Page 98 of Enchanted Kisses
Desperate to see Caiden, I dropped to the ground with dead weight.
Briella fell forward, falling on top of me.
I rolled her off me, flipped over, and looked toward the bed.
Caiden and Dagan had each other gripped by the throat. Sparks flew from their hands and they spun in circles, crashing into furniture, and whirling faster.
Briella seized my ankle and yanked me into the bathroom.
“Caiden,” I screamed and gripped the doorframe with both hands.
Briella clutched my arms and jerked me to my feet. Her hands tightened, heat searing my flesh like fire.
I cried out, “Stop!” The scorching of my skin lessened. Had she been burning me on purpose?
At my sob, Caiden threw Dagan across the room and sped to the bathroom door. Our eyes met for a second before his gaze moved to Briella. “Take her. Now,” he growled.
Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Caiden?”
A storm brewed in his eyes. “Go now,” he yelled just as Dagan came up behind him.
Dagan grabbed Caiden by the neck, flung him over his head, and released him.
I couldn’t see where Caiden landed, but I heard a shattering crash.
Dagan turned back to us, his black eyes hot on Briella. Right before he reached the door, Caiden smashed into him and they both went flying across the room.
Briella slammed the door and yanked me to the center of the bathroom. “Shite.” She stomped, looking terrified, and cursed some more. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Let me go. We have to help Caiden!” I strained to get away.
She gripped my wrists tighter. “I’m trying to,” she snarled. “I’ve never done this before.”
Heat singed my skin again. All I could do was focus on her face.
Whiter than white, she trembled, looking as if she were about to vomit. The burning traveled up my arms until my entire body scorched as if on fire. I tried to scream but couldn’t draw in enough air. My lungs blazed. Unable to stand, my knees buckled. Flames engulfed me.
Red. Hot. Burning.
26
Nature Goddess
Waking to the scent of lilies, I stirred beneath soft, familiar bedsheets. The more I moved, the more my skin burned. My eyelids felt glued together.
I sprang upright, gasping for oxygen. To my surprise, air filled my lungs. It stung and my muscles spasmed in reaction to the pain. With every movement, my skin chafed like sandpaper against the sheets. I winced and tried to hold still.
What had happened to me?I rubbed my eyes and shrieked as pain pricked my skin like hot needles.
“Shh.” Gentle fingers lowered my hand from my eyes. The touch lessened the pain and brought to my mind soothing images of green meadows covered with sunlight and dandelions. With a light exhale, I lay back, letting the feeling sweep me away.
“You’re home in Georgia and safe, my dear,” a woman said, her wistful voice familiar, even though I’d never heard it before.
With a slow blink, I opened my dry eyes. Beside the bed stood an older, wiser version of me. Wind swept about her, fluttering her light-green dress like a leaf. The material changed colors, shifting from icy blue, lilac, gold, and then green again. Flowers entwined her flowing, wavy brown hair, and her lilac eyes met mine.
“We finally meet.” She smiled and sat on the bed. “I have waited a long time for this day.”
“Mom?” I croaked.
