Free Fate Forgotten by Amalia Dillin Page A

Since I have yet to discover what exactly DeLeon lands offer for protection that the rest of the earth doesn’t, I didn’t really think about it.
    He smirked. Ah, yes. How could I forget that they prefer to keep you in ignorance.
    The secrets he keeps aren’t his to tell. Nor, I suspect, are they yours.
    I don’t understand why you don’t just read their minds. You’re more than capable. Or maybe you aren’t. Frankly, I can’t imagine how you’ve lived all these years, remembering everything, without the slightest clue. It all seems so obvious.
    What are you talking about?
    Thunder rumbled, and his eyes left hers. He stared past her with an expression of growing disgust. Nothing. I’m not talking about anything.
    She looked over her shoulder, but there was nothing more than the window. The sky had grown dark, and lightning flashed in the distance, followed by more thunder. “It’s a little bit cold for thunderstorms, isn’t it?”
    Adam snorted. “Somehow I don’t think the weather has anything to do with it.”
    Lightning flashed again, and thunder crashed loudly enough that her father sat up in his chair. “Oh. Abby. When did you arrive?”
    “A bit ago.” She crossed the room to hug her father. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
    “I was just resting my eyes, that’s all.” He kissed her cheek. “Where’s my grandson?”
    “Garrit has him, with Mum and Mia.”
    He grunted. “Braver man than I, then. Still, I suppose I should go say hello and reassure your mother I’m still alive.”
    “One of these afternoons you’ll wake up to find you have another grandchild, John.”
    Her father smiled and gripped Adam’s shoulder as he passed him on the way to the door. “Yes, well, the sooner the better for you, the way the women have been carrying on. It’s a relief to have you join us, Abby. Other than Ethan, there hasn’t been a shred of reason in this house.”
    Adam grimaced. “Maybe I’ll be able to convince the doctor to induce labor the next time Mia makes me call him in a panic at two in the morning.”
    “It’ll pass, Ethan. And you’ll forget all about it when you have your baby in your arms. Too busy screaming at it to stop crying all night long to care about how miserable a pregnancy it was.” Her father chuckled at himself and left.
    She shook her head, waiting until the door had shut behind him. “It really isn’t that bad, you know.”
    “Easy for you to say, you were made for it.” Adam leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out in front of him. “It will certainly be a relief not to worry that Mia is going to burst while I’m out getting groceries.”
    “You’re better suited to be a father than anyone else on this earth, Adam.”
    He laughed. “I think that’s the last thing I ever expected to hear you say.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “Do I? I always thought you found me lacking.”
    “I was referring to your innate talents. Your personality has nothing to do with that.”
    “Ah.” He smiled. “And here I thought maybe I had made some progress.”
    Adam. You know it isn’t that simple.
    Why not?
    There are rules.
    God has been gone a long time, Eve. Those rules haven’t applied in millennia.
    The angels are still here.
    When was the last time you saw one? Spoke with one? Heard of one?
    She frowned and turned her face away. Michael’s reminder wasn’t something she wanted to talk about with Adam of all people. She didn’t even want to remember it had happened. And there hadn’t been any sign of him since, thank all that was holy.
    Even If the angels are here, I think they’re the least of our worries. He leaned forward. I’m in love with you, Eve.
    I’m sorry.
    You wouldn’t even be having this conversation with me if there wasn’t something in you that wanted me too.
    She shook her head. I don’t. I’m happily married. I love Garrit. And you love Mia.
    Not like this.
    She swallowed, looking away from him. Maybe this was the reason she had