Fate (Drift Series Book 4) Read Free Page A

it.”
    Richard just stared at me with a comforting smile.
    “Well son, you’ve heard my reservations. I thought it was only fair to the both of you that I made my thoughts known. You two have my blessing and I wish you the best. I will be there to give my daughter away as well as support you, and stand with you at the altar.” He reached over and patted me on the leg as he stood up from his chair.
    “That means a lot to me, Richard…thank you.”
    Before he walked out of the room, he turned back to me.
    “Take care of her, Leo. She is my whole world too. You must always come back to her...for her.”
    “I will sir…I will.” I nodded at him in affirmation.
    He looked at me with an insecure smile and then looked behind me as if someone was standing there. I turned to look and see that Shade was present. Richard walked out of the room.
    “Did you hear everything we just talked about?”
    “Pretty much.” She leaned over the top of me and wrapped her arms around my neck in an embrace, softly kissing me. “You’re my whole world too, baby. Always…always come back to me. I will wait on you for eternity.”
    I smiled and caressed her arm, kissing her once again.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 2
     
    ILL
     
     
    Time screamed by. Although mayhem was still breaking out throughout the world here and there, I decided to stick around, close to home. I began to get frustrated with Argento and Elysia—with the heavens. I figured, if they weren’t coming to mankind’s aid, why should I? My world centered on protecting my loved ones and seeking out War. I was tired of playing the middle man between Heaven and Hell.
    So, I stayed home. Christmas came; it was a white one, naturally, in Colorado. I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the human tradition of sitting around a hot fireplace with the people I care about, trading gifts, listening to holiday music with everyone as snow fell outside foggy windows. Watching our family and friends all get together, the food, the festivities—this is what I had always dreamed of doing all those days and nights sitting alone up in my tree. I was a part of something now and I didn’t want it any other way. It was as if, at least during this time period, the outside world and the troubles within it had no bearing on our time together. It was great.
    As winter came closer to an end and spring began to draw near, something started to happen around me, something I had always known would occur if I lingered somewhere for an extended amount of time. Something that only Shade and I were aware of. The humans around me began to get sick. Benjamin, Anne, Scruffy, even Shade, and her family started to fall ill. I was spending too much time with them. I hadn’t taken a day away from them to even visit my tree for a few days just to give them a break from me. I was constantly around both families as of late and it was beginning to show. To be honest, I had nearly forgotten about this issue.
    It was getting to where Scruffy was missing college days, work days, and not going to his MMA classes. His parents were in the same predicament along with Shade’s mother and father. It got to the point where they had gotten so weak they couldn’t even get out of their beds. Doctor and hospital visits started becoming frequent with the families, the healthcare workers couldn’t find anything wrong with them all, but I knew what was wrong with them…me.
    Our wedding had taken a distant backseat to this dilemma. I knew what I had to do. I decided to leave for a while, but before I could leave, I needed to see my fiancée. I bid farewell to my very sick and pale family, citing the excuse that there was another breakout of malevolence I needed to tend to and took off for the Lewis home for a brief visit.
    Shade, for some strange reason, was showing some resiliency. Although she was very weak, coughing and aching all the time, she was still able to get around to answering her front door.
    “Hey