A Promised Fate

By Cat Mann

Devotion, passion and promises are no longer enough. Everything Ari has built his universe around threatens to come to a tragic end. Ava's seven Kakos foes have been vanquished, but a new and even deadlier terror threatens the Alexander home. As Ari struggles with his role as a deity, he is forced to reveal to Ava his true lineage and what his identity means for their future together. The Zilotis, an occult group of surviving Kakos extremists, rise up to set themselves against the Fates...and no one is safe, no one can be trusted. Ari’s fears control him. Trust crumbles and promises lose all meaning as Ari comes to grips with his past and the vows made in the past in his name. Ari will do anything for Ava, even if his devotion means his own death. Secrets are rampant, lies and new nightmares emerge. Will Ari be the man he promised he would be?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cat Mann
• Release date: Dec 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311776907

Cat Mann

Cat Mann is an Illinois author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a genius of a man and together they are raising two beautiful daughters.With her dog at her side, Cat obsessives over French music, witty films and lengthy novels.Cat’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Amazon Top 100, Literature & Fiction Fantasy Based Novels, as well as being a top contender in Mythology & Fairy Tales.To find out more about Cat’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorcat.mann and follow her blog, http://authorcatmannblog.blogspot.com/.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Nightmare

The sea was angry. Waves hit the shore with vengeance, one devastating blow after another ripping at the Earth and dragging whatever land it could back for the long return out to deeper waters. The currents churned and white saltwater foam swirled on top of the dark and dangerous tide. Watching from the cliff side above, I tried to keep myself rooted to the ground, but my heavy feet were shoved inexorably forward, forced to carry my unwilling body along the edge of what seemed like the end of the world. Sea spray hissed and then misted the sharp, jagged rocks far below me. Broken and pulverized earth, chipped away with each shuffling step I was forced to take, scattered down the tall, narrow edge of the ridge. A fear unlike any other I had ever felt was lodged deep in my gut and I choked on the impossible-to-swallow heartbeats in my throat.

I have three choices. I can say no and die, I can say yes and die, or I can jump and die.

I will do anything for her. I will do anything for them.

Chapter 2

Her

Brilliant rays of morning sunlight slanted in through our bedroom window. Light flickered and danced on the walls and a cool breeze off the sea rustled our curtains. The breeze ebbed and a beam of daylight made a path across the bedroom and rested on her cheek, warming her. Soundlessly, I made my way back to our bed to rejoin her. Taking my eyes away from her is always a struggle. From the moment she came into my world, from my very first glimpse of her, I have been consumed, obsessed and desperately in love.

Her chest rose and fell with gentle breaths. Her lips, so full and so soft, are rose petals. Whenever my lips touch those lips, a sensation consumes me that is unlike anything I have ever experienced.

Sinking back into the bed at her side, the mattress bowed a little with my weight. I contoured my body around her curves and my fingers wound through her dark hair. Long, wavy strands splayed across the white pillowcases. A smile grew on her sleeping face and I could not help myself, I leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth. She blinked up at me sleepily.

Good morning, beautiful Ava.

Mmm. Stretching, she pointed at the face-splitting grin that I couldn’t manage to hide, and rested the tip of her finger on my lip. What is this little smirk of yours all about?

You. You were smiling in your sleep. 'Twas a sight to behold.

Only because I was dreaming about you.

Is that so?

Mmm, her head bobbed in a cute confirming nod.

Tell me, Ava, please … What was I doing in your dream to make you so happy?

I’ll show you. She lifted her head up from the pillow and joined her lips with mine. My hand cupped at her nape and I kissed her back. Her mouth opened, allowing my tongue to slip between her rose petal lips. Her hands found their way up my back to my hair, still damp from my shower, and I closed my eyes at her touch. The feelings that she pulls from my body are always powerful and come on fast. My fingers edged up her leg to her inner thigh and the higher they climbed, the hotter our bodies grew and the needier we became. Ava made a little noise of pleasure and blushed at the sound, then pushed herself against me, tugging at the towel that was tightly knotted around my waist. Shifting my body, I pulled her on top of me, straddling her legs over my hips, my hands palming her bottom in a squeeze. We kissed more deeply and my lust and need for her grew until my desire was all-consuming.

