my house after everyone in hers was sleeping. And she left again early in the morning, before they woke up. My bed felt empty once she slipped from it. To be honest, my entire fucking house felt empty and cold without her in it, which didn’t make any sense since I had lived here for almost two years before Kenna had shown up, and I had always felt comfortable here.
Not anymore.
Now I only felt comfortable and relieved and relaxed when Kenna was close to me, at least within arms’ reach, if not with my arm around her.
How the fuck could I feel like this for a woman I had just met? But I hadn’t just met her, had I? Though I still caught glimpses of memories whenever I touched her, the visions hadn’t cleared. Nevertheless, I was sure Kenna was the blonde girl from my memories. I had met her many years ago. I had fallen in love with her.
And whatever mission I had failed before, it was connected to her. Which meant my new mission was about her too. Not knowing what it was exactly brought an uneasy feeling to my chest I couldn’t shake off.
Kenna and I didn’t just spend the nights together. After the kids left for school and Lia left for work, I had been going to her house, and we had spent most of the day together. Sometimes just talking, sometimes in a familiar silence, and sometimes in her bed.
I wondered how had I lived before I met her? The answer was fucking simple: I hadn’t lived. I had just survived.
After Kenna left that morning, I tried sleeping more. I had been spoiled by Kenna’s presence. Since she started sleeping here, I hadn’t dreamed. I just held on to her and slept. But now, the moment I closed my eyes, the images of my last nightmare came back rushing to me.
Kenna being swallowed by demons.
I sat up in bed with a loud inhale.
That wasn’t a dream. It felt like a warning.
My muscles tightened with anxiety as I pushed from the bed, put on some pants, a shirt, and boots, and went downstairs. I paced my living room, watching from the windows, waiting for the others to leave. Once the kids and Lia were gone, I crossed the yard and knocked on Kenna’s front door.
She opened the door and narrowed her eyes at me. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”
I pushed in and closed the door behind her. “I …” I rubbed the heel of my hand over my chest as a dull pain started there. I faced her, still in her pajamas with a robe tied around her waist, and took her hands in mine. “I have a feeling. A feeling that things aren’t going so well.”
Her brows knitted. “You mean you and me?”
I shook my head. “No, I mean my mission. I feel like I’m missing a big piece of the puzzle, or pieces, and something is about to blow up in our faces.” I pressed a hand over my heart again. “I don’t like this feeling.”
Kenna took a step closer to me and pressed her hand over mine. “I know what you mean. Since that day at the grocery store, I feel like my life is a ticking bomb. It’ll be only a matter of time before he finds me.”
“Who? Who are you running from?”
With a heavy sigh, Kenna dropped my hands and took a few steps back. “Slater. He’s the leader of the D’Ingur Order.” That name. It struck a chord, but I couldn’t remember why exactly. “He kidnapped me when I was twelve. Whatever he did to me, I don't remember my life before that.” She shrugged.
A ball of rage bloomed in my chest. This Slater guy kidnapped a child? “He kidnapped you because of your powers?”
She nodded. “Yes. He taught me how to use my powers. And before you think I was willing, I wasn’t. He tortured me, and I met Cecilia there. I became like a daughter to her, so he used her against me.”
I hadn’t asked why Slater had kidnapped Lia, and I wouldn’t now. It was clear she was just the side dish while Kenna was the main course. “What did he want with you?”
Kenna’s hands started shaking. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that he can’t find me again.” Her blue eyes grew wide. “He can’t take me again, Devon. He can’t. If he does, the entire world is doomed.” She walked to me and