Forged by Fate

considered, and so have I.”

He smirked. “I was kind of hoping you’d let him throw a few punches. For Mia’s sympathy.” Thunder rolled in and he sighed, glancing toward the window. His tone became suddenly reasonable, all insult draining from his voice. “We’ll be gone by nightfall, if that’s acceptable.”

Garrit nodded once and turned away.

She shook her head. Getting to know what made Adam tick wasn’t worth this, not now. “I’ll go find Mia and explain. In the meantime, please try not to kill one another.”

Garrit made a noise that sounded like a strangled laugh. “I can dream.”

She raised an eyebrow at Adam. Touch my husband, and I’ll make sure you regret it.

Adam nodded dismissively, his gaze shifting to the window, and the rain that had begun. Go to your sister. Then his lips twitched. Feel free to upset her.

She shut her mind to his before he could share anything more than the most general feeling of lust, and left the room before he succeeded in provoking her into an act of violence, too.

She found Mia in the entertainment room, watching soap operas on the widescreen television and eating chips.

“Oh, Abby.” Mia didn’t even look away from the television. “Did you want to watch Afterlife with me? What do you do all day when Garrit’s working? I thought the reason you couldn’t go on a honeymoon was because he had to work?”

“I can’t believe you still watch this show.” Eve sat down next to her on the sofa. She ignored the rest of the questions. How was she going to explain all of this in a way that didn’t sound like a punishment? None of this was Mia’s fault, really. She was a victim of circumstance. Eve scrubbed her face. “Mia, you and Ethan need to go.”

Mia finally looked at her, startled. “Why?”

“You should go see Mum and Dad. They’ll want to meet him.” Not that she wanted him anywhere near her parents. But he had given her his word. She had to rely on that now. A little trust, he’d said. And it would certainly make her feel much safer from Michael. She rubbed her stomach again. “And besides, you’ve got school starting up soon.”

“School? As if. I was only doing that so I could get a better job than food service.” Mia stared at her, frowning. “This is because you don’t like him, Abby. You think I don’t notice the way you stiffen when he walks in a room? What is it that bothers you so much about him?”

Eve looked into her sister’s eyes and wanted so much to give her an honest answer. It felt cowardly to lie, but she couldn’t take the risk. She wouldn’t take the risk of going back to an asylum. Not even for her sister. “He rubs me the wrong way, that’s all.”

Mia’s eyes narrowed. “He’s your brother-in-law now! Would it kill you to be nice to him? Or are you just mad because I married even better than you did?”

“This isn’t a competition, Mia. I don’t care how well you married. I’m glad that you think you married so well. You should feel that way—” She bit off the rest of her sentence, rocking back against the couch cushions with the realization. Mia should feel that way. How many times had she been married off to men who didn’t care at all about her? There had never been a time she didn’t know the difference. Never. And she hadn’t ever needed telepathy to tell her. Mia would never tolerate a man who wasn’t interested in her.

“Abby, are you all right? You’re white.”

She took a steadying breath, then forced herself to smile. “Yes.”

Mia wouldn’t spend a single day with a man who did not make her the center of his world. She didn’t have to trust Adam, but if Adam did love Mia, cared for her—

“But it doesn’t change anything,” she said firmly. It changed everything. “You have to go. You and Ethan need to start your life together. On your own. Away from us.” Away from me.

I said feel free to upset her, not manipulate her.

Adam’s voice in her head startled her. She hadn’t realized he was listening.

“If you don’t want us here, just say so. But I don’t understand what difference another two people makes, when Garrit’s entire family is here.”

“If you two go, then they will too, and we’ll all have a little bit of peace.” Only you would assume I was trying to manipulate her.

“Oh.” Mia glanced over her shoulder and her eyes lit up. “Ethan, you don’t mind terribly if we go visit my parents, do you?”

He was in the doorway, leaning against the frame. I doubt very much I’ll ever have peace, Eve, but that’s a nice wish. He smiled at her sister. “Of course not, Mia. Whatever you like.”

Eve shook her head and refused to reply to the thought. The dual conversation was aggravating. “I know they’ll be thrilled to meet you.”

Mia had always been their favorite. It wouldn’t have mattered who she brought home. Tattoos, piercings, bad hair, torn up clothing. He could be a penniless street urchin, and they would hug him and tell him how wonderful he was for Mia.

Jealousy doesn’t suit you.

She looked up. Adam studied her, his brow furrowed. Mia was going on about how excited Mama would be to meet him. How thrilled their parents would be that she had found someone so charming and so loving.

“We’d better go pack, then, if you want to leave this evening.” Mia took Adam by the hand and pulled him with her back out of the room. “You’ll like them so much, Ethan. And then we can go house shopping! But not too close to my parents. Mum will invite herself over if we’re not careful.”

Eve waited until she couldn’t hear Mia anymore before she stood up and turned off the television. Soap operas didn’t really hold her attention after millennia of watching it in the flesh. She sighed. Like now. She had the feeling it would be a very long time before any DeLeon was permitted to forget the truth again. The thought didn’t give her any comfort.

She returned to Garrit’s study. He was still there, sitting behind his desk. But his eyes weren’t tracking on his paperwork, and it looked as though he’d been pulling on his hair.

He looked up at her when she walked in, and leaned back. “How did Mia take it?”

“She took it. She’s dragged Adam off to pack.”

“I’m sorry, Abby. For being so difficult about this.”

He pushed his chair back and she sat down in his lap, letting him wrap his arms around her. The rightness of it was a balm. This was where she was meant to be, now. With her family. With her people.

“You’re doing what you think is best. Just like Ryam would have. Just like Reu did.”

“Infinite patience must be one of your gifts.”

“No.” She watched the rain against the window. The thunder was distant now. Almost comforting in its rumble. “I can be just as impatient as anyone, given the right motivation.”

“You’ve never been impatient with me. Even when I refuse you.”

“You’re right to send them away, Garrit.” Saying it aloud made it feel even more so. Adam’s place was with Mia. Some of the guilt around her heart eased. “They need to get to know each other if they’re going to be husband and wife. And Mia will keep him busy.”

Garrit smiled. “Then perhaps you’ll have your honeymoon after all.”

“Somewhere tropical, with lots of sun?” She was surprised how much the idea appealed to her. “All this rain lately has been miserable. I may as well have been living in London.”

He laughed, lifting her from his lap and setting her back on her feet. “Give me an hour to make the arrangements, and you can thank me properly. We’ll leave first thing in the morning. Mieux vaut tard que jamais.”

Yes, much better late than never. She was halfway to the door before it occurred to her to ask, and then she turned. “Just us, Garrit? No security or family or anyone?”

“You have my word, just us.” But he was staring out the window and there was an odd determination in his face. She frowned, and when he noticed his face cleared at once. “Go pack, Abby. I’ll take care of the rest.”