Fated

Chapter 17

I t was five p.m. when we arrived back at the manor. Ash told me we needed to leave by six-thirty for whatever he had planned for tonight. I decided to change into something new and try out my makeup before heading out. Ash left me at my door to get ready.

I brought my new makeup to the bathroom, removed the clip from my hair, and brushed it out, letting it fall freely around my shoulders.

Beginning to apply my makeup, my thoughts kept drifting back to Ash and to how perfect today had been. Every little interaction between us replayed in my mind, but one question lingered; when had my heart started skipping beats at the mere thought of him?

The truth was, that’s exactly what it did.

My stomach was a mess of fluttering wings, recalling how he’d confidently told Madam Pearl I wouldn’t be alone tonight during my settling.

Then there was that wink he had given me on the bicycle and the way he had held open every door for me today. As my mind drifted to tonight and whatever surprise he had planned, I realized my palms were sweating, and the inside of my cheek was raw from chewing on it.

There was something else though, something heavier weighing on me that I had been trying to ignore. Tomorrow, everything would change. Sometime after midnight, I would settle, and if everything went as planned, I would heal Ash. Once he regained his memories, he would remember exactly who he was—Prince Sebastian Lysander Augustine of Ambrosia.

But where would that leave me? I was beginning to think of Ash as a friend, someone I trusted. We had made that agreement, too, the one promising that whatever lay ahead, we would face it together. That idea alone had been holding me together. But what if it changed when he got his memories back? What if by remembering the prince he once had been, the kingdom awaiting him, and the weight of his responsibilities, everything between us shifted?

What did I have to offer Ash besides my healing blood to experiment on?

He wouldn’t need me anymore. I would just be the girl he felt responsible for because what he had done to my mother.

If I chose to follow him to his kingdom, what kind of life would I even have there? Would I find myself completely alone again? Madam Pearl was offering me a home here, and I had her, Lilly, Keo, and Fin. That was something, and living here wouldn’t be a terrible life, would it?

Ash was … well, he was practically a god—powerful, gorgeous, royalty.

For all I knew, he had a beautiful woman waiting for him in Ambrosia, someone who truly belonged by his side. The mere thought of that sent a wave of nausea through me.

Panic began to claw at my throat, and my eyes prickled with the threat of tears. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside of me. Crying wasn’t an option; I was determined to enjoy my last human night with Ash and the way things were right now.

Tomorrow, after settling and restoring Ash’s memories, then I would make my decision.

Would I remain here in Cresinthia where I had already found some sense of belonging, or would I follow Ash back to Ambrosia, where so many unknowns awaited me?

***

God, was I happy to have a freaking bra again! I slipped into my new pink shorts and matching top, giving myself a little spritz of body spray and letting the light scent settle around me. The cheap blue sandals I’d been stuck with since yesterday had left me with nasty blisters, so I was more than ready to trade them in for my new sneakers. Glancing in the mirror, I smiled—actually feeling normal, maybe even pretty—for the first time in what felt like ages.

The new makeup had done wonders, and I loved how it made me feel like myself again.

I grabbed a pink scrunchie, wrapping it around my wrist just in case it got too hot, and I wanted to pull my hair back.

When a knock sounded at the door, a wave of nervous energy shot through me, making my legs feel a little shaky. I took a deep breath, slowly walking to the door, before opening it.

Ash leaned casually against the doorframe, dressed in his usual black, arms crossed, looking every bit the dark, brooding, ridiculously attractive vampire I had come to know.

My breath caught in my throat. God, he’s so beautiful . His flirty smile was irresistible as his eyes roamed over me, taking me in before meeting my gaze again.

He stood up straight, offering me his arm. “You look gorgeous tonight, Areya.”

I nodded, somehow having forgotten how to speak.

He only smiled, linked our arms together, and led me out of the manor. The yellow bicycle from earlier was nowhere to be seen, and in its place stood a sleek black electric bike.

“It’s the closest thing I could find to a motorcycle.”

A smile broke across my face, unstoppable and irrepressible.

Ash climbed on the bike, and without hesitation, I clambered behind him, wrapping my arms around his torso, savoring the closeness of his body to mine.

No matter what would happen tomorrow, I had every intention of enjoying tonight with Ash. My cheek pressed against his back as he started the bike. We rode down Main Street, the cool evening breeze blowing through my hair as the motor purred beneath us. We passed the shopping center from earlier and continued down the road for another ten minutes or so.

Eventually, we slowed and pulled off to the side of a large, warehouse-like building.

I glanced around, frowning in confusion. “What is this place?”

“You’ll see.”

We walked around to the front of the building, where a simple metal door marked the only entrance. Above it, a sign caught my attention. My face lit up as excitement buzzed through me.

The Game Zone.

