Destiny's Revenge (Destiny Series - Book 2) Straight, Nancy (book club reads .TXT) 📖

because of you, Lauren.” I looked into Rewsna’s face as she said this and understood just how truly profound she was.

Rewsna redirected her gaze from me back to Max, “The Beast studied Lauren, knew that her path in life was to alter destinies, not change them, but bend them to suit the needs of the souls. Paul would have died in vain had she not involved herself. Because of his death, his sacrifice allowed others to live. The Beast has plans, plans that he does not want Lauren to prevent. He knew of her gifts, but he grossly underestimated her strength.”

Max cut in, “So this Beast is still out there? Lauren said he could come for her again.”

“Yes to both. He is unable to see her remotely. If he could have, I believe he would have killed her at the nursing home. He did send a creature to locate her, but Lauren fought it off very quickly.”

Max flashed a disturbed look at me – I could see that he believed I had hid information from him. Rewsna continued her explanation with, “I think that creature simply used process of elimination. It must have followed someone to the nursing home that had visited her. It tried to attack Lauren but she only saw a flash of light – it was never able to possess her.”

Less angry but still intrigued, Max asked, “Possess her? This thing wasn’t the same thing that attacked her on the mountain, it was something else? So that monster isn’t a threat to her anymore?”

Rewsna’s eyes went wide at the conclusion Max had drawn. “Of course he is still a threat; he just hasn’t found her yet. He will eventually be bold enough to come back when her guard is lowered. He knows to watch for you and for her family, believing one will lead him directly to Lauren.” Rewsna paused for a minute looking all around us, then asked, “Where is Missy?”

Until Rewsna asked, it hadn’t occurred to me that Max’s Labrador Retriever wasn’t on the farm. Max looked down at the ground instead of directly at Rewsna when he answered. “She got real sick while I was gone, and she had to be put down.”

Rewsna reached across the table and patted his hand, “I am sorry for your loss, but you need to get a new dog.”

Max answered that he would, but Rewsna interrupted, “No, you do not understand. The Beast is able to shift his shape to any animal but a dog. Dogs are far too loyal of an animal, and the Beast cannot fool one if he were to come here in human form. A dog is the best protection from the Beast. It cannot conceal its identity from a canine. Dogs are also known for fighting to the death for their owners. Get a dog that will protect you both.”

“So you are suggesting we just wait here for it to eventually find Lauren and a dog will protect us?” He was livid at the absurdity of the suggestion.

Rewsna shook her head, “No, I do not believe you should wait, but what I believe will only enrage you further. I prefer for you to create your own strategy to best handle the situation.”

Max was annoyed with her evasiveness. It made me want to laugh because I was finally used to it. There was no sense getting irate about anything. It didn’t do any good, and she rarely gave me a straight answer to any question.

For the first time I chimed in, “I think I should be watching the Beast, waiting until he is most vulnerable and we should attack him.”

Max scowled at me and Rewsna nodded her agreement with my assessment. Max all but shouted, “You must have lost your mind! That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. This thing almost killed Lauren once. I don’t want it within ten miles of her.”

I shook my head, “No Max, I don’t want to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life, and I don’t want him to be able to do this to anyone else. We need to find him and destroy him. He took more than two years away from us. I don’t want to give him one more second. I don’t ever want him to have another chance. We take the fight to him this time.”

Max’s disapproval was as transparent as a window. He refused even to talk about my idea and went storming off into the barn. Rewsna began talking to me telepathically.

“Do not be offended by his actions, Lauren. It is not that he does not believe in your talent; it is that he cannot risk losing you again. You will find a way to convince him that this is the correct approach. His devotion to you never waivers, his emotions just get in the way. The Beast can be killed in any form, but when he shifts his shape to a beast, it is more difficult. Do your best to trap him as a human. Do not let him come between you and Max. If divided you can be conquered; together your advantage is absolute.”

As I walked Rewsna to her car, she suggested I try practicing my skill. She warned me not to look for the Beast, I wasn’t ready to see him yet, but to practice by looking for family and friends at different times during the day. I told her I would try and would check back with her soon.

When Max heard Rewsna’s engine turn over, he nearly sprinted out of the barn. I don’t know what he was thinking, but I saw his relief when he saw me standing in the yard. He started in immediately with, “I don’t want you looking for that thing. We’ll figure something out, but don’t look for it, okay?”

“Okay - I’m going to see if I can find Rachael.” I sat at the picnic table with Max right beside me and didn’t have any luck. I concentrated