Page 60 of Unraveling Fate

“Your security team? You want to babysit me? I don’t?—”

“No need, Canon, lad. Ruairi and Cyrus and myself?—”

“I will stay with Cadenza at night to make sure?—”

Canon interrupted Taran. “At night? Why not during the day too, Taran? Where are you during the day?” His eyes were wide, a touch too innocent. Taran’s breathing quickened, and he took a step forward. Cadenza laid a hand on his arm to pull him back.

“Cadenza, let me help you.” Canon continued, like he was pushing a contract to a reluctant buyer. “I have appearances scheduled this week throughout the valley. Come with me. No one will be able to get near you.”

“Canon, I appreciate it, but I have things to do. I need to rehearse; I need to find something else to sell because?—”

“Because you were going to sell the car, but now…” The forceful tone slid from his voice.

Cadenza dropped her arms to her side, voice quieting. “But now,” she agreed.

“We will make Venice happen for you.”

Beside her, Taran stilled. No one moved for a heartbeat.

Drostan snapped his fingers. “Nought is happening till we make sure you aren’t murdered in your bed, Caddie.”

They took a collective breath. Taran was the first to speak again. “I think Cadenza should decide how to proceed.”

She squeezed his hand. “Alright. Drostan, call Ruairi and Cyrus. Taran will stay with me at night. Canon,” she said. “Thank you. Truly. But no security team.”

His jaw tightened, but he inclined his head. “Fine, but one of us checks your car before you drive anywhere.”

The headache was back,stabbing behind her left eye, as Cadenza munched a turtle chocolate in her living room. Taran’s heartbeat sounded behind her, his drums rolling like waves on the shore.

The older Norroway brothers were on their way, but they’d been in India and wouldn’t arrive for another week due to the flight schedules and layovers.

Cadenza had a name—Spinner—and people who could tell her what that name meant.

Oh, and someone was trying to kill her.

She ate another turtle.One thing at a time.She brought the package—leave the bag, please—to where Taran was piling blankets on the couch. It was after one in the morning, and he’d been unsuccessfully trying to convince her to get some sleep. But she still had so many questions.

“I still don’t understand why you’re happy about it,” she said.

“Hmm?” He snuggled her into his chest, drum song and strong arms enveloping her.

“Me being a Spinner, I mean. Your father made it clear why he’s not excited about it, but why are you happy?”

She felt a short laugh rumble deep in his chest. “Because I’m a selfish bastard, but at least I don’t have to feel so guilty about it anymore.”

“You know that’s not true. Tell me why really.”

He heaved a sigh. “Alright. The Fates weave our paths, our destinies, remember?”

She frowned. “So you say.”

“They’ve woven your path. If you’re a Spinner, that’s your fate, your path. And they arranged things in the path to lead you here, where there are people who can help you learn what you are. And if being here is part of your woven path, then so am I, at least for the time you’re here. And that means,” Taran continued. “I have no need to feel overly guilty for wanting to be in your life until such time as you need to do whatever’s next on the path they’ve set you.”

She pushed off his chest and sat up. “You’re talking like you’re not planning on continuing to be a part of my life.”

“I told you, it’s not up to me.” He stroked her cheek. “You have whatever choices, whatever time I have, but that’s not much, and I would never dream of holding you back. I’ll not ask you to stay behind when the Fates call you forward.”

“And I told you,” Cadenza said, face set. “I’m not staying behind, but neither are you. Because I make my own path, and you can too if you choose to.”