by K. K. Allen
Fated
Book 2, Enchanted Gods
K.K. Allen
K.K. Allen Books
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 by K.K. Allen
Cover Design: Emily Wittig Designs
Editing / Proofreading: Red Adept Editing
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Contact [email protected] with questions.
For Emily, my favorite ocean-loving friend. Adore you. Thank you for everything.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
TAKEN Prologue
Connect With K.K.
Other Novels by K.K. Allen
Acknowledgments
About the Author
I didn’t ask for this life. To finally have the one thing in this world worth living for then be forced to give it up is unbearable. He stands before me, yet out of my grasp. Now, he is forbidden to me, a temptation above any red fruit.
A pained look flickers across his expression, like I’ve hurt him, but he hurt me too. The knowledge of what he did is far more powerful than the tears that threaten to surface. I must will them away. To reveal my own pain would only complicate things. One thing, I know for sure—this is how things are destined to be.
Forcing my eyes away from his is my only hope at this moment. His heated stare stays on me. I can feel it burning a hole straight through my core.
How did it happen that the one I’m fated to love would turn out to be the one I need to kill to survive?
Breeze from the bay whips my ponytail around as the freed tendrils of long brown hair smack my cheek. I tighten my grasp around the handlebars of my beach cruiser and place my right foot firmly on the concrete. As cars exit the one-lane bridge that leads to Summer Island, I smile easily at the drivers turning onto the main road.
There’s something mystical about the ivy growing on the gate’s concrete walls and the tall, dark kudzu-covered trees surrounding the entrance. Mystical. The single word seems to accurately describe my entire life-changing existence since moving to Apollo Beach. Who would have thought the teen who found trouble everywhere she turned wasn’t cursed, but instead Enchanted?
A man in uniform steps outside the guard house building to wave. “Morning, Kat.”
“Hey, Herkle.” I recognized him instantly from my first few visits to the island. “Nice to see you again.”
Herkle, Herkie, and Herk are all short for Hercules, from whom he descended. I put two and two together, and Charlotte confirmed it for me during dinner one night this past week. He’s one of us—an Enchanter, a descendant of the gods from ancient Greece. It’s still mind-boggling to know it’s all real and this is my new life.
“I heard you had quite the Enchanting.” His jovial smile is infectious.
I find myself smiling too. “It was definitely eye-opening, to say the least.
He chuckles. “We’ve all been there. Will I see you at the Enchanters’ event tonight?”
I give him a knowing look. “Are you kidding? Charlotte is making me a dress for the occasion and everything. I’ll be there.”
Traffic clears, and I give Herkle a goodbye wave. I push against the pavement to start pedaling again and take off down the long, winding tree-covered drive. It’s been almost two months since I moved here, and I’m back on the job hunt. After my failed audition to waitress at Island Grille, I’ve decided to tempt fate and ask for another shot. It’s not like I qualify for much. A job at the Apollo Beach Library would be another option, but after being holed up at Summer Manor for two weeks straight while doing nothing but reading the Solstice Law Book, I’m aiming for something—dare I say—fun.
I pedal faster to round the final curve before I get to the quaint village, which is reminiscent of ancient Greek landmarks and ruins. I’m nearly around the bend when a squirrel jumps out of the bushes and darts across the street just as a white van barrels around the corner.
“No,” I gasp. With a quick turn of my handlebars, I pull out in front of the van and stick my foot out to stop my bike completely.
Tires squeal and swerve as the van attempts to brake, but it’s still going too fast. My pulse zooms through my veins as I think quickly. My new magic travels faster when I use my hands to propel it, but Charlotte has been teaching me how to exercise energy without having to be so obvious about it. This moment would be the appropriate time to try it.
I squeeze my eyes shut and clutch the handlebars of my bike before aiming all the energy I can muster toward the van. I can feel the explosion of light burst from my pores. There’s a loud crunching of metal, like the van just collided with a wall, and I look to see the squirrel dart into the bushes on the other side of the road.
With a quick sigh of relief, I look back toward the van. Its front grill is bent in the center and steam rises from around the hood. Crap. My eyes widen, and I release the handlebars of my bike, letting it fall to the ground beneath me.
The driver’s door to the van bursts open, and cold-faced Johnny Pierce steps out. He slams the door behind him, his startling blue eyes narrowed on mine. “Are you kidding me with this? What the hell is your problem, Kat?”
An unexpected thrill races though me when Johnny says my name. I wasn’t sure if we’d ever speak again after our run-in over a week ago. He was so cold. So angry. And now, he’s a stark reminder of the very reason I should look for another job. It shouldn’t be hard to find something else. But something about Island Grille calls to me. Or maybe I want to show Johnny he can’t push me around.
