Crypt Page 4

  “Awesome. I’ll test mine as soon as I get some clothes on.”

  A couple minutes later, a bright flash of light filled the room, and heat rolled through it. I hadn’t been given the all-clear from her to look in her direction, so I didn’t turn. Soon I heard the water bubbling.

  “Planning to boil me in my bath?” I asked with a chuckle.

  “No.” She giggled slightly. “I just figured I’d superheat it and let it cool a little while we eat.”

  “Ah, gotcha. Good to know. I thought maybe you were sick of me already.”

  “I could never be sick of you, Seth. You know that.”

  Her words were casual, but hope bloomed even more in my heart.

  5

  Kenna-

  * * *

  Snuggling down into the furs on the bed, I hated how good they felt, the same way I despised that the food had tasted wonderful. It made me feel beholden to my grandfather in some way. Of course, maybe that was his intention. If so, I was going to enjoy them despite being his prisoner.

  Releasing a huff, irritation grew within me. I was playing his stupid mind games.

  “What’s wrong?” Seth asked as he stood beside the opposite side of the bed.

  “Nothing. I’m just second-guessing every decision and thought. As much as I try to stay out of this tangled web that Damien is spinning, everything I do or say twists me tighter in it.”

  “I understand what you mean, but try not to overthink it, Kenna. You’ll just end up driving yourself crazy. Sit back and roll with the punches as they come. We cannot predict what he might have in store for us.”

  “I know. You’re right. It’s just hard.”

  “Hang in there. We’ll get through this somehow.”

  I studied Seth for a moment, but he didn’t move. “Why aren’t you getting in the bed?” I asked. “Or are you planning on standing there all night?”

  “Um, that’s actually a good idea,” he replied. “I think I’ll stay up and keep watch. You can sleep now, and then we can trade later. This way, we can’t be taken by surprise.”

  I shrugged. “I guess we could do that, but we won’t ever be awake at the same time. I might go mad without having someone to talk to.”

  “That’s true. I just want to keep you safe.”

  “I want that for you, too, but I have another idea.”

  “Okay. What?” He seemed hesitant, shifting nervously.

  “The bed is made of wood, which means you can make it grow. Why don’t you cocoon us inside a briar or something? That will protect us both while we sleep, and we can stay on the same schedule together. If my grandfather tries to disturb it, you’ll know immediately. Besides, I feel like the walls are staring at me.” I glanced beyond him at some of the hollow eye sockets appearing throughout the room.

  “Hmm. That is a good idea.” He pursed his lips.

  I laughed slightly. “Then why do you seem so weird?”

  “I, uh,” he stammered, looking uncomfortable. “I just want to keep you safe,” he repeated.

  “From who? You? I trust you with my life. Now lay down and get some rest. I can’t go to sleep with you pacing around watching me.”

  “Fine,” he said, giving in and sitting down. Grabbing one of the bedposts, it suddenly started to grow, twisting and curving around.

  I watched in amazement as leaves sprouted, along with fragrant, sweet-smelling flowers I couldn’t put a name to. It went round and round, curling about itself until we were in a cocoon so tight that the torchlights on the walls only faintly penetrated it.

  “This is so cool,” I whispered in awe. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m impressed.”

  He chuckled. “I’m happy to accommodate.”

  I snickered. “I hope one of us doesn’t need to use the chamber pot in the middle of the night. How would we get out?”

  “Not a problem,” he said, tapping the vine. Immediately, it shrank back, creating a hole big enough to step through. “It’ll only respond to me, though, so you’ll need to say if you want to leave.”

  “Now I’m super impressed,” I added, watching as he touched the branch again and the opening closed.

  “Glad I can help.” He laid on top of the furs and slipped his hands behind his head.

  “You’re gonna freeze if you don’t get underneath,” I warned.

  Seth sighed. “Kenna, I’m just trying to give you what little privacy I can. I know you’re mourning Jett, and I’m the last person you want in the bed with you.”

