Accidentally…Over? (Accidentally Yours #5)(22)
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

“My condition,” he interrupted, “is not a power. I cannot transfer it to other objects. Wearing clothes only terrifies people.”

Ashli turned her head toward the voice. “I knew it! I knew you were there. By the way, spying is completely rude.”

“That man, you want him?” asked that deep, seductive male voice, filled with irritation.

Is that all he had to say?

“Nice,” she sneered and went outside to her patio. She sat at her tiny table, where she often loved to read or eat breakfast while marveling at the jewel-colored waves. She took a giant bite of her pastry. The sugar on the top was always her favorite part.

Suddenly, a chunk of bread caught in her throat. She sprang from her seat and attempted to cough it out, but the air in her lungs simply wasn’t passing.

She clasped her throat.

“Dammit all to bloody deity hell, woman!” Two large arms wrapped around her stomach.

One thrust.

Two thrusts.

With the third, the chunk of bread flew from her mouth, landing in the sand.

The arms released her, and Ashli leaned forward to catch her breath.

“Soup. You will only eat soup from now on,” he roared. “Do you hear me?”

He was angry? She’d almost died. Again!

“Oh my God. I can’t take this.” She wobbled into the kitchen in search of a glass of water.

“I am taking you away from here,” he said, following closely behind her. “Somewhere without oceans, cement patios, bees, and anything else that might be deadly.”

Ashli turned toward the sound of the voice. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why the hell not?”

“You really think the universe wants me dead?” The logic of that defied everything she understood to be true in the world, despite the eerie evidence.

“How else do you explain that you have died at least twice since I found you and almost died twice more?”

“Whoa—whoa—whoooa. What?” She set down her glass of water on the countertop. “What do you mean, I died? Twice?”

Máax had not originally intended to reveal that little tidbit of information to Ashli, but now, he saw no other way to inspire the obedience he required to protect her. After all, he no longer had powers, so compelling was not an option.

Máax cleared his throat, wishing Ashli could see his face; it would make it easier for her to discern the importance of what he was about to say. “A few days from now, you are stung by a bee, right here in your kitchen. You do not receive your medicine in time, and you die. A few days after that, you run from me and are hit by a bus.”

Ashli’s curls fell over her lovely, sweet, and confused face. “I don’t understand. You’re saying I die twice? In the future? That’s not even possible.”

“Of course it is possible. I do not lie.”

Her head snapped up and focused on something in his direction. Gods, he wished their eyes could meet, and she could see what was inside his.

“And you know this how?” she asked, her hands trembling.

“Each time you have died, I come back to you a few days earlier to when you are still alive.”

“Oh, hey. Thanks. Makes tons of sense.”

“You are making fun, I see. However, I assure you, I tell the truth. My first trip to meet you is ten days from now. This is when you are hit by the bus. My second trip is in approximately three days from now. This is when I fail to save you from the bee. My third visit to you was a few days ago, when you hit me with the shovel. So as you see, this is why we must leave now. I must take you somewhere safe until your life is squarely on a new path, one where you are destined to live.”

“Okay.” Ashli took a deep breath and bobbed her head. “But I’m not leaving here.”

Máax’s anger spiked. Why did she need to argue this point? “Because you have a date with the doctor?”

Ashli huffed, “You’re joking, right?”

“I do not joke.”

She rolled her eyes. “ ’Kay, buddy. Whatever.”

“My name is Máax, not Buddy.”

She smiled as if trying not to laugh. “Máax. It’s a nice name.”

“Not really, but it is a story for another day. In the meantime, you will answer my question.”

“Listen to you. You’re like a robot. Are all gods so stiff? Christ, I can’t believe I’m having this conversation.”

“I am very ancient, Ashli. I simply do not see the need to add hyperbole to my speech or inflection to my voice. It will do little to impact the situation. A situation, I might add, that is dire, yet you refuse to take seriously. But I assure you, there is nothing more serious than this. I must keep you alive so that you can fulfill your destiny, which is why you need to come clean. What are you hiding?”

“Hiding? Me? Like what?”

“You’re the key to stopping the apocalypse. There has to be a reason why—your family history, special abilities, something. And do not lie to me; I will know.”

Ashli rolled her eyes. “You can’t seriously believe I can stop the end of the world? That’s absurd.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Wow. You’re a real charmer.”

“Yes. I am. It comes with the territory. Now stop avoiding the question, woman.”

She threw up her hands. “Listen to yourself. Do you honestly think I have a clue what you’re talking about? Or that if I did, I’d lie about it? I hate liars. Dishonesty is for cowards and criminals.”

“And you have no idea why the Universe wishes to extinguish you?”

“Ohmygod! No!”

Fantastic. This was like trying to steer an oil tanker through a maze of icebergs while blindfolded. At night. Alone. While doing tequila shots and hopping on one foot. “Then I have no choice but to take you somewhere safe. You will pack your things immediately.”

She stifled a chuckle and then released a frustrated breath. “What makes you think I’m safer somewhere else? If my number’s up, it’s up.”

Fucking hell! Why did she not understand? That was not how the Universe functioned. Survival of the fittest. You fought or perished. Nothing was handed to anyone. It was a brutal, brutal world that required an iron constitution, conviction, and determination. Without those, you’d be overrun by the will of many. Drowned by their competing agendas.

He growled. “If you are not willing to fight for your existence, then I will. I will not allow you to take such a complacent approach.”