Read Cora's Kismet (The Twin Destinies Saga Book 1) Online
Authors: Cheryl Davis
Liam held tight to Cora as she absorbed the information
she’d just been given. He was also shocked, because he had never known the full
prophecy and Angelica’s part in it. He sat back and watched to see how things
would play out. He also prayed Cora and Viola would make the right decision.
“Well, that kind of explains a lot then,” Viola said, as she
sat there thinking.
“What do you mean my dear?” Angelica asked.
“Well, when Anna and her thugs had me locked up, they kept
trying to convince me we would all be better off if we divided. She kept saying
something about someone being wronged and justice being served, but I couldn’t
keep up with her craziness. I swear that woman is psycho,” Viola said, trying
her hardest to make sense of everything.
“Yes, well, I have a lot of issues with Anna at the moment,”
Angelica said, anger seeping out through her pores.
“How do you know Anna and Patrick? Why did you leave us with
them?” Cora asked, picking up on something that seemed to tickle the back of
her brain. It felt like she should already know the answer to this, but
couldn’t quite figure it out.
“Anna is my older sister. I thought she was completely
Solarian, because she hid the mixed powers very well, and I trusted her with my
beautiful baby girls. Wouldn’t you trust your children with each other? I am so
very sorry I made that mistake,” Angelica said with tears welling up in her
eyes. “Because of my mistake, you both suffered horrors I don’t even want to
imagine.”
“Our mistake darling, I trusted her too,” Thomas said, and
rubbed his hand along his wife’s back trying to soothe her. The moments when
Thomas let down his guard, and let them see the softer sides of him, were few
and far between, but Cora was starting to see that maybe he wasn’t as bad as
she’d made him out to be in her mind.
“So you’re saying Anna is a descendant of Camilla who
believes her version of events, and is destined to carry on the family mission
of trying to tear apart our race, and we’re the ones who are destined to stop her?”
Cora wanted to make sure she understood everything.
“Yes,” was all Thomas said.
“You’re also saying she possesses both Solarian and Lunarian
powers, and that Viola and I do as well?” Cora continued her questioning.
“Yes.”
“So that was why I was able to use powers to stop Patrick at
the cabin right? Because you only bound our Lunarian powers, without thinking
of binding the Solarian powers as well,” Cora continued, seeing the different
pieces of the puzzle fitting together in her mind, one by one.
“That is the exact reason you were able to stop Patrick so
quickly,” Thomas stated.
“So why didn’t Anna raise us to believe in Camilla and her
lies?” Cora asked, missing that piece to the puzzle. “Why did she put us
through such hell, when she could have been trying to gain us as her allies?”
“I can’t speak for my sister, but I believe she was trying
to break you long before you grew up into strong women who could stop her in
her mission. She didn’t want it to fall to the next in line. She wanted to be
the one to destroy our race herself, so if she broke you, you wouldn’t be able
to stop her from getting what she wanted,” Angelica said with pursed lips.
“Yeah, I get that from her,” Viola said with a sneer.
“So, how do our mates fit in?” Cora asked, still trying to
get the complete picture. “Before, you said the prophecy pertained to our
mates, as well, and we both had to find them before our birthday.”
“Ah, your mates will ground you and help you to see the true
path you are meant to follow, if you start to lose your way. If you have not
completed the mating ceremony, each of you, by your birthday, Anna has the
opening she needs to divide you and achieve her goal, by luring one of you away
from your destiny. I know the prophecy does not mention them per se, but my
father taught me about the importance of our mates when I was very young, and
we won’t take the chance of you not having your balance when it’s time to face
your destiny. Having both sets of powers inside of you already places you off
balance because, we are not meant to have both,” Angelica explained, clearing
up Cora’s confusion. “Cora, it is quite obvious that you and Liam are destined
to be mated, but Viola, we need to help you find yours soon.”
Viola looked up at Angelica and looked like she wanted to
argue, but Cora placed her hand on her sister’s arm and smiled. “I am new to
all of this Vi, but believe me, finding your mate is pretty awesome! I’m still
getting to know Liam, but I feel like I’ve known him forever in some ways. He
makes me feel whole.”
“So, what about Charlie?” Viola asked, raising her eyebrows
at Cora. In the madness of everything going on, she’d forgotten about the boy
who wanted to be her boyfriend.
“Oh crap!” Cora shouted, shooting up from the couch. “Is
there a phone around here?”
“Are you serious? You’re gonna break up with him over the
phone? Classy Cora,” Viola said with a smirk at her sister. She’d never liked
the guy her sister was dating, and had waited until she was without a doubt
sure that Cora and Liam were a thing before bringing him up to her sister.
