Forged by Fate by Reese Monroe Read Free Book Online

injury” talk to the stress of finals… That was it. She’d finally cracked. The pressure to make something of herself, the constant studying, and the fact that she knew nothing of her parents’ mental stability. Hell, she could have a genetic history of psychosis or schizophrenia.
    Her lungs suddenly felt two sizes too small. She had to get out of here. Somehow—
    “Sadie.” Justin’s voice went quiet. “It’s going to be okay.”
    “Bullshit. Let me out of here.” This Theo could be some psycho, fixated on her. Shit.
    “He’ll tell you everything when he wakes up.”
    “I won’t make it. Please. Just tell him I’m fine. You’re here. You can protect me.” She shook her head. “Um. Protect me from what?”
    He grinned.
    “Let me guess, Theo will tell me.” She glanced at the hands laced together, locking her to him. “You suck.”
    Justin rose from his seat. “Okay. I’ll see if I can reach him, wherever he is.”
    She watched him for two long breaths. “You’re very strange.”
    “You don’t know the half of it.”
    “That’s not very reassuring, Justin.”
    He knelt before her. “Here, let’s see if I can give you a little wiggle room.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Theo? It’s me, Justin. Brother, we’re just going to be gone a second. Your Ahavah is safe. I’ll watch her,” Justin said as he worked Theo’s fingers apart.
    In a move so fast Sadie didn’t register it happening, a knife appeared and Theo pressed it against Justin’s throat.
    “No. Theo.” Justin held up his hands, showing his palms and shifting his focus to the side and down, exposing more of his neck. “It’s me, brother.”
    Orange blazed through Theo’s hazel eyes, and a growl ripped through the air. Sadie pushed free and jumped to her feet.
    “Alive,” Theo whispered. “Safe.”
    Justin coughed. “Safe, brother.”
    Theo dropped his hold on Justin and sagged against the couch, holding Sadie’s gaze. “Mine,” he whispered, and his eyelids slid shut.
    “Holy. Shit.” Sadie backed toward the door as Justin leaned forward, gasping for air.
    He crawled away from Theo. “See what I get for trying to help?”
    She stared, astonished, scared, furious, and awed all rolled up into a near freak-out fit. What the hell had she just witnessed?
    “Go quickly. I’ll stand guard.”
    “I don’t understand what’s happening.” She tugged at her hair.
    Justin glanced at Theo.
    “He almost killed you,” she whispered. For the first time in a long time, her voice cracked. She was strong. Confident. She had to be as the youngest person at this college, odd man out in high school, and freak-of-nature strong black belt. “But you’re his brother.”
    “Yes.” Justin looked up at Sadie from the floor as he rubbed his neck. “He’d kill even me to protect his Mate.”
    Wait a minute. Did he say Mate?

Chapter Eleven
    “You shouldn’t have done that, Justin.” Theo picked up the pace as they hoofed it to Justin’s Camaro.
    “You were the one who went all knife-happy on me. You scared the shit out of her.” He shook his head.
    “I didn’t mean to.” Theo jammed his hand into his hair.
    He’d been so weak from healing Sadie. Exhausted. All he knew while in his slumber was that someone was taking her. Prying her away from him. How he knew, he wasn’t sure, since he had been regenerating.
    And his brother had nearly paid the price. The one who, besides his Mate, Theo cared for the most in this world. He’d expected the intense reaction to his Mate, but to nearly harm his Companion…that didn’t sit right with Theo. He needed to get his shit together and fast.
    Justin swung open his door. “So, where’d she disappear to?”
    “Not sure, remember, I was out cold? You were supposed to be watching her.” Theo shook his head. “I feel her, faintly. I wasn’t surprised she wasn’t at Dasha’s. She’s much farther away.” He went to his bike.
    “You’re riding that?” Justin glanced around. “What if