SoulLady

Carina Rayburn has everything, everything but luck.
And the night after her eighteenth birthday, a day that was spent with no celebrations and no joy, she dies quietly in her bed, alone and uncared for.
(Somewhere across the universe, another girl dies at the exact same time.)
Carina Rayburn's story ends there.
Or at least it was supposed to.
The universe had other plans, though, because Carina opens her eyes the next morning as if she had simply fallen asleep, and with memories of a completely different life to boot.

-------

"Fuck." Carina muttered, in a voice that was mostly still unfamiliar to her.

The Duke's Daughter Has Had Enough!

As soon as those words left Carina's mouth, Prince Gabriel's smile fell off his face.


"Now, Rosalie, if you'll excuse me, I have to go refill my champagne."


And with that, Carina turned and walked away.


After Rosalie shook off her initial surprise, she turned to see Gabriel's shocked face and laughed.


"Wow! I can't believe someone actually spoke to you like that. I think you're off your game tonight, Gabe." Rosalie teased, grinning, happy that there was finally a girl that didn't immediately fall for Gabriel's charms.


Gabriel merely stared at Carina's retreating form, his eyes never once leaving her back.


Though Carina had said she left to refill her glass, she headed for the terrace instead. She placed her empty glass on a nearby table and then turned and opened the doors to the terrace with a sigh.


As soon as she stepped out and breathed in the fresh air, she shut her eyes and mumbled a curse under her breath. She wondered what was wrong with her. She was never this rash in her previous life, why was she just saying the first thing that popped into her head now? She had just insulted a prince. A prince! Usually she would've never been so foolish as to do something like that, but the more time she spent in this body the less she seemed able to rein herself in.


It seemed Carina's original personality was quite straight forward and impulsive, and now that she was Carina, it was as if her own personality and Carina's were just slowly beginning to mingle and mix with each other.


Things could never just be simple for her, could it?


Then the universe, as if having heard that thought and agreeing, immediately presented her with yet another complication.


Carina could only stare in shock as the most gorgeous man she's ever seen walked onto the terrace and shut the doors behind him. Then he turned and noticed he wasn't alone, his own face mirroring Carina's shock.


As soon as she set her eyes on him she knew that this was a man of importance, with his exceptional looks and the way he carried himself, she could tell immediately just who this was.


Destined Encounter