Page 46 of Worse Fates

Golden shakes his head, like he’s trying to dislodge his thoughts to properly explain himself.

“If it ain’t something you get to think about, like explore then claim or toss, how can it actually be yours? Just another bloody hat you’re forced to wear.”

It dawns on me in that moment how suffocated I must’ve made him feel. “And is that how you felt when I told you we were soulmates?”

He shakes his head. “I was excited. But then you told me about your other soulmates and… now I’m wearing three more hats. And, well, it makes me feel… how can you want me or I want you?” Golden nose scrunches adorably. “Stupid fuckin’ hats.”

“Golden, I’ve done a terrible job of explaining soulmates, so your confusion is my fault. Yes, a soul is unique, a little piece of magic we’re all born with. However, sometimes this piece of magic is shared, like yours. But you are still and will only ever be—you. A life is lived, not passed down.”

“I knew your name though,” Golden grumbles.

“Magic can linger; and sometimes that magic is a memory. Your life force has been in three other bodies and I’ve known each one,” I explain gently. “It’s to be expected.”

“But then why do I want you?” He bites out.

Grinning, I say, “You won’t like my answer.”

He juts out his chin. “Try me.”

“Fate.”

He groans, dropping back onto the sofa. “Lucero!” But he’s smiling, and as long as he’s happy, that’s all I care about.

“We would’ve always found each other, Golden. Fate just helped us along.”

Before he can say more, the door opens, and Rurik comes into view. Golden shoots up and his happiness fades.

“You—you fucking bit me!”

Chapter Seventeen - Golden

I grab the table lamp beside me and hurl it at the blonde bellend who fucking bit me. But instead of smashing into his face, he ducks with vampiric speed. It explodes on the door frame and shatters into a thousand pieces.

“For fuck sakes,” the blonde grumbles, as if I’m the one being unreasonable.

“You fucking bellend!” I shout, kicking away the blankets piled at my feet and reach for another lamp.

“Golden, love, before you throw something else, let me explain,” Lucero says gently, but handing over the lamp I’d been reaching for.

The lamp goes flying into the blonde's face, who dodges it again, leveling Lucero with a glare.

“What’s happening?” Ramy demands as he rushes into the room, his shoes crunching on the broken ceramics, with Kai close behind.

Thrusting my finger at the blonde, I snarl, “That bastard tried to kill me!”

“He what?” Kai shouts.

“We should all talk before—” Ramy doesn’t get a chance to finish as Kai jumps on the blonde's back, trying to hook his arm around the vampire's neck.

“Fucking hell. Lucero!” The blonde grunts, attempting to grab hold of Kai.

Lucero shrugs dismissively. “I don’t know what you want me to do about this.”

“Everyone calm down!” Ramy cries.

But while he’s distracted, I charge forward, aiming a kick to his balls. But the vampire dodges just in time, throwing Kai onto the sofa. Growling, the vampire takes a step towards me.

Before his foot can land, Lucero appears in front of me, seizing the vampire’s neck. A pained bark shoots from the blonde as Lucero rams him into the wall.