Page 2 of Bound By Destiny

She was vital to me. The day she died, I thought I did too. But my heart made a fool out of me, because here I am today. Breathing and healthy as ever, even if I’ve become a stranger to myself.

My eyes dart across the map, but the names are little more than a blur, much like the time I spent in those places. I don’t exactly remember where we went after Isobel’s death. I know we stayed in Persia for a while, and then we went somewhere cold – Russia, maybe? Over and over again, Warwick and I moved in search of a better home where we would go unnoticed.

We flew over oceans, crossed deserts of sand and ice. Eventually we traversed our largest stretch of water to date and landed on the American continent. Honestly, we’ll probably leave this place soon as well. The country is getting too crowded already.

“He’s not gone!” My brother’s bright voice suddenly pulls me from my brooding thoughts. He jerks my arm into the air. “He’s right here.”

I peer grumpily above the globe at Aleixo, who holds a clipboard and pen. He meets my glare with a wide smile.

“I thought you had left us for a moment there, Dane.” The blond doctor looks at me expectantly. “So? Where will you volunteer?”

I frown in confusion, only to remember that Isobel used to say I frown too much. I can almost feel her finger, smoothening the creases between my brows. The memory makes me frown more.

“We’re supposed to choose an area where it’ll be our responsibility if a new phoenix arises,” Warwick whispers helpfully.

I roll my eyes. “That’s never going to happen. Didn’t happen in three hundred years.”

Aleixo’s grin grows almost threateningly large. “There’s a chance, Dane.”

The rest of the phoenixes parrot his words with vigorous nods and overeager smiles. “Yeah, there’s a chance, Dane.”

These people are desperate.Strange, when I remember how wickedly strong our lot used to be. A few seconds pass, yet they all continue to stare at me intently.

With a sigh, I give the globe one great twirl. I listlessly watch until the world stops spinning. Everyone waits for my answer.

“There,” I mumble as I let my finger fall on whatever godforsaken place chance chose for me. It’s a fact that I’ve always had rotten luck – how can you love a woman with every fiber of your being and not be her mate? – so I’m expecting a pretty sorry spot.

Aleixo squints. “Where?”

“Take your fat fingers off,” Warwick mutters as he nudges me away. Then a smirk spreads across his eternally handsome face. “Look at that. Phoenix!”

A few people guffaw. I’m not one of them. Fate’s jokes have grown old by now.

Aleixo nods. “I’ll write down Arizona, then. Yelena, where do you –”

“I picked Phoenix,” I interrupt gruffly. “Actually, to be exact, I chose a place called...” My gaze narrows as I make out the miniscule letters, “Catalina Foothills. I never talked about the whole damned state, Aleixo.”

The man’s black eyes flash a deep and fiery brown. For all his civility, I remember that Aleixo was a fierce one. I roll my shoulders, ready for a battle.

“For goodness sake Dane… Palden volunteered for the whole Asian continent.”

Warwick silences me yet again by crushing my foot the second I open my mouth to argue.

“Don’t turn us into a pair of pariahs. Please.”

Something about the flicker of despair in my brother’s gaze makes me falter. It’s been a lonely few centuries. Even I have to admit it.

“Whatever,” I relinquish with a grunt.

Because after all, what are the odds that a phoenix suddenly crops up in the middle of Arizona?

Destiny

“Caleb,” I beg. “Honestly, I’m sorry.”

My boyfriend of one year – also colleague of ten and crush of seven – turns his back to me. It’s a mighty fine back, especially without a shirt like right now. But still, conversation is limited from such an angle.

I finish buttoning my shirt and crawl over the bed so I can meet his hazel gaze. I flinch.Totally annoyed.

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