Taken (Enchanted Gods Book 3)

by K. K. Allen

  I'm still cloaked in my graduation gown, the rough fabric combing my skin, providing a false sense of security under Devon's heated glare. If only I could tuck my head inside it to avoid another argument. At least the cloth would muffle his words, obscuring his shouts the way tears are threatening to blur my vision. If only.

  It's no use asking him what he's referring to or why he looks like he wants to throw my journal—and me—across the room. I'm already aware of the passages between the binding he grips with white-tipped knuckles. We've been official for four months, and he somehow feels as if he has the right to invade my thoughts, fears, and dreams. I ignore the fact that his anger might be justified because of what he read and focus on what he did wrong.

  “You read my journal?” I explode. “Why?” My voice won't stop shaking no matter how hard I try to control it. I know I have to get ahold of myself. Devon can sniff weakness from a mile away, and he will use it to his advantage.

  He glowers at me in response, spilling hate with every breath. I might hate myself too for letting it come to this point. His anger has always been a beast, ready to unleash if I make one wrong move, and alcohol only gases his fire. Devon has never hit me, but certain situations have caused me to imagine what a blow would feel like. It wasn't long ago, during one of our bigger arguments, that his fist came close. So close that I felt a rush of air skim my cheek before slamming into the wall. He wasn’t aiming for me. I don’t think. But I remember squeezing my eyelids together for so long my vision took a terrifying amount of time to return. During my darkened state, I imagined his fist connecting with my jaw, anticipating it like that would somehow lessen the pain when it did come.

  Devon is a big guy, an athlete, and six-foot-three—almost a foot taller than me. He steps closer, casting a shadow over me, reminding me of my inferiority. He enjoys this: demonstrating he could hurt me if he wanted to. I think he wants to.

  The only difference between now and the past is that I've been through this enough, and nothing about him scares me. Not anymore. Not even the fact that we’re trapped in the same room together. Alone. By now, Devon knows I'm not the passive weakling he wants me to be.

  Instead of glowering or slamming my lids closed again, I stand taller and meet his furious scowl. If he's going to hit me, I want him to see that I'm undaunted by his threats. “It's a journal, Devon. It's not like I cheated on you.”

  He doesn't know I'm aware of his escapades, but my comment gets his attention. There's a flash of worry in his features before he catches himself and stands taller, puffing out his chest with laughter. I think his laugh hurts more than his fist ever could. He doesn't admit his own deceit—not that I need him to, since I found a pile of empty condom wrappers in the center compartment of his Honda last month. Sure, they could have been from before we dated, but the feeling in my gut told me what my heart didn't want to believe. And honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted me to find them. Always a hothead, Devon loves a good argument.

  He's still steaming when he finally speaks. “Wouldn't that be classic? You won't give it up for me, but you would for him.”

  My face flames with mortification. I've never given it up for anyone, which is one of the many reasons we argue. Devon thinks he owns every piece of me because we're dating, always telling me how lucky I should feel to be with him, insisting if I cared for him I should show him. No matter the argument, it always ends the same. I say “no” and he casts threats, telling me he'll leave me, cheat on me, anything to get his fill. He hopes these arguments will help me see how badly I want him.

  He doesn't know me at all.

  “I didn't do anything.”

  I have no desire to defend myself, not for lack of energy, but because I've run out of reasons to continue trying. It's been a long four months of a relationship that should have never been. The moment romance got involved, everything changed . . . and I mean everything. We were better off as friends, but there's no going back to friendship. Not after this. Devon Rhodes can go screw himself and whomever else he wants because he'll never get near me again. He expects me to grovel, to feel as if I'm the one who betrayed him. Not going to happen.

  “I think you should leave.” My final request does something to him. The fierceness in his eyes loses its flame, and with a flick of his wrist he tosses my journal to the corner of the room. Then he backs away with his hands up, a gesture that releases all tension from my body. He's giving up. Finally.

  I don't need to look up to feel the heat escaping his body; it fills my room, creating a humidity we could drown in. Maybe we have been drowning, and every moment with Devon is my life flashing before my eyes. That would explain the suffocation I feel every time I'm with him.

  He begins to exit my room, undoubtedly heading toward the party next door to relieve his frustrations on the first girl that will spread her legs. Turning, he makes sure to deliver one final blow before crossing the threshold and slamming the door. “Go to hell Chloe, and take my brother with you.”