Ash smiled, clearly enjoying my reaction. I couldn’t help the wide grin that spread across my face as adrenaline pumped through my veins. This was perfect.

He opened the door for me, and I stepped inside. The lights were dimmed but neon strips lined the ceiling, casting a colorful glow over the room. Music blared from the speakers, drowning out the sounds of laughter, cheering, and what sounded like bowling pins crashing in the background. Just a few feet ahead, there was a counter with a boy working behind it.

A glowing sign above his head read: The Splatter Zone .

As we strolled past, my eyes darted from one game area to the next, excitement building with each step. I stopped and stared at the Rolling Zone, which resembled a bowling alley. Right beside it was the Dart Zone where players stood in front of half walls, throwing darts at rotating targets. As each target filled up with darts, a mechanism would flatten the board, dropping the darts to the ground before a machine quickly gathered them and returned them to the players.

I peered through the window of a door labeled Netball, catching a glimpse of players locked in a fast-paced battle, trying to score by throwing a ball into the opposing team’s net.

Room after room revealed more games, each more thrilling than the last, but before I could take it all in, I heard someone shouting.

“Areeeeeeeeeeeya, you made it!” Keo threw his arm around my shoulder as if we were lifelong friends. “Pretty great, huh?”

I was grinning from ear to ear, fully embracing the gaming nerd I was. “I love it, Keo!”

Fin slowly made his way behind his brother, a shy smile on his lips.

Without even thinking, I spun and flung my arms around Ash’s neck, hugging him. His body slightly stiffened under the unexpected hug.

“This is amazing, Ash! I can’t believe you planned this for me.”

Slowly, his body relaxed, his arms wrapping around my waist, hugging me back.

I turned back to Keo and Fin, doing my best to contain my enthusiasm.

“We already bought your tickets for splatter ball,” Keo said, bouncing on his toes like an overexcited puppy. “We’ve got thirty minutes until our game starts, but we can do target practice until then.” He handed me two tickets.

“Yeah, ok, let’s do it!” I was practically vibrating with excitement, fighting the urge to jump up and down the way Keo was. Ash stood back, watching with a bemused look, clearly entertained by my show of exuberance.

We made our way back to the front of the Splatter Zone, handing our tickets to the attendant and stepping through the door. Inside, we found ourselves in a large open room, with rows at one end, similar to those in the Dart Zone.

Players stood behind half-walls, shooting at moving targets with guns that shot colored balls.

As the balls hit their marks, they splattered in bright bursts of paint.

“Oh, my God, it’s paintball!” I yelled, turning to Keo and Fin, who looked at me curiously.

“Where I’m from, we have something similar, but it’s called paintball.”

At the opposite end of the room, rows of one-piece uniforms hung on hooks alongside vests, guns, and protective eyewear. I turned back toward the targets, watching as a guy shot at the four moving targets in front of him. Once shot, the targets would disappear somewhere below to be replaced by new ones dropping from above. Excitement coursed through me, my fingers itching to grab a gun. I was entirely in my element.

Fin led us over to the walls of uniforms, and I wasted no time gearing up. In fact, I was the first one ready. Once everyone else was ready too, we headed to the last lane of targets.

“A little warm-up before we go into the arena.” Keo grinned as he stepped in front of the lane of freshly moving targets, four in total.

He lifted his gun, taking a moment to line up his shot. His first landed just shy of the center, and his second attempt missed the target altogether.

With a determined frown, he tried again and managed to hit the target, though he was two rings from center. His third shot was a bullseye, and his last barely grazed the target’s edge.

Next up was Fin, who studied the targets for a moment before taking his stance.

His first shot hit dead center, the second a few inches from the bullseye, and he missed the third. Unfazed, he lined up another shot and hit center once again, then his last shot hit a few inches left of center. He lowered his gun with a triumphant smile.

“Show off,” Keo muttered under his breath.

Next it was Ash’s turn. He stepped forward, his posture shifting effortlessly into a shooting stance as if it were second nature, clearly no stranger to handling a gun. My pulse quickened, and I could feel a flush creeping up my neck as I watched him. His broad shoulders flexed as he lifted the gun to his eye, muscles rippling under his shirt. Confidence radiated off him in waves, and I found myself gripping the wall beside me to keep from swaying.

His first shot—bullseye. Without missing a beat, he smoothly tracked the next moving target, another bullseye. He glanced over at me and winked, making my knees weaken as I gripped the wall harder. His third and fourth shots were bullseyes too.

Keo and Fin stared at him in awe.

“Not bad,” I said, attempting to sound unimpressed.

Ash only snorted.

Finally, it was my turn. My heart pounded, adrenaline surging through me as I stepped up to the line.Standing in front of the targets, I took a steadying breath, letting my eyes track their movements. Each one shifted with a distinct rhythm, a pattern I quickly committed to memory.

