Page 31 of The Fate of Black Hearts

“Do it. Now.”

“How?”

She cast her eyes heavenward. “Focus on what you want. Grow the energy from there with intent.”

He turned his back to Dojin t concentrate on enlarging the bubble in his hand into an invisible barrier with intent to contain sound and blur their actions to outside observers. “Done, I think.”

“It’s acceptable, but needs practice. I’ll augment it this once.” She motioned for him to walk slowly with her away from Dojin. “Today, when that mage asks you to kill a specific human, you will refuse.”

“Rather explicit direction, but I’m okay not being forced to assassinate someone.”

“It’s not a business for you to become involvedin.” She paused but didn’t poof away as she normally did.

“There’s more?”

Her gaze gleamed with tension when she made eye contact with him. “You will protect her.”

No question which “her” she referred to. “I already do.”

“You half-ass it at best.” Her lips pressed into a grimace. “Make her your priority.”

“I have to be discreet to avoid detection.”

“It’s critical.”

“It would be helpful if you could remove the ring.” He wiggled the fingers of his left hand.

As if in a trance, she studied the ring.

Hope surged. She might do it.

She shook her head. “We have determined this is not the right moment for the ring to be gone.”

Did that mean there would come a time that one of the Fates would remove it? His thoughts scattered and his heart raced. “Did you shove her into my life for a reason?”

“Nothing is without purpose, Domini. Death wanted you. We were not ready to share you with Death.”

“I was ready to die.”You gave me a reason to live. Something to care about.

She smirked.

“I swear I will protect her. But what if I get caught?”

“Don’t, for now. Do you think we unlocked this new power of yours for no reason?”

Oh.

“They will eventually catch on that you’veformed an emotional connection. It’s inevitable. You must believe there is life on the other side of what you will be forced to do in that moment they catch you.”

“I won’t kill her.”

“You will choose the path that will hurt her the least. The cost for you may be terrible.”

For her, anything.

“Good.” She smiled. “Do you remember what I told you a century ago? Love is like death. It’s inevitable. There is still much for you to learn before love hits you hard. You think you already understand love and have labeled it a fantasy. Perhaps it is for most. Please realize, love is so much more than desire.”

“I don’t love her. I’m not supposed to… I’m not capable of it.”