Taken (Enchanted Gods Book 3) Read online

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Epilogue

  Up in the Treehouse (Excerpt)

  Connect With K.K.

  Other Novels by K.K. Allen

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2021 by K.K. Allen

  Cover Design: Emily Wittig Designs

  Editing / Proofreading: Red Adept Editing

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Contact [email protected] with questions.

  For everyone who read the original Summer Solstice series and came back for more. This is for you!

  His borrowed body stands before me, eyes wearing the evil glimmer that has haunted my dreams for the past two years. And now he knows he’s won with the only threat that could bring me to my knees. The words have been spoken, and there is no turning back.

  I reach for the latch of the protective locket pressed tightly to my wrist, and I watch Erebus, in his serpent form, slither out from the remains of a body that just crumpled to the ground in a heap of skin and bones, no bloodshed. That is how the God of Darkness kills the ones he possesses—by slowly and deliberately sucking the life from them.

  He eyes me greedily, waiting, as the air around him glows a faint but unmistakable gold.

  It’s time.

  I pause for a moment, feeling the gold chain that holds my locket safe beneath my fingertips. There’s no other way. With a final inhale, I unclasp the chain and let it fall to the ground as a single tear draws a solid wet line down my cheek.

  In a swift moment, the cold air of death embraces me. Although I don’t have the physical strength to fight it, my last vestiges of life scream, claw, and kick as the darkness engulfs me.

  Amid an unexpected life, our virtue stands threatened by Erebus, the God of Darkness. Ever since the dreadful carnival nearly a year and a half ago, his essence moves through our thoughts like passing clouds, hovering at a safe distance yet always present. We’ve become accustomed to the anticipation and fear of the squall that could rip through our community at any moment, but that doesn’t make any of this easier.

  I would like to say I’m now prepared for what’s to come, but how does one defeat eternal life? Defeating him is the only way to eradicate the dark cloud suspended above our community. The constant unease of what he could do to those we love takes precedence over the lives we’re meant to live.

  Never have I felt so weak—weak with uncertainty and loss from so much death. So many innocent lives are gone, all for nothing. All for power.

  Winter in Apollo Beach brings a slight chill to the air, but it’s nothing like the winter wonderland I’ve always dreamed of. Tonight, though, I’ll get the next best thing.

  I’m currently in my bedroom, sitting in front of my vanity mirror, getting ready for a special night to celebrate the winter solstice, a special day for Enchanters, and especially for Solstice descendants like me. But while Rose and Charlotte will be with the majority of the Enchanted community at Summer Garden Theater to celebrate, I’ll be with my peers next door at the School of Gaia for an Arctic Winter Masquerade Ball.

  Arctic winter in Florida. It’s almost laughable when I think about it. Then again, the point of tonight’s festivities is to give us all a much-deserved escape—a reprieve from the dark undertones of Erebus’s inevitable return. And while we’ve shied away from gatherings as large as the two we’re having tonight, we’ve learned that not every event brings danger.

  Since the horrific carnival, crime rates in Apollo Beach have gone down significantly. In fact, the Elders have escalated their mission to protect the town again by using the same recipe created by my grandfather died. Apparently, we only have so much of the special concoction required to protect larger landmarks, like Summer Island. And to make more, we’re in need of one missing ingredient.

  Energy from the descendant of Poseidon.

  Of course Johnny is the missing ingredient to keep everyone safe. And of course no one has talked to him since he left.

  So far, only Enchanters’ homes and several landmarks around town have been protected, but there are plans to start on Summer Island soon. Apparently, applying that kind of energy isn’t something that one Enchanter can do in a day. It takes months, maybe even years, to cover the ground we need to protect the city.

  After one last glimpse at my reflection, I stand and straighten my silver strapless dress. It’s a fitted number that hugs my body like an elegant glove, and the sequin embellishments remind of a disco ball, reflecting light from every angle. I step into a matching pair of stilettos and silently thank my supernatural abilities that are surely responsible for keeping my balance.

  It’s hard to envision the sad, insecure girl I was when I first came to town. My life has taken on a whole new meaning since then. It’s filled with responsibility that no one should be forced to manage. The knowledge of who I am and the history that comes along with it is a burden as much as a blessing.

  “I’m done!” A flushed Charlotte dances into my room, carrying her latest fashion masterpiece. Her excitement is infectious, and when I glance down at the object in her hands, I see why.

  I take the exquisite masquerade mask and examine it. “Oh, Charlotte! It’s beautiful,” I gush. What Charlotte can do goes beyond magic. She’s an artist.

