Page 23 of Enchanted Kisses
“Yeah.” My tone held an edge. “Why?”
His eyes closed and he took a deep breath before he gazed at me. “The king is real. He’s my father, and I’m…Iwasa prince in the Realm of Death.”
My eyes narrowed with disbelief.
“Seriously.” His tone and expression held no humor. “Think about it, Lily. You saw me disappear into a swirl of gold and silver. You know it wasn’t your imagination. You know I’ve always been different. And now you know why.”
I blinked as my mind reeled. Could what he said be true? If it were, it would mean I wasn’t crazy or losing my mind. I wanted that so badly but believing his stories about the sentries and the Realm of Death were true was a challenge.
On the other hand, he just confirmed he did, in fact, vanish before my eyes. Also, he was right about me not knowing anyone like him. Caiden was unique. Him being—dare I think it—an ex-prince of the Realm of Death would explain other anomalies about him that I’d dismissed as my imagination. Like his eyes glowing on occasion or his ability to persuade people as if he had power over them. His ridiculous confidence. His questionable speed and sharp intuition.
Now it seemed obvious that he was a character straight from one of his stories. Yet, I wasn’t sure I could trust my instincts. I couldn’t figure out which was an easier truth—that I was mental or he was mythical.
“You’re not mental.”
My gaze jumped to his. “You heard my thoughts?”
“I listened. Although it doesn’t always work when it comes to you.”
“Did you do that in the past when we were together?”
“In the beginning, yes. But once I got to know you it didn’t seem fair to tune in when you didn’t know or have the ability in return.”
Okay. This was an insane conversation.Deepbreaths.
Caiden lifted his hand as if to touch my knee, then placed it back on his lap. “Do you believe me?”
“It’s hard to argue with mind reading powers,” I murmured as I considered that. He’d read my mind in the past; I could see that now. And I’d thought he was just good at reading me.
“I am.” He raised his hand. “Sorry. I won’t do it again. Promise.”
Oh my God. This was crazy, mind-boggling, preposterous. Could it be real?
“Do you believe me?”
I shrugged. “Kind of.”
He nodded at the floor, his lips slanted with a frown.
“It’s just…unbelievable, you know?”
“And your eyes changing colors isn’t?”
“Good point.”
“Trust your gut, Lily. Trust it over what your mind is telling you. Deep down, if you listen to your intuition, you’ll know I’m telling the truth.”
He was right. I was letting my head overrule my instincts, but I wasn’t sure I could admit that I believed him. I didn’t want to sound crazy. “This is weird.”
“Is it any weirder than any other time with me?”
I considered his question. “Different, but no less weird.”
“Then you believe me?” His tone was anxious.
Did I? It made more sense to believe him than not. I dug deep, tuning into what I felt versus what my mind was willing to accept. The answer rose up in me like a bubble that had been trapped underwater and finally breeched the surface.
“Yes,” the word burst from me with a force that vibrated through my body, as if my cells were charged with new life.
