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NATALIE
Why would a goddess summon me?
The man who’d been sent to get me wasn't even blinking as he stared at me. Although I didn't feel threatened by him, his gaze was making me decidedly uncomfortable. It was as if he was afraid to let me out of his sight.
Rumir took a step forward, and the man finally looked away. “Hello to you too, Taner. It's been a while. How about you tell us what Fate wants with Natalie?”
Taner took a breath. “Hello, Rumir. I’m afraid I can’t answer your question. I do not know and didn’t dare ask.” His eyes fell on me again. “No one questions Fate.”
“Who is this man?” I grumbled.
“This is Taner,” Lucian answered. “He serves Fate. It’s not common knowledge, but our Goddess doesn't create mate bonds alone. She works alongside Fate, like many other gods, because Fate shapes everyone's destiny. A mate is a destined partner, so the Goddess partners with Fate to create those bonds.” He paused. “But I still don’t understand why Fate would want to see you.”
“I’m sure you will soon find out,” Taner interjected. “Natalie, please step into the portal.”
"She's not going without us," Lucian said, and Taner nodded.
“That was expected. You and Rumir can come along. Please, Fate has a schedule to stick to.” I looked at Rehema and Brian, and Taner cleared his throat loudly. “They cannot come.”
"I'm not going without them," I told Taner, but his formidable expression didn't ease up. Obviously, I was lucky even to have Lucian and Rumir with me.
"It's okay, Natalie. I'm just going to go home," Rehema said, and Brian moved to her side. "The shop's fine, thanks to Hekate, so I'm going to close up early."
Brian nodded at me, his hands buried in his pockets. He wouldn’t leave Rehema alone, not after what just happened.
“Send me a message if you need me,” I told her, knowing all too well how she was feeling.
Once you’d faced an infected, their relentless rage stuck with you. I didn’t want to leave her because she’d been there for me after I’d been attacked, but Taner didn’t look like he was going to take no for an answer.
Whatever Fate wanted, she had horrible timing.
I also still felt like crap. Now there was a metallic taste in my mouth, and my chest felt constricted.
Taking a deep breath, I walked forward. Might as well get it over with. Lucian entered the portal before me, and I closed my eyes and followed.
Lucian took my hand, pulling me out on the other side.
Once there, we stood on a bridge before a behemoth of a castle. While it was daytime in The City of Souls, it was night here. And on either side of the bridge, I heard rushing water.
“Where are we?” I asked.
Taner stepped past us, his robe sweeping across the ground. “Just outside of the City of Souls,” he answered. “Some gods prefer to live away from the city.”
“I see,” I mumbled, and asked no further questions as he led us across the bridge.
Rumir and Lucian walked casually on either side of me as if they knew where they were going. They probably did. If our Goddess created mate bonds with Fate's help, perhaps they had visited this place before with her.
What could Fate want with me?
Rumir and Lucian were powerful and important. I, on the other hand, was a new soul with little power—basically a nobody here. Had she heard about what had happened at the S.R.F.? Fate wasn’t an Executive but a Supreme, since she hadn’t created any of the species on earth. So I couldn't think of any reason she'd want to speak to me specifically.
I supposed I’d find out soon enough.
Rumir took my hand.
He winked when I looked up at him, and I smiled, thankful for his presence and Lucian’s.
“Wait!” I grabbed Lucian’s arm. “Do you think this is about our mate bond?”
