Page 41 of Enchanted Kisses
“I would never want to be part of that realm.” I sat up. “They’re…” I couldn’t think of a word to describe the sentries from the Realm of Death. Caiden had always portrayed them as self-absorbed, endless partiers who lacked a conscience. It went well with the whole reaping-souls-and-delivering-them-to-Hell rap.
“They’re not evil,” Raysa said, as if reading my thoughts.
“But they’re notgood, either.”
“They’re a product of their environment and lifestyle, as are we. Take Caiden’s parents, for example. When the king kidnapped the Queen of Life, he imprisoned her in a luxurious suite made of silver ice. He had it created especially for her.” At my surprised expression, she nodded. “Yes. Sentries from the Realm of Death, particularly the King of Death, can be very seductive. It didn’t take long for the king to win the queen over, but joining his realm was something she refused to do. They weren’t meant to share powers. With chaos erupting among our world, the queen did the only thing she could do…she separated from the king. At first, he refused to let her go. Eventually, he conceded, but with a condition—their sons were to choose their realm.”
“Wow.” I’d never heard that story. “It must have been hard to choose. Were they young?”
“Young for sentries,” Raysa said. “Dagan immediately chose the Realm of Death. But, at the time, Caiden was closer to his mother and, therefore, chose the Realm of Life.”
“Caiden’s from the Realm of Life?” This made me feel better for some reason.
“He started off there,” Raysa went on, “but it wasn’t long before he left, in search of his father’s approval. It’s important to remember that being raised as a prince in the Realm of Death meant Caiden never wanted for anything. The rules of the human world and my realm are different from anything he knows. For a year, he’s been struggling to portray a human. But that time is over. With you knowing the truth, I suspect he’ll show more of his true self.”
I flopped back onto the mattress. What more was there to show? Of course, it explained a lot, especially his earlier flirtatious behavior.I lifted my head and eyed Raysa. “You do know neither one of you has ever seemed normal.”
Raysa was better at acting human than Caiden, but most people at our former high school had thought they were from another planet. And even though every guy wanted to date Raysa, no one ever asked—they were all too afraid. The small community college we attended was different. There were no dorms, and everyone kept to themselves mostly, so Caiden’s and Raysa’s eccentricities were less obvious.
“Caiden’s come a long way in the last year,” she said. “And he owes quite a bit of that to you.”
“Me?” I asked with surprise.
“You’re the reason he’s changed his life.”
“So I’ve heard.” I rolled my eyes and fanned my hair above my head.
“Lily, it’s true. You have no idea what he’s given up for you, or what your future and the future of the Realm of Life will be like with the two of you in it. I need you.”
“Youneed me? For what?”
“I’ve been nominated to be the next Queen of Life,” she blurted, then exhaled. “Saying it out loud still utterly blows my mind.”
I sat up. “You’re going to be a queen? That’s…? Wow!”
She didn’t share my enthusiasm. Instead, her features twisted with worry. The expression was familiar, though I’d never seen it on Raysa. Usually, I was the one making that face.
“I don’t know if I’m ready.” She played with the hem of her ivory skirt. “I was one of five chosen to be trained for the role based on my leadership skills. I adored the queen and worked closely with her before she passed. I was one of her favorites. But taking her place, being as great as she’d been… I don’t know if I have it in me.”
“What did the people—err—sentries think of Alliston?”
“They respected him, but he was old and kept to himself these last several years. For centuries, he’d ruled gloriously until he passed his title down to his daughter, never expecting to reclaim the throne. Losing her took a lot from him—that and he’d been slowly dying from an injury he sustained in the Realm of Death when trying to rescue her directly after she’d been taken.” She let out a breath. “My realm will need a ruler soon. They’ll need someone strong.” Her skirt was now bunched in her tight fingers as if she were wringing out the material.
“Hey.” I took her hand, forcing her to release the hem. “If you’re anything in your world like you are in mine, I have no doubt you’re perfect for the role.”
Her expression softened.
“You have a way with people…with everything,” I continued. “I can’t imagine every sentry is naturally as genuine, caring, creative, intelligent, and fabulous as you. If you ask me, you have all the talents needed to be queen. And if you need my support or help in any way, you know you have it. One hundred-plus percent.”
She pulled me in for a sideways hug. “This is what I love about you the most. When you open up, youreallyopen up. Thank you, Lily. I needed to hear that.”
We both straightened with a relieved exhale.
“It’s not entirely up to me, though,” she said. “Caiden still has to decide if he wants to rule. He has the final say.”
Caiden as a king. The differences between supernatural Prince Caiden andmyCaiden kept on coming. “Does he want to rule the Realm of Life?” I asked, not at all weirded-out by how easily I was grasping this new life—at least, conversationally.
“At the moment, he says he’d rather rule beside me as my advisor. But nothing’s been made official.” She stood and fixed her hair in the mirror.