The moment the pattern reset, I raised my gun. Four shots rang out in rapid succession—precise, seamless, and unhesitating. Bullseye. Bullseye. Bullseye. Bullseye. My focus was absolute, my actions fluid, and by the time the last target fell, a quiet satisfaction settled over me.

A slow grin stretched across my face as I lowered my gun.

“What the fuck, Areya?” Keo’s voice broke through my haze of concentration.

“That’s impossible,” came Fin’s voice.

I glanced over at Ash leaning casually against the wall I’d just used to steady myself.

His arms were crossed over his chest, and his eyes were locked on mine, a glint of amusement dancing within them. I held his gaze for a moment, a burst of confidence surging through me. Without breaking eye contact, I shot him a wink before turning back to Keo and Fin.

My grin was still firmly in place.

“Game 842 will begin in five minutes . Players, choose your teams and prepare to enter the arena through the corresponding doors.”

A female robotic voice spoke over the speakers.

“ That’s us,” Fin said, adjusting his gear.

“ I call Areya!” Keo shouted.

Before I could respond, Ash walked up behind me, his arm wrapping possessively around my waist. “Areya’s mine.”

The sensation of his touch sent a frisson of electricity through me, my heart exploding into a thousand tiny, fluttering butterflies. Every point of contact between us tingled, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything else.

“So, uh, how exactly do we play?” I asked, stumbling over my words, trying to push past the overwhelming awareness of Ash’s presence beside me.

Keo launched into an explanation. “We’ll enter a dark arena. Half of it will glow blue and the other half red. Inside, it’s like a maze with twists, turns, ramps, and levels. Ash and Areya, you two will enter through a door on your side that leads you to a glowing pedestal with a small hole in the top. Fin and I will do the same on our side. Each team has to find the other team’s glowing orb, hidden somewhere in enemy territory, and bring it back to their pedestal. If you shoot the opposing team, their side flashes, and their guns are deactivated for sixty seconds, giving you time to search for the orb.”

“So, like laser tag meets capture the flag,” I mumbled.

Keo gave me another confused look.

“Never mind!”

“What color do you guys want?” Fin asked.

I turned my gaze up at Ash, who didn’t break eye contact when he said, “Blue.”

The warmth of his breath danced across my face, and I quickly turned away.

Keo and Fin headed off to the red entrance of the arena, leaving Ash and me standing in front of the closed doors to the blue side.

My pulse thrummed loudly in my ears as the moments ticked by.

I nervously fiddled with my gun, desperately trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling into the chaos stirred inside me by Ash’s closeness. Slowly, I felt him lean in, his breath hot against my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

“Watching you handle that gun back there was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

I froze, his words igniting a spark deep inside me.

My entire body reacted to his nearness in ways beyond my control. Heat flooded my face, my pulse racing so wildly it felt as though my heart might burst right out of my ribcage. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if Ash could hear it—if he knew the effect he was having on me.

The doors slid open, snapping me back to reality. I bolted inside, freeing myself from Ash’s spell. The cool air of the arena hit my skin as I took off into the maze, the blue glow guiding my way. At first, there was a palpable relief from the break in contact between Ash and me, but it was quickly replaced by an aching sensation growing with every step away from him.

“You are going to want to stay very close to me.”

His words echoed inside my head.

I moved through the maze, but with every step, the pull toward Ash grew stronger, my body desperately begging to return to him and close the distance between us.

Was the sensation merely the result of his mind control, or was it something else entirely?

Did it even matter anymore? I couldn’t find it in myself to care what was causing me to crave his nearness. Whatever it was, nothing had ever felt so good—and so unquestionably right.

“Sixty seconds until game begins.”

Forcing away those thoughts, I attempted to focus on the game. Following the blue-lit path, I reached the pedestal and scanned the area. Ash was nowhere in sight, so my attention shifted to the two illuminated paths ahead, choosing the one to the right.

Hurrying down and around the corner, I memorized each turn, creating a mental map. Hopefully, the other team’s side would be a replica of this one.

Reaching a set of stairs, I climbed up to a platform overlooking the dividing line between the red and blue zones.

“Game has begun.”

I needed to find Ash. We could strategize. One of us could stand watch up here while the other ventured into enemy territory to search for the orb.

Just as I turned to head back and find him, a strange sense of direction pulled me toward a path, as though some invisible magnet was urging me forward. I leaned into that sensation, following the growing tug until—I ran right into his arms.

“Easy, princess,” he purred.

How the hell was I supposed to make my brain work with him stealing my breath every time he opened his damn mouth?

I pushed down every distraction and focused on my words. “There’s a platform above; one of us should stand watch while the other goes into red territory and looks for the orb.”

“Lead the way,” he said, motioning ahead.

