Page 64 of Enchanted Kisses
I sunk lower on the cushioned bench swing, wondering again whether my parents would have had a chance had I not been conceived. I searched for poems that might depict a way for them to be together. One described how a soul could be sacrificed by a god and summoned to their realm. Nothing clarified how that worked, but I assumed the person would have to die—not much of a happily ever after, if you asked me. From what I knew about love, it led to heartache, loss, and sacrifice. No wonder I was reluctant to fall into it.
Depressed, I flicked through the pages, hoping something uplifting would catch my eye. I stopped at the wordProphecyin bold at the top of a page. A lump formed in my throat. Could it betheprophecy?Caiden’s and mine?
I let my gaze drift over it before reading the poem.
One of both light and dark with predestined reasons
Will seek the one with eyes of the seasons
Drawn together by forces of fate
The soul of each will crave its mate
Destined to balance the chaos that blooms
Her powers will heal the darkness that looms
Only bound to her, will his suffering end
His light will grow strong, and his offenses amend.
The poetic rhyme wasn’t at all what I’d expected. I imagined it to be ominous, like something from a Harry Potter movie. Instead, I found it sad and confusing.
I read it again, this time out loud, hoping to understand it better. Like static energy, the words moved through my body. They pulsed in my heart, prickled beneath my skin, and fused to my bones, as if they were a part of me. When I was finished, it was as if the poem had been branded into my memory.
With my eyes closed, I repeated it verbatim. The meaning jumped out at me in revelation. I sat up, jostling the book from my lap. Caiden didn’t love me—heneededme. I was a means to an end for him, literally a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
It explained his fascination with me. His drive to get my powers to come forth. His determination to get my vow. The prophecy wasn’t about us. It was abouthim. And he was going to make sure it came to pass.
It also explained why he hadn’t said he loved me. Instead, he danced around the words. Which meant I hadn’t been off in questioning why he’d want me, why he’d love me. I thought my doubts had been driven by my insecurities. Maybe it had been something else, an inner warning. One thing was for certain—he was good, because I’d fallen hard for him.
Tears blurred my vision, and I closed my eyes, refusing to cry over my second, most pathetic revelation of the day. I loved Caiden; I understood now that I always had. It was a good thing I didn’t realize it untilafterfinding the prophecy, which made me wonder something else. Why had Caiden insisted I read the book? Did he think I wouldn’t find the prophecy? Or maybe he didn’t know it was in there.
I gasped at another thought. What if this was Virgil’s way of sharing the prophecy with me? Or maybe I was getting ahead of myself. Raysa would know. I should call her.
I picked up the book, about to stand, when another interpretation of the poem formed—one that stretched beyond Caiden. It was obvious I was the one witheyes of the seasons.But what if Caiden wasn’tthe one of both light and dark? As his brother, couldn’t Dagan bethe one,too?
“Who could be the one?” Dagan’s deep voice cut through the silence, startling me like a splash of icy water.
I flinched and gazed at the patio table.
As usual, he wore all black and looked devilishly handsome. He sat in the PCV-pipe chair with his back straight, his feet planted on the ground, and his hands resting on the arms, owning the cheap furniture as if it were his throne.
His night eyes locked on mine. “I only caught the very end of your thoughts. I struggle to grasp them. It’s frustrating but even more curious.”
Wasn’t this area protected? “How did you get in here?” I gripped the book in my right hand, catching the scent of cloves in the air.
“I asked you a question first.” He glanced at the book.
“I, um...? I was thinking about…” Panic stole my thoughts. I eyed the patio doors that led into the house. Could I make it to them?
“You were thinking about me?” Dagan asked, and suddenly, I couldn’t move.
My heart raced.
His mouth tipped up on one side with a wicked grin. “The look in your eyes says I’m correct. I’m flattered. Now, shall we go?” He held out his hand.
“If you’ll release me from your magic.” I scowled.
