“I want to, but I don’t want it to be a lie.”

My hands fell limply from hers. I imagined myself standing and walking to the door, vanishing from her life, from life itself, but I was frozen where I sat, burning up next to the fire. I had tried to prepare myself for this. I knew in the deepest parts of my mind it could end no other way, but for so long I had held her close, warming myself in memories of our life together. It would all end here, in the place we had spent countless hours wrapped in each other’s arms.

“Uriah, please. Please don’t look at me that way. I want you to stay, I do, but this feeling,” she said, “it’s so strong. I just don’t know how long I can fight it. I’m afraid that I won’t be strong enough to hold onto you. Please.” Her hands grappled for mine, bringing them to her damp cheeks. “Please save me from this, Uriah.”

“I can’t,” I croaked. “I couldn’t save you before, and I can’t save you now.”

Claire’s face crumpled and fell against my shoulder. I knew her tears were soaking through my shirt, but I was numb to everything. Even as she cried and begged me to rescue her, I could feel it. Every second the bond between Claire and Daniel grew stronger. As strong as she was, she couldn’t hold it off forever. The longer I stayed, deluding myself we could still be together, would only cause her more pain. Maybe this was what my dad meant when he said I had to be strong. Staying here was only hurting her.

Gently, I kissed the top of Claire’s forehead before pushing her body away from me. She stared at me, her head shaking back and forth. I don’t know how long it was before I was able to form the words I needed to say. They stuck in my throat, my heart battling against my mind. Claire wouldn’t want me much longer, and who was I to ask her to give Daniel up just for my sake. The feeling stretching between them was amazing, ecstasy in its purest form. But for me, this phenomenon caused a pain more intense than I could ever have imagined.

“I can’t stay here, Claire,” I said, finally able to choke the words out. “You belong with Daniel, now.”

“But, you can’t leave,” she said in a panicked voice. I shook my head slowly. I was only torturing her by staying. “What will I do without you?” she asked.

“You’ll be happy, like you were meant to be.” I knew it was true, and I was surprised by the peace saying it granted me.

“Please don’t do this, Uriah,” she pleaded. “If you go now, I know I’ll forget how much I love you.”

“I know you will, Claire,” I said, “but you’re supposed to. And I’m supposed to move on without you.” Move on. I laughed at the thought. I was glad Claire would live a life of happiness with Daniel, but I had every intention of seeking out the Matwau and letting him have the fight he wanted so badly. He would kill me before he even realized I wasn’t fighting back.

Suddenly, I couldn’t bear to be near her for another second. I had to get away. Pushing Claire away gently, I stood and stalked away from her. Her sob of surprise gave me a second’s pause, but its sharp edges sliced at my remaining strength and I rushed to the refuge of my bedroom. Slamming the door, I reached for my hiking pack and started piling my belongings into its many pockets.

My hands faltered when I saw the laptop computer sitting on my desk. There was little chance I would actually follow through with my college classes, now. I wanted to take it, despite my destination, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch it. I turned away from the computer and moved on to the bathroom.

“Uriah!”

My mother’s voice was tight and sharp. In my haste to escape, I hadn’t even thought about her. She needed me right now, but I couldn’t stay. Her worried face made me reconsider my plan. Could I really put her through losing another person she loved? She was still grieving for my father and I wanted to add to her grief by throwing my life away just to quiet my own pain. It was one of the most selfish things I had ever considered, but I couldn’t live with such amazing pain. Eventually she would forget about me, just as Claire would.

“Uriah, wait,” my mother pleaded. She hobbled closer to me, leaning heavily on a walking stick. “Don’t leave without telling me goodbye.”

Guilt swept over me. It would be a final goodbye, and I could barely stand to give her even that. “I can’t stay here. It hurts too much.”

“I know, Uriah. I know,” she said, finally reaching me and slipping her hand into mine. “I understand why you have to go, and it is okay. I won’t try to stop you. I just want to make sure you have everything you need.” Pulling a small envelope out of her sweater pocket, she handed it to me with an understanding smile. “It isn’t much, but it’s yours.”