I turned and took the path I’d memorized back to the large platform, acutely aware of Ash’s presence behind me. When we reached the top of the platform, he nudged me. I looked up to find him peering down the barrel of his gun, focused on something. Following his gaze, there was only darkness.

“Do you see someone?” I whispered.

He nodded, his eyes still trained on the blackness ahead.

“You can see in the dark, can’t you?”

He nodded again.

“That’s cheating.” I elbowed him.

“Do you want me to shoot Keo or not?”

My competitiveness quickly overpowered any sense of fairness, and I eagerly nodded.

Ash fired, and immediately, the red lights on the other side of the arena began to flash, accompanied by a loud blaring alarm.

“Red team deactivated for sixty seconds.”

Before the robotic voice even finished, I was already flying down the stairs, speeding through the arena and crossing into red territory. But as soon as I entered, I quickly realized the layout wasn’t a mirror of the blue side.

I frantically checked the walls, scanning for any sign of the orb, and combing through nearly half of the bottom level before the alarm quieted and the red lights stopped flashing.

Shit—Keo and Fin are back in the game.

Footsteps were closing in behind me, so I took off in the opposite direction, only to spot the glow of a red vest approaching from the other side.

Trapped between two players, I froze, weighing my options and pressing myself against the wall, willing myself to disappear into the shadows. Slowly, I kept creeping forward.

Suddenly, my stomach bottomed out as a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me into a small alcove. Only one person in this arena would have noticed the hidden, dark space, and I found myself face-to-face with Ash. The space was tight, the wall at my back pushing me into his broad chest. The flashing light from my vest illuminated his face as he looked down at me.

He took his hand and covered my vest’s light, plunging us into darkness. I was enveloped in his scent, and the warmth of his breath caressed my forehead. Struggling to keep my breathing steady, my attention kept drifting to the sensation of his body pressed up against mine.

I held my breath as we listened to footsteps running by, blissfully unaware of our hiding place. As the sound faded, Ash dropped his hands, allowing the lights on our vests to flicker back on. His gaze locked onto my eyes, and with a touch so light it sparked a flutter in my chest, he brushed a stray hair from my face, his fingers lingering against my skin.

“They are probably on our side by now, looking for our orb,” I managed to whisper.

Ash simply stared at me, those stormy gray eyes filled with an intensity that made my breath catch. “I don’t care,” he whispered.

Neither did I.

“You’re so beautiful, Areya.”

My cheeks warmed and instinctively, I tried to look away, but he hooked a finger beneath my chin, guiding my face back to his.

His eyes drifted to my lips, staying there a moment before returning to my gaze.

My pulse quickened, and I needed to remind myself to keep breathing.

I forced myself to really look at him, to take in every exquisite detail of his face.

He was like a god among mortals, and in this moment, his focus was entirely on me, staring at me in a way no one ever had before.

I was biting my lip, oblivious to it until he lightly touched it with his finger, tracing it.

“What have you done to me, Areya?” he murmured, his voice so soft and intimate, goosebumps erupted over my skin.

My gaze fell to his lips, wondering how they would feel against mine, how they would taste.

The desire was overwhelming, all-consuming, so much that nothing outside this moment mattered. Just as I felt myself leaning in, every light in the arena came on, followed by the sound of a blaring alarm. “Red team has won the game.”

A flush of warmth spread across my cheeks as I looked down.

Ash leaned in and pressed the softest kiss to my forehead, his lips barely brushing my skin, but it was enough to make my insides melt. In the distance, Keo was cheering, his words drowned out by the echoes of the arena. My eyes met Ash’s, and we laughed.

“We better let Keo relish in his victory,” Ash said, grinning.

We left our little nook and made our way to the middle of the arena where Fin and Keo stood, triumphant, wearing huge grins stretching across their faces.

“To be fair, the orb is always hidden in one of four places,” Fin said, Keo elbowing him.

“Good game,” I said, smiling at both of them as we made our way back to the main area of the Splatter Zone, to return our gear.

Back at the front entrance of The Game Zone, Fin glanced at his watch. “I really hate to cut things short, but we have to head home and watch our sister while Mom goes to work.”

“You guys have a little sister?” I asked, surprised.

“A little spoiled brat is more like it,” Keo chimed in with a dramatic eye roll.

“Layla’s five, Keo.” Fin rolled his own eyes.

“And?” Keo said.

I chuckled, shaking my head as we all made our way outside together.

Once we reached their bikes, I pulled both Fin and Keo into a hug, thanking them for spending the evening hanging out with us.

Keo smirked and promised he would beat me at one of the other games next time.

Even Ash gave the boys a friendly clap on the back before they left, and as they waved goodbye and disappeared into the night, an unexpected warmth glowed in my chest.

Tonight had been more fun than I could ever have imagined.