Then Ava’s muscles tightened, she stilled, her eyes opened wide and after a moment’s hesitation, she swiftly moved her hand away from the unconquered knot still securing my towel and onto my chest, pushing me backward, away from her. The passion that had been building between us evaporated in an instant and I looked at her with wounded pride as she promptly moved off my lap.

She nodded in the direction of our bedroom door and my brow furrowed in question until the thunder of Max’s quick bare feet smacked against the hardwood floor and echoed down the hallway. Our door came open with a crash and our three-year-old son greeted us with the monster smile that is his stock in trade.

Hiya, Max! Ava grinned.

Hey, Buddy. I grabbed hold of his arms, helped him up into our massive bed and then reached for my glasses and cell phone off my nightstand. Ava rested her hands softly on either side of her growing stomach.

Thumbing through a catalog of early morning messages, a warm crack of a smile pushed up my lips at my latest text.

Oh! Max! Ari! Ava cried and grabbed Max’s chubby hands, placing them quickly where hers had been. The baby is moving!

Max squirmed and his fingers danced on Ava’s stomach. She settled his fingers by placing her open palms over his small hands.

Now wait. Be patient, she told him.

Max held still for as long he could and was rewarded with his first encounter with the baby kicking. He pulled his hand back at the initial shock of the strange meeting but Ava grabbed him again and put his stubby, dimpled fingers back to her stomach.

Relax and try to feel her kick again. She was excited in sharing the moment with him. Her sea-green eyes twinkled brightly and her ultra-white smile grew bigger and bigger. The baby kicked once more with force and the movement of Ava's belly under their hands made Max's eyes light up with joy. He clapped his hands together happily.

Talk to the baby, Max. Your voice makes her happy.

You don’t know it’s a girl, Ava, I sighed.

"And you don’t know it’s not a girl."

Tossing my cell aside, I leaned back to watch my wife and son, and smiled with my love for them. At twenty-six weeks along in the pregnancy, Ava’s baby bump was hard to hide. Her swollen stomach protruded from her small frame and she had an ever-present glow.

Are you sure you don’t want to find out if we really are having a girl? Just think, I could call the nurse on my way to work, have her pull your chart, and we could know by lunch.

Ari! We agreed to wait to find out the baby’s gender. I want to be surprised. I thought you wanted to be surprised, too.

I do, I do. But the thought is tempting all the same and the suspense is killing me.

Ava basically ignored my pain and went on to an obviously more pressing matter. We still need a name, she reminded me for the hundredth time. We can’t have a baby without a name.

I know, I groaned, but you don’t like any of the ones I've come up with. And I really want Ileana.

Ileana is a no! She scolded me for the twentieth time, and you don’t like any of mine either.

Abraham. Really, Ave?

Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout.

Maybe we should let Max decide on the name, I proposed.

Ava tilted her head at the thought and looked down at Max, who was whispering into Ava’s belly button. I am really not wanting a baby named Llama Llama or Sponge Bob or Elmo. Or any of the super heroes, either, Ari. This is important.

We still have more than three months to decide, I started to say. Then I noticed the stubborn thing that sometimes takes over Ava's face -- a cute curvy line settling in between her brows. But I promise to work on it with you this weekend. Let’s each come up with one name we really like by this evening. I’ll pick a girl name and you do a boy. Okay?

Deal, she gave a firm nod. You are coming home early today right? Do you promise?

I promise. I'm leaving early and have to make one stop in Beverly Hills. Then I’m all yours.