  The ball in my throat can't decide whether it wants to sink deep into the pit of my stomach, weighing me down with guilt, or climb out my throat, clearing way for my scream of relief. It's just there, taunting me, reminding me I had the power to end our relationship sooner. Instead, I let it come to this, and I can only take responsibility for my own mistakes. Unfortunately, I've made a lot of them.

  In seconds I'm peeling off my gown and throwing myself onto my bed, in no mood to go back to that party. No celebration for me tonight.

  Now that Devon's gone, I want to let it all out. Everything my heart has endured in these months of torture. I can't remember the last time I cried, but I have a sense it would feel good to let go right about now. As I smash my face into the flower-stained bedspread and clutch it with all my might, I practically have to force a tear from my eye.

  A slow knock on my door jerks me to a sitting position. That's a knock I haven't heard in a while, but I know who owns it. I stand and straighten my dress, then slide a finger across the single tear I was able to muster.

  “Come in,” I say.

  Gavin pokes his head in hesitantly, as if testing the waters, before the rest of his body follows. He shuts the door and leans against it, a look of concern etched into his face. He must have seen Devon. Shame floods me, and I have to tear myself from his gaze.

  “He looked pretty pissed this time. Are you okay?”

  My swallow overshadows my nod.

  “What happened?”

  “The usual,” I answer dryly. I watch him. He's silent, observing me as he waits for a better response. Gavin has always had the ability to read me, no matter how hard I try to hide the truth. “What?” I demand. “He's drunk.”

  When Gavin tenses he does this strange thing with his jaw, as if he's clenching his teeth to keep from saying something he might regret. “What happened, Chloe?” he asks again.

  Out of the corner of my eye I see the brown leather cover of my journal and sigh. Not wanting to attract attention to it, I turn back to Gavin, who’s slowly approaching. “I can't do it anymore. He's impossible to be with. Even when he's not drunk, he's yelling at me or accusing me of cheating on him.” I leave out the part where he threatened to leave me if I didn't have sex with him. I’m not sure if Gavin knows this side of his brother, and I don't want to be the one to tell him.

  Gavin's face twists, conflicted, and he places his hand on my forearm. “You two were never right for each other, Chloe.”

  The lump in my throat sinks and latches onto my heart. Fixing my eyes with his, I whisper, “I know.”

  KEEP READING Up in the Treehouse FREE with Kindle Unlimited

  Want to stay updated with the latest news so that you’ll never miss a new release, event, or sale?

  Subscribe for Updates

  TikTok

  Instagram

  Facebook

  Goodreads

  BookBub

  Website

  Enjoy special sneak peeks, participate in exclu
sive giveaways, enter to win ARCs, and chat it up with K.K. and special guests ;)

  JOIN HERE

  Up in the Treehouse

  Haunted by the past, Chloe and Gavin are forced to come to terms with all that has transpired to find the peace they deserve. Except they can't seem to get near each other without combatting an intense emotional connection that brings them right back to where it all started . . . their childhood treehouse.

  Under the Bleachers

  Fun and flirty Monica Stevens lives for food, fashion, and boys ... in that order. The last thing she wants to take seriously is dating. When a night of flirty banter with Seattle's hottest NFL quarterback turns passionate, her care-free life could be at risk.

  Through the Lens

  When Maggie moves to Seattle for a fresh start, she’s presented with an unavoidable obstacle—namely, the cocky chef with a talent for photography and getting under her skin. Can they learn to get along for the sake of the ones they love?

  Over the Moon

  Silver Livingston has spent the past eight years hiding from her past when the NFL God, Kingston Scott, steps off the bus to mentor a football camp for kids. Kingston wants to be anywhere but at Camp Dakota…until he sees her. The intoxicating woman with the silver moon eyes, the reserved smile, and the past she’s determined to keep hidden.

  Dangerous Hearts (A Stolen Melody, #1)

  Lyric Cassidy knows a thing or two about bad boy rock stars with raspy vocals. In fact, her heart was just played by one. So when she takes an assignment as road manager for the world famous rock star, Wolf, she's prepared to take him on, full suit of heart-armor intact.

  Destined Hearts (A Stolen Melody, #2)

  But with stolen dreams, betrayals, and terrifying threats--no one's heart is safe. Not even the ones that may be destined to be together.

