Taken (Enchanted Gods Book 3) Read online

  To my surprise, Paul chuckled. It was an odd but not altogether unwelcome sound. His amusement played in his eyes when he spoke again. “You sound just like her.”

  He meant Rose. He didn’t have to tell me that.

  I flushed with embarrassment. “I guess she’s been rubbing off on me.” I wanted to turn the conversation back to him. “What was it that you and Rose couldn’t agree on?”

  When I turned to face him, his eyes were filled with emotion. “She blamed me for letting your mother leave with you. She said a Fated love should never end the way ours did. But I didn’t see any other choice after I figured out what your mom was…”

  There was a pang in my chest when he couldn’t even say the words. It was part of who she was. It was part of who I was. “An Equinox.”

  My father’s eyes flashed to mine in response to my bold proclamation as if he were surprised I was so accepting.

  “Yes, that’s right.” He paused for a second, as if trying to form his next sentence. “I was desperate to understand why she would leave me the way she did. My heart was broken, and nothing made any sense. I just knew it was something more than her fear of our family being Enchanters. I considered that someone else had stolen your mother’s heart, but deep down, I knew that wasn’t it. Our love was a storybook kind of love. There was and will never be another great love for me.”

  Oh.

  “It was only a week or so after Grace took you away, and I was perusing my mother’s office. I stumbled upon a picture of Grace’s charm bracelet—”

  “This bracelet?” I shifted again and held up my wrist so he could see the gold ornament pressed against my skin.

  He gasped. “Yes.” His voice was breathless as he stared, wide-eyed, before reaching for my hand and holding it in his to examine the antique. “That’s the one.” He brushed his fingers against the delicate charm. “When did she give this to you?”

  I pulled my arm close to my chest. “The day she died. Rose thinks she knew Erebus would come for me once I turned eighteen.”

  Paul shook his head and stared out across the bay. “You’ve turned into a strong and brave young woman, Katrina. Your grandmother told me about your encounter with Erebus at the carnival. I’m so sorry you had to face him alone.”

  “I wasn’t alone,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “Alec and Johnny were there.”

  Paul chuckled softly. “From what I understand, it was you who protected them.”

  A flush crept up my neck. “Neither of them knew about their bloodlines. Alec was adopted when he was young and just recently came into his powers. Unfortunately, Erebus had two Equinox get to him first, and he didn’t know what to think. He figured it out for himself soon enough, though. Then he just played along. And Johnny—” I swallowed, hating how each reminder of him stabbed a little in my chest. “His parents died when he was a young boy, and he was one of the Lost, taking care of himself and not fully understanding his powers.” My heart ached like it had the very first time I heard his story.

  Paul nodded slowly as he digested this new info. “And where are these boys now?”

  Something about his question made me wonder if he could hear the heartbreak in my tone. Silence filled the surrounding space. I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk about my broken heart with my father. “Alec lives a few houses down. Johnny is gone.”

  “Gone?”

  I nodded as discomfort rocked my chest. I moved to stand, brushing the sand off my backside, and Paul eased himself onto his feet beside me. “Johnny is a descendant of Poseidon. The Equinox were the ones who killed his parents when he was twelve. He’s been on a revenge mission ever since. What happened at the carnival only refueled his mission, and now he’s determined to hunt down Erebus and kill him.”

  Paul’s jaw clenched, then he shook his head. “Even if he finds Erebus, there’s no way he can win.”

  The worry that’s consumed me for the week since Johnny left hit me again in full force. “Why?”

  Paul looked at me. “Erebus is an eternal being. He’s made of a dark energy that can never be destroyed. At least not in the way Johnny probably intends to destroy him. I’m afraid your friend is on an impossible mission.”

  Present Day

  Our conversation ended there, and after our walk on the beach, Paul informed all of us that he was moving back to Apollo Beach permanently, into a home down the street. It put him close enough without making our reunion feel like an intrusive one.

