Page 5 of Enchanted Kisses
“I don’t know who.” I shrugged. “My mom maybe? She died when I was born.”Why am I telling him any of this?
“I’m compelling you.”
How did he…? “I didn’t think I said that out loud.”
“You didn’t.” He straightened, putting almost a foot difference between us in height. “I read your mind.”
“That’s not possible.”
“You have no idea what’s possible.” He slid an icy finger down my cheek, so cold my skin burned.
I cried out in pain.
“Uh-uh.” He wagged a finger and waved his hand at my face.
My mouth clamped shut against my will.
“That’ll be enough of that,” he said.
Fear erupted inside me like a shaken bottle of soda. Again, I tried to run but my legs wouldn’t move.
The guy rested his back against the trunk of my car and crossed his arms. “Now, where were we…? Oh, yes. Your mother is dead, and your father is…?”
I didn’t respond, afraid to open my mouth. This guy wasn’t normal. What was he? A vampire? No, they weren’t real. He could pass for one, though, with that all-black outfit and shimmering skin.
“Like what you see, pet?” He smirked with arrogance.
It hit me then. The truth of what was happening. I’d been worried I’d hallucinated Caiden’s disappearing act, even though I’d convinced myself otherwise. Now I knew I had because I was doing it again, only with this stranger.
I needed help. The professional kind, like the hypnotherapist Dad used, but I couldn’t tell him what was happening to me. He’d blame himself, which I couldn’t allow. He’d been doing so well lately. No hallucinations in almost a year, which was a record. I couldn’t do anything to jeopardize his progress. But I also couldn’t live like this. What if these hallucinations got worse or happened in public?
Dizziness swarmed my head, making me aware I was tense and holding my breath.
The guy—the hallucination—let out a frustrated sigh.
My gaze snapped to him.
“I’ll never get anything out of you if you don’t calm down and quiet that mind.” He stepped in front of me and placed his fingers on my temples, his touch as frigid as before.
I winced at the burning sensation and tried to jerk my head away. Like my feet, I couldn’t move my upper body. Soon, warmth replaced the cold. Oddly, I shivered before my entire body relaxed. I had no thoughts, no fear, no tension—just the hum of a gentle melody in my head and the sudden urge to sway.
“Better?” He lowered his hands and his chiseled features softened with a satisfied expression.
“Yes. Thank you.” I swayed to the whimsical tune playing in my mind. “This is a strange hallucination. It’s so lifelike.”
“Not a hallucination, pet.”
“Whatever you say.” I shrugged and continued to sway.
“Yes.” The guy snapped his fingers. “Whatever I say, so listen closely. Tell me about your father.”
“My father.” I sighed with a smile. “Where to start... He’s a landscape architect and the manager of a local nursery. He loves nature as much as I do, but people in town think he’s crazy.”
“Why is that?”
“He hallucinates, seeing my mom, and chases after the vision, but only because he misses her so much. At least, that’s what his hypnotherapist tells me.” I smiled at the guy.
He didn’t smile back. “Who is Daddy’s hypnotherapist?”