  The glittery gray mask is etched with defined precision, with eye slits just narrow enough to provide some mystery. Winglike feathers decorate the upper corners, and two long curved pieces shaped like antlers fan out from the center.

  “It’s a butterfly!” she says, when I’m not quick to vocalize the subtle resemblance.

  My smile grows wider. “I see that. Thank you, Charlotte. I love it.”

  Charlotte places her hands on my waist and turns me to face the mirror while slipping the mask over my eyes. She lifts the top half of my hair, pulls the black elastic string around from each side, and ties it in place before letting my hair fall back down. She looks in the mirror at my reflection and gasps. “Oh, my…” Her eyes are glistening. “You are exquisite.”

  Her reaction creates a heaviness in my chest, and I quickly unfasten the mask. “Don’t start with that, Charlotte. You’re going to make me cry too.” I laugh through my discomfort. “You’ll ruin my makeup.”

  “I’m sorry.” She swipes at the mist beneath her eyes. “Come. Let’s get you do
wnstairs. They’re waiting for you.”

  “They?” I’m confused. Are my friends here already? I didn’t hear the doorbell chime.

  “Your father stopped by, hoping to see you off.” Worry flashes across her face as if she thinks I might not be accepting of his presence. “He’s downstairs with Rose.”

  Ever since my father arrived at the doorstep of Summer Manor, our relationship has been emotionally complicated, filled with heartfelt, yet awkward conversation as we try to fill in all the blanks of our pasts. The important thing, as Rose continues to remind me, is that we’re both trying. Still, I’ll never forget that day he showed up at Summer Manor.

  One Year and Four Months Ago

  I had swung the door open, greeting the back of a man’s head. As he swiveled around, our eyes locked at first glance.

  For what felt like an eternity, my heart stopped beating, and my blood ran cold. I’d only seen a few old photos of him, but I recognized him instantly. He stared back at me with eyes just like my own, a bright and solid silver. Even his lashes were long like mine. And his hair, naturally wavy, was the same chestnut brown as mine.

  “Katrina.” It was as if his breath had left him, and a painful smile appeared on his face. “I thought it was finally time we met.”

  I was frozen in place for what felt like the longest time. Too consumed with emotion, I didn’t think to invite him in.

  “I’m your—”

  “I know…” My words faltered, but my brain shook awake at the sound of tires squealing behind me. I looked behind him to find the white Escalade pulling into the driveway. As soon as Charlotte parked, Rose practically fell out of the car then took quick strides up the stairs, furiousness woven into her expression.

  “What are you doing?” She aimed her angry words toward Paul. “You told me you would meet me at the school.”

  “It was a miscommunication, Mother.”

  Rose huffed and narrowed her eyes. “Lies. You tricked me.”

  Paul took a deep breath, obviously exhausted by Rose. They had clearly been speaking prior to this exchange, which meant Rose had been keeping yet another secret from me. She was so infuriating.

  “Can we do this later?” He sighed. “I’d like to meet my daughter now.” He turned back to me, apology evident in his eyes.

  My normal fury at Rose’s secrets escalated. “You knew he was in town?”

  Rose’s expression morphed from anger to worry instantly as she caught my heated stare. I looked back at Paul, who was still watching me with those big silver eyes. Something in his gaze thawed my anger toward my grandmother, and I was left with only my muddled emotions.

  Rose had been acting strange, taking secret phone calls in the car and in her den. Had she been talking to Paul the entire time I had been living with her? The few times I overheard her end of the arguments, I assumed she was speaking with Isaac. Now, I knew better.

  I was slow to see Charlotte approach. She took Rose by the shoulders and steered her toward the front door. “Inside, all of you,” she commanded. “You’re making a scene. I’ll make some tea, and Paul can speak to his daughter without interruption.”

  Rose’s jaw dropped as Charlotte passed her to enter through the front door. Paul nodded, gesturing for me to enter Summer Estate behind her. I hesitated for just a moment, afraid to tear my eyes from his, like he would disappear the moment I turned away. I couldn’t believe he was really here.

  Tea was awkward, with the air of hostility circling us like a feeding shark. Not long after our first sips, Paul and I stepped outside for a walk on the beach.

  “I’m sorry for my mother’s hostility. I wanted to speak to you before she could intercept, but perhaps that was a bad approach.”

  “Why is Rose trying to keep you from me?”

  Paul frowned. “It’s not exactly like that, Katrina. While I debated coming home many times since you arrived, I knew I couldn’t interfere right away. You were already facing the pain of losing your mother, then moving here and becoming an Enchanter… It was all so much. Maybe I was delaying things out of fear you wouldn’t accept me, but I thought it was best to wait. After what happened on the Fourth, Rose insisted I come home, and I agreed. The plan was for me to return in the fall, but after your run-in with Erebus, I couldn’t wait any longer. My mother wasn’t sure how you would react when we were to finally meet.” He smiled coyly. “Between you and me, I think she wanted to be the one to introduce us, and I kind of messed that up today.”

