Fragile Reign (Mortal Enchantment Book 2) Read Free Page B

many questions hanging in the air. Are we dating? Does Rowan even want a girlfriend? To say things started off rocky between us would be an epic understatement. We went back and forth so many times it made me dizzy. But somehow, we also got to know one another. He opened up to me about his past, and it felt good to be let in, when I was sure he never let anyone new get close to him. Then everything changed when he kissed me. But what did that kiss mean? I shrugged. “It’s no big deal. It’s not a date or anything. I’m just going to throw on a new pair of jeans and—”
    Ariel stopped suddenly, pulling on my arm. I nearly fell on my face. “Kalin, no. You haven’t seen him in over a week. You have to look hot. Give me thirty minutes and I’ll have you ready for the runway.”
    I laughed. “You say that like you’re giving me a choice.”
    “I didn’t mean for it to come off that way.” She said with a mischievous grin. “You really have no choice.”

 

Chapter Three
    Rowan
     
    Pacing the white sandy beach, I waited impatiently for Kalin. It had been weeks since I had stood on this sand. I had spent so many hours training her here, but it was more than that. This was where I started falling for her. At first, I thought she was annoying as hell. She didn’t seem to take my lessons seriously. But it wasn’t that at all. She was scared out of her mind. It was hard to believe Taron let her grow up as a mortal. Away from other elementals, without knowing how to use her power. She missed so much.
    But somehow, she survived. She stood up to the council, managing to rescue her father without their help. And, in a very different way, she even saved me. After I killed my mother and thought I’d lost Marcus forever, I went to a dark place. Except for the loneliness and despair, I just felt empty inside. I spent a year in the mortal world, never talking to anyone about what had happened to me. I trained and—from a distance—watched over Kalin. It got to the point where I hardly recognized myself. Then she needed my help and everything changed. I changed. She turned out to be exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
    A few yards away, an oval shaped wind tunnel appeared, swirling like a tornado on the inside. Kalin walked through it, pushing her loose red curls over her shoulder. The wind coming off the ocean ruffled the bottom of her short canary-yellow sundress. In the dimmed light of the setting sun, her skin seemed to glow as she made her way toward me. I swallowed hard. As she got closer, I noticed she was wearing make-up. It was more than she ever wore in the mortal world, which meant Ariel must have gotten her ready.
    Suddenly she was standing in front of me. Neither of us said a word. I had the feeling she was waiting for me to say something. And for the first time in my life, I couldn’t think of anything to say. Was I nervous? Why would I be? I had dated plenty of girls. Since when did I get tongue-tied? When in doubt, I was always good for at least one snarky comment. But then she smiled and I lost my entire train of thought. My brain ordered me to kiss her. Pull her into my arms and press my lips into hers. My fingers tingled at the thought. What was this chick doing to me?
    I crossed my arms in front of me. “You’re late.”
    “Really?” Kalin rolled her eyes. “You have no idea what it took to get here. I have knights following me everywhere. The council has everyone on full alert since the fire court started attacking us in the mortal world.”
    I wanted to correct her and say rogue members of the fire court, but since I already sounded like a douchebag, I decided to shift the topic to something less combative. “Looks like you’re handling the portal travel much better.”
    I cringed . Brilliant conversation starter, moron .
    She ran her fingers through her hair. “Yeah…I’m still not crazy about the portals, but I guess I’ve gotten used to them.”
    “Good.” If Marcus could see me