  So that’s what was up with him. He’d been acting strange this whole time, and I couldn’t figure out why.

  “You’re wrong about being the last person I’d want in this bed. You’re the first person I’d want here. I can think of many other people I’d dislike having here.”

  “I’m not the first. Jett is the first.”

  A painful sting pierced my heart. “Seth, I love Jett. Yes, I left with him, but that doesn’t mean I love you any less than before. It was why I dated you both. I couldn’t decide which of you I wanted more. For heaven’s sake, we were practically polyamorous. You may not believe me, but I even considered having that kind of relationship with you, especially after knowing your dreams. I know you and Jett aren’t physically attracted to each other, but it was a difficult choice for me.”

  “But you chose Jett.” The hurt was evident in his voice. “You handfasted with him, Kenna. You slept with him. I felt all of Jett’s emotions through our bond before it disappeared. Believe me, it was excruciating.”

  Tears welled in my eyes. “I know, but I never wanted to hurt you.”

  “Well, that doesn’t change the fact that you did. You both did. I don’t want to feel upset about it, but I can’t help it.”

  I hated that he was feeling this way. I wanted to explain it to him better. “Back when we were at the castle, I did that spell at Brigid’s altar. When I turned around and saw Jett, I thought it was the spell manifesting who I was supposed to be with. I was happy when I saw him—excited even. It just felt right at that moment. Ever since then, something made me lean slightly toward him.

  “You and I had glorious moments together, though. Whenever I was around you, something inside me would just spark to life. Knowing that Dee Dee was influencing me makes me question whether it was her or me. Was she there every time I was with you? I just don’t know.”

  Studying me for a moment, he sighed. “How do you feel right now, Kenna?” he asked, staring me straight in the eyes. “You know Dee Dee isn’t here; what’s in your heart at this moment? Whatever’s there is your truth.”

  I bit my lip, not wanting to continue this discussion. Tears fell down my cheeks.

  “Just tell me you don’t want me,” he added, sorrow clouding his features. “Let me loose. I’ll recover; just don’t leave me hanging like this for the rest of eternity. You’re killing me. It’s like I have a knife slowly twisting into my heart every second of the day.”

  “I can’t give you what you want,” I whispered, my voice shaking.

  Seth sucked in a deep breath. “Wow. That actually hurts a lot more than I thought it would.”

  I shook my head. “You misunderstand me. I’m saying I can’t let you go. Even looking at you feels like a betrayal to Jett because I still love you as much as I ever did. No matter what has happened, I always will.”

  Seth’s eyes widened, and his mouth was pressed against mine in the next moment. Sparks flooded through me, as strong as they ever had, and I realized he was right. I had my answer, and it wasn’t Dee Dee causing me to feel this way. It was all me. Seth’s arms wrapped around me, the kiss deepening. My hands slid between us, wanting to drag him closer, but instead, I pushed him away.

  “Stop. Please,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “I can’t. I’m so sorry.”

  Immediately, he backed off, sliding to his side of the bed. “Forgive me, Kenna.” He raked a shaky hand through his hair. “That was a shitty thing for me to do to you—and to Jett. I just . . . I never thought I’d hear anything like that from you again. You don’t know how badly I want you.”

  “I do know,” I said, hating that I’d caused him so much pain, “because I want you, too. But I need some time to heal. I’m so broken right now. Jett and I were together for like two seconds before he was ripped away forever. It doesn’t feel right to turn around and jump into your arms.”

  “I understand.”

  “You don’t,” I replied with a strange sob. There was a knot in my throat. “I’ve always loved you. I’ve loved and wanted you both at the same time. It’s only natural for me to want to turn to you, but I gave a vow to him. It seems wrong to break that so quickly.”

  “It’s already broken, Kenna. The vow you owed him was gone as soon as he died. I’m not trying to sound harsh. I’m simply saying I don’t believe Jett would ever want us to suffer in this way. I think he’d want us to be there for each other.”

