Page 44 of Tethered Fates

“I know you, too, Detective Kate Donovan,” I reply, sharper than intended by the way her brow furrows. “You think you need to help Teagan. But this isn’t your business.”

“If he’s human—” Kate pokes her chest, “—then it is my damn business.”

“You’re gonna get yourself killed.”

Like a storm cloud, she grumbles and turns away to glower out the window.

Kate has, of course, thought about the possibility of an untimely demise. Just like every shape, angle, and direction of this mess has occurred to the detective. Yet Kate’s still decided that if someone has a blade pointed at humanity, then she’ll be the one putting her neck on the line.

Giving up and annoyed I’ve somehow surrounded myself with people who refuse to do what’s good for them, I say, “I’ll message you everything I know about Summer.”

Kate nods, as if this was the logical conclusion and was just waiting for me to give in. Then throws me a sceptical look. “Soulmates, huh? What a load of shit.”

“You don’t believe in it?”

She scoffs. I smirk.

“You’d like him,” I tell her, “trust me.”

“Oh, I know.”

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her to explain.

She nods towards the window. “If I’m not mistaken, I just saw a cute kid jump out of a bathroom window and run across the garden.”

“Shit.” I start making my way down the corridor to chase after my wayward mate. “Get out of here, detective.”

And just before I turn a corner, I hear Kate say, “See you around, Sen.”

Chapter Sixteen - Teagan

My shoes scrape across the paved garden as I bolt, running as if my thoughts might catch me.

I need space.

I need to figure out the emotions raging through my body.

I need paint.

The pebbled courtyard crunches when I leave the garden walled in by looming evergreens, and somehow, through the screaming chaos, a small whisper of excitement seeps through all the noise as I approach the wrought-iron gates. At least I’ll get a chance to scale them.

“You can’t leave.”

My back goes ramrod straight at the voice that I can’t escape. His luscious, dangerous timbre even slid into my dreams, whispering seductive promises I’m still aching from when I wake up.

And here I thought getting hard was a requisite that came with sexy fantasies.

If only it were that simple.

Sen’s my soulmate.

I have a soul.

Which means, what exactly? Too many big questions for fucking starters, when I was firmly in the ‘if there’s a god, creator—kid with a magnifying glass—I doubt it cares about me’ camp. Because if something considers my existence important enough to attach my soul to a handsome vampire, then that’s way too much responsibility.

So I’ve got myself a soul. Sen’s got himself a soul. Kai and Mum and Dad and Thomas.

Everyone.