“Earth to Kat. I asked you why you pulled out in front of me like a fucking lunatic.”
I suck in a deep breath and instinctively reach for the energy stone I wear around my neck. It’s supposed to calm me, but when it comes to Johnny, I’m not sure anything can calm me. “You were going too fast. Didn’t you see the squirrel? You would have run right over it.”
Johnny’s jaw tenses. “No, I didn’t, because I was too focused on not hitting you. Didn’t your granny tell you to pay attention and not to swerve in and out of traffic? This is practically a one-lane road. You should be more careful.”
I let out a laugh. “I think I’ll be just fine, but thanks for the advice. And you don’t have to call her my ‘granny,’ like some condescending asshole. Her name is Rose.”
“Just be careful next time,” he growls. “I don’t want to be responsible for killing some kid who can’t pay attention to simple things like road signs.”
“I’m eighteen.”
“Yeah, well that’s young en
ough.”
I squint at him, trying to remember what he told me his age was. I swear he said it was twenty-two. “You’re not much older than me.” If it weren’t for the stubble covering his mouth and cheeks, I would think we were the same age.
With an amused shake of my head, I lean over to pick up my bike and freeze when his hand brushes mine. Energy surges through my veins. I feel its buzz reverberate through me like it’s lifting me high above the clouds—a strange sensation to have for someone I want to despise. Johnny grips the center bar of the bike and picks it up like it weighs nothing before popping it right-side-up on the drive.
“Are you okay to ride?”
His question throws me a little. It almost sounds like he cares, even though his reaction was delayed. “I’m fine. But why are you suddenly pretending to care?”
He shakes his head. “Trust me, I don’t. Just trying to avoid a lawsuit.” Still looking at me, he points to his van. “I already need to break it to the boss that I’m out of a catering van until we can get this one fixed.”
I tilt my head and point to the van. “What for? It looks fine.”
Johnny scrunches his face in confusion. “Huh? No, it’s—” He’s midturn when he spots the front of his van, which is now undamaged. He looks back at me. “I thought—”
I look at him with wide, innocent eyes. I might have repaired it when he wasn’t looking. “You thought what?”
He shakes his head and takes a step back. “Nothing. It’s all good.” He makes it all the way to his van then swivels around. “You sure you don’t need a ride somewhere? I’m not asking to be nice. I just have some time before my next event.”
My heart kicks in my chest at the second semi-kind reaction he’s had during our encounter. “No, I’m—” I start to tell him I’m going to Island Grille to beg Roy for a second chance, but I think better of it. If I tell Johnny that, his knee-jerk asshole tendencies might find a way to stop me. “Just heading to the library.”
He makes a face to tell me I’m weirder than he initially thought, then he swings open his door, jumps inside, and starts the engine. I’m already riding off when I hear the van start up then drive away.
Using my strength, I pedal as fast as my legs will carry me in a desperate need to release the pent-up energy that my encounters with Johnny Pierce seem to create. He’s impossible, but I’m not going to let him get to me the way I did before.
As I clear the winding drive and enter the main road that circles the island, I take in the ancient Greek-structured buildings that spread over the land. Everything one could possibly need exists here. It’s no wonder the residents of the entire town of Apollo Beach can be found here on summer days like today.
A recreational spread sits at the center of the island, with basketball courts, a football field, a track, tennis courts, and four baseball diamonds. An oversized waterfall cascades into a narrow lazy river that winds around a hidden alcove then empties into a large beachfront pool.
I do a double take when I see the lifeguard at the main pool. He’s perched high above the water, wearing long orange swim trunks, a whistle dangling from his neck.
Alec. There’s a flip-flop sensation in my chest when I recognize him. As he rolls his neck, his messy auburn hair glistens in the sun. His chest muscles move slightly, catching a partial ray of light. Even though his eyes are hidden behind sunglasses, I would recognize him from a mile away.
Just thinking about the last time I saw him makes my throat tighten. A week has passed since the fateful night that almost killed Iris and me. The flames of the bonfire still blaze through my mind daily, and my near drowning haunts my nights before I drift off to sleep. Luckily, my nightmares have ended. The green emerald necklace protects my mind from the unpleasant dreams I was prone to prior to my Enchanting.
Evading Alec over the week has been like trying to pull a rock from cement, but there was no way I could face him until I came to grips with all the new information I learned after that night. I needed to focus on my new responsibility as a Solstice. I would never hurt Alec intentionally, but after seeing firsthand what my powers can and cannot do, I’m more afraid of what I cannot control—Erebus and his Equinox Followers. I couldn’t afford to put anyone else in danger. So I made up excuse after excuse to distance myself for a while—until Alec stopped calling.