  British Bachelor

  Runaway British Bachelor contestant, Liam Colborn, is on the run from the press. When he gets to Providence, RI to stay with his late brother’s best friend, all he wants is a little time to regroup from his time on a failed reality show. That is, until he meets the redheaded bombshell nanny who lives in the pool house.

  Waterfall Effect

  Lost in the shadows of a tragedy that stripped Aurora of everything she once loved, she's back in the small town of Balsam Grove, ready to face all she's kept locked away for seven years. Or so she thinks.

  A Bridge Between Us

  With a century-old feud between neighboring families with only a bridge to separate them, Camila and Ridge find themselves wanting to rewrite the future. It all starts with an innocent friendship and quickly builds to so much more in this second chance coming of age romance.

  Center of Gravity (Gravity, #1)

  She was athleticism and grace, precision and passion, and she had a stage presence he couldn't tear my eyes from. He wanted her...on his team, in his bed. There was only one problem... He couldn't have both.

  Falling From Gravity (Gravity, #1.5)

  If I hadn’t considered Amelia dangerous before, I certainly did now. She wasn’t anything like I had expected. Even after all these years—of living so close to her, of listening to her giggle with my sister in the bedroom next to mine—I hadn’t given much thought to my sister’s best friend.

  Defying Gravity (Gravity, #2)

  The ball is her Amelia's court, but Tobias isn't below stealing--her power, her resolve, her heart... When he wants a second chance to reignite our connection, the answer is simple. They can't. Not unless they defy the rules their dreams were built on and risk everything.

  The Trouble With Gravity (Gravity #3)

  When Sebastian makes Kai an offer she can't afford to refuse, she learns signing on will mean facing the tragedy she's worked so hard to shut out. He says she can trust him to keep her safe, but is her heart safe too?

  Find them all here

  CUE ALL THE TEARS! The entire Enchanted Gods trilogy is now live and I am blown away by the massive love you have for this world. Thank you for reading a story that is near and dear to me. It was 2008 when I first started drafting what was supposed to be a young adult, small town beach romance. It was 2014 when I would finally publish The Summer Solstice Enchanted, a YA fantasy novel. I had no clue what I was doing then, and I made far too many errors as a young self-published author. Rewriting this trilogy has been on my mind ever since and the timing finally felt right. None of this could have been possible without some amazing people I would like to thank right now.

  To my Beta Babes—Cyndi, Sammie, Renee, Patricia, Emily, and Suzanne. Once again, each one of you brought something unique to the table and I will forever be grateful for your love and dedication to this story.

  To Lindsey and Renee, my badass boss babes who keep me on track every single day. I don’t know what I’d do without you.

  To my Beeches, Harloe and Heather. I’m so ridiculously lucky to have friends like you. Our daily talks, our happy reunions, our hung over plotting sessions, and our crazy onesie parties fill my soul more than you’ll ever know.

  One last big shoutout to my cover designer for this series, Emily Wittig. You captured this world perfectly! The special edition covers too.

  Thank you to Dani at Wildfire for being such a rock star. I don’t know how you do it, but I’m so happy I get to work with you.

  To my family who inspires me every day. A special shoutout to my little man, Jagger, who reminds me every single day what this life is truly about. I love you more. And another super special shoutout to my mom @cluttergirldesigns who not only was my first reader ever but who also made gorgeous booksleeves to match each book in this series! Also, thank you to T who was the first one to encourage me to publish my work through self-publishing. I’m not sure where I’d be now without that nudge.

  To all the bloggers who gave this series a chance. THANK YOU for sticking with the journey. I hope you loved it. I can’t wait for you to read more.

  To my Angsters, Forevers, and Booksters. Without you, I’d be totally lost!

  Last but not least, to my readers. I’m so grateful you took a chance on me. I cannot wait for you to see what’s coming next!

  Much love and HEAs,

  K.K. Allen

  K.K. Allen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author who writes heartfelt and inspirational contemporary romance stories. K.K. is a native Hawaiian who graduated from the University of Washington with an Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences degree and currently resides in central Florida with her ridiculously handsome little dude who owns her heart.

  K.K.'s publishing journey began in June 2014 with a young adult contemporary fantasy trilogy. In 2016, she published her first contemporary romance, Up in the Treehouse, which went on to win the Romantic Times 2016 Reviewers' Choice Award for Best New Adult Book of the Year.

  With K.K.'s love for inspirational and coming of age stories involving heartfelt narratives and honest emotions, you can be assured to always be surprised by what K.K. releases next.