“Yeah, that would be pretty bad right?” Cora asked, and
slumped back down on the couch, putting space between her and Liam.
“Uh, who’s Charlie?” Liam asked, trying to reach for Cora
again, and getting aggravated when she kept putting distance between them, to
the point of standing and walking across the room.
“This guy that I’ve kind of been dating, off and on, for a
while,” Cora said with a blush rising on her cheeks. She hated blushing, and
was glad she didn’t do it often, but now was not a time she wanted a red face.
“He’s a royal jerk and doesn’t deserve her,” Viola said with
a smug grin on her face. She knew good old Charlie was toast, and that made all
of this worth it in her book.
“He’s gotta be freaking out by now though,” Cora worried.
“Oh, I’m sure he’s blown your cell phone up by now and, well
if it was still in one piece, you’d be ready to break the thing yourself,”
Viola agreed. She hated his possessive nature that made him keep constant tabs
on where Cora was, and who she was with, at all times.
“Yeah well, I would have had my phone but thanks to Patrick
using the GPS in it to track and follow us, I don’t,” Cora snapped back.
“Wait, you have a boyfriend?” Liam asked, hurt lacing his
voice.
“Come on Thomas, we can talk to them more later. They need
to work this out alone,” Angelica whispered to her mate, and took his hand to
lead him out of the room. Thomas looked up at his mate and nodded his head as
he followed her out of the room and shut the door behind them, giving them
privacy.
“It’s not like that Liam. I never even said I’d be his
girlfriend. We dated a few times, that was all. To be honest, I had no feelings
for him, I just knew he got under Patrick’s skin,” Cora told him, hoping he’d
see and hear the truth of her words. She walked over to Liam and sat down
beside him and took his hands in hers. She hated to see the look of pure
heartache in his eyes and that she’d been the one to cause it.
“You sure? It didn’t seem like that’s all it was when Viola
brought him up and you wouldn’t let me touch you.” Liam pointed out with a
sharpness in his voice she’d never heard before. It scared her.
“Liam, I’m sorry I did that. You are the one that makes me
happy. It says a lot that since I met you, not once have I thought about him.
Viola had to remind me of him for me to even remember. You are the one I think
about every moment I am awake. I dream about you. When we’re apart I feel like
a part of me is missing. You do that for me. Charlie never could,” Cora told
him, and reached for his face. It hurt when he pulled back from her reach.
“Well, let me know when you break up with your boyfriend and
have time for me,” Liam snapped, stood and stomped out of the room, slamming
the door behind him with a thunderous crash. Cora flinched when the door banged
shut.
“Was that necessary?” Cora turned on Viola, wanting to punch
the satisfied look off her sister’s face.
“Yeah, I think it was. I’ve been telling you for forever
that Charlie was a jerk and you wouldn’t listen. Now you have a great guy and
you need to get rid of the jerk,” Viola stated with satisfaction.
“Did you have to do it in front of our parents and Liam
though?” Cora sobbed. Her heart was aching for Liam, for his pain, his anger.
The look she’d seen in his eyes was shredding her, from the inside out.
“Yeah, I think I did. Without seeing Liam’s reaction, you
would’ve made excuses. That’s who you are, Cora. You never want to hurt anyone.
Believe me, Charlie’s going to be more pissed, because he doesn’t have you as his
trophy and can’t keep trying to talk you into giving up your virginity to him,
than be hurt. That’s the trophy he ultimately wants to claim. He doesn’t give a
crap about you and you know it.” Viola was harsh with her truths, but she spoke
with honesty. Cora knew Viola was right, but was still torn up about Liam’s
pain.
“So what should I do? Breaking up with him over the phone
would be the easiest way to handle it, but like you said, it’s crappy,” Cora
asked her sister for advice.
“I say take Liam and I with you and go end it. Liam needs to
see you end it or he will always wonder,” Viola said with a shrug.
“We can’t leave here while Anna’s out there Vi. You know, as
well as I do, she knows about Charlie and will be having him watched to see if
we make contact with him,” Cora said, thinking of possible ways to meet with
him and end it once and for all.
“Well if that’s the case then I guess inviting him here is
out of the question too,” Viola said with a smirk.
“Just how bad do you think Thomas wants me mated to Liam?” Cora
asked with a devious smile.
“What are you thinking?” Viola asked with a sparkle in her
eyes.