It was the Fourth of July weekend. I planned to take off early the day before the holiday and I had sworn to Ava not to work all weekend. We had plans with our family all weekend long and I was not going to miss anything. Work and school had already been keeping me away from Max and Ava a bit too much and I knew my long hours spent at baio were getting on Ava’s nerves. I knew this because she had said as much several times already in the past two months. Gone were my days of apprenticeship during which I had worked only when Margaux worked. My hours had vastly increased and I had not taken even a Saturday morning off since the new year.

Good, I cannot wait to just… I dunno... hang out with you!

Me too. My lips pressed to the corner or her mouth.

You were up early this morning. Ava pushed out of bed. I didn’t even hear your alarm go off, that’s not like you.

Thoughts of my nightmare flickered and crept back into the corners of my mind.

Early bird gets the worm? I teased.

Yeah, right, Ava gave me a sarcastic laugh with an overly dramatic eye roll and sauntered off to the shower.

I have never been early to anything a day in my life and she knew it. Despite the fact that I had been awake since the pre-dawn hour, I was late to work once again. I threw on my clothes, pausing just a moment to get my cuffs just right, and then, toothbrush still jutting from my mouth, I picked Max up, tossed him over my shoulder and carried him, squealing with delight, off to the kitchen.

Just as we arrived at the refrigerator, there was a rap at the glass door to the back patio. I set Max down on his feet. Let your Yaya Aggie in, Max?

He happily flitted in stocking feet across the kitchen floor, slid the lock out of place and let my mom enter our home. She scooped him up in a hug, peppered him with kisses that he wiped off and then she came to my side.

Hey, Ma, I said with a kiss to her cheek. What are you doing here this morning?

Where is Ava? Her eyes scanned the kitchen and then out into the living room.

Shower.

How is she feeling today?

Great. Why do you ask? I grabbed a yogurt for Max, some fresh blueberries and small glass of milk and then plopped him down at the table for breakfast.

Eat. I told him sternly and peeled the small plastic dinosaur toy from his sticky fingers.

My mom shook her camera at me. Ava is twenty-six weeks today! Do you think she is in a good enough mood to let me snap a photo of her and her belly?

I rubbed my cheek in thought. My mother, Aggie is a photographer and has made my pregnant wife her current project. She was trying to create a pregnancy journal, mapping Ava and the baby’s progress. At times Ava cooperated and at others she, well … didn't.

Ask her after she comes out of the bedroom, I suggested. She was in a good mood when she woke up and I heard her singing in the shower. That was ten minutes ago though, so no telling how she may be feeling now. The hormone thing, you know. I looked down at my watch. I have to go, Ma. I'm late. My mother put on her make-a-plan-of-attack face and I headed back up to the bedroom to kiss Ava goodbye.

At our bedroom door, I stopped dead in my tracks. Lord, she is so beautiful. How in God's green world did I get so lucky? Ava strolled out of the closet in a flowing summer dress, her baby bump cheerfully on display. The song, Hello Sunshine played in the back of my mind.

You look ravishing, I said with overt awe.

You too. She pulled at my shirt collar. No tie today?

Damn it!

Ava laughed at me, walked back in to the closet and grabbed my favorite tie.

Thanks, Baby. I’ll have to put it on in the car. I should have left fifteen minutes ago. I love you. Call me no matter what you may need. I'll be home this afternoon, ready to spend the whole weekend in the sun with you and Max. I can’t wait.

Ok. I love you.

Unable to resist, I kissed her full, pink lips one last time. Then dropped the bomb: Oh, um, Mom is in the kitchen with Max. She wants a twenty-sixer. Please, please make her happy and just say yes! I hollered as I practically ran away down the hall and then down the stairwell.

I kissed Max on the head. Be good for your mom today, please.

He nodded and wrapped his arms around my neck in a hug.

"Ava, please!" I heard just before I escaped through the door to the garage, my mom's response to the annoyed groan from Ava. I closed the door to the garage firmly behind me feeling fairly sure one of them would come complaining to me about the other by the end of the day. Both, maybe.

After opening the driver’s side door to my car, my grin inched up my face before sliding into the seat.

Good morning.

