Page 49 of Enchanted Kisses
His eyes closed. “Feeling your energy and how incredibly soft your lips are. Lily…”
My heart fluttered. I touched his chin and turned his face to look at me.MyCaiden appeared—familiar, flawed, and perfect. I smiled with a slow, long blink. When I looked up, the new Caiden—with his exquisite features—sat before me.
I fought a gasp and inadvertently leaned away. My Caiden held no threat, but this Caiden threatened my confidence with his otherworldly good looks and promiscuous past. Even though I understood they were one and the same person, my insecurities got the better of me whenever this Caiden appeared.
“What just happened?” His eyes searched my face for answers.
“I’m sorry.” I slid to the headboard and pulled a pillow onto my lap. “I didn’t mean to attack you. I’m not thinking clearly. It’s been a long day. Maybe youshouldgo.”
Caiden sat there for a few moments, as if debating to leave or not before he rose from the bed. “It was my mother.”
Huh?
He faced me, tall, glorious, and achingly beautiful. “Did Raysa invite you to the celebration?”
I nodded. “But I’m not sure if I’m going.”
“I see.”
Realizing how rude that sounded—who declines a funeral?—I quickly added, “I don’t want to impose. I’m sure it’s a private affair. Sentries and family only. I can pay my respects here. The way mortals do.” The words stumbled from my mouth in a bumbling mess.
“It’s an open invitation should you change your mind.” His tone and expression revealed nothing, and I hoped I hadn’t hurt his feelings or added to his grief.Maybe I should just accept the invitation.
He walked to the door but stopped after pulling it open. “In case you didn’t hear me before,my motherwas the only other person.”
He closed the door behind him.
I sat dumfounded, trying to understand what he’d meant, then it clicked. He’d only ever told two people he’d do whatever they asked—his mother and me.Me!
Humiliation and flattery pricked my cheeks with heat. I leapt from the bed and yanked open the door.
The hallway was empty, and only a swirl of gold and silver mist remained.
13
Lily Gracelyn Ellis, Don’t Try That With Me!
Time dragged on at campus the next day. I sat in my last class, anxious for it to be over, while other students goofed off and bragged about their spring break plans. It didn’t help that Raysa didn’t show up to the three classes we had together. She could have told me she wasn’t coming today.
When the professor excused us, I raced to my car and called Raysa twice while driving home. Both calls went to voice mail. I hoped nothing bad had happened. I thought about texting Caiden but couldn’t bring myself to do it.
At home, I waited restlessly to hear from either one of them and ended up outside after cleaning, folding laundry, and finishing homework that wasn’t due until next week.
It was still bright out, even though the afternoon sun had dipped behind the trees. The air was cool, but not cold, and my butterfly garden was in need of some serious weeding. I’d only pulled a few sprouts when the sky darkened.
A single murky cloud hovered above. An icy gust blew across the backyard, sending my hair flapping in every direction. With a shiver, I scraped it from my face and noticed my backyard was the only shaded area. The temperature continued to drop, and goose bumps formed on my skin. That was when it registered.
I was outside and outside wasn’t safe.
I ran for the house. By the time I reached the screen door, a cold rain sprinkled down. My breath showed in cloudlike puffs and my teeth chattered.
I wrenched open the screen door and pulled it shut behind me. White flecks lay scattered all over the lawn. It couldn’t be. It didn’t snow in Brunswick, Georgia.
Dagan had to be the cause. Scanning the trees, I couldn’t see far into the sunless woods, but I knew he was there. I could feel his eyes on me.
“Go home, Dagan,” I called out.
A moment later, the sky brightened and the air warmed. I didn’t fool myself into thinking it could be that easy to get rid of him.
