A Matter of Fate Read online

  “Creator,” he finishes for me. My eyes fly back up to his face. He’s smiling again. “We knew that there was one our age floating around, but . . . wow.”

  Terribly pleased that he seems impressed, I ask, “You’ve heard of me?”

  “Well, not specifically you, no. No one ever mentioned a name, or that the Creator was going to be this gorgeous, sexy girl, just that there was one getting ready to Ascend shortly.” Man, does he know the right things to say. “Had I known who you really were . . . .”

  “What would you have done?” I ask, eager for him to finish his sentence.

  “Maybe have gone to Annar to see you these last two days?”

  Good gods, he is too charming for words. I grin like a fool. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah,” he admits, moving closer.

  Logic flees me. I know I ought to tell him the truth, right here and now, about me and his brother, but inexplicably, what I want to do instead is feel his lips on mine once more. In a sultry voice that doesn’t resemble my own, I murmur, “I wish you had.” And then I place my hands against his chest. There’s no softness below my fingers, just hard, lean muscles and warmth seeping through his shirt. He feels amazing.

  What are you DOING? the little voice barks. Are you mad? This is Jonah’s BROTHER!

  My hands fall back to my sides and I take a step back. Attempting to sound flirty rather than shaken, I smile and ask, “What about you?”

  Kellan blinks a few times, as if he’d just snapped out of a trance. “Me?”

  Do I affect him just as much as he affects me? I point at him, rather than touch this time. “Your craft?”

  He blinks one last time and his whole demeanor shifts back into a casual stance. “We’re Emotionals, both me and Jonah.”

  “Emotionals,” I murmur, and then go still, staring at him with wide eyes. Oh. My. GODS. “Does this mean . . . have you ever done anything . . . ?”

  “No,” he says quickly. “I’ve always made it a policy to never use my craft on people I want to be around without permission. I certainly don’t want to ever question why a person is with me, if you catch my drift.”

  I wrack my mind for what I know about Emotionals. They are able to make anyone feel anything they want, whenever they want. They also—–OH NO. “Are you able to . . . know what I’m . . . feeling . . . ?”

  He manages to look both amused and guilty when he nods, because Emotionals can pick out the smallest, most nuanced emotions in every single person within their vicinity. They don’t need to surge to get an idea of what a person’s up to. They can sense it without even needing to look.

  Horrified, I take another step back, which he counters with a step forward. “Don’t be embarrassed.”

  “You . . . you’ve known this whole time . . . how I feel around you?”

  “Yes,” he says, trying to grab my hand. But I evade, so embarrassed I want to die. “Chloe, wait.”

  “You know?”

  “Yes.” He catches my hand. “It’s a good thing, C. Knowing how you feel is . . . it’s amazing. A gift. So wonderful it nearly blows my mind.”

  “Embarrassing,” I whisper.

  “No,” he insists, tugging me closer. “Wonderful.” And then, with his lips pressed up against my ear, “Just because you can’t sense it, doesn’t mean I’m not feeling all of these very same things, too.”

  I pull away so I can look into his eyes. I don’t know why, but I’m surprised to see how sincere they are. How much he already cares for me, too.

  “So . . . you’ve never worked, what, your mojo? On me?”

  He shakes his head solemnly.

  “Do you use it here at school?”

  Squeezing my hand reassuringly, he says, “Sometimes. If warranted.”

  “And . . . your brother?” My heart stumbles at the mere thought of Jonah.

  Kellan studies me for a long moment, our hands still clasped, before he says, “Jonah has the same policy as me when it comes to people he wants to be around. Although, he . . . .”

  The stumbling worsens. The suspense is killing me. “He what?”

  “He did something for you. On Monday. The attendance clerk was pissing us both off, yelling at you like that. He made her give you a pass. She wasn’t going to, you know.”

  You wanted Jonah to stand up for you, to help, right? the little voice murmurs. Well, he did. Maybe now you’ll start focusing on him rather than Kellan. Where is Jonah, anyway? Why aren’t you finding this out?

