Page 15 of Winter Unleashed
“There’s something there,” I replied. “Something I feel like I should remember but can’t. It’s weird. I don’t know how to explain it. There’s like a patch covering something in my mind, and I can’t peel the patch off.”
The three of them shared another look so full of concern a wave of anxiety moved over me.
Stella cleared her throat. “And you don’t remember Liam at all?”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t say at all. But I don’t remember him the way you seem to think I should. He’s less than an acquaintance. I’ve seen him at some of my Council hearings, but I think today was the most we’ve ever spoken.”
She frowned and her eyes glistened. “Okay. What about Cybil? Does that name ring a bell?”
My eyebrows shot upward. “Yeah. I’m not senile, Stell.” She flicked her gaze to Philip again. “Okay, enough of this shit, out with it. You keep looking at each other like I’ve been given a death sentence I don’t know about. What’s the deal?”
Philip cleared his throat. “We believe Celeste has altered your memories. She is not your aunt. She’s a fairy who is using you to gain something she wants. And she broke your bond with Liam.”
“Bond? What bond? Fairy? What the fuck are you talking about?” I looked to Stella and Isaac hoping they’d tell me Philip was joking. “Is he serious?”
“Yes,” Stella said in a somber tone.
I studied her. A feeling of unease slithered its way into my gut. “You know… Celeste said you guys might try to turn me against her. She said I shouldn’t trust you guys.”
A low growl came from deep in Isaac’s throat. “We aren’t lying to you, Em. You have to believe us.” He cupped my face in his hands. “Think about it. Do you remember me in your life?”
I studied him, searching his eyes for any sign he might not be telling me the truth. All I saw was the same worry for me I’ve always seen in him when I was in trouble. My mind filled with memories of him coming to my rescue when I was little, teaching me how to defend myself against the daily attacks from the other shifters. Visions of us years later, in bed together, kissing, laughing, sharing secrets took over and I couldn’t imagine him lying to me about something like this. About anything.
“Yes, I remember you. Everything. As far back as I can remember, you’ve been there.”
“Okay, good,” he whispered. “Now, tell me what you remember about Celeste. How far back do those memories go?”
I tried to remember times with Celeste. Nothing solid came up, except a mild headache. Everything that included her was hazy around the edges, not crisp like with Isaac. The harder I tried to focus on my memories of her the more my head hurt.
“Okay, yeah. The memories of her are fuzzy. They’re there, but kind of corny, generic. Baking cookies, gardening, stuff like that, but they aren’t clear. Not like the memories I have of you,” I said. I nibbled on my lip while I thought it all over. “How long has it been since you last saw me?”
“Three weeks,” Isaac said.
“Interesting. There’s not enough memories of Celeste in there to fill three weeks.” I tapped my head. “Maybe a few days, not weeks.” I looked at Philip. “And you said she’s a fairy? Are you telling me the Fae are real?”
“Yes,” he replied. “To sum up and make sure we’re all on the same page. What we know so far is: you can’t remember Liam or the Fae, but you remember us and your past.” He stopped talking and gave me a pointed look.
“I’m not sure that was a question, but yeah, I remember my past. All the delightful details of my abusive father, my eventful childhood and adolescence, and that I’m a writer with a deadline that’s long gone,” I said. “To answer the other half of your question-statement, I don’t remember anything about the Fae except the stories we all hear growing up. Regarding Liam I know he’s the Autumn Alpha, but I don’t remember ever having a conversation with him.”
“You’re sure you don’t remember anything else about Liam?” Stella asked.
I furrowed my brow and shook my head. “Only from Council hearings when I’m being charged with attacking an Autumn pack member. Even though the Council knows damn well they attacked me…” I let my words trail off with a shake of my head. “Anyway, he shows up to those, but he just sits and plays on his phone while I defend myself against his asshole pack members. Otherwise, I don’t know the guy.”
“Yeah, so that’s where the problem is,” Isaac chimed in from my right. “For the last few months, until three weeks ago, he was your fated mate.”
I laughed and gave him a shove on the arm. “Good one,” I said, shaking my head. “Is this some kind of practical joke? Why would you say that? You hate him as much as I do.”
“It’s true, Em,” Stella whispered.
I stared at her while I pulled at that niggle in my brain again. Just when I thought I was close to clearing the fog, a sharp pain hit me so hard my vision blurred. I bent over, grasping my head in my hands. I could hear Isaac and Stella, but their voices sounded garbled and distant. There was no way for me to respond while the lightning bolts zinged through my head.
Chapter Five
“Fuck, that hurt,” I groaned as the pain subsided. When I could see clearly again, I sat up and looked around at my friends. “Yeah, okay. Your theory about a fairy messing with my mind seems likely after whatever the hell that was, but Liam Fraser as my fated mate? I don’t know about that one.”
Isaac grunted. “Don’t you think it’s weird that you know Philip, Liam’s closest friend, and Ciara, Liam’s sister, but you don’t know Liam himself?”
I opened my mouth to say no but realized he had a point. “I guess that’s a little weird. But Liam isn’t exactly my favorite person, you know. The only reason I’d be willing to meet him is because your mates are close to him.”