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“I know what I said and what I meant,” he returns. “Which still doesn’t scratch the surface of my thanks. For everything.”
“Well, in that case…” Kara tugs harder on him, forcing an embrace despite Jaden’s evident dislike of the mushier stuff. “But I didn’t do it alone. None of this would’ve been possible without—”
“Maximus.” Jaden flashes a fast wave for me. “Of course. I owe you one, man.”
Arden pointedly clears his throat.
Kell and Jaden go still and pale. I see the changes plain as day, even in the dimness out here. Kara fortifying her stance by at least another inch.
“If it weren’t for Arden, I never would have known about Rerek’s back-channel bullshit and you getting taken because of it,” she says to Kell. But Jaden’s not spared the point for very long. She brings him back into the exchange with a decisive sweep of her stare. “And I wouldn’t have learned what awful game plans Rerek was dreaming up foryouafter midnight.”
It’s even easier to observe their pallor now. The siblings could successfully audition for roles as brother and sister ghosts.
Still, Jaden nods with scary sagacity. “He gave me a few veiled previews already. I kept hoping he was high or kidding.”
Kell rears back with a wince. “And you were going to share all this with me…when?”
“Never,” Jaden retorts. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
“Right.” She thrusts her left hand up. There’s a diamond rock on it, as thoroughly shocking for surviving her ordeal as it is for the carat value. “And I’m still wondering how this got there. But sure, keep me in the dark some more, everyone.”
“Oh my God.” Kara gasps. “You didnothave that two nights ago.”
“And you weren’t a witch two nights ago.”
“Not officially.”
“Well, this wasn’t official either,” Kell counters. “But I guess Arden put a ring on it just in time.”
Unsurprisingly, the air stills again. Like jarring cymbals in the lull of an opera, a trio of waves crashes against the sand.
But contrasting it all is the sole person here who has a right to new dramatics. Arden Prieto is almost unnerving in his composure, laying calm crunches into the gravel upon approach to his betrothed.
Before Kell can lower her hand, he secures it with a strict thumb into her palm. His fingers fold around her knuckles. She flinches and gasps, but Arden’s grip is fiercer. I expect sparks to fly as soon as her sister resorts to verbal retaliation. But it never comes. Kell is barely able to part her lips, and the only sound from them is a ragged exhalation.
Arden hardly moves either.
Except for the rhythmic circles of his thumb against her palm.
And, moments later, the rise of his free hand over her ring finger.
Until he slowly pulls the engagement ring off.
“I didn’t come here because of this.”
And then hurls the jewelry high, with enough savage force to send it over the villa and into the ocean.
“Arden!” Kell’s eyes widen like a stunned cat’s.
“Don’t.” He presses in on her, using the extra force to curl her fingers back down. “Like it or not, you’ve been chosen for me. Now you’re bound to me, and I donottake your safety lightly. Nor will I ever.”
There’s a thing such as words, and then there are words with meaning. I look over to Kara, wondering if she, like me, has just heard a lot of the latter out of Arden.
The only person who doesn’t look convinced is the only one who matters. Kell squirms up, back, and then side to side. No movement alleviates her discomfort or the brutal tenacity of the incubus who’s causing it.
“I think I just want to go home,” she mutters. “Right now. As in, five minutes ago.”
Arden frowns. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