I touched the white paper, gently lifting the flap. A stack of bills greeted me. “Where did you get this?” I asked.

“I’ve been saving it for a special occasion. Now it’s yours,” she said. Her face turned more serious. Her eyes locked with mine. I could feel her desperation. “Uriah, this will pass. I can’t imagine what pain this has brought you, but eventually it will pass. You will move on with your life and find happiness again. I know you will. You have to try.”

I stared at her. Did she know what I was planning to do? She waited for my reassurance that I would try to find joy with someone else, to promise I wasn’t about to do was I was planning to do, but I couldn’t lie to her.

“I don’t know if I believe that.”

It was the best I could offer. Her lip quivered at my response, but she pulled me into a hug, crushing me with the surprising strength her small body possessed. Why wasn’t I as strong as she was?

Pulling away, I swung the pack on my back and stepped around her. “Be careful,” she begged before I slipped out of her sight.

T
he full force
of their bond hit me when I turned the corner. Daniel sat next to her, comforting her more profoundly than I ever could. The bond was already twice as strong as it had been before. Love filled the room, pushing out every other emotion except the agony I held close to my heart. Daniel looked up at me, an apology plain on his face. There was nothing left to say. I couldn’t blame him for this, even though I wanted to. I knew I was making the right choice. Blocking everything out, I pushed the door open and escaped the house, filling my lungs with the dry desert air.

My head a little clearer, I stared across the sandstone wasteland. The creature was out there somewhere, waiting for me. Not keen on the idea of beginning my search on foot, I turned for the garage, but fell back instantly. I couldn’t take the truck. A light movement caught my eye, bringing my gaze to the motorcycles. Quaile stood next to the bikes, scratching Talon’s ears. Every hair on my head stood on end, bristling with anger.

“Get out of my way, Quaile. You’re not going to stop me,” I said.

“I’m not here to stop you from leaving, Uriah. However, I am going to stop you from getting yourself killed.”

“You don’t know anything about me or my future.”

“Don’t I?” she questioned. “Then you are not planning to seek out the Matwau so he can end your pain, and your life?”

“How,” my voice faltered, “how can you know that?”

“I saw it the second you formed the idea in your mind,” she said. She stepped closer to me, placing a firm finger on my chest. “You cannot do that, Uriah.”

“Oh? And why not?” Her cryptic warnings would do nothing but encourage me at that point.

“Because you are meant for more than that,” she said simply.

“I don’t care!” I yelled. “You have lied to me and tricked me into doing what you wanted, but no more, Quaile. I will decide what path my life takes, even if it’s to my death. I don’t want to hear any more of your warnings or visions. I want you to leave me alone!”

I pushed her away from me, bringing a low growl from Talon. “She is only trying to help you, Uriah. Listen to her,” Talon said, concern filling his feline eyes.

“I can’t trust her.”

“She did lie to you before, but she is telling the truth now.” Talon’s thoughts were firm.

“How can you know that?” I asked. “Can she speak to you?”

“No, but I can hear her thoughts. Shamans can call out to animals for help. That is all. I can hear her thoughts, and she is not trying to mislead you this time,” Talon said.

“I still don’t trust her,” I told him, making for the motorcycle. I knew it wasn’t mine to take, but Thomas would just have to consider it payment for saving his daughter’s life. I reached for the ignition where I was sure I’d left the keys, but the slot was empty.

Quaile’s shadow fell over me, the keys dangling from her hand. I tried to snatch them away, growling when I missed. “You can have her back,” she said quietly.

“What?” I must have misunderstood her.

“Claire, you can still have her back.”

The blood in my veins seemed to stop flowing. My lungs refused to expand. “What do you mean?”

“There is a way to sever the Twin Soul bond,” Quaile said quietly. “I don’t know how to do it, but there is one who does.”

“How?”

“Go to our Tewa cousins in Hano. I have heard rumor that there is a Shaxoa there who knows the secrets of the dark spirits. She will be able to tell you how to sever the bond.”

“Why can’t I just go to the Shaxoa here?” I asked, wondering if this was another of Quaile’s tricks.

