Maybe Fate: A Novel (New Adult Paranormal Romance) by Cynthia Brint Page A

mysterious and
attractive as... as...
    Clapping
my hands to my cheeks, I winced. This was not the line of thought I
wanted. Was I as simple as that? So wrapped up in the blood rushing
through my body, was I unable to rationalize how dangerous it was to
even consider getting close to a creature like Nethiun?
    He
smelled like cloves and cinnamon.
    His
words, his teasing, toying way of suggesting I find out just how
human he was, it sent a flutter deep into my belly.
    That's
it, I need to go home.
    Turning,
spotting Becky wrapped against Ethlyn with her lips glued to his
face, I squealed.
    Cracking
one gold eye, he caught me gawking. Whispering something to Becky,
he removed her from the life-or-death hold she had on him.
    Though
she pursed her lips into a pout, she still looked my way and gave a
tiny wave. It was too loud to hear her, but she clearly mouthed my
name.
    Okay,
here we go, you can do this. Just don't freak out too badly about
Ethlyn. You got this.
    Not
entirely sure I did, in fact, have it... I wandered over on stiff
legs, adjusting my dress as I went. “Hey guys,” I said,
my eyes running over Becky's legs. Far too much had become exposed
on her during her time with him.
    I
wonder what it's like to kiss a twaelin?
    I
regretted that line of thought, cheeks buzzing as I found myself
unable to look Ethlyn straight in the face.
    “ Where'd
Nethiun go?” he asked, almost accusingly.
    “ Oh,
uh, just... he said he needed to go.” Peeking at Becky, how
she was still unable to stop touching her companion, I pressed on.
“Speaking of which, it's kind of late. Mind if I head out?”
    “ What,
now?” she whined, pouting at me with her biggest eyes. “Things
were just getting good.”
    Laughing
apologetically, I stared at the spot just beyond Ethlyn's head.
Anything else was too much. “It's fine, you stay. I'll get my
jacket and just walk back, I'll be fine.”
    “ No,
let Ethan and me walk back with you. It's too risky alone,
especially in that outfit,” she said, sticking her tongue out
at me.
    I
covered my chest nervously. “You picked this out.”
    “ And,”
Ethlyn said, “it's quite nice. However, Becky's right. We'll
go back together, it's safer.”
    Gingerly,
I let my eyes move enough to see him squinting at me intensely.
Jerking my gaze away again, I coughed. Safer,
yes, much safer with the guy who tried to drop a sign on me. “Right.
Okay,” I said lamely.
    Honestly,
this is fine. It's better than leaving them alone together.
    I
still hated that idea the most.

    ****

    It
was much colder outside than I remembered it being. When I spotted
the time on the large clock in the middle of downtown, I grasped
why.
    Is
it seriously already midnight?
    Breathing
out a puff of air, watching it dwindle away, I felt a little content
that I had somewhat accomplished my goals for the day.
    I
had so many more questions. The more I learned the more I wanted to
know... but at least I DID figure out some stuff today.
    I
really just wanted to crack open the book Mr. Birch had given me.
    The
walk back to campus was uneventful. Ethlyn said almost nothing,
Becky giggled and primped and just acted like Becky.
    Our
heels made a duo of drumming clicks, punctuated by my occasional
stumble. Once, I almost tripped on a crack in the pavement.
    “ Here,”
Ethlyn said, offering me his arm. “Let me help, those shoes
are doing you no good.”
    Becky
shot me a look that was as much of a warning as if she'd slapped me
on the face. “Uh, no thanks, we're almost there.”
    His
stoic face watched me, but he didn't press the issue.
    True
to my word, we stumbled up the grassy slope of the campus, the dorms
a welcome sight. Yawning, I headed down the hall, only realizing my
companions weren't with me when my steps echoed alone.
    Pausing,
I turned back, seeing them standing by the building doorway. “Guys?”
    Clapping
her hands together like she was praying, my roommate put on a
winning smile. “Sorry, I'm going to head back to