Free Redemption of Fate (Fate Series Book 2) by S. Simone Chavous Page A

Cami’s reaction, he was prepared to combat her excuses and gain a precious few minutes alone with her.  

    “Fine; whatever,” she acquiesced before stepping out and pulling her door shut.

    The pair started off down the hallway, with Cami walking briskly; moving further away from Jared with each step.

    “You know, it’s nice to see you without swords sticking out all over the place,” he said jokingly from behind her, hoping to engage her in a little harmless conversation to slow the pace.  

    “Don’t get used to it; I only left them off for Chloe,” she replied over her shoulder.

    “For Chloe? What do you mean?”  

    Without realizing it, Cami slowed; letting Jared catch up to her as she considered his question. “I don’t know. It’s just, over just a few weeks her life has turned completely upside down. She’s so young, but she’s going to be a mature vampire soon and everyone has all of these expectations about who and what she’s going to be because of that stupid fucking prophecy. Her childhood is literally going to last one lousy year. I just want to give her a little bit of peace and normalcy while I can.”

    “You mean as much peace and normalcy as one can have while living in hiding on a vampire military base?” he added jokingly; with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

    Cami stopped and glared at him, not seeing the humor in the situation.

    Jared lifted his hands in surrender. “Sorry, sorry; I know it’s not funny at all. I think, I don’t know; I just make jokes to try to cope with all of it myself. I understand what you’re saying; I feel the same way. She’s such a great kid, really special, and not because of the prophecy and all the things she’s supposed to do. Growing up with my parents, with my dad being who he is, I don’t know; we never really felt much like a family. All these years knowing Alexa was out there somewhere, it was like they felt too guilty to let themselves be happy, but then finding her and seeing how happy she was with your brother, and then this last week having Chloe with us, somehow it all clicked.”

    Cami’s expression softened at his words and they started to walk again.

    “I wish I could take it all away for her,” Jared continued as they moved. “I mean, she only got a couple of weeks with her parents together, finally having her whole family, and now it will never be the same again.”

    “I know. The things she had to see yesterday, and losing Barb; it’s amazing how well she seems to be adjusting. Not that I have any experience with kids at all, but I’m pretty sure I would have lost it trying to deal with that kind of shit when I was her age,”

    “I find it hard to imagine you ever losing it, Cami. You seem incredibly strong to me, and you are very beautiful” Jared replied; his voice low and cautious.  

    Cami huffed at the compliment, but smiled in her mind. It was an odd response for her; she’d always felt that beauty was a useless quality for a woman to possess, especially a soldier, but hearing Jared apply the word to her warmed her heart ever so slightly.

    Jared grinned; pleased she hadn’t shut down again but, not wanting to push his luck, he moved the conversation to safer territory.

    “Do you expect we’ll hear from Ethan and Alexa today?” he asked as they reached the door which opened into the medical wing.

    “I hope so. I know everyone’s trying to remain optimistic and I admit there’s reason to hope everything is fine; but between us, I have a really bad feeling. Why wouldn’t they have at least called? They have to know how worried we are,” Cami said; entering the security code.

    “I’ve wondered the same thing, but maybe they’re just being overly careful. Anything done on a cell phone is easily tracked these days and it’s practically impossible to find a pay phone. They know Chloe is safe; I doubt much else is on their minds.”

    Cami nodded and walked through the door, but the