Cadence of Ciar (The Fate Caller Series Book 1) by Zoe Parker (10)

Having a few moments alone is so surprising that at first, I don’t know what to do with myself, so I stand there in my pajamas eyeing the empty room. My gaze pans around to the bathroom door and the decision is made quickly. Grabbing my big ratty fluffy pink robe—I love pink, no shame—I run gleefully into the bathroom to do the one thing I rarely get to do.

Take a hot bubble bath.

Turning the taps to steam-your-skin-off, I toss in my Fairy made bath bomb and practically rip my clothes off. The bomb bubbles the water with pink glitter and the smell of cherry blossoms fills the room. Humming to myself, I check the temperature with my fingertips and quite happily I slide into the hot water.

Bliss fills me from head to toe.

Grabbing a towel from the shelves next to the tub, I roll it up behind my head and lay back to enjoy this quiet, relaxing moment in life. A deep sigh leaves me as all the stress—and the junk associated with it—does as well, at least for this stolen moment in time.

The hot water soaks into my skin and the warmth soaks into my bones. Another sigh and I relax deeper into the water, my body becoming pliant and limp. There are so few moments in life where one can truly relax, I’m thankful I have this one.

Now I can think.

I’m used to being surrounded by noisy creatures, but I’m also used to being able to get away from them. Lately that hasn’t been an option. If Zag isn’t there, Ciar is and if neither of them are there Fluffy is wobbling around somewhere. I know that it’s part of being in a family and all, but things are changing—drastically—with Ciar and… there will be more.

Two more problems in fact.

Since I’m Awakened now—which I don’t really see the big hoopla about it—then Ciar is the Pinnacle, he can’t be anything but. Plus, I feel it. That means that one will be my Anchor and one will be my Hook. Both of them will probably hot and more than likely have attitude problems. I mean look at Ciar? He’s the epitome of broody bad boy. I can’t help but be curious about them, these strangers that won’t be strangers for long.

Holy meatballs how will I deal with three men? I’ve done some kinky stuff, but these ones I have to keep around. I have no idea how to be in a relationship, I’ve never actually had one. One-night stands or week-end stands is the sum of my romantic life. This is all unexplored territory for me.

A buzzing sound breaks the bubble of quiet around me. Well fudge. I know that sound, it’s a phone. Why is there a phone in here with me? Sitting up, the water sluices down my chest and I try to keep it from dripping onto the robe sitting next to the tub. I dig around in the pocket for the phone, that I’m betting Ciar had the foresight to put in my robe pocket.

Because somehow, he always knows stuff.

Ineffectually swiping on the screen to answer the call I use a towel to dry my hands enough to finally slide the green button.

“Are you in the bathtub?” Ciar’s voice comes through clearly before I say hello.

Laughing I say, “Yes, as you apparently expected me to be.”

“I saw the bath bombs in your purchases. Are you enjoying yourself?” There’s an undertone in this voice that gives me goosebumps.

“I was.”

“When you’re finished with your bath meet me in the park,” he pauses and then continues, “please.” The line disconnects and for a solid two seconds I stare at the phone.

Did Ciar just say please?

Leaning back into the tub I continue to look at the face of the phone. I might as well make use of it. Let’s look up information on Triads and such, more than the bits and pieces I know because in my idiocy, I didn’t think it was important to learn. I had in my head I’d never Awaken.

The Ley-net provides the answers.

Everything is about the Center, which is me. When a person Awakens it sends out a magical call to their Triad. Since Ciar is already here where are the other two? Who are the other two?

I flip through the next Ley-page, reading quickly through the stuff I already know. I’m looking for a specific thing and there it is—the call. When someone Awakens it sends out a magical call to the destined members of their Triad, but there’s a catch. If they’re reluctant to bond it leaves the bond open and susceptible for someone else of equal power that is compatible with the Awakened to hi-jack it.

However, they have to be accepted by the Awakened for it to cement. They can’t force it. No one can force it. This relaxes a worry in me that was causing me all types of issues.

‘See, it’s all about choices, monster girl.’ I startle at Ciar’s voice in my head and almost drop the phone in the now tepid water.

I was so lost in reading that I didn’t feel him return, but I feel him now. Standing a few feet from me in the doorway of the bathroom unabashedly staring at me with that knowing smirk on his face.

Shooting to my feet I toss the phone on the robe and grab the towel to hastily dry off, wrapping my robe around my chilled body. The phone goes back in the pocket and I brush past Ciar to grab a drink and crawl onto my bed.

I think it’s time he and I have that talk we’ve been avoiding.

“The Ley-net gives some explanation and then I know what I’ve been taught. Now old-man, what’s the rest of it?” The pillow goes onto my lap, mostly for comfort. Maybe a little for me to hide behind.

Strolling across the room he slides onto the bed beside of me, close enough to reach out and touch me with hardly any effort but not actually touching me. I don’t mind it, I like him this close. Plus, he can’t hide his emotions as well from me at this distance.

The bond is getting stronger and now that I’m no longer denying it, which was stupid of me to begin with. I do need to figure out how to understand it and use it. I wish I could say I’m one of those people who can read emotions on someone’s face like a book but, I’m not.

Especially with someone like Ciar who can snoop inside of my head like he’s watching a TV program. That gives him an unfair advantage, so I have to work with what I can.

Ciar leans against the wall and crosses his arms over his chest, giving me a slow half-smile that’s full of the audacity of the man and says, “you know the logistics of an Awakening.” His smile broadens. “The moment your teeth sank into my skin instead of a simple bond you claimed me, monster girl.”