Hey, you! You know you’re late, right? Julia gave a glossy lipped smirk and leaned across the center console for a smacking peck to my stubbly cheek.

I’m always late. You know that about me.

I don’t get to see you as much as I like anymore. I must have forgotten that particular quirk.

Where to this time? The garage door rumbled open and I started the engine.

Julia knows me better than anyone does and she has always made it her business to memorize my schedule. She has been showing up unexpectedly in my car or in my office or outside of one of my classes for as long as we’ve known one another. If she needs me for something, she always knows how to find me.

I texted you like three times this morning.

I got your messages.

Then why didn’t you text me back? I almost came in to get you.

I was in bed with my wife when you messaged me. I smiled crookedly and she shoved her finger down her throat and made a fake gagging sound.

Gah! Spare me the details.

I don’t kiss and tell, Jules. You know that. Now, where to this time?

I have a summer class. Will you take me to campus? Pretty please?

I looked at the clock on the dash with a grimace. Sure. But where is your car?

Outta gas.

What did you do with the money I gave you last week for gas?

I spent it. Julia tucked a neat strand of hair behind her ear and I couldn’t help but notice her new summer highlights. She looked at me from the corner of her eye and knotted her fingers up in her lap.

Your hair looks nice.

Thank you. She began to fidget with a diamond bangle bracelet on her slender wrist that I had given her one year for her birthday. Tucked just underneath her favorite bangle was a small, flesh colored Band-Aid.

If you needed money for your hair, you could have just asked. You know I can’t tell you no.

I know.

I pulled up to a drive-through coffee place and placed an order with a barista. May I have a large cup of coffee, black, and one soy, hazelnut macchiato, venti?

Have you eaten?

Julia shook her head no and I added a blueberry scone to the order. I got the change from the twenty I gave the barista and I handed it to Julia with her drink and her scone and then palmed an additional fifty dollars into the pile.

For gas. I told Julia sternly and she took the money and shoved it into her oversized designer bag.

Thanks again, she responded over a sip of her drink. You look tired.

Uh, yeah, I am actually. I had this messed up nightmare. It scared the shit out of me. Anyway, I didn’t sleep much.

You? A nightmare? Isn’t that like Ava’s thing?

Right, yeah normally.

So? What was it? Did you dream that you showed up to work in your underwear or something?

Not quite, no.

What, did you dream that zombies were chasing you or something stupid like that?

No. I looked at her as if she was a moron and she flipped her hair back out of her eyes.

Then what was it? You have to tell me. You tell me everything. C’mon! She pressed.

I do not tell you everything.

Whatever, you totally do. So?

I um… I did something really bad. Something I regretted. You were there…in the dream.

Me? Her pointer finger jabbed lightly into her own chest.

Yeah, you.

Oh? What was I doing?

I’m not sure. I couldn’t tell whose side you were on.

She picked at the corner of the Band-Aid. I’m on your side, Ari. Always.

Looking back to the road, I coughed to clear my throat and changed the subject. Are you going to tell me what happened a few nights ago with you and Rory? Where were you, Julia? You can fool him but you can’t fool me. What’s going on with you?

This was my third attempt to get her to tell me the details from an incident that had happened a few days earlier. Julia and Rory had had a massive argument that started after he woke in the middle of the night to find her missing. He freaked, thinking something terrible had happened, and called everyone he knew looking for her, but no one had seen her. He had just decided to call the police when she showed back up at home in the wee hours in the morning with some lame excuse about not being able to sleep and taking a long walk up the beach to clear her thoughts. He was upset but in the end she was able to convince him that she was telling the truth. Love will do that--make an obvious lie seem like God's truth. I knew better than to believe her story. Julia and I have a deeply rooted past together and I know her better than most. She has a near crippling fear of darkness and the beach at night isn’t a place she would dare venture off to alone.

I already told you, it was just a walk.

Whatever. Don’t let that shit happen again, Jules. I warned. Rory was worried sick.

