Keeper(55)

“I won’t try to tell you what to feel,” Ty said. “But have you stopped to think that maybe all of this is what was meant to happen? I mean, what if your destiny is something bigger than even you imagined?”

I was at a loss for words. Ty’s sapphire eyes stared deep into mine, and for a moment, he looked much older and wiser than his eighteen years.

“But I’m nobody,” I whispered. “There’s nothing special about me at all. I’m just . . . Lainey.”

“Well, Lainey Styles, I haven’t known you for very long,” Ty said, “but from what I can tell, you’re far from being a nobody. Besides, no one can tell you who or what you’re going to be. Destiny or not, you get to choose.”

Ty was silent for a moment. Then he reached out and took my hand. “The point is, you can do this, Lainey. I know it. I mean, come on,” he continued, the half smile curling on his lips. “How many girls do you know who can create thunder like that? Maybe I should start calling you Thor.”

“You sound exactly like Maggie.” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Thank you . . . for helping with the storm.”

“You don’t have to thank me for anything. You were the one who stopped it. It was all you.”

“I’m also the one who started it.” I sighed. “But you know what? I don’t want to be the kind of girl who finds out her life is about to change and just freaks out about it. I’m angry, don’t get me wrong, but the sooner I stop yelling and start accepting that this is what my life is going to look like from now on, the better. Like you said, the universe has a bigger plan for me than I have for myself, right?”

Ty nodded. “Just remember, it is your choice.”

Gareth’s words echoed in my thoughts: A person’s destiny is not a concrete certainty. There are people who live their entire lives and never fulfill their true purpose. Free will and choice, you see, are powerful tools of alteration. A simple choice can change everything.

“It’s my choice,” I whispered. “I have a choice.”

“Yes, you do.”

I took a deep breath and nodded, squeezing Ty’s hand.

He reached out with his other hand to cup my cheek, running a thumb across my cheekbone. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

We crossed the tracks and started walking to where I’d parked my car.

A familiar sensation filled me, tugging at me as we walked. I stopped, my wet shoes sinking into the mud.

Josephine stood a few feet away.

Her eyes, both lovely and sad, were trained on me. She didn’t speak this time, but we stared at each other—a thousand words between us.

I don’t want to be afraid anymore.

The words echoed all around me, mimicking the fire that burned in her eyes. When it ignited inside me, I knew I’d never be the same again. I took comfort in that tiny spark; it was small, but steadily growing warmer.

I have a choice.

Too many decisions had been made for me, but no longer.

It’s up to me. It’s my choice.

Like molten steel in cold water, my resolve was forged.

I gave Josephine a tiny smile, finally understanding. It’s my choice, and I choose my destiny. I won’t walk away.

I didn’t need confirmation, but as I turned away, I heard a soft word in my ear.

One last time, my name whispered in the wind.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


I pulled the car into its usual spot in the driveway. With the exception of the porch light, the rest of the house was dark. Gareth must have gone to bed.

Feeling more than a little relieved, I got out of the car and made my way inside. I couldn’t avoid him forever, but I just wasn’t ready to face him again. Gareth’s deception had cut me deeply, and while the events at the train tracks had afforded me a small sense of clarity and acceptance, the truth was still just as painful as it had been when I’d fled the house hours before.

My wet shoes squished around my toes as I tiptoed upstairs trying to make as little sound as possible. Crossing the hall to my room, I walked inside and shut the door silently behind me.

“Hello, Lainey.”

I whirled around. A figure sat in the darkness, silhouetted by moonlight. Swearing, I fumbled for the light switch on the wall and grabbed the baseball bat I kept beside the bed. Gripping the wooden handle, I flipped the switch, bathing the room in bright light.

Gareth sat in the armchair by the window staring at me. The dagger I’d seen earlier was resting across his knees.

“Oh my God, Gareth! You scared the crap out of me!” I said, loosening my grip on the Louisville slugger.

“I scared you?” Gareth’s eyebrows shot up. “You’ve been gone for hours. You wouldn’t answer my calls, and I had no idea where you were. I was about to have Serena perform a tracking spell when Maggie finally called back and said she spoke to you. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“Well, no need to worry anymore,” I spat. “I’m home now. You can go.” I hadn’t meant to sound so cold, but the sight of him had refueled my anger.

“Lainey . . .” Gareth trailed off and hunched over, pinching the bridge of his nose.

When he sat back up and looked at me, pain and concern were etched all over his face. “Lainey, I—” He broke off as a rough sound choked him.