Page 3 of Touch Of Fate

“He’s coming,” she whispers.

“Who?” I demand.

“Your bonded.” She leans back and smiles. “He’s yummy.”

I freeze.

“No.”

“Get ready for a wild ride.” She laughs.

“I don’t want a wild ride,” I deny. Fuck.

“Too bad. It’s happening,” she snorts.

I glance around, nervous, wondering if someone's going to pop out of the shelves. I don’t question her, knowing from experience that she is rarely wrong. I’ve been too busy staying alive and keeping Lace safe to think about what it would be like to have a soul bond.

My life has been filled with men who used me for their own gain. I’m not sure whether I should be excited by this news or terrified.

Whoever he is, he will have to prove he’s worth sharing my soul and power.

Chapter Two

Rome

“No.” I snap my fingers, and his mouth is sewn shut. My best friend rolls his eyes and rubs his hand over his lips, canceling my spell.

“We’re going,” he says.

“You go. I am not.” I lounge back in my chair in front of the fire.

“You can’t stay in your dreary castle forever,” he growls.

“I like my castle,” I say, running my hand over the arm of my chair.

“I did a location spell. I know where she is,” he explains, steepling his fingers on his hips.

“You’ve never been good at those,” I say dryly. “I don’t believe you.”

“Rome, you can’t lie around in your robe all day.”

“I totally can.” I wave my arm, and the fabric sways. “I like my robes, too.”

“How do you explain what’s happening to your tattoos?” he asks, annoying me further. “I can sense the change in your magic, and I knew you wouldn’t acknowledge it.”

“I’m fine,” I grit out, denying the change.

“Don’t lie to yourself. I don’t care if you lie to me; you do it all the time.” Archer has been my friend for a hundred and forty years. We’ve been through a lot together. He’s agitated with me, and usually, I laugh at his frustration. His black hair is sticking up everywhere, and his frown is deep.

“You’re going to need to do a healing spell to fix all the lines in your forehead,” I mention, pointing at his face.

“Rome,” he rumbles.

I sigh, sitting up. “Fine. Yes, my tattoos are glowing.” Some of my power is enhanced by the tattoos on my body. I have lost count of the ink in my skin, but recently, they have been glowing. It’s odd, but I have chosen to ignore the change.

“Your soul bond is out there. She needs you,” he says, and my eye twitches. He knows saying those words will affect me the most.

“Do you know her name?” I ask.