Page 11 of Enchanted Kisses
In the kitchen, I got my phone out of my jacket pocket. I wanted to see if Caiden texted me. He used to wish mesweet dreamsafter he left my house on nights when he didn’t stay over.
No messages.
My muscles clenched. I didn’t know if my anger was valid. I had sent him away. I had refused to let him explain. Maybe he was still driving to his hotel, though Brunswick wasn’t that big.
Ugh.I hated how quickly he could dominate my thoughts and charge my emotions. I rubbed my temples in an attempt to ease the pain.
Maybe I needed some fresh air. It always helped me when I felt sick. I snatched my jacket from the barstool and detoured to the backyard.
On the porch, I paused to slide my arms through the sleeves before exiting through the screen door. I stomped to the middle of the lawn, closed my eyes, and inhaled deep breaths through my nose.
A cool breeze carried salty air from the East River beyond the woods. It blended nicely with the lupine and marigolds in my butterfly garden a few steps away.
Last summer, the flowers and milkweed doubled in size, and now they tangled with the shrubs and trees bordering the property. I couldn’t wait to see the number of butterflies it would attract this spring.
With my eyes still closed, I focused on the cacophony of buzzing crickets. My muscles relaxed and peace fell over me…until the woods went silent, and the air turned glacial.
I shivered and my eyes went wide.
A dark stranger exited the woods and walked toward me. “Hello, pet.”
I stumbled back, my chest tight with fear. “Who are you?”Don’t I know?
“Dagan. I’m Dagan.” He pronounced it like Damon but with a G. “And you are Lily.”
“How do you know my name?”
“We’ve met.”
I searched my brain for the memory. Like before, flashes of Olson’s parking lot, a silver-skinned guy, and icy pain filled my mind.
I grabbed my temples and moaned as a fierce ache spread throughout my head like my scull was being crushed.
“The pain is a side effect.” Dagan stood a foot from me. “It happens when we mess with a mortal’s brain. I would apologize, but tonight’s been a load of fun.”
I squinted in the dark. That was how badly my head hurt. “You did this to me?” If I were thinking clearly, I’d have run for the safety of my house by now.
“We. My brother and I did.”
“Your brother?”
We’ve had this conversation before…
“Yes.” He answered my thoughts.
I gasped. Adrenaline kicked in and my legs carried me toward the porch before I consciously decided to run.
Dagan laughed, and in an instant, he stood before me.
I crashed into his hard body and bounced off, landing on my butt.
“Not so fast, pet. I have more games to play with you. I do love how harassing you provokes my brother.” He gripped my arms and yanked me to my feet. His icy fingers dug into my jacket sleeves, penetrating through to my skin.
I yelped and tried to wrench free.
A thunderous noise came from deep in the woods, as if an elephant pounded our way.
“Come to save her?” Dagan spoke to the trees, taunting whatever was in them. “Your timing is impeccable, but if you want her, you’ll have to catch her.”
