Possession (The Mate Games 3)

She laughed, long and loud, wiping a tear from her eye when she finally caught her breath. “That’s funny. You’ve seen your father in the midst of one of his rages. Do you think he would have allowed that to happen? I mean, not even death kept us apart.” Her eyes got dreamy and she bit her lip. “One could argue death is what brought us together. How else do you explain a ghost being brought back to life after decades only to find their soulmate?”

“Sounds like destiny.”

“Exactly. And I learned to never fuck with fate. Trust me. Besides, if you found your mate, why would youwantto be parted? True mates are a rare and wonderful gift.”

Knowing I was getting dangerously close to spilling a secret I wasn’t ready to share, I asked, “What if fate deigns to give someone more than one mate?”

She was quiet for a second, and my heart beat frantically as I waited—with no little dread—for her answer. “I’ve never seen it, but your father once explained to me his ancestors’ belief about the soul. How it can split into many parts only to come back later. Perhaps twin flames are not the only kind. Fire spreads and burns. Why couldn’t a soul have more than one mate?”

Is that what I am? A missing part of her soul? Are all of us? What are the odds Sunday would find her mates at the same time in the same place? What does fate have in store for her that requires more than one?

“Alek? You’ve gone quiet, minn son.”

I shook my head to clear the troubled musings. This was more than I bargained for. “It’s a path I hadn’t considered.”

“We are rarely prepared when fate comes calling. All we can do is adapt. Just look at your father. He threw every plan he had aside the second his soul recognized mine. And when our bond was threatened, he fought a seemingly unwinnable battle to save it. One does not walk away from the promise of true love, Alek. Rather, we do anything in our power to keep it. Remember that, perhaps it will lighten those heavy thoughts of yours.”

I didn’t know how to respond. Instead of telling me I was making a mistake, she’d only reaffirmed my instinct. Sunday was my mate. She was the other half of my soul, and I was one of the missing pieces to hers.

And now that I’ve found her, how am I supposed to walk away when my time in this world is up?

If my mother was right and thisisfate, then the answer is I won't.

Not by choice.

Present day

Usually the sightof my homeland brought with it a wave of peace. Not today. The blinding snow, early morning sun, and chilly air only served to emphasize that I was no longer in England with Sunny.

Just the thought of not being beside her sent panic roaring through my veins. I shouldn’t have left. It wasn’t too late. If I could get back through the portal...

“Peace, son.”

I spun out of my father’s grip, glaring at him with an anger that was not borne out of my emotions. At least not entirely. It felt like a creature had been set loose, and it was his anger, his need for blood, that was driving me.

“Should we remove his restraints? He seems calm,” my uncle Finley said, his eyes filled with apology as his gaze swept over the shackles on my wrists.

“No. Not yet. You know how the bloodlust can be. We need to be sure before we set him free.”

“I’m fine. Let me go.” Even as I said the words, I knew they were a lie. I was anything but fine, but if they let me free, I might be able to get back.

The portal continued to shimmer beside me, a beam of moonlight shining down on a fuzzy figure I knew to be Sunday. Every cell in my body urged me to go to her. To protect her.

I took a step toward the opening between realms.

My father, the bastard, tracked my move.

“Close it,” he ordered.

“No!” I roared, taking another step. But the portal was already closing. “Sunday!”

“Sorry, mate,” my uncle said. “There’s nothing for it.”

I rounded on him, chest heaving. “You fucking asshole.”

“Run.” The word was a harsh growl from my father. Not directed at me. “Now.”

My uncle shook his head. “One day I’ll learn to stay away from berserkers.” Then he opened himself another portal and disappeared. Likely knowing he’d never be able to outrun me.