“And that claiming Awakened me?”

“Yes. Your Awakening sent out an irresistible call to your Triad and since you claimed your Pinnacle first, the call was potent.” I suck at reading faces but there’s no mistaking the abject satisfaction on his face.

“Why are you so happy about it? You don’t strike me as the sharing type.”

He leans forward, intensity saturating the air around him. Uh-oh.

“Because I have waited almost two decades for you to be ready for this, Keri. A Triad is a sacred privilege that most creatures don’t get to experience, so I count myself blessed by Faerie for allowing me to be one of the fortunate ones. And,” the smile blooms into something that’s all teeth and promise and instantly makes me flush with heat. “This bond between us is not a surprise to me, monster girl. I’ve had decades to accept the implications as well as everything that comes packaged with it. Besides, jealousy is not common among a Triad, especially one as powerful as this will be.”

Leaning away from him I rest my back against the rough wood of the wall and mull over what he’s said so far.

“Now, what are you really worried about, Keri?” His voice is soft coaxing, how can I resist that? The bond between us in a tangible thing I can see it crossing the short space between us, dark and tight thread connecting us together.

“I don’t want to lose myself because some wahoo magic says so. You have been hard on me my entire life and never once did I think you liked me as a person. Now I’m supposed to just accept that I’ll be sharing a life-bond and more with someone who didn’t like me a week ago.” It spills out of me like verbal vomit and I don’t even try to stop it. It needs saying.

His green eyes are luminescent in the fading light of the room as they study me, swirling with emotions I can’t read yet but can feel the seriousness of.

Finally, after staring at me an uncomfortably long while, he says, "You have to be strong for what’s coming and to be strong, one of us had to be the bad guy and push you. Mada didn't want to do it because she considers you her daughter. In her eyes you’re her fragile little butterfly.”

He’s not wrong, Mada is horrible about babying me. “Nagan won’t hurt a hair on your head—let alone push you to be who you are today. Which left only me and so I did what needed to be done. I pushed you until I knew you'd survive anything this place can throw at you, until I knew that you could handle anything this fucking world throws at you," he moves close to me, the energy rolling off his body brushing against my skin, "I pushed you so that you can survive being bound to me."

"How," I lick my lips as my voice quivers, "scary are you really, Ciar?" In a blink his face morphs into the monster I know him to be, but I'm not afraid—not anymore.

Achingly gentle, his warm soft lips touch the very tip of my nose while simultaneously running a finger over the point of my right ear. His touch sends a shiver through me. He's flipping dangerous alright… to my libido. His face melts back into the one I've grown rather used to seeing.

Hiding a smile, I look away from his eyes before I’m trapped by them. He might have accepted everything, but I’m not sure how I feel about being someone’s property. Fae males are all about ownership.

"Never in a million years will I consider you my property, monster girl. If anything—I belong to you." With those quietly spoken words he slides to his feet and walks out of the room.

Well, fudge, that's a twist on things. He’s upset with me, I can feel that but I’m not sure why.

“You accused him of wanting to own you, after he’s technically done nothing but sacrifice for you. That is insulting for such a creature as he, mistress.” Zag crawls across the wall like the shadow he is. More than likely he heard our entire conversation and I guess since he’s my Familiar that’s something I’m going to have to get used to.

He’s also probably right about Ciar.

Hurrying to my feet I dig in the dresser for clothes and shove my feet in my shoes without untying them. Grabbing that steel thread that ties us together I leave the room at a jog and head right for him.

It’s the weekend so the Menagerie is mostly deserted. I’m not sure where everyone goes but I do know they can’t go home, it’s one of the many dumb rules here. There’s an entire book on them that I haven’t read all yet.

I probably should.

Behind the school is a small wooded area and that’s where I find him. Sitting on a bench with his elbows resting on his knees, head down in thought. It looks almost like a pose of defeat, like the weight of the world is heavy on his shoulders.

Given everything, maybe it is.

On quiet feet I approach him. I know he senses me, but he doesn’t move.

“You know, when I was little and afraid of something, you were the one person I always ran to… even when I worried you’d grouch at me for it.” Sliding onto the bench beside him I rest my leg against his. “You were the one I always ran to, regardless of the reason. It was always you.” The words leave me feeling lighter, the truth of them removing a weight I didn’t know I carried.

“I followed you everywhere, I realize how creepy that sounds, but I did. When I was older I didn’t understand why the Fairies giggled when you walked by or why they whispered about you behind their back. You were this big bad wolf, you know?” Slowly, carefully, I slip my hand into his larger one. There is no hesitation as he grips mine tightly.

“To be honest, I was a little jealous once I realized why they tittered. I always assumed that you had a Fae form, but I didn’t think about it too often. Thinking about it led to other questions and feelings I didn’t want to explore because even though I ran to you when I was afraid… I was afraid of you too.” His hand tightens on mine to the precipice of painful then relaxes.

“When you reached adulthood, I wasn’t sure I could control my impulses concerning you, so I stayed transformed around you. Your smell, your closeness pricked at my Fae nature like a rusty nail. It was not because of magic or your Awakening—it was… is because of you. Your quiet strength, your humor. The little noise you make when you eat certain foods or the kindness you show to everything, even the things that don’t deserve it.” He turns his head to entrap my gaze with his own, “Magic has nothing to do with my wanting you, monster girl. You’re the reason I want you and you can’t get any more real than that.” His voice is hoarse towards the end and the emotion in his words is raw and unfettered.

There is no room to doubt the truth of what he’s saying.

And in my lamely graceful way I say the only word I can think of, “Okay.”