and poured the popcorn into the bowl. “He had a nightmare with you in it.”
“A nightmare?” Kenna put another packet of popcorn on the microwave. “Want to tell me about it?”
Looking at the popcorn in the bowl in front of him, Kevin shrugged. “Not really.”
“He woke up in the middle of the night crying,” Sabrina said.
Kenna stilled. “What? Kevin, tell me about it.”
He lifted his gray eyes to her. “You were in an alley at night, and monsters with dark, shiny skin, huge claws, and sharp teeth surrounded you.” He gulped. “I don’t want to talk about the rest.”
Monsters with dark, shiny skin, huge claws, and sharp teeth? Surrounding Kenna? Was Kevin dreaming about demons?
Kenna stared at Kevin, her eyes big, her body rigid. Then, she shook her head once and rolled her shoulders. She reached over the island and patted his hand. “Don’t worry, Kev. I’m all right, as you can see. No monster will get me.”
He rolled his eyes and shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
“Have you ever dreamed about the monsters before?” I asked, curious. I hadn’t seen which demons had been in Willow Grove last night, but they could have been the ones Kevin described. But why hadn’t they advanced? Why had the darkness disappeared?
I glanced at Kenna.
“No,” Kevin said. “Never.” He shuddered. “And I hope I never do again.”
Kenna fished the other popcorn packet from the microwave. “It’s all over now. You’re awake. No monster can get to me, okay?”
Kevin nodded, then shoved more popcorn into his mouth. She waved the wooden spoon to the siblings. “Save some of that for Carol. She’ll be here soon.” She turned and put the third packet in the microwave. She glanced at me. “We’re going to watch a movie. You’re welcome to stay, if you want.”
I hesitated. I stared at her, my mind spinning with all that was happening.
“Are you staying or not?” Sabrina asked.
I blinked. “Yeah. Yes, I’m staying.”
How could I not when all the pieces of the puzzle seemed to be hidden in this kitchen.
Around these people.
Sabrina groaned. “You better make more popcorn.”
Past
Devon
Despite all that had happened, there were days when Devon really doubted the gods had sent him to the right girl. Days like today, when Kianna had several errands to run in town and he tagged along. When she did selfless things like stopping by the apothecary and handing a freshly baked cherry pie to Laila, her former maid. Taking old clothes from her siblings to an orphanage. Helping an elderly woman with her heavy basket. Giving little cookies to a homeless child.
It was impossible to think she was evil, or that she would turn evil. She was kind and caring. The gods had to be mistaken. Devon prayed the gods had made a mistake.
But if they did, his mission would end and he would never see her again.
Devon couldn’t bear thinking about that.
He had to stay here, stay with Kianna.
He was done pretending he didn’t know what was going on. He might not be human or have experienced human feelings for centuries, but he knew what feeling was blooming in his chest.
Love.
He was falling for Kianna, and he could do nothing to stop it.
Truth was, he didn’t want to stop it.
When she finished her errands, Kianna informed him she was ready to go home.
“Are you done too?” she asked, her bright blue eyes twinkling.
It took him a second to remember he had lied and said he also had errands in the village, so he could come with her. “Yes, I’m done.”
They left the village, following the dirt road to the manor.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Kianna looked up at the darkening sky. “I thought the rain would hold until this evening.”
Devon glanced up. The dark clouds were rolling in fast, heavy and ready. Thunder boomed over them, closer this time. “The storm is moving in fast.”
“We better run, then,” Kianna said, lifting her skirt an inch.
Two seconds later, he felt a fat drop on his hand.
Grumbling under his breath, Devon took off his thin jacket and put it over Kianna’s head as the sky fell.
“This way.” Devon caught her arm and steered her toward the trees flanking the road. The trees were full of blossoms and leaves, creating a canopy to protect them from the rain. He gestured to a branch bent low over the grass, almost like a bench. “Here.”
Taking off his jacket, Kianna sat down. She glanced to the rain slamming the road. “I hope it doesn’t last long.”
It