Masked Fate (Fated Love #3)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Pandora

Smoke wakes me, and I start coughing, my chest burning.

Opening my eyes, it takes me a moment to realize what’s going on.

My room is on fire.

Jumping out of bed, I step as far away from the flames as I can, my back against the corner of my room.

When I try to zip to escape, I can’t.

“Fuck,” I whisper, panic hitting me. My breath comes out in short pants as my mind works overtime, trying to figure out how I’m going to get out of here.

Someone has spelled my bedroom, so I can’t zip in or out.

That’s the only explanation.

Rave did this to Astrid once.

I’m locked in here.

“Kainan! Help,” I yell, running to the window and trying to push it open. It doesn’t move at first— it’s also spelled. I mutter an incantation and use my magic to push through the ward. When it opens, I look down at the long drop. The flames have overtaken the door, which is my only other exit. I either have to run through fire or jump down two stories. I know which option I’d rather take. Sitting on the edge of the windowsill, I let my legs hang down as I step onto the roof and prepare to jump. Putting my hands out in front of me, I let my magic call to the wind, letting it carry me and cushion my fall. I still land hard enough for it to hurt like hell, maybe even breaking my left arm, but I ignore the pain.

This has Ebony written all over it.

She’s been trying to get rid of me ever since she came out of my mother’s vagina.

The staff come rushing out, followed by Ebony and Kainan, who is wearing nothing but a silk pair of red pajama pants.

It was only my room on fire.

And it was only my room that had been spelled.

Kainan stands by my side, his hand resting on my shoulder. “You okay?”

I nod, holding my injured arm with the other.

“I broke through the ward at my window. If I couldn’t overpower that magic, I wouldn’t have been able to jump out.”

She wanted me to burn alive.

And she would have slept like a baby if I had.

“Glad you’re okay, Pandora. Someone must really have it out for you.” Ebony smirks as she walks past me and back into the castle like nothing exciting has happened.

“Better luck next time,” I mutter to myself.

“Don’t even joke about that,” Kainan hisses, turning me to face him. “We need to handle her, Pandora.”

“I know,” I whisper. “I’ve got to get out of here. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“I’ll get your room taken care of,” my cousin assures me.

With nowhere else to go, I zip back to the place I said I would try and stay away from.

It’s the middle of the night, and I don’t want to wake Rave and Astrid.

Walking to the guest room where I usually sleep, I stop when I see Soren, bare-chested, heading toward his room. He does a double take when he sees me, his brow furrowing as he rushes over, tilting my face upward to look at him with his fingers. “What happened?”

Licking my dry lips, I glance down at my ripped sleep pants and ashy matching top, which has some grass stains on it from my fall. “Nothing,” I lie, trying to step around him, but he gently catches my unharmed wrist as I pass, stopping me.

“Don’t lie to me, witch,” he murmurs, and I stand still as he leisurely examines me. “Are you hurt? What have you done to your arm?”

“No, I’m fine—”

“Who. Fucking. Hurt. You?” he demands, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Tell me now , Pandora.”

“I fell,” I reply, trying to keep my eyes on his and not look at his perfectly muscled chest and abs.

He stares at me as if looking for any signs of deception. “You fell?” he says incredulously.

“Yes. Look, Soren, I’ve had a really bad night, and I’m tired. And I know you don’t want me here, but I have nowhere else to g-go,” I admit, my voice catching. I hate to show him any weakness, but I’m exhausted, and I simply want to go to bed at this stage. “There’s nowhere else I feel safe.”

He tucks my hair back behind my ear and examines my arm. “It looks broken.”

“I know,” I admit, wincing.

Suddenly, he lifts me, careful of my arm, and carries me to my room.

I close my eyes and breathe in his scent—cinnamon and comfort.

Home … if he’d ever allow it.

His constant change between warm and cold is so draining, but I allow him to lay me on the bed and tuck me in. “Don’t move,” he orders, leaving me alone in the room.

About ten minutes later, he returns with Astrid, her hair a wild mess like a certain winged shadow daddy has been running his hands through it.

“What happened?” she asks, rushing over to me.

“Sorry to interrupt your sex fest with my injuries.” I smirk, and she rolls her eyes as she runs her warm hands over my arm, then she closes her eyes, using her healing magic.

“How does that feel?” she asks, stretching my arm to test it.

“As good as new. Thank you,” I say, resting my hand on hers.

“You’re welcome. We need to talk about this tomorrow.” She plants a soft kiss on my temple and heads back to bed.

Soren studies me for a few silent moments before he turns to leave. He pauses at the door, his hand gripping the frame.

“You are safe here, witch.”

The tone in which he says ‘witch’ seems gentler this time.

Or maybe I’m that tired.

“Stay,” I plead, my voice a gentle whisper. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”

He hesitates, then climbs into bed with me and stays on top of the sheet.

I don’t care.

He’s here with me in my moment of weakness.

He’s here when I need him.

Even if it’s just for tonight.

Slowly, I move closer to his deathly still body. He doesn’t say anything or push me away, so I shift to his side, burying my face into his chest.

He doesn’t move.

He doesn’t breathe.

I’m about to move away when his arm comes around to hold me.

Only then does slumber take me.