Page 5 of Bound By Destiny

“What I do know,” he continues firmly, “is that this expert I reached out to, Dr. Pyrrhos, told me that he has a special ward dedicated to this condition, and that they’re sending a licensed assistant to your residence at this moment. So please be a little more patient and–”

“I want to know what’s wrong with me,” I plead as the doorbell grows even more insistent. “I want to know the survival rates of this thing.”

“I can’t tell you, Mrs. Evans. It’s not listed under any of my textbooks.”

I don’t bother with a response. I pour all of my despair into pressing the button to hang up, cutting the doctor short. Unfortunately my need for vengeance isn’t satisfied. Especially not when the doorbell persists in driving me mad.

“What?!” I roar as I stomp to the entrance. “Don’t you get the message? I don’t want to answer!”

I swing the door open to hurl every insult I know at the culprit, only the words die in my mouth.

Before me stands a strapping man who clearly towers above me – not something I’m used to at 5’8. He’s more good-looking than should be authorized for any human being, with striking silver eyes and hair a rich and brilliant russet color.

His brows are thick, unflinching, drawn into a scowl so fierce it causes me to take a step back. He has the overall kind of structure and hardness I’d expect on a Roman statue, with a belligerent air and a patrician nose. Mystery man also has a killer body, with wide shoulders that could lift an airplane, for all I know.Well probably not, I reason.

“W-who are you?” I manage to squeak out, albeit in a much less aggressive tone than I welcomed him with.

The statue comes to life, and one deep copper brow shoots up high. The man scans me from head to toe and somehow, what he sees makes his frown deepen. I can’t resist straightening to my full height. Yes, perhaps I’ve gained an extra pound or two since I turned thirty.But try looking good when you’ve got dorso something or other, I nearly spit out.

Unfortunately, I’m pretty certain this stranger would still look magnificent.

“I’m your live-in professor.”

My jaw drops, and a shaky chuckle escapes my lips. What kind of joke is this? This guy is no professor. More like a thug, from the looks of him. Or a Calvin Klein model. Possibly both.

“And what are you supposed to teach me?”

For some reason, my very unequivocal question feels suggestive when spoken to this man. I realize that I’ve unconsciously been leaning towards him. I jerk backwards and cross my arms over my chest, heat spreading over my cheeks. For once, it’s not because of my fever.

“Did you even read the letters?”

His voice is deep, rich – and wholly distracting. The sound of his husky timber sends a thrill through my spine.

I clear my throat. “What?”

I get the eye roll treatment as he shuffles forward, ready to break into my apartment. I stand my ground and block the entrance, so all he can do is peer above my shoulder.

“This would’ve been so much easier if you’d just read the damn letters, you know.”

I follow his gaze, only to land upon the pile of unopened mail. My eyes widen in comprehension.The Phoenix Guild of Reinsertion and Resurrection.

“You’re from that sect?” I eye him suspiciously. “You don’t look like the holy sort.”

Maybe they use him as a special asset to woo the ladies. Fine as he is, I’m certain he collects very generous donations.

It seems that every word I speak irritates him further. Now the handsome stranger is sporting a full-fledged grimace, and I have the distinct impression that I’m the cause of it.

“Don’t you ever read your mail?”

“Not the junk mail, no.”

“How dare you say…” He falters, visibly offended. “There’s royal blood in me, you know.”

I inspect those gunmetal eyes again. They certainly look sharp as a knife, but with each second it’s becoming more obvious this poor fellow isn’t entirely sound of mind.

“And I had an ancestor who came from a secret Kingdom that venerated the sun. Now if you–”

“Really?” he interrupts suddenly. For reasons beyond me, it looks like that tidbit of information holds his attention more than anything I’ve said up to now.

---