It was just a walk, Ari. She said louder and rolled her eyes.

Lie to him, not to me. My teeth clenched down tight and she looked away from me, out of the window.

We arrived at the edge of campus. Just drop me off here. I can walk the rest of the way.

I glanced down at her tall, strappy sandals.

You sure?

Yes, here is good. She pulled at the door handle before I could come to a complete stop and release the child locks.

Will you need a ride later?

Nah, Rory promised he would pick me up.

Ok, then, have a good day.

She blew me a kiss from the curb. Thanks for the ride, Ari. Love ya.

Sure. Bye, Jules.

Chapter 3

Evil Eye

It was half past six by the time I walked into our home from the garage. Earlier than I showed up most days – but very late for this day. I pulled the knot out of my tie as I walked into the kitchen. The refrigerator was open and the only thing visible from the person behind the stainless steel door was a pair of flip flop clad feet.

Ava, I began my apology, "I am so…"

The door closed to reveal my mother holding a watermelon.

You aren’t my wife.

What gave it away, Ari? The fact that my arms are not covered in tattoos or that I’m not six months pregnant?

My eyebrow lifted upwards and I opened my mouth, a dozen or so witty replies played at my lips.

Never mind, don’t answer that! she laughed.

Where’s Ava?

She’s out by the pool alongside everyone else. You promised that girl you would be home early. We've all been waiting on you. Max has been begging for you!

I couldn’t get away in time. I tried. My assistant gave me her resignation notice today, she’s gone in two weeks and her notice threw everything off and then I was held up in this meeting for marketing. I couldn’t skip out on that meeting. They are trying to approve this image of Ava for the show, I really think they are using her to…

Fauna quit? My goodness, why?

Oh, um, this sounds bad but, I don’t know why she quit. She never really said.

Ava will be happy to hear it at any rate. She never cared for much for that girl…

"Fauna's okay. I’m actually going to miss her, she does a lot for me. More than she probably should… Anyway, how mad is Ava that I am late?"

Her twisted grimace said it all. I was in trouble.

Turning away from her, I walked back to our bedroom and removed my watch, suit jacket and tie then pulled a velvety Harry Winston box from my pants pocket. I flipped the lid to inspect the simple and delicate diamond evil eye necklace I had had designed for Ava. Ava’s wedding ring rested on her dressing table. Her fingers had swollen up just enough within the past few weeks that her ring no longer fit her comfortably. Picking up the ring, I twirled it around my pinkie finger, thinking of the day she said yes, the happiest moment of my life. I strung her ring onto the chain of the new necklace, where it rested nicely against the circling rows of sparkly diamonds. After changing into a pair of shorts, I slipped the necklace and my cell phone into my pocket and headed to the deck.

Music streamed through the speakers and the evening summer sun was still warm in the sky. My dad and uncle manned the grill alongside Nick and Roar. My mother and my Aunt Gianna talked with one another at the long harvest table that was just large enough to seat all of us. Beside the pool, in a row of lounge chairs, sat Collin, August, Julia, Lauren and Luke. Lauren looked up and sent a little wave. As soon as August spotted me, he shot me a nasty look and angrily pushed his hot pink-streaked hair out of his eyes with his pinkie finger. Ava obviously had spent her afternoon complaining to him about me. Finally, my eyes rested on her.

She hadn’t noticed me yet and I smiled automatically as I watched her. She had on a bikini and had her hair piled up on top of her head. Her swollen baby belly was round, and shiny with oily sunscreen. Max sat in Ava’s lounge chair at her hip. He had a matchbox car and treated Ava’s stomach as if it were a mountain. He drove the car all the way up to her belly button and then let it fly down her stomach and crash in her lap. He laughed and clapped each time he let go of the car.

Max caught site of me after one of his car crashes. Daddy’s home!

Ava looked up at me and frowned. She helped Max out of the chair and he did that walk/run thing that kids do by swimming pools all the way to my open arms.

Swim with me? he begged.

