Free A Broken Fate (The Beautiful Fate Series book 2) by Cat Mann

made the school’s dance team and that she had also met a boy, Luke. Andy congratulated her on the dance team but then quickly turned into the overly concerned father and asked her dozens of questions pertaining to the new boy in his young daughter’s life. I’ll admit it was fun to watch her squirm, especially since I am usually the one who is blushing with embarrassment.
    The house was full of the usual Sunday afternoon guests. Aggie and Andy ’s friends, Ophelia and Pete had come over and brought with them their baby, Stella. Ari’s eyes lit up when Ophelia carried Stella through the doorway. He instantly stood up and held out his arms to hold her.
    “Ari, I get to hold her when you are done!” Aggie hollered at Ari as he walked away, cooing to the little baby. “Ophelia, why did you pass her to Ari first? You know he is a baby hog!” Aggie complained.
    Ignoring his mother, Ari played with the baby all afternoon. I watched him from the sidelines for a bit then moved over to the piano bench. I played half a song. The deep gash on my wrist had injured a nerve and because of the injury, my fingers could not keep up with my brain. My playing the piano was no longer soothing but rather frustrating and maddening. I closed the lid and moved back to my spot on Aggie’s sofa.
    “Stella is the descendant of Erinyes.” Ari looked up at me as he spoke. “Erinyes means “The Avenger” and is sometimes referred to as an infernal goddess. Essentially, Erinyes punishes anyone who has sworn a false oath.” He looked back down at the sweet little baby and tickled her belly causing a giant giggle to erupt from her lips.  “Stella’s duty as deity may be difficult, but it is an honor to her, she is happy and blessed, Ava, she is not burdened.” 
    I frowned at the story and a fter a while, Ari stood up and tried to pass Stella along to me. “Oh, no,” repelling my body backwards in my seat, I waved my hands to and fro. “I don’t hold babies, Ari.”
    Ari ignored my frantic plea and placed the baby in my lap anyway. Stella began to fuss almost immediately and I called for Aggie. She swooped in to save the day and quickly snatched the baby from my lap. Ari shook his head back and forth at me incredulously.
    Later, w e ate dinner and Ari held Stella on his knee. She was eating table food so Ari kept sneaking her bits of his peas and mashed potatoes. It was really cute to watch Ari be so entertained and captured by such a sweet little baby.
    At the end of the evening, we walked the short distance home on the sandy beach. Ari held my hand and walked slow ly. “How are you feeling?” He asked out of nowhere.
    I shrugged, “fine, I guess.”
    “Are you healing ok? How is your hand?”
    “My hand still hurts. My head hurts from time to time but I ’m fine.”
    “What about your ribs and your wrist?”
    “Ari, I am fine.”
    Ari ’s jaw clenched. I wasn’t being honest with him and he knew it. I was still in some pain and at times, my headaches would be blinding and nearly unbearable. My side hurt when I took in deep breaths and my wrist was tender. I still had a certain amount of difficulty when I tried to move my fingers.
    “Have you had anymore memories of when you were missing?”
    “No, I haven’t.” And that was the truth, I really had not had any more flashbacks of when I had been missing.
    “Not that you would tell me about them anyway.” Ari said in a clipped tone as we reached the door. I stood in the threshold and watched him walk coolly away through the house without another word.
    Upset by Ari’s comment, I retreated to the shower scrubbing my skin with force as his words made me angrier and angrier. When I emerged a half hour later, my skin was red and raw. Ari was waiting for me in the bedroom on the other side of the bathroom door. He immediately took me in his arms and pushed my body up against the wall. His lips pressed hard against mine. His tongue forced its self into my mouth. My body