  More tears fell onto my pillow. “I know. I know it’s over in my head, but I can’t get my heart to understand the message. It’s too much too soon. Having you here is equally confusing for me. I love you, Seth. I just don’t feel like I can be with you right now.

  “Jett was extremely jealous of you. You know that, right? You found me first. It was something he was fighting to overcome from the very beginning. We were both worried about how you’d react and what the future held for the three of us as friends. Neither of us wanted you to be gone, but we didn’t want you to suffer either.” I released a huff, staring up at the twisting vines over our heads. “Our relationship was like this cocoon you made. The three of us were all twisted together. How could we ever untangle ourselves from one another, especially when our magick was bound?

  “Our hearts beat as one. I used to lay in bed and feel both of your emotions—your longing—swirling inside me. I’ve felt both of your feelings, and they were true. How was I supposed to choose between them? It was impossible. I knew I could be happy with either of you, but one of you would be hurt in the end.”

  “Still, you made your choice.”

  I nodded. “Yes, I did. I also did it under duress. Rowan was making advances toward me. He was determined to get me any which way he could. I was so confused. His magick held powerful sway over me, to the point of wondering if perhaps he was the one answering my call. It would’ve been so easy for me to give in to his desires. I thought if I married him, it might put Jett and you at peace and heal your friendship.”

  Seth groaned audibly. “Did you tell any of this to Jett?”

  I nodded. “Yes, and he was practically hysterical.”

  “I can only imagine. You threw him straight into desperation mode, Kenna. No wonder he was acting so hastily. I would’ve been just as terrified.”

  “I didn’t mean to scare him, but I was enchanted by Rowan. I was the fly in his web. The longer I stayed, the less chance I had of escaping. Jett offered me a way out. If he handfasted with me, he had a legitimate claim for me. Plus, he could use his abilities to help us get away from the castle. I knew Rowan would follow us and hoped my dad and the rest of you would be able to leave during the confusion. We thought what we were doing was best for everyone.”

  Seth nodded. “I understand, but I can also tell you, Jett was just as self-serving as Rowan. He saw this as an opportunity to finally claim you for himself. He used the circumstances to his advantage. The only difference is you were a willing fly in his web.”

  “Maybe so, but tell me, would you have done any differently?”

  “No,” he sighed. “I’d have reacted in the same manner. I wouldn’t have wanted to hurt him, but I would’ve taken you without a second thought. Instead, I was playing the fool and trying to keep my distance from you.”

  “Jett told me you were trying to keep the Fae from being angered, but he also said you still weren’t sure something hadn’t happened between him and me that night after my spell.”

  “I seemed like I was losing you from that moment on. Everything was different. You may have been unsure, but I think your heart officially became Jett’s that night. You were just afraid to admit it. I didn’t know how to combat that, so I pulled away. I figured if you wanted me, you’d fight for me, but then Jett told me you’d said it had always been him. You told him you would’ve been disappointed had it not been him. It was like an arrow straight to my heart.”

  “Jett should’ve never told you those things. It was wrong of him.”

  “Was it? They were true. He simply told me what you couldn’t.”

  “I couldn’t because I didn’t want to. No matter what I said, I still loved you deeply. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

  “Stringing me along hurts worse, Kenna. It’s always better to rip the band-aid off and get the pain over.”

  “I’m sorry, Seth. I never meant for it to go this way. I certainly don’t want you to feel like you’re the consolation prize. You deserve so much more than that.”

  Shrugging, he stared at me. “I’m thrilled to be the consolation prize if it means I get a chance to be with you. I’m happy you had the moments you did with Jett, but I will spend the rest of my life proving I’m just as worthy of your heart.”

  A wry chuckle escaped me. “You don’t need to prove anything to me. I already know. Plus, you’ve had my heart since the beginning.”

  “No,” he replied, shaking his head. “I’ve only ever owned a part of it, and I’m okay with that, for now. I still hope you’ll want to give me the whole thing someday. Until then, I’m happy to just be with you. The ball is in your court, and you make the rules. If you decide you want nothing to do with me, I won’t pressure you. I only want to know I have some hope of winning you over in the end.”

