Page 59 of Forsaken Fate

The path was clear between me and the door. Three quick steps and I doubted Grayson could catch me now. But my blood ran cold when he said it. I knew the answers somehow but made him say it.

“What did you do, Grayson?”

“Thinks he’s so powerful,” Grayson said, then started to laugh. “He cried like a baby when he came to my mother asking for help. Asking for her to hide him from the fae. She had all the power. All the cards. He’s supposed to be this all powerful rogue mage. The ones the covens all feared. And it took our power to save him.”

“You helped hide Abraham Padgett from the fae?” My mind reeled. I knew the name. He’d been at the dinner party the other night, leering at me with the mayor. Grayson had told a sick joke about letting Padgett screw me in front of the whole crowd.

“No other mage could have pulled it off. Only a Carrier. Only someone from our coven. It was so easy, Brynna. Just sent someone off in Pagett’s place.”

“You sent someone else to the fae in Padgett’s place?” I said. “Was it your idea? You are so clever, baby. Padgett owes you big time, doesn’t he?” I stepped forward and cradled Grayson’s head to my waist. His arms went slack, and he leaned against me, his weight pushing me back until I steadied myself. Hot tears stung my eyes.

“Thick-headed Alpha piece of shit didn’t know what the fuck just happened,” Grayson said. “Two birds with one stone. That’s what Mom said. Wade just disappeared. Poof!”

My fingers wound tight into Grayson’s hair as I pulled him even closer to me. Could I snap his neck? Was I strong enough? My hands trembled as I steadied my breathing. Not yet. Almost. You have to find out how.

“Wade,” I said. “You traded a shifter named Wade for Padgett? Lucien Wade?”

I tore myself away from him and staggered back toward the door. Grayson didn’t stop me. I don’t think he even realized I was still in the room.

CHAPTER 22

Theo

She got to me. Brynna worked her way into my heart. Jesus, it hurt. And I hated myself for letting it.

But Brynna ... Brynna. I’d known she had been lying since the second I met her. So why the hell did I feel such a gaping hole in my heart when I thought about her? She had been hurt, and badly. Diana figured in somehow. I knew it with everything that I was. Doyle knew a lot but not everything. Only Brynna could fill in the rest of it.

She was probably long gone now. I checked my phone a dozen times waiting for the frantic call from Grayson. Had I seen her? Had I talked to her? Had she told me where she was going?

Nine a.m. came and went and still nothing. At ten, the concierge rung my room to tell me my car was waiting for me downstairs. Grayson had ordered a service to bring me back to Diana’s. I said I needed fifteen minutes.

I took my black Armani out of the garment bag and laid it on the bed. The beginning of the Gathering would be a formal affair, almost like a damn wedding ceremony. She couldn’t still plan to go through with it. Grayson had probably just forgotten to cancel the service in the confusion of her leaving. Still, something didn’t seem right.

I got dressed.

“It’s a beautiful day for the Gathering, don’t you think?” The driver gave me a cheery smile as he opened the back door. I shot him a salute and got in. So, the driver didn’t know anything was up. When we pulled away from the hotel, I called Doyle.

“You know what the hell’s going on?” he answered in lieu of hello.

I laughed. “I’m calling to ask you the same thing.”

“You didn’t say anything to Grayson last night?” Doyle asked.

“Nope,” I said. “I assumed Brynna ... uh, whatever her name is would deal with it.”

“Yeah. I kinda thought that too. What are you going to do if she didn’t?”

“I really don’t know,” I said. “But Doyle, do me a favor. Just keep everything under your hat, okay? I have no idea what we’re walking into, and I don’t want anyone getting hurt more than they have to. Just let me take the lead.”

“Of course,” Doyle said. “Privilege still holds, Theo. This isn’t my news to tell.”

“Thanks.”

The driver wasn’t wrong. It was a beautiful day. Clear blue April skies. Diana’s cherry blossoms picked today to peak as we drove up the tree-lined drive. When we pulled up alongside the front door.

Grayson had invited about fifty people for the actual marking ceremony. Their tents were set up throughout the grounds. They were still here. The Gathering was still going forward. A knot formed in my chest as I walked into the living room. Grayson had no idea today might be the last nail in the coffin of his fledgling campaign. I needed to talk to him or her. I couldn’t say nothing.

“Mr. Dorran,” Grayson’s housekeeper materialized. “The bride…er…I mean Ms. Carrington wondered if you could spare a few minutes for her. I really hope you can. She seemed a little jittery this morning. Upstairs, third door on the right at the top of the stairs. She’s decent but knock anyway.”