  He came by frequently for dinner and on most weekends for breakfast. Over time, we found a few things we had in common, like our love for literature and our adventurous natures. Sometimes we found ourselves camped out in Summer Library. Other times, we explored the outdoors through biking, boating, or hiking the nature trails. He even introduced me to deep sea diving, and it quickly became an obsession. No sea sprinkle and mermaid tails needed—not with Paul, anyway. We went real deep sea diving, the kind with plastic fins and oxygen tanks strapped to our backs.

  We sure have come a long way since that first day he landed on the steps of Summer Estate, and now, he’s at Summer Manor to see me off to the ball. Warmth fills me as I follow Charlotte downstairs and through the grand entrance into the great room. Paul and Rose stand together speaking in low voices, but they stop immediately when they see us.

  “Dressed to impress, are we?” Rose teases.

  I give her a playful smirk just as Paul reaches for my hands. He examines me from head to foot with squinty eyes and pursed lips, then he twirls me around unexpectedly like I’m a little girl. My heart swells.

  Sometimes the happiness that overcomes me when I’m with my father feels wrong, like I should still be angry at him for being distant all my life, but I’m not. In a strange way, I understand why he felt he needed to keep his distance.

  “You look beautiful, Katrina.”

  I smile from ear to ear. “Thank you.”

  It feels strange to call him Dad, so usually, I call him nothing at all.

  “Won’t you be cold?” Rose asks me, referring to my bare arms and legs.

  I tilt my head at her with amusement. She knows better than anyone that Enchanters can adjust to any temperature. “Oh, stop. I’ll be fine, Rose. The dance is inside, remember?”

  She shrugs, eyes assessing my entire outfit meaningfully. She obviously disapproves with the amount of skin I’m showing, but I can’t understand why.

  “Rose,” I try again, with a tilt of my head. “I’m wearing no less than I have before.”

  She purses her lips. “Yes, but you’re older now.” She draws an hourglass shape with her fingers. “More… filled out.”

  I laugh, pushing away my embarrassment. My curves have thickened some since I came to stay in Apollo Beach, but my energy keeps me in constant motion. While I can fit into everything I could before, I do notice that my clothes are a bit snugger.

  Charlotte takes a step forward and places a hand on my grandmother’s shoulder. “I think she looks fabulous, Rose.”

  Paul squeezes my hand. “I agree, Mother.” He turns to me. “But if that boy gives you any trouble tonight, you know who to call.” He winks at me then releases my hand.

  Rose sighs and tips her lips in a teasing smile. “Fine. I guess I’m outnumbered.”

  After I’ve embraced Rose and placed a kiss on her cheek, my eyes return to my father, who looks dashing in his tux, ready to join Rose and Charlotte at the winter solstice event at the Garden.

  He clears his throat, a familiar, befuddled expression on his face. I’ve never asked him to confirm my theory that he sees my mom when he looks at me. My stomach twists. Deep down, I worry he’s displeased with the part of me that comes from my mother—the part that shares blood with Erebus. It’s not something we’ve ever talked about.

  Charlotte nudges us toward the piano to the left of the bay windows. “It’s picture time. Get together, you two.”

  We shuffle into position. My dad stands to my right, with his left arm around my waist
while my arm slides behind his.

  “Oh, that’s perfect,” Charlotte gushes. She positions herself behind the camera and snaps away.

  As we smile for the camera, a buzzing warmth zings through me, and my heart fills with delight. There’s only one thing missing. I look to the door, my anxious heart awaiting his arrival. He should be here any minute now.

  Rose, my dad, and I are crammed together on the great room couch, with the camera levitating in front of us. Charlotte is determined to get the perfect picture, but the doorbell rings, startling us all. My heart leaps, and my eyes goes wide.

  He’s here.

  The camera floats back to Charlotte’s hands as Paul stands to answer the door. “I guess this one will work,” Charlottes says, smiling down at her camera with pride.

  Before I can lift myself from the couch, Rose tugs my arm, pulling me in close to her. “You look beautiful, dear.”

