War (Book 3 in Destined Series)

3

I shut off the shower water, then step out. I pull a towel around myself then walk over to the mirror.

I wipe the steam off the mirror and sigh leaning forward. I put my hands on the counter and take a deep breath. The door opens behind me and I look up seeing Luke's reflection grow bigger as he walks towards me.

"Hey, you ok?" he asks wiping my wet hair over my shoulder. I nod as he swipes his fingers over Echo and I hear a squawk.

The young raven pulls from my skin then jumps onto the counter in front of me. I look down at him and he cocks his head, his black beady eyes meeting my own. I hold a finger out and he jumps on perching gently. I stroke his long wings then slowly turn to face Luke.

"What's wrong Christina?" he asks looking at Echo then back up to me.

"Nothing." I whisper and he sighs pushing wet hair out of my face.

"You can talk to me." he says and I nod

"I know I can."

"Then what's wrong?" he asks and I shake my head.

"I'm just tired." I say putting my finger to my shoulder and feeling Echo hop on.

"The bed's made." he says and I nod gently walking by him and going out into the main room. I hear the bathroom door close gently behind me and I rub my arms.

I look over finding Grace gently sleeping on the couch. She looks peaceful and happy.

I rub my wet hair with a towel and sigh taking off my other one and changing into a long sleeved shirt and underwear. I pull back the blanket and lay down staring up at the ceiling. The shower water pounds gently in the background and I sigh rolling onto my side and taking a deep breath.

~

I leave the bathroom and look over at Christina.

"Christina." I whisper and she grumbles rolling over.

"Hmm?" she asks as I walk over.

"Just didn't know if you were awake or not." I say and she nods patting the spot beside her. I sigh, but climb onto the bed beside her and pull the comforter over myself. She curls against my side and I feel her bare thigh, as I put my hand on her hip and slide it down her leg. I stop suddenly and she blinks open her eyes.

"What?" she asks gently and I shake my head moving my hand back up and onto her hip. She puts her cheek against my chest and I put my chin gently on top of her head.

"You're cold." I say and she stays quiet then soon speaks.

"I'll survive." she whispers and I put my arm over her.

"Are you ever scared?" she asks and I blink at the sudden question.

"Of what?" I ask quietly and she looks up.

"Of dying." she whispers and I look at her confused by the question.

"Are you ever scared, of losing someone you care about, and never getting them back?"

"Every day I'm scared." I whisper

"What about death? Are you scared of dying?" she asks and I gently push her hair back.

"Terrified." I say finally and she looks up at me.

"My nightmares. Will they ever go away?" she asks and I take a deep breath and shake my head.

"No, they simply ease from your mind." I say and she buries her head back against me.

"Do you have nightmares?" she asks into my ear and I stare up at the ceiling.

"Every night."

"Have any of them eased?" she asks and I shut my eyes shaking my head.

"No."

~~~~~

"Where can I find her?" I ask putting the picture in my side pocket.

"We don't know. That's your job."

"So I'm tracking her from scratch?"

"Yes." Alec says stepping from the shadows.

"And what do I do when I find her?" I ask and he smirks.

"Break her heart. Kill her if you must. I mean she'll be broken seeing you again." he says and I cross my arms.

"You act as if she knows me." I say and he shrugs.

"From the past yes." he says and I raise an eyebrow.

"I knew her?" I ask

"Very well." he says and I pull out the photo and look at the girl.

Christina he says was her name...

"How do I know her?" I ask and he shrugs

"She tried to kill you." he says and somewhere in the back of my mind, I know what he's saying is a lie, but I ignore it.

I nod putting the photo back away then feeling the wings rustle from my back.

"Dead or alive?" I ask and he nods

"I'll be back." I say then walk over to the window and jump out.

~~