Fate Forgotten by J. L. Sheppard

Author:J. L. Sheppard [Sheppard, J. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal, Witches, Demons-Gargoyles
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Published: 2016-08-26T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

A disturbance in the atmosphere, and then the scent of him rushed Valerie. Amazing how in a matter of a week sensing him became second nature. Amazing how it never failed, the minute she felt him near, the breath rushed out of her, her nerves settled, and she relaxed.

Since she began watching Annie, the loss of her sisters and her former life still burned, as expected. Days drifted at a snail’s pace. She tried to keep busy, making her own meals, reading, or spending time with Ashley, Jenna, or Nathan. Nights were much more manageable. Annie smiling and laughing made it so much easier. They played, watched movies, and Val had even started to teach her to read.

The only drawback: seeing Jake. It surged emotions in her she wished she’d never felt. Inexplicable, her fear of falling in love, of losing love.

Jake kept his promise, hadn’t kissed her or held her. He kept his distance, not just physically but emotionally. She hated to admit it, but she wished he hadn’t. She wanted him to hold her, comfort her, especially those times when her grief was at its worst. In front of Annie, she tried to keep it at bay, but every night watching them say their goodbyes reminded her she had no one to say goodbye to. She knew he felt it. Because of his ability, because every time she felt it, his gaze met hers, and in his, she read her grief.

Val was, for all intents and purposes, alone, but not bitter. She didn’t hate her life. Instead, she was thankful for the Guardians, for being alive, for Annie, even for Jake. He’d given her a glimpse of the way she hoped she’d feel when she found the man destined for her.

“I’m home.”

She couldn’t help but sigh in relief. Standing from the couch, her gaze met his, then scanned the rest of him. “Did everyone make it back all right?”

His jaw hardened. He nodded.

“Annie’s asleep.”

He averted his gaze from hers and nodded again. Lately, he never held her gaze for longer than a moment. She waited, silently hoping he’d say something, anything.

Her fault. She said she’d wanted them to remain professional, except this wasn’t what she had in mind. This was…so unemotional it was uncomfortable, awkward. That first night, she figured they would soon come to better terms. She wanted them to. She just didn’t know how to make it known without blurting it out.

When he didn’t say anything, she said, “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then. Goodnight.”

She walked past him, pressed the button on the elevator, then heard him whisper, “Sweet dreams, Val.”

Her gaze went to him. His back to her, his head down. She wanted to ask if she heard him correctly, wanted to ask what troubled him, but she was too much of a coward to do either. The doors to the elevator parted, and she stepped through. Once the doors closed, she cursed under her breath, hating she hadn’t asked. She wanted their relationship to change, he’d given her the chance, and she let it slip by.

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