“Synthia, these are the Fates,” Danu said softly as she bowed her head to each one in respect. “For every God or Goddess that is birthed, even the lesser ones, the Fates have been attendance to wash, bless, and prepare them for their new roles. This is true for the Human world as it is in Faery.”
“Come child, for the blessing water grows cold,” one said, but it seemed to come from all three at once. I swallowed and shed the white gown Danu had created for me after my rebirth, then stepped into the water.
The moment their hands touched me, I felt their exquisite powers as one. It was awkward to have the Fates here, considering how much I’d fought against my destiny, but it seemed as if my entire life had been driving me to this one moment in time.
“You’ll face your past, and become your future,” one said, her eyes vacant as she placed her hands over my eyes. I was no longer in the pools, but instead I was with my adoptive parents. I watched as they accepted me with loving arms.
They had accepted me, knowing what I was.
And then I was the scared child, who watched as they were slaughtered by Faolán. I didn’t feel the pain which had been with me since the day it happened; instead, I felt sadness for them, and I was grateful for all that they had sacrificed. No longer was there a blackness of hatred either, but instead there was a lightness to it, which I am sure had to do with the beast. If this event hadn’t happened, I probably wouldn’t have found him.
I was shown my life through their eyes, and in it, I was always strong and proud. Even when others had thought me weak, I’d stood my ground and never wavered. I did what had been expected of me, and never questioned why until I was told to breach the Dark Prince’s tower to retrieve his crown, which I now knew to be a useless piece of silver.
I watched as Ryder ran his hand over my flesh and then watched us, his hand touching me. His Fae magic hadn’t been what made me react to his touch that day he’d found me in his tower. From the first touch, we’d sealed our fates. The connection had sparked, and we did as we’d been meant to. It was destiny, calling, pulling, beguiling, and tantalizing me. I’d hated myself for responding to him and for being unable to deny him, but I’d never had a choice—we’d never had a choice.
The attraction had been there, and both of us were unable to deny it. He hated it as much as I had, and it’s shown in the shock on his face as I push through his magic and deny his touch. From the moment he’d entered my apartment and we’d ended up with me naked on the floor, and him hovering above me, it had been fate. Every move that had brought us to this moment in time had been preplanned.
His club and my need to get away from him…I’d been terrified of these feelings, and I’d run, only to have my friends talk me back inside. Larissa, she was there, always the voice of reason and I wouldn’t have him if I hadn’t listened to her; she’d always been the smart one.
The Wild Hunt, and his intentions, which he’d brazenly laid out for me, before the hunt and after he’d caught me. I’d known I wanted him before the hunt, and I didn’t really try to get away; I expected just enough of an effort for him to chase me. I’d needed the decision to be taken away from me, and I’d needed to have him. We’d both needed it, and in a way, it broke one of the barriers that stood between us.
I watched as he overpowered me with his need, and the way he kissed me, both in the vision left me boneless and panting for his hungry mouth. I watched as he listened to his men outside, and then grew hard and angry as he made a choice for his people, even hating it as he took me back to the mansion as his prisoner. He had to be King of his people, and they had to come before his pleasure.
Then I was there with Ristan, and he was kissing me, feeding me power as my body had been weakened from iron poisoning. I watched as he kissed me, and then smiled as he watched me leave him. He’d known I would do the right thing; he’d had faith in the woman I’d been.