Page 37 of Tethered Fates

A smile stretches the man’s face, as though he’s dislocating his jaw to swallow us whole. I press my back into the headboard, shoulder blades digging into the wood, cold goosebumps rising the length of my spine.

“Bran?” Kai tries to move around Vidar, but the giant stands in his way.

“You know him?” Vidar bites out, not once looking away from Bran. “How?”

Kai peeks over Vidar’s shoulder. “He’s one of my clients. How do you know him?”

“Hello, Kai.”

Vidar prowls closer to Bran, a deep rumbling growl shaking out of his chest. Bran’s smile only widens as he cruises to the other side of the room.

My eyes dart between everyone—Sen shielding me, Kai’s confused expression, Vidar slowly circling Bran.

I twist the sheets in my fists.

I love a mess, but this is too much. I want to beg Kai to leave with me, but I know he won’t. Or can’t. He’s a vampire now; the rules have changed.

I can’t leave him behind.

I need paint.

I can’t stay.

I need Sen.

It’s Sen who speaks up next, and if only what he said broke the tension instead of adding to it. “Bran is Vidar’s Maker, and someone who likes to cause trouble.”

Kai steps back, angling his body in front of mine. “You’ve been coming to see me for nearly a year…”

“As well as a part-time stalker, it appears,” Sen adds coolly.

Bran drifts towards the armchairs I crashed into, running long fingers along the fabric. “Everyone’s gotta have a hobby.”

“This is crazy,” I murmur, bile rising in my throat.

Sen’s gaze darkens, intensifies. “Teagan needs more rest. We can do this another time.”

“Do what, exactly?” my brother demands.

Vidar stands before the chairs, only a few meters away from Bran. There’s something like a cat-and-mouse chase about these two; I just can’t guess who’s playing what role.

Bran tilts his head to the side, his messy brown hair falling into his eyes. All the while smiling like he’s got meat caught between his teeth. “Your soulmate isn’t taking all this very well, is he, Sen?”

Kai’s frown melts into an angry mask. “Shut the hell up!”

I gasp; words lodge in my throat. I swallow and try again. “What’s a soulmate?”

Kai’s lips clamp shut. I whip around to Sen, glare at him—silently demand the answers.

Sen lets loose a sigh, and the tick in his jaw dissolves as his face softens. “Teagan…” he whispers, palms out, like he isn’t dangerous. Like I don’t remember the way Summer screamed when he lifted her off the ground.

“Stop keeping things from me!” I scream, pounding my fist into the mattress. “This is my life!”

“Teagan.” Sen rounds the bed to close the distance. “I was going to tell you, I promise. But we’re meant to be together—”

“Are you fucking with me?” I leap out the other side, bumping into Kai as I go and glare at Sen. My heart pounds against my ribs, unshed tears burn behind my eyes. “If you’re, like… fucking hitting on me right now, I’ll seriously punch you in the face!”

Sen doesn’t look hurt; he accepts my harsh words easily. For some reason, that’s worse.