Strings of Fate by Kit Bryan

Strings of Fate 

16- Favours and formalware 

Bellamy sits beside me as I finish off my ice–cream. Once again, he is well within my personal space. Is he doing this on purpose or does he not realise how close he’s sitting? I can feel his warmth beside me. As I finish my treat he stands, although he looks a little nervous. I’m wondering why when he speaks. 

“So, did you ask Megan about that thing?” he asks me. I nod my head. He meets my gaze. 

“And? What did you think?” he questions. He looks like he expects me to be mad. I smile and stand up. His expression is wary as I step in closer towards him but quickly turns to relief when I take his arm which he automatically held out to me as I stood. In fact, more than relief, he looks quite pleased. 

“I think that it’s different. Different, and confusing and might take some time for me to get used to.” I tell him with a small smile. 

++ 

“But you’re willing to try and get used to it?” 

“As long as you’re willing to try and understand that it is not natural to me and might take a bit of work.” I inform him. He gives me a small smile. 

“Thank you.” I nod at him. I really do plan to try and be a little more cooperative. I still don’t really think I need protecting. But I can understand wanting to help him feel secure. So if he needs to be confident that he can take care of me in order to feel comfortable. I suppose I can allow him to lead. As long as he is asking me to follow, not demanding. We start to walk down the street and I realise I still don’t know our destination. 

“So, where are we going?” I wonder aloud. 

“Well, Megan plans to meet Tristan for dinner, I thought we might follow him afterwards, see if we can learn a bit more about him.” I nod. 

“That makes sense I suppose. But dinner isn’t for a while yet. So what are we doing right now?” 

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14:19 

“I said I’d like your help with something didn’t I?” he responds. I resist the urge to roll my eyes. 

“Yes, and what IS that something, you answered my question with another question again.” I point out. Bellamy sighs. 

“My sister insists that I have to wear a suit to dress the part for this engagement party on Saturday. I was hoping you would help me make sure that I pick something she will approve of.” He explains, saying ‘engagement‘ like it’s a curse. I look up at him curiously. 

“What is it?” 

“Well, I don’t quite understand why you are being so cooperative with this wedding stuff when you clearly don’t approve of Tristan. Why don’t you just say something to Megan?” I ask. Once again, he answers my question with a question. 

“Why don’t you say something?” This time I do roll my eyes. 

“Because, Megan barely knows me. There’s no reason why she should trust my opinion over her fiance. Plus you asked me not to. Really though, you’re her brother. Why haven’t you said anything?” 

“I tried. She keeps saying I’m just being too overprotective of her. She is my little sister after all, even if only by a minute. She loves him. If this is going to break her heart then I need proof. Something I can show her that she can fully trust in so there is no doubt that he is lying to her.” he explains. I suppose it makes sense. He doesn’t want Megan to have to make a hard decision. Trusting him or her fiance. So he is making sure that the decision is clear. It 

rs to me that this might be the longest discussion Bellamy and I have had so far without fighting. I feel compelled to keep the conversation going. 

“What do you think of Darrien?” I blurt out without thinking. Bellamy glances down at me. 

“My sister’s guard? He’s very quiet. I chose him because he is a good fighter and because he seems serious about his job. Why the interest in him?” I avoid the question. 

“But what do you think about him personally? I just realised that I pretty much completely exposed my powers to him today while talking to Megan. I’m not really worried about it 

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though. I’m curious what you think.” I explain. Bellamy is quiet as he considers. 

“I don’t really know. My sister trusts him. I’ve not really spoken to him much. He requested to be placed as her guard which is half the reason I chose him for the job. I’m not sure why he wanted the position. It can’t be all that interesting following my sister around all the time.” I hesitate for a second, wondering if I can trust Bellamy. I’ve not known him for long, but I know he has never lied to me. In fact I don’t think lying to me has even crossed his mind. I think back to what Megan said about Shifters being truthful and honest with their mates. I feel a little bad that I haven’t been more honest with him when he has been with me. Even if he hasn’t noticed it yet. I decide to share some of what I know. Well, it’s not really a decision so much as a compulsion, sharing my secrets with Bellamy feels right. It’s a strange feeling and I suspect a good deal of it is just because I want to believe I can trust him. 

“He’s Megan’s fate. Her real one. They have a red thread. But even without that, after only a few hours with them it seems completely obvious how devoted he is to her. I feel like he has just accepted that she is getting married and has contented himself with just keeping her safe. I don’t really understand it.” Bellamy looks shocked.. 

“That’s what you saw yesterday?” I nod. 