“I’m thinking he could have Charlie picked up and a secure
meeting arranged so I can break up with him face to face. If he wants me mated
to Liam so bad, I think he’ll agree, don’t you?” Cora asked, as a smile spread
from ear to ear.
Viola looked up at Cora and grinned with her. “Now that’s a
plan that could work,” she said and nodded.
He wandered the property without paying attention to where
he was going, trying to take his mind off of her, but failing. Cora lying to
him was all he could think about. The way she’d pulled away from him when her
sister mentioned that guy’s name flooded his memory, and he felt tears pricking
his eyes. He looked up to realize he was back at the lake, in the exact spot
where he’d brought Cora to earlier, for their picnic lunch.
There were still roses lying around, and he picked one up as
he sat down on the grassy shore. He raised the white rose to his nose and could
think of nothing but her beautiful hazel eyes, with warm chocolate flecks that
matched the color of her hair and sparkled when she laughed, or her musical
laughter that lifted his heart into the clouds.
Sighing, he dropped the rose back to the ground. He wanted
to believe her that it wasn’t serious between her and this guy, Charlie, but
the way she’d pulled away from his touch told him something else. He knew she
felt the bond between them every time she responded to his touch or kiss. He
saw her feelings growing for him every time he looked into her soulful eyes. He
was so confused at the moment. His biggest question was did he fight for her or
just let her go, so she could be happy if she chose the other guy over him?
Liam felt in his soul he couldn’t just let her go. He wanted
her happiness above everything else, even his own, but it would shred his heart
to let her go. Thinking about that, he knew he wouldn’t just let her go, he
would fight for her to the death, or until she made it clear she didn’t want
him. She was his mate, his love, his life. With those thoughts in his head, he
stood and headed back to the house ready to do battle.
*****
They found their parents in the kitchen, sitting at the
island on stools, talking. They looked up, startled, when the twins came
bounding into the room unable to breathe.
Viola held up her hand, silently asking for a moment to
catch her breath before they explained their hurry.
Cora caught her breath first and started to explain, “We,
well I, have a favor to ask of you.”
Thomas’ eyebrows rose in surprise. “What favor is that?”
“We know Cora can’t go speak to Charlie out in public,
because it’s too dangerous. Anna knows about him and will be having him
watched. She needs to speak with him, like years ago, so we were wondering if
you could have him picked up and a secure meeting arranged for us,” Viola finished
for Cora.
“Is this something you absolutely
have
to do?” Thomas
asked, irritated. They didn’t have time for teenage drama, this was life or
death they were dealing with.
“Yes, it is necessary if you want us to help you,” Cora
responded with a defiant edge to her voice. She didn’t know Liam was right
around the corner, listening to their exchange after having come back in from
the lake.
“I will see what I can do. How soon does this meeting need
to take place? We only have a few hours until the unbinding ceremony is to
begin, and we need to finish preparing you both,” Thomas responded.
“Like I said, years ago, but since it didn’t happen then,
now would be wonderful,” Viola said, the urgency in her voice obvious.
Liam pushed away from the wall unable to hear anymore. She
wanted him brought to her. He saw now he didn’t have a chance of winning this
fight. As much as it pained him, he would walk away, and he’d do it now. He
went to his room and began packing his things.
Thomas nodded. “Let me she what I can arrange. I’m sure you
want it before the unbinding ceremony, correct?”
“That would be best. Viola’s right, he’s a jerk, and if I’m
unstable for any reason it could end very badly,” Cora told him relieved that
he was willing to help. Thomas nodded his head and headed out of the room to
make some calls. Viola followed to give him any information he needed to bring
the scum bag to them so Cora could end it.
Cora turned to Angelica who gave her a small smile. “So,
what are you up to my dear?” Angelica asked, with her eyebrows raised and a
smile playing on her lips.
“Charlie needs to know he doesn’t have a chance with me and
that’s something I need to make clear to him, face to face. The sooner, the
better.” She knew without a doubt, she was meant to be with Liam, even if it
scared the hell out of her. She’d never had feelings like this for anyone,
didn’t even know she could feel this way before she’d met him. “Have you seen
Liam? I need to talk to him now, before I see Charlie. I need him to be there
when I break it off.”
“No, I haven’t seen him. Didn’t he stay in the study and
talk with you and Viola after we left?” Angelica looked worried.
“He left only a minute or two after you and Thomas, I
thought maybe he came to talk to you,” Cora said, and her mind started
spinning. “I’ve got to find him!”
Cora turned on her heel and sped out of the room. She looked
in every room she passed heading straight for the room he was staying in. She
prayed she wasn’t too late and could talk to him before Thomas had the meeting
arranged. When she reached his door, she paused to catch her breath before
banging loud enough to wake the dead.