I have to talk with your mama first, Max. He whined at my answer and pushed out of my arms.

Papus! Max billowed out a pouty cry for my dad, his Papus Andy, and my dad indulged him by turning the grill duty completely over to Thais and hopping into the pool so Max could swim some more.

I edged down to the pool deck and over to Ava. She didn’t even bother a second glance at me. I knew how badly I had messed up and I also knew that I’m sorry just wasn’t good enough but I had to start somewhere.

Ava, I am so sorry.

Pfft. She rolled her eyes and scoffed out a pissy puff of breath.

Baby, please talk to me. Forgive me. I hate that I couldn’t get away from work earlier. There is no excuse for being late today, especially after I promised you I’d be home early. I only want to be with you. You know that. Please talk to me. I am so sorry.

She finally looked up at me, but with a cold angry stare.

Despite her chilly demeanor, I cupped her cheek in my hand and brushed my thumb against Ava’s tan summer skin. I’m here now. I am yours. I promise to be at your and Max’s side for the rest of the weekend. I am sorry, Ava. Truly I am.

She nodded her head and her frown eased infinitesimally.

Look, see… I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and held it in my open palm. Take my phone. I swear not to touch it or look at it. The phone is yours for the rest of the weekend. I won’t even think about work.

Her bitterness thawed a tad and she spoke, I can hold your cell phone hostage for four whole days?

Yes. I’ll forget I even own a phone if you promise to forgive me.

No calls in to the office?

Not one.

No important messages from your assistant that you can’t ignore?

I promise.

Ava looked down at the cell in my outstretched palm and then back up at me. She chewed her lip in thought and in one quick movement, my phone was snatched away from me and shoved down deeply into Max’s toy bag.

Does that mean you forgive me?

I guess so, yes. Don’t make any more promises you cannot keep.

I promi … Ok.

I drew the necklace with Ava’s wedding ring attached out of my pocket. I got this for you. I know I am a crazy, obsessive husband, but I hate that you can’t wear your wedding ring right now, it’s driving me insane. I want everyone to know you're mine and that I’m yours. I can’t stand the thought of you not wearing my ring. It’ll give you some protection, too. Keep the bad away. Will you please wear it for me?

Ari! She shouted.

I couldn’t tell if she was happy about the gift or mad at me for buying something so expensive. I grimaced and waited for an additional response.

Jeeze, you could have strung my ring from dental floss and I would have worn it. This is way too much.

I held my breath.

But, oh my, is it pretty... She inched down to get a further inspection and gently stroked the circling rows of diamonds.

I freed the air from my lungs. So you will wear it then?

I won’t take it off. She leaned forward allowing me to clasp the necklace in place around her neck. The diamonds rested ever so gently against the very top of her chest.

Thank you. My first evil eye. I love this so much, Ari. It’s perfect, she whispered, and looked up at me to kiss my lips.

Anything for you, I whispered back. The idea of an evil eye was actually something my dad came up with. I should have given you this a long time ago. Maybe an evil eye could have kept you safe when I couldn’t. My eyes burned into hers and I thought of all the times I failed her. All the times I could not save her.

We're safe now. Ava’s thumb smoothed my creased brow and she gave me a reassuring smile.

Mmmm. My fingers edged along her long, scarred wrist.

Let’s have fun tonight. Ok? Forget about all that. She lightly bumped her shoulder with mine.

Right.

We had been looking forward to a long holiday together at home with our family. This would be Ava's first Fourth of July weekend at the family compound in Dana Point. Just about everything we do around the holiday weekend, bedsides eating mounds of great food, involves water. Ava has a genuine but absurd fear of water. Humbly I take credit for having wielded my charm and persistence to get her into the ocean a handful of times. But each time I got her there, she suctioned herself onto me like a jellyfish, leaving me to peel her off as soon as we were back on shore. The only part of her that ever tries our pool is a big toe, and that has happened bloody rarely. She has no idea of how to swim, a fact that has bothered me because I love the water, but my worry had become