Page 129 of Enchanted Kisses
“After you answer a question for me.”
His arrogant tone had me biting back a slew of smart remarks.
I forced my jaw to unclench and grabbed the laptop from my desk. “I don’t have time for your games. Just tell Raysa I said good-bye.” I’d find a way to contact her. Maybe the godly realm would have internet access. I laughed at the crazy thought, feeling I was a white rabbit tea party away from madness.
“I can make you answer me,” Caiden said. “I can make you stop moving. I can make you do whatever I want.”
The air thickened and the hairs on the back of my neck lifted.
Laptop in hand, I faced him. “What is wrong with you?”
“You.” He pinned me with a cold stare. “You’rewhat’s wrong with me.Sit.” He jerked his head toward the bed and grabbed the laptop before I could react.
My skin prickled with energy. “So this is Death Sentry Caiden. Can’t say it’s nice to finally meet you.”
Caiden’s chest rose and fell with his heavier breathing. The temperature in the room dropped.
Shivering, I considered my options. Apart from burning him—if I could repeat the action—I had none. I sat at the foot of the bed, struggling to inhale the frigid air.
With shaky hands, Caiden rumpled his hair in a frenzied gesture. “Are you working with Dagan and my father?”
The question stunned me. “You think I’m—” I glanced away, hurt building inside like a storm off the coast. I couldn’t do this, not now. I had to stick to the plan and free myself of this pain. “I’m not working with anyone,” I said, calmer than I thought possible. “I just want to leave this world. I don’t want to be a part of it anymore. And I don’t want to do this withyou.” My lips tightened with anguish, and I couldn’t stop tears from forming.
“You’re lying!” He kicked my bag and flung the laptop. It smashed against the wall and landed on the floor in pieces.
“Why did you do that?” I cried. “I had memories and pictures saved on that.”
Afraid of what might happen next, I closed my eyes and focused all my energy on my parents. “Take me, Mom and Dad. Please, take me now. I’m finished with this world. My task is complete. I want to join you.”
Caiden gripped my arms and shook my body.
My head bobbed and my hair scattered over my shoulders and into my face.
“What are you doing? Don’t! I’m not finished.”
He stopped rattling me.
I met his fiery eyes with a surge of anger and hate. “Get your hands off me!”
He straightened a little but didn’t release his hold.
I grabbed his thigh and imagined fire on my fingers. Fumes of burning fabric choked the air.
Looking horrified, Caiden jumped backward and fell onto the rug. His gaze went to his smoking thigh. A burn hole the size of my hand exposed flesh scorched to the bone.
Holy crap!What did I do?I dropped to my knees and reached for the gaping wound on Caiden’s leg.
He shuffled back farther. “All I want is to know the truth. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t know why I’m acting this way.” His head lowered. “It’s not me. I don’t think.”
As the room warmed, I tried understanding his confusion.
“You’re right,” I finally said, hating myself for what I’d done to him—to us. “It’s not you. This is my fault, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I sucked in a breath to keep from crying. “Please, let me heal you.”
I stared at the top of his tousled hair, waiting for him to lift his head, to give me permission to fix the one thing I could make right.
Slowly, he straightened his leg, wincing as he did. He clamped a hand above the burn, his knuckles whitening from the pressure. “Go ahead.”
I lifted a trembling hand an inch above the wound. On a whim, I placed the other to Caiden’s chest, over his heart.