She waited, tapping her foot with impatience, for a couple
of minutes before banging on the door again. She wished she knew how the whole
mind connection thing worked so she could call out to him that way, but she was
so new at all of this, she had no clue as to what to do.
When he didn’t answer after the second knock, she reached
out and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open. The room was empty. She
looked around for any personal effects and found nothing, not even a piece of
dirty clothing.
“Oh God, I’m too late!” she moaned and dropped onto the bed
sobbing.
Angelica found her like that ten minutes later. “What’s
wrong?” she asked in a soothing voice, pulling Cora into her arms and wrapping
her up tight in a loving hug.
“He’s gone,” Cora choked out between sobs. “I’ve screwed
everything up.”
The tears poured harder as she admitted her failure to her
mother.
“No darling you haven’t. We will find him and bring him back
to you. He is your mate, you can always find him,” Angelica soothed.
“I don’t know how. He could reach out to me with his mind,
but I don’t even know where to begin,” Cora sobbed louder. She felt her heart
shattering at the thought of never seeing Liam again.
“Honey, it’s natural between mates. The first thing you need
to do is to calm down,” Angelica coaxed. Cora started choking on her sobs
trying to hold them back. She wanted to reach out to Liam and call him back to
her, or at least find out where he went, so she could go to him. It took a few
minutes, but she got her sobbing under control.
“Good. Now close your eyes and try to relax while picturing
him in your mind,” Angelica instructed. She smiled when Cora did as she said.
“Can you see him?”
“Yes, he is so beautiful,” Cora sighed. “How do I talk to
him through my mind?”
“You just do it. It’s as easy as breathing. Think what you
want to say, or ask, and project it to his image in your mind,” Angelica said,
praying that it worked.
“Liam? Liam, can you hear me?”
Cora did as her mother
instructed and projected with everything she had. She worried it wasn’t working
when she got no response.
“Please Liam, we need to talk. I need you. Please answer
me,”
Cora pleaded in desperation.
Tears started rolling down her face, again, when he still
didn’t answer her. She turned to look at her mother when she heard a faint
voice in her head calling to her.
“Cora? Can you hear me? Please, I need help. Send help.”
Liam’s faint voice faded and then she couldn’t hear it anymore. She jumped up
from the bed, horror on her face.
“NO!” she screamed.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Angelica asked, frantic at
Cora’s terror.
“Liam’s in trouble, he needs help. God, what did I do?” Cora
screamed, fear and pain lacing her words. Viola and Thomas came running through
the door.
“No, no, no, no, no…” Was all Cora could get out, with her
arms wrapped around her middle, she rocked back and forth on the balls of her
feet. “Please don’t let anything happen to him.”
“Thomas, Liam’s in trouble, we need to send search teams out
right now. I have a feeling Anna’s people managed to pick him up.” Angelica
added the last part as a whisper only meant for Thomas, but heard also by
Viola, who turned her head with a snap that hurt her neck. Cora was beyond
reach with her grief.
“Talk to me Liam. Where are you? We need your help to
find you. Please help me find you. I need you.”
Cora kept pleading but got no
response. Tears started flowing faster down her cheeks.
“He won’t answer me now. Why won’t he answer me?” she
whimpered.
“It’s ok. We’ll get to him in time. Did you catch any images
with his message?” Thomas asked her in a gentle voice, concern etched all over
his face. Liam was the son he never had. He’d move heaven and earth to find him
and bring him home to his daughter, alive and safe.
“Wait, let me think,” Cora said, and tried to relax her mind
to see if there was something she missed in his message to her. An image
started to flicker in her mind almost as if Liam was concentrating all of his
energy on sending it to her right now.
“I know where he is. Anna has him. Oh no, I don’t ever want
to go there again. Please, don’t make me go back there again,” Cora muttered
out loud, confusing Thomas and Angelica, but causing Viola to turn a horrified
look at them all.
“Oh no, if she took him there we may already be too late,”
Viola whispered, just loud enough for everyone to hear, even Cora.
“Don’t say that Vi! We are going to go get him and bring him
home now.” Cora stood with tears still streaming down her face, but her love
for Liam was making her back straighter and motivating her into action.
“Where are we going?” Thomas asked the girls.
“The fishing cabin, but we prefer to call it what it
actually is, Anna’s House of Horrors.” Viola and Cora said the last part at the
same time, turning horrified looks toward each other before turning and walking
out of the room together, leaving their parents looking worried and baffled.