“Others?” My heart pounded so loudly in my ears I can hardly hear myself think.
Yes. Helpers, guides. Lovers.
“But I have a boyfriend.”
Hecate laughed again.I know. He was the first gift.She smiled, a soft, motherly expression as she moved closer to me.I brought them to you and you were meant to have them both from the beginning, but Caden was holding on to his pain. You were meant to have others already. It couldn’t be helped. Free will.Hecate shrugged.Now that things have begun, I will bring you the others. You will not survive without one another. I have seen the future in which you refuse your gifts.
I shuddered as flashing images of blood and chaos invaded my thoughts.
“Seth is another gift?” I confirmed.
Yes.
“Is my desire for him because of you?”
Your desire is yours. Your choices are yours. I merely provide compatible partners to survive what is coming. United, you stand a chance. Your true nature is coming to light and it will not be denied.
“What if accepting them hurts someone I love?”
Love is not reduced because it is shared. He will see this in time. Your foundation is strong enough to build upon. Trust him.
“What’s coming?”
A chance to make things right. You have the opportunity to correct the mistakes of your ancestors.
My ancestors? “What did they do that needs fixing?”
I’m sorry. I can’t tell you more without compromising your intentions. I have watched you your entire life, Logan. I know you will make the correct choice.
Hecate vanished and I was catapulted back to the cabin. I tipped back and sprawled on the floor. Caden was by my side instantly, gathering me up and holding me close. The candle had snuffed itself out, tendrils of smoke wafting above it in elegant swirls. A blanket draped over me and I caught sight of Seth out of the corner of my eye, kneeling next to us. I buried my face against Caden’s chest and reached a hand out to Seth. The warmth of his touch was like a live wire arcing up my arm. Caden held me tighter as I shivered.
“What happened?” Seth asked, squeezing my hand tighter.
“A visit from a goddess.” I focused on breathing Caden in. He was my anchor.
I turned to Seth.
Mine.
I still didn’t understand, and the idea of trying to bring it all up with Caden made my stomach turn. I trusted him not to be mad, but I didn’t want to hurt him.
“What did she say?” Seth asked.
“We won’t survive without each other, and more are coming to help us.” I kept the rest to myself. I needed the right moment to talk to Caden, and cowardice tasted too sweet on my tongue to tell them anything more.
I’d hoped that Logan’s de-stressing would have lasted a bit longer. Whatever she’d seen while communing had made her twitchy and she couldn’t seem to look Seth or me in the eye. I did my best to ignore it. After getting her situated on the porch with some tea, I helped Seth make some food for us. Luckily the cabin provided some of the basics and had a barbecue on hand. We’dpicked up all the ingredients for steak and baked potatoes, and I was more than ready to stuff my face.
It was nice to work peacefully next to my brother. Our talk and “zoomies,” as Logan called them, had obliterated most of the lingering tension and we seemed able to exist comfortably around each other for the time being.
In other circumstances, this would have been an incredible vacation. The lingering specter of death and danger put a damper on the mood, but I was determined to steal moments of peace and happiness where I could.
We brought out foil-wrapped potatoes and the seasoned steaks to toss on the grill. I kissed the top of Logan’s head and she lifted her face for another. She tucked her fingers into the collar of my shirt and held me there, taking her time brushing my lips with hers until I was in a dreamy state and Seth loudly cleared his throat behind me. I flipped him the bird before lifting a giggling Logan into my arms. In life-or-death situations, I’d take every kiss I could.
I parked myself in her seat and held Logan in my lap, letting Seth man the grill. She nuzzled the side of my face and pressed a kiss to the stubble.
“I wish this was a holiday,” she said with a sigh. “I love the mountains.”
“I vote if we survive this, we spend at least a solid week on vacation,” Seth said.