Page 69 of Enchanted Kisses
“If she offered her soul to me in exchange for her daughter’s life, I could. It would be a fair trade. As a Prince of Death, I have the ability to know truth from lies. She means what she says. She’d trade anything for her daughter, even her soul.”
“Of course she would.” I leaned forward and gestured to the sad woman clutching her dead child. “She’s traumatized. She’d say anything to get her back. It’s her daughter. That doesn’t mean she’s thinking clearly. She’s dealing with temporary insanity. Love and loss can drive a person over the edge. It’s something I know a lot about.”
“Then you’ll help me.” He said it as if it were settled.
“Only the Realm of Life can resurrect if given permission.” If and only if the person was on the cusp of death and their soul still linked to their body.
“So you are well versed on how it works.” He sat on the table in front of me. “Even better. Less explaining on my part.”
“I can’t convince Caiden or Raysa to help you. I won’t even try.”
“I don’t need them when I have you.”
The room fell eerily silent. I sat back, nervous, until I remembered that I was a dud. Out of order. Or never in order. “Guess you haven’t heard about my epic failure. I’m broken. A jinx. No powers.”
It took me a moment to realize the words didn’t cut off. I spoke the truth, which meant I hadn’t been healing Caiden when I kissed his cheek the other night like he’d thought. But he couldn’t lie, either. Did that man he believed I had been healing him?
“Then it’s true. Alliston is dead.” Dagan stood and stared blankly ahead as if in shock.
“You didn’t know?” Without thought, I moved to him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to find out this way. I would never…” I touched his arm, surprised by the pain in his eyes. “Are you…sad? I didn’t know you cared.”
He turned away. “If you knew how many years he’d lived and how much time I’d spent with him, you might begin to understand. Alliston was different.” He moved stiffly to the glass doors and stared outside.
“I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”
He snorted. “No ruder than me stealing you.”
“Maybe we should call it even and you could take me home,” I said, hopeful.
He looked at me, a sly grin turning up the corner of his mouth. Light shone on one side of his face, making his silvery skin glint.
“I have a better idea.” He moved to me, leaving less than an inch between us.
I couldn’t back away. My legs were pressed against the chair behind me. It was either sit or stay.
He reached for my face. “I know what else my brother sees in you.”
I held my place, determined to prove I wasn’t afraid of him.
He ran a chilly finger down my cheek. “What do you say to a trade?”
I shivered.
“Lovely response,” he said.
I shook my head. “It’s not for the reasons you think. Fear and cold cause people to shiver.”
“And do you respond like this whenhetouches you?”
“It’s different with Caiden.” I made a point to say his name, noting how Dagan refused to use it.
“Do you think you love him?”
I didn’t answer. His clove breath was starting to make me woozy, and I thought I might slur.
“That would be a yes,” he said. “Let’s see how much. Vow to stay here with me, in exchange for his life. As a traitor to his realm, he’ll be sentenced to death. Tortured first, then stripped of his soul.”
I opened my mouth to say, You have to catch him first, but he cut me off.
