Chapter 6
Chapter six
Darius
Beliefs about soulmates vary among every paranormal group, species, and subspecies.
However, there are several similarities that can’t be ignored.
Such as sharing memories and dreams. Certain fated mates are even thought to have the ability to communicate through their bond, the magical thread that ties them together.
-From the Encyclopedia of Otherworldly Creatures
Images of the car accident replay in my mind’s eye.
A shiver slides down my spine. It sounds macabre, but it’s a secret blessing in disguise.
I don’t think Kaleb knows it yet, but he’s saved my life.
All week, he has been sending me his vision through the small bond that had started forming in the club.
But this morning was different. This morning, I knew exactly where to go to find my mate.
At three on the dot, I pull onto the highway.
My sporty Lexus IS 500 tears down the road.
She might not be the most luxurious car on the market, but she was still a big splurge for me.
Within a minute or two, it’s as if the heavens have opened up as rain pours down.
I chuckle to myself, wondering if the Fates have a sense of humor.
I’ve escaped death many times, and today won’t be any different.
I always imagined what it would be like to share dreams and memories with my fated mate, but nothing could have prepared me for this.
The clock hits 3:04 pm, my phone rings, and I smile.
Today’s the day. Even though I already know it’s Zero calling, I answer as soon as I spot his name on the caller ID.
“I can’t believe you had a lead on the Dumas heir, and you let him get away,” he says by way of greeting, his voice rumbling through my car’s Bluetooth.
I roll my eyes. “I told you, I was surrounded by several hundred people, some of them human and several of them not. My magic has a hard time detecting the source.” Without meaning to, I’ve repeated the words from the vision.
Zero chuckles. “Right, and it’s not like you were too busy kissing a pretty human.
” I don’t bother correcting him. I’m not entirely sure how everyone, including Kaleb’s parents, will react when they find out I’m Kaleb’s fated mate.
Will they be upset that the Dumas heir, who is practically royalty, is fated to a hybrid? Will they think I tricked him? Or them?
“Earth to Darius. Damn, that little human really does have you distracted, doesn’t he?”
I hum my agreement. Images of those plush lips and striking eyes come to mind. Seriously, what has gotten into me? I’ve never let my attraction to someone get in the way of a mission before, and definitely not one so important.
I shouldn’t be surprised, though. I’ve always been attracted to others’ magic, but Kaleb is the dangerous sort.
Not because of all that untapped power, or because he’s my fated, but because I’m attracted to all of him.
His magic, his personality, his looks. He’s the whole damn package.
Is it wrong to want to keep him to myself for a bit?
“Please tell me you have a lead.”
“Actually, I do,” I reply as I peer over at the passenger’s seat.
In Kaleb’s vision, he was sitting here right next to me.
Up ahead, I spot the sign for Walnut Road.
Visions always work in mysterious ways. Deep down, I know that Kaleb and I were left in the dark about where and when this vision would unfold until we were finally given the clue.
It’s why I know I’m not meant to die today. I’ve been given the key to prevent it.
Plus, I know I joke, but if it really is my time to go, there’s no way of actually fighting Fate.
When the sign comes into view, I begin to merge over, slowing down.
There’s a white Camry already parked in front of the sign.
My mer vision allows me to see him clearly through the rain.
He’s soaked, but even worse, his anxious expression makes me feel awful.
Gods, how long has he been standing there, just waiting for me?
The memory of Kaleb’s scream echoes in my mind.
I should have shown up earlier. The need to comfort him is strong.
“I gotta go, Zero. I’ll call you back when I have more information,” I tell him, ending the call.
As soon as I park, Kaleb is racing toward me. I unbuckle my seat belt, but before I can open my door, Kaleb’s words scream down the bond. ‘No! Please don’t get out of the car. I need to save him. I need to save him.’ Kaleb waves his arms wildly.
His pleading voice rips me up inside. Fuck.
He still thinks I’m going to die. The pure panic radiating from him is intense.
Not wanting to stress him out even more, I stay put.
He rushes to my passenger door before throwing it open.
Raindrops splatter everywhere. His breaths are labored as he stares at me, wide-eyed.
Kaleb seemed so determined to get to me, but now that he’s here, he doesn’t seem to know what to do with himself. He slides into my car with a wet sloshing sound before he closes the door, still staring at me with his pretty, large eyes. “You’re really here,” he murmurs, more to himself.
