Dark Fates: Mated to my Ex's Uncle

REISLYN “Ugh,” I groaned, letting my bobbing head rest on the flat surface of the bar table. “By the stars, Reis,” I heard someone that sounded suspiciously like my best friend Ashley sigh and tut. “You shouldn’t have drunk so much.” “Leave me be,” I slurred, closing my eyes. Everything was blurry and moving so fast it was hard to focus on. “It’s my birthday. I get to drink however I like. I’m… I’m 25 now.” Yes. 25 years had passed since the day my mother died after giving birth to me. I, an orphan witch in the largest city in the region… and a very lonely person at that. I tried to not think about the way my life could have gone if fate hadn’t decided to screw me over. Jeremy. Just thinking about him made me remember those memories… they hurt like daggers piercing my heart over and over again. I was supposed to be married to him by now. We promised to get married by the time I was 25, after he had assumed the position as the head of his family. I had loved him so much… given my all to him until I had nothing left. Had I known that he would betray me like that, and blindside me so callously, I never would have trusted him. I had been the stupid, naive one. I should have known to never trust a Shifter. Everyone in the city was either a mundane (human), a witch or a Shifter. While humans served both Witches and Shifters alike, it was a well-known and generally accepted fact that Shifters and Witches hated each other. Jeremy had been a shifter, and was the heir of one of the most powerful Shifter families in the world: the Corbyns. Back then, when we first met, I had been foolhardy and too open. I was young and believed love would conquer all. What a fool I was. I felt a coolness on my head and opened my eyes to see my friend. Though my vision was still blurry, I could see the blue aura on her hand which felt like ice. “Thanks,” I croaked out, feeling my throat was dry like the Sahara. “You’re welcome. And Reis… you shouldn’t be thinking about the past,” her voice was softer, full of concern that it hurt. “I wasn’t,” I denied, but she cut me off. “You forget I’m your friend. We grew up in the slums together, Reislyn. I know you like you know me. And I know you’re thinking about that bastard again,” she sighed, dropping her hand from my head. I sort of missed the cool feeling but didn’t say anything. “And, you’re crying. So there. That’s how I know.” I was? I raised my hand to touch my face and felt that, yes, my cheeks were indeed wet. A feeling of frustration came over me and I began to wipe my face over and over again with my hands, a desire to scream welling up in my chest. “I’m fine,” I told Ashley doggedly and signalled to the bartender to bring another alcoholic drink. “And I won’t think about him. I’m too busy celebrating my birthday.” With that I downed the shot of whiskey and squeezed the lime juice into my mouth from the slice. Damn. I let out a loud whoop and stood, albeit shakily, to enter the dance floor. “Reis!” I ignored my best friend, knowing she would be safe with her fiancé, Zayn, who accompanied us to the club. He was the definition of royalty from power to influence, so no one would dare touch them anyway. Thoughts about Jeremy still entered my brain but I used my anger at him to push myself onto the dance floor and let the music take over. The bass of the music pounded loudly in my ears, through my feet from the floor and the strobe lights created a very dizzying but pleasant vision. I let my magic create sparks at my fingertips and threw my hands up in the air, desperate to have one good night away from my troubles. … ELIJAH “Hello baby,” the sultry tones of the woman purring in my ear made me stifle a sigh. “Are you ready to talk to me yet?” The werecat hostess had clung to my side from the moment I stepped in the club, likely noticing my signet ring even though I had kept my identity hidden and not announced my name anywhere. I was here for a good night out away from the pressures of my position. “You can leave now,” I turned to level her a fixed gaze, and her slitted pupils dilated and she let out a huff, unsatisfied by my reaction to her clearly attractive features. “You’re not very open for a fun time tonight, are you?” She looked disgruntled and I hummed, raising the glass tumbler full of bourbon to my lips. Finally, she left, her perfume clinging to my suit in a way that made my nose wrinkle at it. I’d have my chauffeur take it to the dry cleaners in the morning. The club wasn’t as full as a regular weekend, and I took my time letting my gaze roam across the dance floor. Perhaps I’d find a suitable partner for the night? I heard a loud whoop and as if I’d heard my name being called, my eyes were drawn to her. I faintly saw sparks emerging from her fingers, and knew she was a witch. My eyes followed the movements of her body, of her hands raised in the air, and her head flung back to expose a beautiful long neck. But it was the tug at my chest that made a growl emerge from my lips. Suddenly a desire within me reared its head, and I longed to wrap my arms around her, to possess her, and own her… What was this feeling? Was it a spell she cast? I instinctively sniffed around, finding traces of spells in the air but none coming from her, or aimed at me. This was curious, I thought, and made my decision instantly. I had to get close to her. I had to figure out why I wanted her. Standing up, I immediately downed the rest of the contents of my glass and waded into the dance floor. …