Page 32 of The Fate of Black Hearts

“Not capable?” She laughed so hard that she leaned forward. “How ridiculous you are at times for one who has lived so long. Perhaps, you don’t call what you feel for her love. Let’s label it obsession and desire or perhaps need. What’s the longest you’ve gone before you checked on her?”

He dropped his gaze to stare at his toes. “Two or three days.”

“Do you check on her only because you’re making sure she’s safe? Be truthful.”

He still stared at his shoes when he shook his head. “I like seeing her. It soothes me.”

“She enervates your soul. Let that sink in. Without her, what would you become at this point?”

He’d failed to prevent the prophecy. His heart pounded so hard his chest ached. Should he seekdeath to avoid it? If he did, what would happen to Evie? She needed him now more than ever. He sensed the two of them hovered on the edge of a new phase in their relationship, not in the physical sense but developmentally.

She continued, “That silly Mage Conclave has made you believe all of you can control destiny.” A head shake jingled the long earrings she wore. “They’ve treated you poorly out of fear. Most have not realized you would regulate yourself to protect others without their interference. There is much at stake. Death cannot have you yet.” She looked toward Dojin and pursed her lips as if disappointed and…angry? “When they seek to hurt you today, use the new power.” She disappeared.

They planned to hurt him today?

He had to erase this conversation from his head. This was the most Atropos had ever shared with him about his own life and potential future. She’d given him much to ponder later.

“She enervates your soul.”

That was a lot of terrifying to contemplate. It sounded like without her he’d fade into non-existence. That might be right. Without the responsibility of protecting her, he didn’t know if he’d have a purpose.

Disappointed in his kind, he sauntered back to Dojin.

“I ordered food for you. They have the most fabulous hummus here. Greece, you know.” Dojin waved at the table. “Please, eat. You look starved.”

His stomach rumbled, but he didn’t eat.When they seek to hurt you today…

Dojin looked refreshed, as if he’d been sleeping well and maximizing his meals. Why wasn’t he forced to constantly fight inhuman beings until he was so exhausted he prioritized sleeping over eating? Maybe Dom needed to reevaluate his priorities. He wasn’t caged such that he must always stay in his domain. He could leave to get food or meals. The problem was that the trips to human cities for supplies were tedious. He spent most of his time calming human minds of their instinctual panic in his presence.

“What did that being have to say to you?” Dojin glanced across the street where she no longer stood.

“I’m not at liberty to say.” He watched that mage closely.

The mage seemed more nervous than usual, almost jittery. “How often do you chat with deities?”

“More often than I’d like.”

After a huge bite of hummus, with his mouth partially full, Dojin said, “Guess I understand why they’d like you. You’re more disciplined than any other mage I’ve met. You’ve also got more fighting experience against…well, everything. At least more than anyone else I know.”

“I can’t tell if that was a compliment.” He palmed his knife beneath the table, ready for anything. “You should try being constrained for over a century and see what it turns you into.”

“Don’t tell them I told you this, but I think the other mages don’t understand you.”

They were so wrapped up in controlling everything about him and the world around them that the Conclave neglected the basics of mage magic:meditation, exercises, and study. “Do you think you understand me?”

“Not yet.” He lowered his voice to a whisper as if there were someone eavesdropping. “You’re interesting, but I’m not sure you’re actually as much of a threat as they seem to think. Of course, it’s a child of yours that’s supposed to end the world or something like that.”

“Why am I here?”

“They want you to travel to Rome and eradicate a certain businessman who is purchasing dark magic artifacts.”

“No.” The pleasure at being given a directive to deny them was heady.

“This is an order.”

“The Fates told me not to do it. I think that trumps the Conclave.”

“They did? Is that why one of them met you here?” His eyes widened. “That’s astonishing. And curious.”