fished out the thin chain.
Devon
Two slits, Kenna’s eyes traveled down from my face to my chest. “What the …?” She reached forward, baffling me as she pulled down the neck of my shirt and fished the thin silver chain from underneath.
Her fingertips grazed my skin when she pulled the ring out and a quick vision appeared in my mind. The same blonde girl from before, standing in front of me with a big smile on her lips as I slid the ring, this same ring, on her finger.
I tried looking at her more, but her face was a blur.
The vision faded like smoke, and I stared at the fake brunette girl in front of me. The one cradling the ring attached to the silver chain in her hand.
“This ring,” she whispered.
For once, I was at a loss for words. How … how did she know about the ring? Had she seen me wearing it? I racked my brain, trying to remember. I had been shirtless in front of her before, when I had gone out running, but I always took the necklace off when I exercised.
There was no way she could have known about it.
Yet, here she was. Holding it in her hands as if she knew why I had it, why the gods had sent it to me.
“How did you know about the ring?” I asked, confused.
“I don’t know,” Kenna whispered, her gaze fixed on the ring. The blue of the stone and the blue of her eyes were exactly the same.
“Have you seen this ring before?”
“I don’t think so,” she said, but her voice trembled, as if she was unsure of her answer. “I just …” She dropped the ring as if it had burned and pressed a hand on her heart. A second later, she let out a loud laugh. “That’s crazy.”
To a human, my entire existence and life were crazy. Divine warrior? Missions sent by gods? Demons? Magical powers? It was all crazy.
But not to me.
This—Kenna knowing about the ring—wasn’t a coincidence, I was sure of it.
“Kenna, I—”
“Excuse me,” a new voice cut through our conversation. I glanced at the newcomer and found Nigel standing beside us. “Hello, Devon, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Nigel,” I said through gritted teeth. He was the son of a big real estate investor. I had seen him a couple of times in town when he had come to evaluate properties to buy. He had never stuck around before, though. What was he doing here now, during this ball?
He turned his grin to Kenna. “I’m sorry if this sounds bold, but I couldn’t help coming over and introducing myself.” He extended his hand to her. “I’m Nigel Monroe.”
With a polite smile, Kenna shook his hand. “I’m Kenna Jones.”
“It’s so nice to meet you, Kenna.” Holding firmly to her hand, Nigel stared at her as if he was totally enamored by her. What the hell? “Would you like to dance with me?”
“I’m …” She pressed her lips tight, then stood. “Sure.”
What the fuck?
I stared, my jaw on the floor, as Kenna walked away, holding Nigel’s hand. She had told me no, but then said fucking yes to him. Why?
My insides burned almost as hot and painful as the fiery pits of the underworld while I watched Kenna dancing with Nigel, smiling and talking to him as if they were longtime friends.
I didn’t know why I didn’t expect to see her here. I knew Lia was coming, but I honestly thought Kenna would have stayed home with Carol, and maybe Sabrina and Kevin, and watched a movie while eating buckets of popcorn.
Instead, she waltzed into the ballroom and I felt my world turn upside down. Despite thinking she had a connection to my punishment, she was just too fucking beautiful to be ignored. In an elegant red dress that left her shoulders and her neck exposed, and some makeup, she was so stunning it hurt.
I tried reining in my curiosity—and my attraction to her—but I couldn’t help myself. I marched to her and made a fool of myself. I invited her to dance and she flat turned me down.
My ego was wounded.
Until she started talking about the book I had given to her. At that moment, she seemed less guarded, a little vulnerable. At that moment, I felt an incredible urge to kiss her.
I was going to.
But then she found the ring.
How the hell did she know about the ring?
It didn’t make sense.
Or it did. I just needed time to think this