Defenders of Destiny Bk 1: Destiny Begins

Relationships Are Complicated.

Warning ⚠️: This book contains graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.

The lights of cars passing by cast shadows over her face as she sat alone by the front door. Esther released a quiet sigh which caused fog to escape from her lips at the chill in the air that caused her to shiver.

"You often sit by yourself in the dark? Bit dangerous isn't it, love?" A familiar voice caused Esther to quickly rise from where she had been sitting, gazing around herself wildly for the source of the voice that she had grown accustomed to after all these years.

"David?" Esther's voice was soft for fear that Joelee would overhear her talking from her window which Esther was sitting in front of.

"Hello, love." David stepped from the shadows with a large smile on his handsome face, Esther immediately taking a step back which hurt his feelings but he brushed it off as he took another step towards her.

"What are you doing here?" Fear coursed through Esther's veins despite the fact she was secretly checking out the slight stubble he was starting to grow, realizing he looked rather good with it before she realized what his appearance here could mean.

"They found us?" Esther guessed, her face now going pale as she realized the home that they had just now shaped into what they wanted was going to be taken from them.

"No, no. It's just me. They don't know I'm here." David scratched at the stubble along his chin as his eyes searched hers for any trace that she was even slightly happy to see him.

"Then why exactly are you here?" Esther questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing the unnatural blue of his eyes as she noticed they flashed with a pain that she couldn't quite place.

"I missed you." His words shocked her, causing her arms to immediately fall to her side as she realized he was being completely serious.

"But... I know we became friends in my stay there but you would really risk your life to see me because of that?" Esther questioned which caused David to frown at her reply, his incredibly blue eyes distant now as he stared at the woman in front of him.

"You don't remember anything, do you? At all?" He murmured as he searched her pale green eyes for any sign that she remembered what he was referring to.

"Do you remember her?" David pulled out the picture that he had showed old Nathan previously, eyes full of hope now as she gently took it from him after a moments hesitation.

"She's adorable." Esther said quietly as she gazed at the picture of a small blonde baby girl with beautiful, vibrant, green eyes. She looked around incredibly young with her short hair pulled into double pigtails with cute pink bows, her shirt was a lighter pink with a white pony on the front.

"That's Madeline." David studied Esther's expression but no recognition at all flashed through her eyes as she instead handed the photo back to David rather awkwardly.

"Your niece?" Esther questioned as she watched him tuck the photo back into his pocket with a heartbroken expression.

"Esther,what is about to happen... You have to understand that I'm doing this so you don't get caught. I thought it would be safer for you to forget but now that you're out, you need to remember. I don't have much time being out and I'm only allowed one day a month to leave so I won't be seeing you again for awhile." David said urgently which caused Esther's heart to begin to pound in her chest as he took a step towards her again, only about a foot away now as he stared at her with an expression that showed just how understanding he was needing her to be.

Esther had only ever seen this expression once before on him... The day he helped her escape.

She nodded slowly before she even realized what she was doing, but something inside her told her she needed to trust him.