  The unexpected compliment makes me blush. Rose isn’t always easy to please, but something about her has changed since my father’s arrival. I like it. It’s as if she’s made peace with the world—well, most of the time.

  “Thank you, Rose. Don’t wait up.” I wink at her.

  She chuckles. “Oh, I won’t. Not tonight. I’ll be too busy partying.” She shimmies her shoulders to show me she means business, and I can’t help tipping my head back and laughing.

  The two muffled voices at the door cause my insides to quiver, and I wonder why I’m so nervous. It’s not like this is our first time hanging out. What is my father saying to him? I try to listen in, but they must be blocking the conversation, because I still can’t make anything out past the sound of their voices. Surely Paul is giving him the “Behave yourself because I’m always watching” speech.

  In an effort to regain composure, I run my hands down the length of my dress and breathe deeply, screaming at my nerves to dissipate. Then I reach for my mask on the end table and stand. I look up just as Paul walks into the room with a heartbreakingly gorgeous Alec Stone trailing behind him. Alec’s naturally wavy brown hair has grown significantly since we first met. When he doesn’t do anything with it, his hair sits like an angry mop on top of his head. Tonight, though, each strand is perfectly in place, styled back so his smooth, chiseled face is clearly visible.

  “You’re stunning,” Alec gushes.

  My head bows slightly as heat fills my cheeks. Of all the superlatives I’ve heard so far tonight, his certainly makes me blush the most.

  He closes the distance between us and takes me in his arms. I only have to tilt my chin slightly to lock eyes with him. “You clean up nicely,” I tease.

  “Why, thank you.” His smile lights up his entire face. “You, on the other hand, could be wearing a potato sack and still look good, but this…” He takes a step back and looks me up and down. “Works out much better.” He winks.

  Charlotte’s camera drifts in front of us, and I giggle. “Okay, okay. One more picture, and then we all need to leave.”

  Alec hugs me to his side, and we smile for several more photos.

  With one final wave to my family, we make our way out the front door, where a stretched limo is waiting at the curb. My two best friends’ heads are sticking out through the sunroof. Arabella is whistling provocatively at me while Trisha shouts, “Get your butt down here, guys. It’s time to light this night up!”

  It’s crazy to think that at this time last year, I was helping Alec study his Apollo ancestry—well, what little we could find on the subject. There aren’t many books in the Summer library dealing with other descendants, so we were resourceful. After his parents begrudgingly handed over the adoption papers, we learned as much as we could about his birth parents.

  Andreas was their surname. Alec Andreas. It would have fit him. They were born and raised on the small Greek island of Ikaria. Alec’s father, a local sculptor, was featured in a lot of newsletter articles we found online. On what was to be a short visit to Rockland County, New York to hand-deliver some artwork, Nick and Alexandra Andreas decided to extend their stay. They rented a home in Stony Point, and just a few months later, Alexandra gave birth to a baby boy named Alec. The very next day, the Andreases disappeared from the hospital, leaving baby Alec behind. From that point on, the Andreases’ whereabouts were untraceable.

  The results of our search weren’t easy for Alec to swallow. He’d gone his entire life content with his situation without letting his curiosity get the better of him, and here we were at the brink of discovery. Alec continued to dig for months, calling the Rockland County Hospital, the adoption agency, and the owners of the rental property. He even contacted his parents’ old residence in Greece, but all traces of Nick and Alexandra Andreas were lost.

  I regard Alec with a soft smile. “You ready?”

  He takes my hand and squeezes. “It feels like I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this night, Summer Girl. I’m definitely ready.”

  His sincere words make me smile. We’ve been through a lot to get here today. Having his friendship for the past one and a half years has meant everything to me, even when only two months ago, I thought I would lose him forever.

  Two Months Ago

  He’s angry at me. That chilling thought crossed my mind after Alchemy class after I declined Alec’s offer to drive me to Island Grille.

  “It’s like you don’t even want to be seen with me anymore,” he snapped.

  My jaw dropped with shock. “What? No, Alec. That’s not it at all.”