“Zarafen only dabbles in the dark spirits’ lore. She knows little of their workings. You must go to Hano,” Quaile said.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I asked. “Does this have something to do with your visions of me?”

“No, it has nothing to do with that. It probably goes against them, in fact,” she muttered. “I despise any Shaxoa and the work they do, and I would never have mentioned this to you if it weren’t for Claire’s reaction to Daniel. She wants to be with you despite finding her Twin Soul.” Quaile’s face wrinkled as she contemplated the meaning of her words.

“I have never heard of that happening before,” she said slowly, “but it makes me wonder about the bond, about Twin Souls. Maybe there is a reason so few find their Twin Soul. Perhaps we are not meant to seek them here in this life. Perhaps the love between Twin Souls is no greater than the love between two devoted people. I do not know for sure, but I see Claire.”

Quaile touched my shoulder gently. “She loves you still, and seems to value the love she has for you more than the bond. I can’t claim to understand her reaction, but I want her to have the choice. I may believe in my visions, but I believe in free will even more. That is why I’m telling you what the Hano Shaxoa can do.”

“That’s the only reason?” I questioned. I found it very hard to believe her. I had the feeling she was only telling me this to keep me from seeking the Matwau, but her words were tempting. If I were dead, there would be no way for me to fulfill her prophetic visions. I had no idea what the visions meant or why she believed them to be so important, but I did believe she would tell me whatever she felt was necessary to make sure I survived to fulfill them. Still, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get Claire back.

“Just please be careful, Uriah. Shaxoa are vile creatures who will strike you down more quickly than help you,” Quaile warned.

“But,” I paused, considering, “is it right to try and break the bond? Claire will be happy with Daniel.”

Quaile sighed. “Will she?” She gazed up at the sky as if expecting the gods to give her the answer. When she looked back at me, she seemed uncertain. “I am beginning to doubt. I fear she will carry regret in her heart if she loses you.”

I wanted to believe her, but I was so sure only moments ago that leaving her to the bond was the right choice. What was I supposed to do now? “What if this only hurts her more?” I asked.

“She asked you to save her,” Quaile said simply. “Can you deny her such a request?”

Her question shattered my resolve. I wanted Claire so badly. I believed her when she said she still wanted me. Until now, I hadn’t believed there was any way to beat back the bond. If Claire truly still loved me, and there was a chance to save our love, I had to at least try.

“Tell Claire I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I said. “Tell her…tell her I love her. I’m not giving up yet. If she still wants me when I get back, I’ll do everything I can to stay with her.”

Quaile nodded in agreement.

I wanted to beg Quaile to explain everything to Claire, but I couldn’t bear to promise something like that only to fail again.

“I will send Daniel home tonight. The bond will continue to get stronger each day, but if they are apart it may buy you more time.”

Her thoughtfulness struck me deeply. My chin trembled with gratitude. “Thank you,” I said.

She nodded quietly.

It was a Shaxoa who started all of this, and I was wary of turning to another witch to set it right, but my desire to save Claire was too strong. Let the Matwau kill me, or go to see the Hano Shaxoa. The choices were equally appealing, but one at least offered me the chance of releasing Claire from her unwanted bond.

She wanted this just as much as I did. I honestly believed that. “I’ll go to Hano,” I said to myself. Talon rubbed his head against my leg. He would come with me.

Quaile reached into a pocket, taking out a leather necklace with a beautifully woven symbol dangling from it. “When you get to Hano, give this to their shaman. She will help you find the answers you’re looking for.”

I accepted the token, watching Quaile’s face for any sign of deceit. All I saw was concern, and somewhere deep in her brown eyes, fear. I wanted to wring every last drop of information out of her, but I wasn’t sure I could trust anything she said to me at this point. Even now I feared she was holding back precious information. Perhaps the Hano shaman would be able to help me find some answers.

“Be careful,
Wakiza
.”

Wakiza. Desperate warrior. The name was certainly fitting. It was hard to remember the last time I made a decision that had not been driven by my desperation. Desperation to save Claire, then desperation to get away from her. Now I had come full circle, filled with desperation to save her once again, though I wondered if I wasn’t trying to save myself even more than her.