Page 38 of Enchanted Kisses
Wow. I wasn’t ready for this much knowledge. I massaged my temples, the muscles behind my eyes feeling tight. “This is a lot. I remember the stories, but knowing they were true and making sense of them—”
“I understand,” she said warmly. “How about I take you home?”
I glanced at the manor. “What about Caiden? Will he be okay?”
“I think he will. He’s proved to be quite resilient lately. Being here will help. He can draw strength from his mother’s essence. Hopefully, it will be enough.” Worry tinged her voice.
“Enough for what?”
“Enough to keep him from going back.”
“Back to the Realm of Death?”
Raysa nodded.
“What happens if he does?”
She put her arm around my shoulder. “Let’s get you home first. Then we can talk more.”
“I don’t think I can leave yet. I don’t think Caiden should be alone. Not that I think we should barge in on him. Or that he wants my company. But leaving doesn’t seem right. I mean, his grandfather just died. We should at least be here for him. Cook dinner. I don’t know.”
Raysa led us toward the lake. “Caiden is suffering in more ways than one right now. The loss of his grandfather is something he will have to come to terms with but mourning him…it’s different for our kind.”
We stopped near the water’s edge and Raysa glanced around with a sigh. “Breathtaking, isn’t it? It’s the perfect place for Alliston’s celebration.”
“You mean funeral,” I corrected.
She smiled, looking peaceful as always. “As I said, death isn’t the same for us. Sentries don’t believe in mourning—that’s the way of the mortal world. Death rarely happens for our kind and is considered an end to a great journey. When you live as long as we do, passing on is a blessing. Alliston lived for many centuries. He wanted to move forward to the next life. If we die striving to maintain the balance, as our kind has been charged, we are permitted entrance back into the godly realm. So, you see, it is a cause for celebration.”
“And you’re not sad that he’s gone?” I pushed wisps of hair from my face. The breeze coming from the lake smelled of cattail and primrose.
“I will miss him and that part of me is sad. However, being sad is a choice. I can choose to let it win over my emotions, or I can choose to be happy and rejoice. We have better control over our feelings than humans. I’m not saying it doesn’t take effort, only that it’s a choice, as are most things in life. So why not choose to be happy?”
Raysa had always seemed wise beyond her years, and now it made sense. The sun reflecting from the lake glistened off her skin, making her look even more angelic.
I examined my ordinary skin. “I think Caiden is wrong about me. I don’t think I inherited my mother’s healing powers.”
“You mustn’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve done nothing wrong. Caiden shouldn’t have sprung this on you and expected you to perform. I told him it would take time for your powers to mature. He can be impetuous sometimes.”
Again, jealousy burned through me. I hadn’t felt such envy since I was ten and my best friend, Lisa, showed up at school with Paige-Snotty-Pants-Summerfield, wearing matching outfits and best friend bracelets.
“So…?” I cleared my throat, wishing it were as easy to clear away my resentment. “Have you and Caiden been friends for a long time?” Longer than he and I had because I never got that vibe.
“Yes and no,” she said, totally missing the bitterness in my tone.Thank God. “But we are friends now. And we owe that to you.”
“Me?”
“Had Caiden not been sent to find you,thedaughter of a nature goddess,” she said it like I was important, “I wouldn’t have been sent to find you first and watch over you.”
“Explains a lot.” I’d always thought it was odd how two European exchange students relocated to my former high school when we’d never had exchange students before. And to Brunswick, Georgia, of all places, when there were so many better cities. Bigger cities that had more appeal.
“Why was Caiden sent to find me?” What could the Realm of Death possibly want with me—a broken halfsie?
“Only a few know you exist. Caiden’s mother spoke of your birth when she was alive, though I didn’t believe you were real until I saw you for myself. Alas, not even Caiden knows how his father learned of your existence. The king gave Caiden your information and instructed him to lure you to his realm. Nothing more was divulged.”
“Lure me? Why not just kidnap me?” I scowled, angry over this new bit of information. Had my friendship with Caiden been one big lie? Like his appearance? Raysa hadn’t glamoured herself. Shimmering skin and glowing green eyes aside, she looked the same.
“The realms are enchanted. Humans can’t be brought to them against their will unless a bond with a being from that realm has been forged. Even though you’re only half-human, the restriction still applies.” Her eyes filled with emotion. “I’m happy for that, or else he could have kidnapped you. I found you first and would have done everything in my power to protect you, but ever since the death of Caiden’s mother, the Realm of Life has weakened. I’m not entirely sure I could have saved you had he been able to take you against your will.”