His hands nervously swipe down the front of his pants. My kraken slams against my chest, encouraging me to reach out and hold his hand. “Are you okay?” I whisper.
Kaleb’s lips part with shock. “Am I okay?” He laughs hysterically. “Am I okay? Aren’t you worried that the crazy person who hurt you at the club is stalking you?”
I chuckle. “Why would I be worried? I’m the one who pulled over and found you here.”
He doesn’t smile back, still rattled with nerves. Kaleb sighs. “Darius. I need to tell you something.”
“Okay,” I reply softly. “I’m all ears.”
When he opens his mouth to speak, nothing comes out.
Instead, he snaps it closed. He’s shivering, and I need to find the best way to tell him to get out of his wet clothes.
We sit there in silence for a moment. I turn up the heater, hoping it helps dry him sooner, when I remember the blanket I keep in my trunk.
I reach for my door, but right as I push it open, he shrieks, “No! You can’t leave, please, please, please, don’t get out of the car.
” Tears fill his eyes, and I realize he’s still so new to all of this.
I saw how shocked he was that I even showed up.
He’s confused and terrified. A pulse travels down the bond again, and I can tell he’s not scared for himself; he’s scared for me.
Warmth fills my chest. How long has it been since someone cared for me like this? Even my own parents didn’t care. I might have my old team from the Elite Guard, like Zero, or even my new friend, Rook, but the way Kaleb is staring at me with pleading eyes…fuck.
I slam the door shut and lean over the console, pulling Kaleb into a fierce hug, not even caring that my car is getting soaked, or that the gear is jamming into my leg awkwardly. My sole focus is on comforting my mate.
Mate. Mate. My Kraken agrees.
As soon as my arms wrap around Kaleb, I feel him tremble apart. Sobs rip from his throat. I pull him against me tighter.
“I saw you die,” he whispers. “I saw you—” Another sob tears from his throat.
“Shhh. Shhh. It’s fine. I’m fine. Hush now.”
“No,” he snaps. “You don’t understand. No one does. I saw you die this morning.”
Just then, a car whooshes past us on the highway. I glance up. “Look. Kaleb. There’s the car. That’s the jackass who hits me. He just passed us. I’m fine.” I rub soothing circles on his back.
Kaleb’s head snaps up, and he stares at the red car zooming away. “Wait,” he gasps. “You knew? You knew which car was going to—”
“Which car was going to hit me?” I nod. “I did.”
“But how?”
“You sent me your vision. In our dreams. I saw it.”
“I-I—You?”
Still holding him, I chuckle softly, hoping the sound soothes him.
I lean forward, unable to help myself, and kiss his temple.
Inside me, my kraken swirls around with joy.
Kaleb doesn’t pull away; instead, he melts against me.
We reach out with our magic, my kraken and I, intertwining with his, the way my tentacles crave to wrap him in our embrace.
With my knuckles caressing his face, I tip his head up so his pretty ocean-blue eyes meet mine. “You saved me, Kaleb. I saw your vision. It was a shared dream. You saved me.”
He shakes his head, eyes blinking fast. His anxiety is still high, and it isn’t good for his untamed magic. “I thought I was the one who hurt you,” he says.
Never. I shake my head, denying his claim.
My kraken rubs and thumps against Kaleb’s magic. It’s still chaotic, swirling around inside of him and building. Building. Not quite as bad as the other day at the club, but still enough to be concerning. “Can I kiss you again?” I ask. “It will help you feel better.”
His eyes drop to my lips. “What if I hurt you? Again.”
“You won’t.”
“You don’t know tha—”
“I do. You won’t hurt me. And I’m the only one who can safely pull your magic from you.
” As his fated, I’m the only one. Combine that with my powers from my ocean magic, and it’s almost as if it’s meant to be.
It might only be a temporary fix until I can get him back home to his parents and his coven, but it’s better than nothing.
“Magic?”
“I’ll explain everything, Kaleb. But first, I need you to take a chance and trust me. I need to kiss you. Hell, I want to kiss you so badly right now,” I confess.
Finally, he nods. Before he can change his mind, I swoop in and close the distance between us, pressing my lips to his.