Page 70 of Enchanted Kisses
“It only takes one slipup. Every time he leaves the manor, he’s vulnerable. Every time he leaves to seeyou,he’s at risk. He can’t hide forever. It’s only a matter of time before he’s captured.”
I shouldn’t care what happened to Caiden. According to the prophecy, he was only using me. Of course, I didn’t know that for sure. And his actions had been nothing but loving—extremely loving in some ways. Didn’t the fact that he wouldn’t sleep with me until we were vowed prove that? You’d think if he were using me, he’d have taken the opportunity to seal the deal. At which point, I would have probably agreed to anything.
“It isn’t a quick process,” Dagan said, pulling me from my thoughts. “First, there is the whipping, then the breaking of each bone, followed by the burning of his flesh. The torture is repeated as soon as the prisoner shows signs of healing. Eventually, the person begs for death.”
An image of Caiden beaten and broken formed in my mind. My heart cried out. “I’ll stay.” Thinking quickly, I added, “In exchange for Caiden’s untouched soul, unharmed body, freedom, and the time to prepare my father for my good-bye.”
Reading my mom’s book certainly came in handy in the vow department. My dad would be better without me, no matter how hard it was to admit. As for Caiden…? I couldn’t let him be tortured. Dagan was correct about one thing—Caiden wasn’t in his right mind. Eventually, hewouldbe caught and regardless of his intentions toward me—whether he loved me or not—Iloved him. And love was sacrifice.
I raised my hand to Dagan. “Do you accept?”
He smirked and shook his head. “A vow this intimate is sealed with a kiss.”
“But it’s not a Vow of Keeps,” I argued. Was I messing up already? I didn’t want to vow my heart, soul, and body to Dagan for eternity. Didn’t you have to be in love for that to work, anyway?
He cupped my cheeks.
I hated that it reminded me of Caiden. Suddenly cold, I shivered, and then my skin warmed. It wasn’t from being nervous. Dagan was doing something—sending heat throughout my body—and it feltreallygood.
My lips parted, and I closed my eyes.
Dagan’s clove breath caressed my mouth, then his frosty lips met mine. The combination of cold and heat was surprisingly nice, like warm apple pie topped with ice cream.
I planned not to do anything, but after a few seconds, my lips moved, and my tongue sought his. Shocked at my reaction, I pulled away and fell into the chair.
Dagan dropped to his knees and put his hands on my trembling legs. “Now I know something else that draws him to you.” He sounded short of breath. “I accept.”
“Good.” I wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Take me home.”
“If that is your wish.” He stood and strolled away. “I was going to tell you Caiden’s plan because it involves you, but if you’d rather leave…”
I shot to my feet. The room spun, and I clutched the top of the wingback chair to keep from falling to the floor. After a steadying breath, I said, “You’re lying. You don’t know anything.”
“I can’t lie. You must know that.” He moved to the center of the room and put his hands out for me to take.
No matter how badly I wanted to leave, I couldn’t go without knowing. It would haunt me, especially after reading the prophecy.
“Tell me.” I stopped a few feet away from him.
He gestured to the bed. “Sit.”
I shook my head.
“You might want to.” His brows went up. “It starts with a wallop.”
“Spit it out,” I demanded, then stared at the door. I hadn’t meant to be that loud.
“She’s got a temper.” Dagan sounded pleased. When I turned back to him, his head was tilted in thought. “I think I like you even more.”
I stomped to the bed and jumped onto the plush comforter. “Happy?”
Dagan grinned and blurted, “I can’t kill my brother.”
“What?”
“If I kill him, I’d kill you. He’s bound himself to you.”
“No, he hasn’t,” I fired back. “He put a glamour on me that obviously didn’t work because I’m here.”
