Foretold (Fated Love #2)
CHAPTER ONE
Astrid
When I open my eyes and look around, I’m surprised to find myself back at our home in our old village—the house I grew up in with August after my mother died. August is here, which is what I was hoping for, but what I did not expect was to land from my first zip on a bed right next to him. A bed where he is currently fucking another woman!
“Shit,” I curse, getting up off the bed.
August opens his brown eyes, his brow furrowing as he processes what he sees— me —now in the corner of his bedroom, watching him fuck a woman from behind. His stomach’s corded muscles tense with each thrust, and the woman moans loudly. He’s even more ripped than I remember, and my shocked gaze follows a drop of sweat dripping down his toned torso.
What feels like minutes but is only a few long, awkward seconds, he stops his movements, much to the woman’s dismay.
“Don’t stop,” she moans, pushing back against him.
“Star?” he asks, his shoulders rigid. His eyes widen in shock when he takes me in. “Am I fucking losing it?”
“No, I’m here,” I reply, clearing my throat. “I’m sorry. I zipped for the first time and ended up…” I trail off as the woman turns her head to me, eyes narrowing. “I’m going to go.”
“No, wait,” he rumbles, and there’s some shuffling behind me as I move quickly out the door.
Fuck.
I’ve never seen August even check out another woman in front of me before, and now I’ve seen…
… well, that .
Did I make a mistake coming here?
I don’t know how much time I have until Rave realizes I’m gone and gets Soren to track me again, but August is the only person I thought to run to. Maybe that was selfish of me. My legs take me to the front door, but August grabs my hand and stops me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks in his deep voice, spinning me around to face him. “Are you okay? I didn’t think I’d see you again after last time.”
I stare up at him as he takes me in, his eyes tracing over my features. His throat bobs as he swallows. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, Star.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here,” I reply, trying to pull my hand out of his, but he only holds on tighter.
His brown eyes harden. “What do you mean? This is your home. You come here whenever the fuck you want. I’m your home.”
His words echo my thoughts when I left Rave’s house.
The one he’d never took me to.
“August, what the hell is going on?” the woman asks, stepping out in a brown dress, her shoes in her hand.
“Go,” he commands, keeping his eyes on me.
“August—”
“Now,” he says, not even bothering to look at her.
She releases a gigantic huff before she leaves, slamming the door behind her.
“That wasn’t nice,” I mutter, sighing as he pulls me against his chest. He smells like sex mixed with his familiar, fresh, masculine scent. His big hands stroke down my back, and I close my eyes, enjoying the moment.
“Where’s your mate?” he asks, bringing me back to my life’s reality.
“I don’t have much time until Soren will track me again. I just had to get out of there, and I didn’t know where to go,” I explain in a rush, stepping back and looking into his eyes. “I can’t stay here, and I don’t want Rave to come after you.”
He studies me for a few moments and then nods once. “I’ll pack a bag, and we can go.”
“What?” I call after him as he starts rushing around the cottage, putting food and clothes in a satchel. “August, I don’t think you’ll want to come where I’m going.”
There’s only one place I can go.
I lift my hand and stare at the bracelet my half-brother, Axe, gave me. He told me that if I press on the diamond in the middle and say the Incubus King’s name, he will come for me.
“I’ll follow you right into hell, you know that,” he replies, heading into the bathing chamber, probably to wash the sex off him.
I open the door to my old room—the tiny room August and I shared before his mother died—and take in the small bed and wardrobe. It might not be much, especially after living at the castle, but I have nothing but good memories here.
August comes out freshly changed as I close my bedroom door and turn to face him.
“Did he hurt you?” he asks in a low tone, a muscle working in his jaw.
“Not physically,” I reply, wrapping my arms around myself. “He just wasn’t honest about everything going on. It was good until it wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” he responds, sounding like he genuinely means it. “I told myself I’d let you go so you could be happy with your prince…” he swallows hard, “… no matter how hard it was. But now you’re here.”
“Now I’m here…” I nod, biting my lower lip, “… bringing more shit to your doorstep.”
“Our doorstep,” he corrects, raking a hand through his hair, which has gotten a little longer. “Should I get Bear ready?”
“You still have him?” I ask, my eyebrows raising.
“Yeah, they gave him back to me when they let me out of the dungeons,” he explains, searching my eyes. “How long do we have until they get here?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve been offered safety in the Incubus Kingdom, so I think that’s where I’m going to go,” I say, smirking as his eyes widen. “You don’t have to come—”
“I’m fucking coming, Star!” He growls the words out while lifting his hand to cup my cheek. “And maybe you can tell me how this all happened on the way.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, swallowing hard. “What about your girlfriend—”
“She is not my girlfriend.” He scowls, his eyes flickering. “She was just a fuck. And yes, I’m sure. Let’s go now before they find us.”
Lifting my hand, I press down on the bracelet’s diamond. “King Zython, I need you,” I say out loud.
And then I wait.
Not two minutes later, Zython zips into our living room, sword in hand, ready for battle.
“Princess?” he says, his strong hands seizing my wrist with confusion sweeping his brows. “Are you okay?”
“Can we take you up on that offer,” I ask, swallowing hard. “We don’t have anywhere else to go.”
His eyes move to August before he lets go of me.
“This is August… he’s my best friend,” I explain, shifting on my feet.
August bows, and I realize I should have done the same, even if the male in front of me is my father.
“And where is your prince?” he asks, sliding his sword into his belt. His green eyes shine with a curious light.
“If we don’t leave soon, he’s going to be here with his tracker at any moment,” I explain, panic starting to fill me. “And I just need to be away from him right now.”
He nods and offers me his hand. “Let’s go then. You are both welcome to stay in my kingdom as long as you want.”
A sigh of relief escapes me, easing the tension I hadn’t realized I was holding. We stand in a triangle, holding each other’s hands before we zip away into a throne room.
“Are you okay?” August asks me, and I nod.
“You’re safe here,” Zython promises me, scanning my eyes. “I was going to come speak with you soon anyway. I know that Axe and Bane came to see you.”
“You mean to scent me?” I reply, arching my brow. “Yes, they did. And they told me…” I trail off. “Do you think it’s true?”
He nods, then looks over at August as if just realizing he’s there.
“August’s mom raised me after mine died when I was eight years old,” I explain, wanting him to know I trust August with everything. “And then, when his mom passed away a few years back, he was the one making sure I was okay. I trust him with everything.”
He bows his head slightly to August, surprising me. “Then I owe you my gratitude.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” August replies, clearing his throat. “I would do everything for Star.”
“Star?” Zython asks, confusion sweeping his brow.
“He’s always called me that,” I say, smiling at August. “I think the king here might be my father.”
His eyes widen as he looks between Zython and me, his brow furrowing. “I thought incubi can’t have daughters?”
Zython nods, looking at me with awe. “We haven’t been able to in over a century until now. We have much to discuss, Princess, but let me get you settled in first.”
My mating bond bands burn a little, and I absently rub them, wondering if Rave has finally realized what happened.
I couldn’t save his son.
I’ve left him.
Maybe he won’t come after me since his focus will be on his child.
And I don’t even know how to feel about that.