  I clear my throat, but before I can ask Kellan, he says, “I knew there had to be a reason I’m so attracted to you, why you’ve become all I can really focus on. These last few days were pretty tough—I have to admit, I think I failed a test in physics because I was daydreaming about you.”

  A flower blooms inside my chest. No, an entire garden of lovely, precious feelings forms. I am lightheaded, deliriously happy.

  And he knows it, because his gorgeous smile mirrors the sun before he kisses me.

  Chapter 16

  By the time I get to math, I’m a disoriented wreck.

  How can I be attracted to Kellan? How can I want him so much? Crave his kisses? It’s ludicrous—I should be doing the Snoopy dance of joy because Jonah is here. Jonah, who I’ve loved my entire life. Jonah, who I’ve measured all other men against.

  Everyone’s always failed my standards because they aren’t him. But now, his brother waltzes into my life and somehow, I’m rendered into a mindless idiot, consumed with need for someone who isn’t Jonah.

  It doesn’t make sense, especially since the tug that I feel with Kellan is here with Jonah, too, the moment he comes into the classroom. It’s strong. Distinct. Inescapable. I’m drawn to him like a moth to flame.

  Jonah is here. My Jonah.

  We stare at each other for a long moment. I’m about to say something, anything, but the bell rings.

  My concentration fails me during class. I am so excruciatingly aware of Jonah and every movement he makes that it’s almost painful. According to Cora, he’s here for me.

  I want to cry, I’m so happy. Things suddenly seem so clear. That I’d even considered being with his brother is insane. I made a mistake, because Jonah’s the one for me. He’s always been the one. For crying out loud, we’d met in our dreams. That’s something, isn’t it?

  I try not to stare the entire period at him, but it’s futile. Every time I sneak a look, he knows, because he looks right back. And each time, I nearly hyperventilate.

  Toward the end of the class, he gives me one of his smiles, the one that shows his dimple. I nearly die.

  Today. Today we’ll talk and then I’ll have my Jonah back.

  Are you even remembering that just a couple hours ago you were kissing his brother? How do you think that’s going to go down with Jonah, huh? Because I’m thinking it isn’t going to fly with him.

  An entire brick wall rains down on me, pounding me back into reality. The little voice is right. How in the worlds am I going to explain that one?

  I’m frantically trying to come up with a solution when the door opens. Karl walks into the room, his lips tight, his body radiating tension. Snook jolts up out of his desk. “Can I help you?”

  Karl holds out a pink slip of paper. “I’m here to take Chloe Lilywhite out of school.”

  The bells rings and the room begins to empty, but I don’t move. Karl scans the classroom with narrowed eyes as he walks over towards me. “Get up. We need to leave.”

  “What’s going on?” I ask. He grabs my book and stuffs it into my backpack.

  “I’ll tell you—” Karl stops, straightening up. “Jonah. What are you doing here?”

  I swing my head around and stare at Jonah, who in return is staring at Karl with equal astonishment. These two know each other?

  “We moved here,” Jonah says, and I nearly melt at how wonderful it is to hear his voice again. It’s him. Really and truly him.

  “When?” Karl asks, yanking me up to my feet. I complain, but he does
n’t hear me. Over at his desk, Snook raises his eyebrows, but I throw a smile over to smooth things out.

  Jonah takes a couple steps closer. The tug is intense now. “Last week.”

  “Who’s here with you?” Karl asks, still gripping onto my arm.

  “If you mean the Old Man,” Jonah says, “he’s at work.”

  “Crap,” Karl says quietly. And then—”Kel nearby?”

  “Down the hall. Karl—”

  The Guard swears under his breath. “I didn’t know you were here!” Karl picks up my backpack. “And if I don’t know, Zthane must not know. He’s going to have a fucking conniption fit when he hears about this.”

  “Language, sir!” Snook calls out. Karl glares and Snook quickly goes back to grading tests. The few remaining students stare curiously.

  Jonah looks at Karl and then to me. “Is there something I should know?”

  “Yes,” Karl says, dragging me with him as he steps closer to Jonah. “There’s a shitload you should know right now. Unfortunately, I can’t explain it this second. I need to get Chloe out of here—”

  “Did something happen?” I demand at the same time Jonah asks, alarmed, “Is she in danger?”

