Page 37 of Enchanted Kisses
“Alliston was my mother’s father. All my ancestors on that side of the family are gone. Ironic, isn’t it? When I stop taking lives, one is taken from me.”
Stop taking lives?Did he know what he was saying, or was he just in shock?
I lowered my hand from him and debated what to do—leave, stay, give him a hug, bring him soup? This was so not my area of expertise. A plant I could nurse back to health all day long, but a human…? No, not a human. A sentry and a prince.
“I’ll send someone to take you home. I need to be alone.” He didn’t look at me.
For a moment I couldn’t move, hurt by his words. Silently, I backed out of the room, surprised to feel a pulling sensation in my chest—my heart—as if something tied me to Caiden.
In the hallway, the invisible string between us stretched to a painful distance. What did it mean? And why did I feel like I’d never see him again?
I followed the long corridor back to the entrance, not once glancing out at the pretty view. I passed through the grand foyer and kept walking until vibrant grass flattened beneath my sandals.
I squinted against the bright sun and peered around, searching for Greer or someone who could take me home. The manor had been quiet when I walked out, and the place looked deserted.
Was anyone else here besides me, Caiden, and Greer? I’d think a place this large would need a staff of people or creatures or sentries to care for it twenty-four-seven. Guess it wasn’t necessary when you could cast spells.
Determined to get home, I followed the lake to the back of the manor. Maybe someone was out there. Even more impressive than the front, the backyard glimmered with life. Willow trees and crepe myrtles swayed in the breeze. Birds and butterflies flitted in and out of the lush forest across the sparkling lake. To my right, the tall hedges of the maze gave me an eerie chill, reminding me of the wall of leaves that trapped me in the woods.
The vines were near-identical to my cage. Had Caiden been the one to trap me as a form of protection while he fought his brother? Now I realized the thunder and stream of silver and gold light were them fighting each other.
I gazed back at the manor, my thoughts on Caiden and how he was doing. Terraces marked each floor and ivy covered an entire side of the sprawling estate. Had I not been so upset, I would have marveled in awe. It didn’t help that tears now blurred my vision. I couldn’t believe I was crying. Caiden lost a grandparent, not me. And although his words were hurtful, I had to believe he wasn’t in his right mind, which left a deeper reason for my tears.
For a split second, I’d believed I was special. Bigger than the pathetic freak I’d been labeled back in Brunswick. Maybe the Gods of Souls were right, and a half-breed couldn’t have powers.
Things had been so much simpler withmyCaiden. An image of the scrawny version of him formed in my mind. I compared it to the breathtaking prince version of him. How could they be one and the same?
So far, the new him—the real him—seemed on edge. It was hard to keep up with his erratic mood swings. One minute he was flirty, suave, and alluring; the next, he was cold, thoughtless, and confusing. How could I have been best friends with him for a year and not have seen this other side?
When I couldn’t find anyone in the backyard, a horrible thought occurred to me.What if Dad wakes up in the morning and notices I’m gone?He’d lose it. Maybe even have a relapse. And he’d definitely miss his conference. I didn’t know what time it was in Georgia, or how much time had passed since we’d arrived.
Panicked, I hurried back toward the house. As I headed up the side of the manor, a faint breeze smelling of strawberries caught my attention. A tall, lean figure appeared in the distance.
Was this person my ride home?
“Hello?” I called out, blinded by the sun.
I lifted my hand to shield my eyes and gasped at what looked like an angel floating my way. Silvery skin glistened in the afternoon light, and long strawberry-blonde hair fluttered behind her. When I was finally able to see her face, my mouth dropped open.
“Raysa?”
She spread her arms and wrapped me in a hug. It was like being hugged by a strawberry patch. “How are you?”
“You’re one, too…? How?” I leaned away to look at her again.
“Sure you’re ready for more truths? From what I’ve heard, it’s been quite a day.”
“You talked to Caiden?” Jealousy stabbed my heart. He sent me away but spoke to Raysa. How close were they really?
“Only for a moment. I was on my way here to check on his grandfather. I’m sorry, Lily. He didn’t tell me he was going to confess to you. I told him I wanted to be there. He should have waited.”
I stepped away from her. “Are you from the Realm of Death, too?”
“No.” She smiled. “I’m from the Realm of Life. This is where Caiden’s mother held her court. I was one of her ladies-in-waiting.” She glanced around with fondness. “Iadorethis place. Her presence can still be felt in everything. It lingers in the air.”
“I thought the Realm of Life and the Realm of Death were enemies and didn’t mix,” I said, trying to understand. That’s how it had always sounded in Caiden’s stories.
“I wouldn’t say enemies. We are on opposing teams. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, the job is the same. We filter in life, and they filter it out. It’s the balance that’s crucial. As with most things on Earth, there are systems—guidelines. No realm can take life or give it without approval. If that happens—if one realm gains more power than the other—the balance between them is shifted. As a result, everything is thrown out of sync, with nature facing the biggest repercussions. The weather, seas, and land would all react. Natural disasters galore. No one knows exactly how it would end. Some believe the gods would descend and reclaim Earth. Others believe the weak will perish and the strong will survive to form a new society.”
