Prim and Proper Fate (Twisted Fate Series Book 2) by Tami Lund Read Free Book Online

true, though, and she was surprised at the Chala’s intuition.
    Chala were almost always born of other Chala, created for a single mission: to continue to breed more Chala and more Light Ones, in order to maintain the population. To make their jobs even more difficult, not all females born of a Chala were Chala themselves. Standard female Light Ones were rarely fertile, hence the Chala’s responsibility as a baby-making factory. Light Ones were the protectors of humanity. Without them, the Rakshasa would be free to dine on humans at will, and would eventually decimate the population. The Chala’s responsibility was an important one. For all of humanity.
    Chala, although they were technically Light Ones, did not have the ability to shift. Instead, they had a small amount of magic that, when honed, could be used to help them protect themselves from a Rakshasa attack. Few practiced their magic, though, because they always had either a Fate, most of whom had a great deal more magic than a Chala, or their shifter mate to protect them.
    Sydney, from what Prim understood, had not only honed her magic, but she’d trained in hand-to-hand combat as well. And she’d participated in at least one battle and had come out alive, although it hadn’t exactly been on purpose, and Gavin no doubt refused to let her do so again. She was far too precious a commodity, to him and to the pack they led. But if she had to, Sydney was prepared to defend herself, and that was what really mattered.
    Too bad the Fates and Light Ones hadn’t thought of that tactic several hundred years ago. Maybe Sydney wouldn’t be the last one left, and it wouldn’t be as big of an issue that she’d chosen to mate with a cursed Rakshasa instead of a Light One.
    “I can tell,” Sydney said, walking further into the courtyard. “Why wouldn’t you help us, otherwise?”
    “Do I really need to go through the list of reasons again?”
    “They all boil down to you being afraid. You’re afraid to leave this island. You’re afraid to go after Gavin. You’re afraid to try to curse him again. Basically, you’re just afraid.”
    “I am not male, nor a shifter. Taunting me into helping won’t work,” Prim retorted.
    Sydney shook her head. “I’m not taunting you. I’m just pointing out that the only reason you won’t help is because you’re afraid. And the only way you’ll actually conquer your fear is if you do help us.”
    “I don’t particularly care about conquering my fears. If I have any fears to conquer,” Prim added tartly.
    “Have you ever been in love, Prim?” Sydney asked softly.
    Yes . With every one of my Chala .
    “Why do you ask?”
    “Because if you’ve ever been in love, then you would understand how I feel right now. It’s like . . . like a part of me is missing. I feel like my life is empty right now. My heart feels the most empty of all. And it’s not just me. Gavin is an integral part of our pack. He’s our leader. Those shifters are completely disorganized without him. Do you think that’s the best sort of protection for the last remaining Chala in the world?”
    “I think it’s terribly ironic that your pack is led by a Rakshasa.”
    “A cursed Rakshasa. One you cursed. One you can curse again. If you just stop being afraid.”
    Prim pursed her lips and balled her hands into fists at her side. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said stiffly. “I need to speak with my chef and check on dinner.” She hurried through the arched doorway leading to the kitchen, glancing over her shoulder and then sagging with relief when Sydney did not follow.
    William caught up with her an hour later, after she’d reviewed the dinner plan with Brutus and Brokk and then retired to her private suite, if only to avoid her houseguests. It made her infinitely nervous that they were here at all, and she should be hovering over them, ensuring nothing bad happened, but she couldn’t do it. She needed a little distance, at least for a few