Guilt pulses through my veins, but I shake it away and cycle off toward my destination. I park in front of Island Grille and take the steps two at a time. Trisha is at the podium near the entrance, with her head down, doodling on a dry-erase board. She must hear me coming, because her head snaps up.
Her eyes grow wide at the sight of me. “Kat, hi. Where have you been? Alec said he’s tried calling.”
I smile, happy to see her too. “I’ve just been laying low after everything went down, but I’m here now.” With my hands on my hips, I tilt at my waist in a playful pose.
“Well, perfect timing, because we’re all hanging out tomorrow for Alec’s birthday.”
A pang hits my chest. “It’s his birthday tomorrow?” I had no idea.
“Yup. After what happened on the Fourth, he didn’t want to make a big deal about it. We don’t have any concrete plans yet, but you’re invited, and I’m pretty sure you owe us all for disappearing.”
I let out an uncomfortable laugh. “I probably do owe you, but I don’t know, Trisha. Who else will be there?”
“Alec, Brett, me, and—” She cringes, and it makes my stomach churn. “Ava, but she’s different now that Iris is pretty much grounded for life. She’s less… Ava.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Let me get back to you on that.”
Trisha sighs, but relents, then she tilts her head. “What are you doing here? Grabbing some breakfast?”
I let my eyes dart around in an attempt to spot the owner. “Yeah, I was hoping to speak with Roy and see if he’s willing to give me another shot. I just don’t think there’s another job on the island I want.”
“Oh,” Trisha says with a shrug. “Well, that’s easy. Roy put me in charge of hiring for the summer since he’ll be so busy, and Johnny can be so unpleasant. Roy doesn’t want to deal with it. So—” She grins and reaches out her hand. “Welcome to the team. You start in two days.”
I take her hand, and we shake, a cheesy grin lifting my cheeks. “And here I was, terrified to come back by. If this didn’t work out, I was going to try the marina next.”
Trisha gives a vigorous shake of her head. “Don’t you dare work at that creepy marina. It’s beautiful during the day, but I wouldn’t want to go anywhere near that place at night. You’ll fit in just fine here. And it’s not Roy you need to be terrified of.”
I pout, already knowing what she’s going to say, then we say the words together, “It’s Johnny.”
When I get back to the house, Charlotte is in my room—in my closet, to be more precise. She’s flipping through my clothes, examining one item at a time.
“I’m not snooping,” she says before swiveling around. A giant smile is plastered on her face.
I take a seat on the ottoman in the middle of my bedroom-sized closet. I still haven’t managed to fill it up yet, but given the size of it, I hope I never do. “Then what are you doing? Don’t tell me Rose wants you to take me shopping again.”
Rose is overly generous with her money, and the discomfort of being on the receiving end of that generosity lingers with me. I doubt that feeling will go away anytime soon.
Charlotte’s eyes twinkle. “No, silly. I want the dress I sew to feel like it’s still you.”
“Why don’t I just wear something I already own?” The nonchalance in my answer must be funny, because Charlotte laughs.
“Come with me, and I’ll show you.” She pulls out the knee length emerald-green dress I wore for my Enchantment and a sparkly silver polka-dotted chiffon scarf. Then she plops a pair of wedges on top of the pile and exits the closet.
I follow Charlotte down the hall to the other corner of th
e house, to her craft room, which I’ve never stepped foot in until now. In awe, my eyes take in everything around the room. Apparently, Charlotte really does have a thing for arts and crafts. Fabrics of all colors and sizes hang on rolling rods bolted into the wall. There are clear plastic bins of pins and needles. I see containers with chalkboard labels like “scissors,” “buttons,” “magazines,” and “pens.” There are fabric boards with drawings all over the wall. Charlotte is talented.
Charlotte goes to the naked mannequin on the opposite wall. I watch in fascination as she drapes the green silk of my dress over the figure’s head. She turns to assess me. “I just need to get your measurements.” She taps her finger to her lip a few times, in full concentration. “Spin.” She gestures to me and makes a circling motion with her hands.
Without hesitation, I do as she asks.
“Good.” She smiles and turns back to the dress. With a single wave of her hand, the dress begins to transform.
It’s like I’m watching a fantastic symphony come to life with Charlotte as conductor and the fabric playing the role of her orchestra. The green fabric tugs together at the waist, and with a snip of the flying scissors, the top of the dress forms a heart-shaped cut. Another piece of chiffon fabric overlays the dress, and again, the flying scissors cut through the fabric, creating perfect vertical ruffles every few inches, starting from the top of the waistline down to the bottom, slightly hanging over the silk fabric beneath it. The dress isn’t even done, but it’s already beautiful.