  “Then what is it? Because ever since we kissed last month, you’ve been distant.”

  My cheeks burned, and I looked around to find several of my peers passing by us on the front steps of our school, trying not to stare. Alec was right. I had been distancing myself since our kiss, but I never wanted to hurt him. I thought maybe if I backed away, he would understand that I wasn’t ready to go there with him—or anyone, for that matter—not when Johnny’s absence still weighed heavily on my heart.

  While I couldn’t tell Alec any of that, he stood there silently, waiting for an explanation.

  My mouth opened and closed, before I finally said something. “I already told Trisha I’d catch a ride with her.” I frowned, hating myself for lying. That wasn’t like me. And Alec wasn’t stupid. He could probably see right through me.

  “Maybe you can give me a ride next week?” I tried. Maybe if I stalled just a little bit longer, I could work out my feelings.

  An exasperated look flashed in his eyes as he shoved his hands in his pockets with frustration. “C’mon, Kat. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about us.” His eyes dart between mine. “Unless that’s not something you want. Tell me now, and I’ll back off.”

  Trisha chose that moment to bounce up beside me, seemingly unaware of the situation, but I knew better. She grinned up at Alec, eyes twinkling against her fair skin as she pulled her wavy blond hair into a thick bun at the top of her head. “Hey, hot stuff. Want to catch a ride with us?”

  Trisha had a magical way of diverting an awkward situation by pretending one doesn’t exist. She was fully aware of Alec’s feelings for me and of my constant need for diversions.

  Alec twisted his neck to look at the parking lot behind him. “I’m good. I have my truck here.” His gaze lingered on mine, as if he were holding out hope that I would jump in his truck. When I said nothing, he took a step back. “I’ll catch up with you two later.”

  Without another glance, Alec stalked off. Mentally kicking myself, I turned toward Trisha, who was staring worriedly back at me.

  “I’m fine if you want to ride with him, Kat.”

  Her tone only deepened the hole of guilt in my chest. “It’s too late now.”

  Alec’s truck zoomed past us in what I assumed was a deliberate attempt to let me know how aggravated I’d been making him. It had a surprising effect on my heart. “Let’s just go.”

  Trisha didn’t let up easily. “It’s been over a year, Kat. How long are you going to wait for him?”

 
; My heart squeezed. We didn’t talk about Johnny. We didn’t even mention him. And until that moment, no one questioned my heart.

  I didn’t respond. Instead, I clenched my jaw, opened the passenger door, and stepped inside Trisha’s yellow Volkswagen Bug. My silence was enough to warn her that the conversation was terminated.

  I couldn’t understand why my life suddenly felt like it had been thrown into a hurricane, my decisions circling me as I stood there like the eye of the storm, just waiting to be picked up and tossed into the thick of it. It was time to face the hard, cold truth. Johnny wasn’t coming home. On top of that, there was another guy—a great guy patiently waiting—one who had never left.

  Alec was my first friend in Apollo Beach. My first crush. My first kiss. Everything between us was just as it should have been. It was sweet, innocent, and blossoming from a genuine friendship into something more. Then Erebus had to come along with Ava and Iris, and royally screw everything up.

  Falling in love with Johnny Pierce hadn’t even been on my radar that first summer. He had been growly and cruel, but he also had the ability to make my heart stop and expand all at once. His passion for nature touched me in a way that overwhelmed me, and we shared a fierce connection, an appreciation for each other’s imperfections, and a genuine emotional attraction.

  Even after the year and a half he’d been gone, remembering him was like a lit match to my withering heart, and I felt burned by the light that could have been ours. But even after the flame had died, deep down in the depths of my anguish, I still had hope for his return.

  In the beginning, Arabella used her abilities to keep tabs on Johnny to reassure me of his safety. Come to find out, message by sea was quite the phenomenon. Mermaids had the ability to speak telepathically, and the range of that communication spanned for miles. But as time went on, the messages came less frequently, and six months later, they stopped completely. She couldn’t explain why.