Page 33 of Bound By Destiny

Recollections of a slender woman with dirty blonde hair cascade through my mind. The morning I said my vows to Isobel underneath a garland of woven branches and flowers, the time she was so proud of her lemonade, the night we fought because I burned a hole in her favorite dress.

My eyes burn, and I turn my back to Warwick before he witnesses the embarrassing sight.

The worst part is, Isobel’s face is hazy now.

Destiny’s, however, is crystal clear. I could almost touch her.

“I can’t,” I rasp.

Warwick takes a few steps forward and lays a hand on my back. His previous aggravation is gone, only to be replaced with concern.

“How was the new phoenix, then?” He asks after a few minutes, obviously trying to make small talk. “We’ve all been dying to know about her, yet you’ve said so little.”

I shrug. “Nothing much to say. She’s a woman. She’s a phoenix.”

Warwick snorts. “With you, the less words you use, the more there actuallyisto say.” To my utter irritation, he shoves me in the ribs. “Was she pretty?”

I fixate on a hole in the ceiling.We should get that roof fixed sometime soon.Unfortunately, my efforts don’t stop my ears from turning red.

“Dunno. I was there to teach her about being a phoenix, not to ogle her.”

“Aha!” Warwick points at me with a wicked grin. “That means there was a lot more ogling going on than teaching!” He eyes me with a smug air. “Come on Dane, you can’t fool me. I’ve literally known you for centuries.”

I pass a hand across my face, mortified that he can read me so easily.

“It’s not something to laugh about, Warwick.”

He studies me with wry amusement. “Why not? Seeing you get all flustered is pretty amusing in my book. Did you–” I frown as he halts mid-sentence, a look of total amazement passing over his handsome features. “Oh.”

His tone drops, hits a grave note. His blue eyes find mine, round as saucers.

“Dane,” he croaks, “is she your mate?”

My sole answer is to inspect the tip of my shoes. I’d rather not talk about it, but there’s no way I can lie to my own brother either.

“Dane,” he repeats, a blinding smile growing on his face. “Dane, that’s wonderful!”

His sudden joy, my fading memories of Isobel, my ardent craving for Destiny… Everything stirs together and blows up. Rage soars in me like hot lava, and I land a mighty kick to the ground, sending hay flying into the air.

“No it’s not!” I bellow, finally letting loose the turmoil I’ve been containing for weeks. “It’shorrible, Warwick! I gave my heart to Isobel – you should know, you were the one to marry us!”

He frowns, sorrow and anger playing across his features. “And do you remember how I ended your vows, Dane?!” He repeats those words I’ve replayed in my mind a thousand times: “For all the days you have together.” He shakes his head ruefully. “Isobel is gone. I miss her too, Dane, even if I can’t compare. But knowing her, I’m pretty sure Isobel wouldn’t have wanted to see you like this.”

I rest my forehead against the wall, fists trembling because I clench them so hard.

“Isobel made me promise right before our wedding I’d take my mate the day she finally came,” I mutter dejectedly, the words muffled against the wood.

“Well then what’s the problem?”

“It was a bullshit promise!” I roar desperately. “Who marries a woman with the intention to find another one after, who–”

“And my vows were bullshit too?” Warwick interrupts hotly.

“Yeah!” I snap back. “That wasn’t a proper ceremony, and you know it!”

“How dare you–”

“Weddings are all about saying ‘I do’ forever! But instead you inserted a bunch of clauses so I could walk away fancy free as soon as Isobel was in the grave,” I accuse. “Well that’s not who I am. I keep my word!”

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