  I carefully considered his words before replying. “Then have hope.”

  6

  Seth-

  * * *

  Kenna had been asleep for a while, but I couldn’t seem to relax enough to join her. Her words still echoed in my ears as I tried to wrap my feelings around everything that happened in the last few days.

  I still couldn’t believe Jett was dead. It seemed like a horrific nightmare, one I wanted to wake up from. At the same time, I didn’t. If I woke up and it wasn’t true, Kenna was lost to me forever. No matter how bad the betrayal to my best friend, I couldn’t lose Kenna.

  I had to forgive the damn bastard for running off with her because I understood exactly what had been going on inside him. I couldn’t blame him for doing the same thing I would’ve, given the opportunity. It was my fault they got together. I backed away when I should’ve pushed harder.

  It didn’t matter now, though. No matter what gifts of premonition any of us had, none of us had foreseen this twist coming. Death was just as crafty as ever, sneaking in right under our noses. Jett might’ve gotten Kenna away from Rowan, but he paid for it with his life. It was a steep price, but I doubted that he regretted it. I was sure he wouldn’t have changed his course even if he’d known the outcome. Protecting her had always been his utmost priority.

  Where had I been? Hiding in my room, sulking. I’d sat there like a damn coward and let things transpire around me, all because of my hurt pride. In my attempt to not rock the boat, the worst outcome happened, and I lost the girl I loved and my best friend in the process.

  “Jett,” Kenna moaned in her sleep as she tossed restlessly.

  Placing my hand on hers, I patted it lightly, wanting to bring her comfort. Her fingers curled around mine tightly.

  “Don’t leave me, Jett,” she whispered.

  “Never,” I replied softly, not wanting to wake her. I didn’t feel bad speaking for him. I knew it was what he’d tell her.

  Immediately, her features and breathing relaxed and evened out. I didn’t try to pull away, rubbing my thumb against her silky skin. My heart went out to her. I knew she was really suffering.

  “Stay with us, bro,” I muttered. “We need you now more than ever.”

  I didn’t want to wake up. Everything felt so wonderful. Heat curled over me as a soft, breathless sigh sounded in my ear. Lifting my arm, I cradled Kenna’s head before stroking her hair.

  “I love you,” she said, her words so light I barely heard them.

  “I love you, too,” I replied, pressing my lips to the top of her head.

  A sudden shriek filled the air, causing me to bolt up just as Kenna scurried away.

  “What the hell?” I glanced around, trying to get my bearings.

  “Sorry. I was dreaming. I—I thought you were . . . I must’ve rolled next to you while we were asleep.”

  Sighing, I shook my head. “You have nothing to apologize for. I thought I was dreaming, too. I didn’t mean to touch you without permission.”

  Kenna raked her fingers through her messy hair. I thought she’d never looked so gorgeous with her cheeks stained red and wearing her wrinkled, homespun linen gown Damien had provided.

  “You didn’t offend me. I just thought that—”

  “I was Jett,” I finished, wanting to reassure her that I understood.

  She blushed, and regret filled her features as she nodded.

  “Look, Kenna. You don’t ever have to apologize to me because you’re missing him. We both are. I might not have always agreed with his tactics, but I loved him like a brother. It’s okay for you to mistake me for him.”

  “I just don’t want to send you mixed signals.”

  “You aren’t, but I don’t mind holding you while you work through this. Avoiding me just makes everything even more awkward. It feels better to be able to comfort you somehow instead of watching you suffer alone. Hugs can help everyone. If you need one or want to cry things out, please let me be there for you. Heck, I might need to cry too.”

  It must’ve been the right thing to say because she came into my arms. I held her tightly as she sobbed so hard that her body shook. “I miss him so badly,” she choked out. It was such a sad, mournful display I couldn’t stop my own tears from falling against her hair.