Page 117 of Enchanted Kisses
I stabbed fingers through the back of my hair, scratched my head, and lifted my arms in a stretch. My body tingled in response.
Walking the beachwouldbe good for me, even if just to prove I could move one foot in front of the other without crying. It’s not like I had any tears left, anyway. For two days straight, I’d soaked the pillow and could have stuffed a queen-sized duvet with the number of tissues I’d used.
Raysa’s face lit up.
Had she not believed me? A hint of something flashed through her eyes. Fear? Anxiety?
She smiled, covering it nicely, and stood. “Meet you by the front door in ten.”
Cold water washed over my toes. The sand beneath my feet sunk, then receded with the tide. I dug my toes deeper into the wet sand for balance. The cool evening air kept the ocean from warming. I usually avoided the surf when walking the beach in the spring. Today, I liked the shock of the water. It reminded me I was alive. However, each time I glanced at the ocean, I saw Caiden—tossing his wet hair out of his eyes with a jerk of his head, running up to us with his surfboard tucked under his skinny arm. Only now, I pictured him in his prince-of-death form—and what a sight it was.
Like a dying flower, my heart wilted at the memory. Still, I went on, remembering how he looked surfing the waves in the distance. The way he sailed over the water with grace and ease. I had always thought he was one of those natural-at-everything types. I’d thought it was where his confidence came from. But when I saw him with Bianca and the wicked way he gazed at her, it was clear where his confidence came from—his past. The partying ways of his youth. The endless females he had indulged in. I didn’t know the Caiden Bianca resurrected, becausemy Caidendied the second she’d cast her spell.
I picked up an iridescent shell and tossed it into the bucket Raysa was holding. “Is it getting heavy?” We’d walked at least a mile, collecting a new shell every few steps, and the bucket was nearly full.
“Nah,” she said. It sounded so American, and so wrong in her English accent. Especially after all I knew about her—strong-willed, prominent sentry, soon-to-be Queen of Life.
I giggled. It bordered on crying.
Raysa grinned. “Did I say something funny?”
I shook my head. “I was just thinking,My best friend is a queen.How crazy is that? I don’t feel worthy.”
“Stop it.” She nudged my arm as we trekked along, the foamy surf bubbling over our toes. “I’m not queen yet.”
I glanced out over the rolling waves. The evening sky held streaks of orange and pink. A few seagulls squawked above. The cooler salty air raised goose bumps on my skin and brought the memory of last year’s spring break to mind. Caiden and I had just become friends and spent every day at the beach getting to know each other better.
“Lily?” Raysa hit my leg with the bucket.
“What was that for?” I rubbed my thigh, even though it didn’t hurt.
“I knew you weren’t listening. So I’ll repeat myself. Laken wants to take you to the coronation. Strictly as friends,” she added. “I think it would be good for you. But it’s your choice.”
“My choice?” I uttered, forgetting I had one. My thoughts drifted to Caiden and the string between our hearts that still pulled on my side. The memories we’d shared. The moments we’d shared. I never thought we’d end up like this. Not after all we’d been through. When would the suffering end?
In one week, I had lost my freedom, my dad, Caiden, and everything else that mattered, which made me realize something. I had nothing left to lose, but everything to gain if I fought for it—for Caiden. Maybe our love and memories weren’t lost to him. Maybe the spell could be broken. Worst-case scenario, we start off as friends. If love blossomed once between us, maybe it could happen again.
“Don’t stress over it, Lily,” Raysa said, misinterpreting my silence. “You can say no. No one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to.”
I stopped walking and straightened my shoulders with new hope. “I’m not stressing over that. In fact, I think Laken would be the perfect date.” I met her cautious gaze. “I want to go to the coronation. I want to see Caiden.”
31
Please Remember Me
Dressed in a lilac gown, I pulled a few loose curls over my bare shoulder and fluffed the bottom of my poufy dress. The tulle material shimmered in the dim light, but my eyes gleamed brighter, like a lilac bloom basking in the sun. Caiden would like the color of the dress, which I figured was why Raysa had chosen it for me.
I walked over to a table near the window. On top sat a potted orchid that drooped to one side. I lifted my hand to the flower, closed my eyes, and focused.
In my mind, its green stem and fuchsia petals stretched upward, tall and strong. Water fed the roots buried in rich, earthy soil while its sweet vanilla scent dusted the air.
My fingers tingled with heat that radiated to my wrist then moved up to my elbow. I held the image of the flourishing orchid in my mind for another minute before opening my eyes.
I smiled.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in,” I called out, knowing it was Laken.