  “Get your brother, tell him he can’t let you out of his sight,” Karl says. “I’ll have someone out here ASAP for you—”

  I try again, “What happened?”

  But Karl is already pulling us towards the door. “J, I want you out of this school and in hiding within fifteen minutes. Do you understand?”

  Jonah stares at me now, worry obvious in his eyes. “I’m coming with you.”

  “Get Kel,” Karl growls. “Now.”

  And then Karl and I are off.

  We find Cora in the hallway, and, like me, she’s practically dragged to Karl’s hulking gray Hummer. “Buckle in,” he orders, throwing himself behind the wheel. “I tell you what, though. I’m glad to see J is in at least one class of yours. That’s assuring.”

  “Who?” Cora demands, leaning forward.

  “Seatbelt, Cora,” Karl says. He revs the engine. “I’m talking about Jonah Whitecomb.”

  “You know Jonah?” she asks, surprised.

  “I’ve known the Whitecombs for most of my life.” He slides a high-tech-looking cell phone into a special holder on the dashboard and dials a number. “They’re like brothers to me. Now, be quiet for once.” The call goes through. “Zthane?”

  The gravelly voice that answers is crystal clear despite being on a cell speakerphone. “I would have thought you’d be taking Lilywhite into hiding by now—”

  “In the process as we speak. Who’s Jonah Whitecomb’s assigned Guard?”

  The voice answers, “Giuliana.”

  Karl grinds out, “Why isn’t she with him right now?”

  “There haven’t been any sightings in his area in the last month.”

  “They’re here, Zthane. In California. Unprotected!” Karl swings the Hummer around a corner, forcing Cora and I to slide across our seats despite being buckled in.

  “WHAT?” this Zthane roars. “Are they with you now?”

  “No. My mission is Lilywhite, and by association Carregreen, only.”

  “I know, I know,” Zthane mutters. “Okay. They can take care of themselves.” He yells at length to somebody on his side of the phone. “Giules is on her way. Dammit, Karl! Some idiot just handed me the change of address form Kellan dropped off a couple weeks ago when I was off on a mission.”

  Karl sighs, scrubs at his face before jackknifing around another curve. “They’ll be fine, bro. This is Kellan we’re talking about. Jonah.”

  But I am not willing, unlike these two, to simply assume that Jonah and his brother can take care of themselves, especially if they’re in some kind of danger. “Karl,” I interrupt, “go back for him.”

  “Is that Lilywhite?” Zthane asks. But before Karl can answer, he says, “Get the Creator to safety. She’s our number-one priority.” And then he hangs up.

  I try again, more forcefully. “Go back for him. Now.”

  Karl doesn’t even bother looking at me. “No. There’s been an attack nearby. You aren’t safe.”

  “What kind of attack?”

  “I’ll tell you later, Chloe. Once we’re safely hidden.”

  Panic tightens my chest. “Why would Jonah need a Guard?”

  “Council bound, second tier. Only other person the Council deems crucial, next to you.”

  “Why?” Cora asks—no, yells—over the sound of the Hummer roaring through the streets.

  “How well do you know them?” Karl asks me, braking hard then gunning around another car.

  “It’s—” I say, but he cuts me off.

  “The Whitecombs are the most powerful Emotionals ever to be born.” He hits a button on speed dial on his phone. “One for the Council, one for the Guard. What they’ll do for us is . . . .” He shakes his head. “Let’s just say they’re VIPs and leave it at that. Look, girls. I need to talk to them and explain some things. So, stay silent, please. I can’t concentrate on getting us out of here and talk to them if I’m fielding dumb questions the whole time.”

  “Dumb questions?” Cora explodes, but Karl gives her a meaningful look in the rearview mirror.

  “We’ll be quiet,” I assure him, wincing at Cora’s death grip on my shoulder.

  He flips the call to speakerphone again, mumbling to me, “Dwarven technology is the best,” in an effort to explain how crystal clear the reception is.

  Kellan answers after three rings. “Karl, Jonah says you’ve taken Chloe Lilywhite out of school?”