  As I watched him speak, I memorized every inch of his face and the movements of his mouth, listing our similarities in my mind. He chose his words carefully that day, as if validating them internally before actually speaking. But I remember thinking how he seemed to be insightful and intelligent, exuding a quiet confidence.

  “I have your eyes,” I said to him at one point during one of the stretches of silence.

  He smiled, seemingly unaffected by my awkwardness. “Blue as a baby, silver as Enchanted.” A wistful expression appeared on his face, and it was like a blow to my heart.

  My chest squeezed. “My mom used to say that to me.”

  “Did she?”

  I nod, thinking about the many times I heard her murmur those words when she thought I was asleep. “I didn’t understand it then.”

  Paul shoved his hands in his pockets and faced forward like I had just made him uncomfortable. “Those were the words I spoke to you the first time your eyes met mine. You were so tiny, yet your eyes were so powerful.” A rush of emotion came with his words. I could feel the emotions as much as I could hear them. “They took my breath away. I can see they hold the same power today.”

  I averted my gaze, surprised by the impact his words had on my heart. I wasn’t at all ready for him to see how emotional our reunion was making me. I didn’t think there as anything he could possibly do or say for me to forgive his absence. I wouldn’t ignore the part of me that was ready to burst with love for this man—the part of me that had already forgiven him. But the stubborn part of me played bully to my conscience. It was a frosty staredown between my heart and my mind, and my mind won out, encasing my heart in a block of ice.

  In silence, we stared out at the horizon over the bay. The water was calm, air compressed with humidity, birds rudely squawking as they pass.

  “This beach is exactly how I remember it from when I was younger. The endless ocean view, the scent of warm salty air, the sound of the water beating against the rock pier.” His fingers grazed the sand. “I remember walking this shore like it was yesterday, yet it all feels so faraway.”

  Images I’d conjured up in the past of my mom and dad meeting in this very spot overwhelm me. I almost feel like he’s talking about her too.

  I snuck a look at him. “That’s the beauty of sand, right? Every imprint washes away with a single wave. The history of our mistakes, the possibilities of our future. Poof. As if it never even happened. If you’re not careful, the good memories get carried away too.”

  He turned to me, brows bent, head tilting. His expression carried the look of a man who was opening up a floodgate to a lifetime of pent-up emotions, and the words he had been wanting to say were about to burst from his lips.

  “There’s so much to tell you, Katrina. So much time to make up for. But I’ll start with this, because it’s important that you hear it.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself.

  “If there was any other way… I would have done anything just to be with you and your mother. You may find that hard to believe now, but it’s true.”

  Maybe it was my fear that he would leave as quickly as he had appeared, but I found it hard to believe what he was telling me.

  “I’d like to get to know you,” he said.

  “Hasn’t Rose told you anything about me?”

  There was a hint of disappointment in his eyes, but I watch his shoulders relax. “My mother has been angry with me for quite some time now. Our exchanges haven’t been pleasant.”

&n
bsp; “Why?”

  A sigh escaped him, and I could tell our conversation wasn’t going the way he had planned—assuming he had planned this discussion at all.

  “My mother…” He paused. “Your grandmother is stuck in her ways, Katrina. Her beliefs are unwavering, and we don’t see eye-to-eye much of the time. I moved away after your mother took you, and when I returned after my father’s death, things had obviously changed. My mother had become cold and distant. In a way, so had I. I’d lost so much, it felt impossible to mend our relationship. I just didn’t have the strength.” He shook his head as if ashamed. “Looking back, I can see that I was depressed. My problems became bigger than me, but I was immature to not face them head-on. None of it was my mother’s fault, but I took it all out on her. I don’t know why I did that; I had no one else.” His frown deepens. “Our relationship has been strained ever since.”

  His words didn’t sit well on my heart. “Sounds like you accept defeat well.”

  His gaze rose to meet mine. “I suppose you have every right to think I’m weak. Circumstances make it appear so. And maybe I am, but I’m here now, Katrina. I hope you’ll allow me to be the father I never could be to you before.”

  A tornado of emotions swirled around my heart, threatening to destroy it if I didn’t take control somehow. I wasn’t ready to forgive, forget, and move on, but it sounded like my relationship wasn’t the only one he needed to repair. “Are you even going to try to work things out with Rose? She may be stubborn, but she has a good heart. I know she means well, and you know it too.”