“I suppose I should make more of an effort to get to know him then. I know I prefer him to Tristan, so that’s a good start. If he is already in love with her as you say then he must be quite miserable. It does explain why he would want to be her guard. Shifters crave the touch. of those they’re close to. We can be pretty touchy feely with close friends and family. As her guard, he can keep her safe and he has an excuse to be close to her. When a Shifter is lonely or pining they hole themselves up and can become quite despondent. We live in close knit groups for a reason.” I file that information away in the little folder labelled ‘Shifters‘ in my head. We are entering another store, one that sells mens formal clothing this time. Bellamy releases my arm and looks around the store. He seems a little dumbstruck and unsure how to continue. I resist the desire to laugh and look around for a shop assistant. I know nothing about mens clothing and have no clue where to start. I jump when someone speaks from behind me. 

“Welcome! Can I help you two with anything?” I spin around to see a guy in a suit. He looks maybe a couple years older than me and has a friendly smile on his face. His suit is grey and he is wearing a pink shirt and grey tie. His hair is brown and combed back neatly. I gesture at 

Bellamy. 

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though. I’m curious what you think.” I explain. Bellamy is quiet as he considers. 

“I don’t really know. My sister trusts him. I’ve not really spoken to him much. He requested to be placed as her guard which is half the reason I chose him for the job. I’m not sure why he wanted the position. It can’t be all that interesting following my sister around all the time.” I hesitate for a second, wondering if I can trust Bellamy. I’ve not known him for long, but I know he has never lied to me. In fact I don’t think lying to me has even crossed his mind. I think back to what Megan said about Shifters being truthful and honest with their mates. I feel a little bad that I haven’t been more honest with him when he has been with me. Even if he hasn’t noticed it yet. I decide to share some of what I know. Well, it’s not really a decision so much as a compulsion, sharing my secrets with Bellamy feels right. It’s a strange feeling and I suspect a good deal of it is just because I want to believe I can trust him. 

“He’s Megan’s fate. Her real one. They have a red thread. But even without that, after only a few hours with them it seems completely obvious how devoted he is to her. I feel like he has just accepted that she is getting married and has contented himself with just keeping her 

safe. I don’t really understand it.” Bellamy looks shocked. 

“That’s what you saw yesterday?” I nod. 

suppose I should make more of an effort to get to know him then. I know I prefer him to Tristan, so that’s a good start. If he is already in love with her as you say then he must be quite miserable. It does explain why he would want to be her guard. Shifters crave the touch of those they’re close to. We can be pretty touchy feely with close friends and family, As her guard, he can keep her safe and he has an excuse to be close to her. When a Shifter is lonely or pining they hole themselves up and can become quite despondent. We live in close knit groups for a reason.” I file that information away in the little folder labelled ‘Shifters in my head. We are entering another store, one that sells mens formal clothing this time. Bellamy releases my arm and looks around the store. He seems a little dumbstruck and unsure how to continue. I resist the desire to laugh and look around for a shop assistant. I know nothing about mens clothing and have no clue where to start. I jump when someone speaks from 

behind me. 

“Welcome! Can I help you two with anything?” I spin around to see a guy in a suit. He looks maybe a couple years older than me and has a friendly smile on his face. His suit is grey and he is wearing a pink shirt and grey tie. His hair is brown and combed back neatly. I gesture at Bellamy. 

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night.” I explain. The man’s eyes light up. 

“Say no more hon. You take a seat and I will pull out some options. Do you have a colour preference?” I don’t miss that he directs the question at me rather than Bellamy. In fact he seems almost surprised when Bellamy speaks up. 

“Anything dark.” he grumbles out. Clearly he is not very enthusiastic about shopping. The man nods and eyes Bellamy from top to toe, a glint in his eye as he does so.. 

“Very nice, yes I have a few ideas.” He turns and walks off. A minute or so later he returns with an armful of clothing. He places it all in a nearby changing cubicle and gestures for Bellamy to head in and try some things on. He then takes the seat next to me which Bellamy just left. He leans over and speaks in a low voice. 

“Now this should be a fun show, don’t you think love? That man is eye candy if ever I’ve seen any.” He talks like it’s a secret shared among friends. I choke back a laugh. 

“Uhm… I…” I stutter out. He continues on. 

“No need to be shy. Just enjoy the show.” It occurs to me that Bellamy can probably still hear us, he is a Shifter and they are known to have seriously good hearing. 

“He’s a Shifter you know. He can hear us.” I point out. The sales assistant winks at me. 

“I know love. I’m Charlie by the way.” He holds his hand out to me. I shake it. 

“I’m Ryann.” I respond. Charlie opens his mouth to speak but stops when he realises Bellamy is exiting the change room. The suit he is in is a charcoal grey colour. It has thin pinstripes on it. It looks okay, but he looks so uncomfortable in it. His expression is dark and it is entirely off putting. Charlie stands up and looks him over, walking around him as he does so. 

“I don’t like the stripes.” Bellamy comments. Charlie nods. 

“I 

agree, something more simple I think. I’m also not really sure about the grey. Just one moment.” He hurries off and hands Bellamy another suit. Bellamy returns to the change room. Charlie waits eagerly for Bellamy to emerge again.