  “Yes,” Karl says, pulling the Hummer out onto the highway.

  “Want to explain why? And what you’re doing here?”

  “I’ve been assigned to protect her. Hasn’t your dad told you anything about what’s going on lately?”

  There’s a brief pause. “You think the Old Man’s changed his policy on parenting?”

  Karl swerves around another car. “Good point. What about Zthane?”

  Another pause for a brief discussion between the brothers, who are also on speakerphone. “Are you referring to the serial killings?”

  They know. Of course they do. Everyone knew except me.

  “Yes. The Council ruled last week to send out Guard to two Council-bound members—”

  “Let me guess,” Kellan says flatly. “J and Chloe.”

  “Yep.”

  “If that’s the case, where’s my brother’s Guard?” Kellan snaps at the same time Jonah insists, “I don’t need one, Karl.”

  “Council ruled, buddy. Take it up with them if you disagree.” Karl nearly hits two cars he tries to pass. “Just talked to Zthane. Giuliana is on her way as we speak. Are you doing what I said, Jonah?”

  “We’re en route now,” Jonah answers.

  “Kellan,” Karl says, “you’re under an order of protection, too.”

  “Oh, for gods’ sakes,” Kellan mutters. “What a waste of Guard resources.”

  “We can take care of ourselves,” Jonah adds, also annoyed, and I would giggle if I wasn’t so terrified at the moment, because he sounds so much like me.

  “There’s been an attack nearby, forty minutes ago. One Magical hurt, three nons killed.”

  Cora and I stare at each other in terror.

  “Details?” Kellan asks.

  “Giules will fill you in when she arrives,” Karl says, driving on the wrong side of the road and nearly killing us in the process. His eyes flick to the dashboard clock. “Portal from Annar is, what? Fifteen minutes from the school? Depending on your location, she should be there within a half-hour. Find a spot she can access without having to rip the city apart.”

  Cora and I clutch onto the handlebars above us to stop from screaming as Karl skids into the proper lane.

  “Texting her our location now,” Jonah says.

  Cora leans forward and whispers into my ear, “Are we the only ones who don’t seem to know what in the hell is going on?”


  I nod, eyes glued on the road.

  “FYI,” Karl says, nearly hitting a semi, “the Guard have been authorized to use any force necessary on these missions.”

  My mouth drops open. Any force necessary?

  “Giules will like that,” Kellan says, and all three men laugh.

  “Who is this Jewel they’re talking about?” Cora whispers.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a couple of black shapes streaking next to the road. When I turn to fully look at them, my heart sputters. “Karl,” I say, tapping on the glass and frantically trying to not freak out and mistakenly set off an atomic bomb of fear, “look . . . look there . . . those, I don’t know what those are . . . .”

  His eyes follow my finger. The black shapes, misty and shifting, mass, break apart and then splinter into the road.

  “Holy mother-effing shit.” He slams on the breaks. All the cars around begin swerving and skidding to halts. Several smash into each other.

  “What’s going on?” both Kellan and Jonah demand, but we’re all staring at the shapes shifting in the road in front of us.

  And then the screaming begins. Ear-piercing, agonizingly horrible screaming sounding like it’s coming from a million souls.

  My feet scramble below me, searching for a nonexistent gas pedal. “Do something. Do something now, Karl.”

  I should be doing something, too. Gods, what? What can I do?

  Karl throws the Hummer into reverse, gunning the engine. Jonah is yelling, “Where are you? What’s your location?”

  “Get into hiding and wait for Giules!” Karl barks before hanging up, and the Hummer three-sixties as the black shapes surround us, still screaming. Then, to me and Cora, “Hang on, ladies!”

  A couple of black shapes streak out in front of us, moving so fast I can’t fully determine their constitutions. One strikes the car hard, forcing Karl to slam on the brakes again; the Hummer skids as it rotates direction, nearly missing an overturned minivan.

  “Tell me what to do!” I shout. What good are my powers if I’m only to sit like a lame duck, ready to get picked off?

  Another black shape smashes into the back, busting tail lights. Karl swerves past a downed motorcycle. “I don’t know, Chloe! Right now, we’re just going to run!”