Kenna-
Even though the cell was now quiet, my mind was screaming. Severe information overload was overwhelming as I tried to absorb everything that had happened while Seth and I were away from the others. The room had fallen silent about an hour ago, but my head was pounding like a hammer, trying to fit the pieces of this crazy puzzle together.
All three guys were sleeping. They looked exhausted. I couldn’t imagine what they must’ve been through; the stress and worry for several long months must be taking a toll.
While hating what Damien did to Seth and me, I was partially relieved we hadn’t suffered the entire time we were held captive. I had been really happy for a short time, but only because I’d been tricked into forgetting my grief.
Staring at Jett, I still couldn’t believe my eyes. Carefully, I scooted nearer. I wanted to look at him closer. It was easy to convince myself this was a dream in the dim lighting.
Glancing at the endlessly burning torch on the wall, I flicked my fingers at it, hoping to slightly raise the flame. Nothing happened, but I did feel a slight sting in my fingertips as if something zapped me for trying.
Turning my hand, I stared at my reddened fingertips and rubbed my thumb over them.
“Gotta be careful with that,” Jett whispered, clearly not asleep as I had believed. “It has a bite.”
Glancing over, I hesitated as he patted the floor beside him, encouraging me to move closer still. I looked at Seth, not wanting to hurt him in any way.
“He’ll understand,” Jett added. “Just like I understand you’re going to need time with him. I only want to talk.”
He didn’t need to beg since I wanted to see more of him. I sat where we were almost touching so we could speak softer and not disturb the others. Immediately, Jett grabbed my hand, bringing it closer to his face to inspect my fingers. He surprised me when he brought them to his lips, kissing them before rubbing his scruffy cheek against the back of my hand.
“I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever have the chance to touch you again.” He glanced at me. “Or if I’d ever lay eyes on your beautiful face.” His voice mesmerized me, and I didn’t want to interrupt. I simply wanted to hear him speak. He was so . . . alive. “I laid awake every night, staring at the spot where you should’ve been until sleep claimed me. When it did, I dreamed of you, held you, craved you, made love to you. I did all the things I was afraid I would never get to do with you again.” He glanced briefly at Seth. “Things I will most likely never get to do again with you.”
“I . . .” The words were stuck in my throat. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” His fingers slipped between mine, and he held them in his lap. “Just give me a chance to say hello before telling me goodbye.”
“Stop it!” I snapped a bit too loud. Pausing, I checked the other men, but they continued to sleep. “I haven’t even had time to process all this, let alone be making any major life choices.”
Jett nodded. “I know. Forgive me. I wasn’t trying to force you. Listen to me, though, darlin’. It’s not about just me and Seth anymore. There’s a baby, and that baby deserves to have his dad in his life.”
“I’m very aware of that, but we are from the modern era even though we are currently in the past. You know as well as I do, marriage is not a prerequisite to raising a child together. Also, it’s not like they have ultrasound machines just lying around for me to know exactly how far along I am. I’m not even sure whose baby this is. All I know is that I love it and both of you. I want a life with all of you, but I don’t know how to fix this or make it better. Someone is going to end up hurt.”
“Oh, Kenna.” He cupped my cheek. “We’re already hurting. Every single one of us. No matter what happens from this point on, if we make it out of this mess, chances are we’re all going to live to regret things that happened here. There’s nothing we can do about that now. We can only try and move forward as best as we can.”
“I just can’t imagine a happily ever after where you both aren’t in it.”
Jett gave a wry chuckle. “Neither can I. I want all three of you in my life, no matter what. Seth and I have been like brothers for so long. You’re literally the girl of my dreams, and I don’t care who that baby’s father is. It’s your baby. I automatically love it.”
Silent tears fell down my face at his words. “You aren’t making this any easier,” I choked out.
“Kenna, I’m not going to hold it against you if you choose him. You get that, right?” he cupped my face, staring into my eyes. “I love you. Whatever decision is best for you is best for me, too.”
Releasing a half-chuckle, I glanced toward Rowan. “Even if I chose him?”
I waited for his outburst, but surprisingly it didn’t come. “He’s not a horrible guy—not that I’m advocating you go off and marry him or anything. He’s been very helpful in trying to locate you and gathering other forces to aid us.”
I turned away from Jett and slumped back against the wall. Leaning my head on his shoulder, I slipped my hand into his. “Well, now I know I’m dreaming. There’s no way in hell the Jett I know would champion Rowan.”
“Maybe I’m not the Jett you used to know anymore,” he said solemnly. “A lot has happened since then. I’d like to think I did some character growth along the way.”
I giggled. “I have no doubt that you’ve grown from your trials. I just never thought I’d hear you talk nice about him.”
Jett stared at Rowan for a few seconds before he replied. “Rowan is more of a softy than he lets on.”
“How can you even say that?” I asked in a harsh whisper. “He hijacked our bond so he could spy on us and break us up.”
“That may have been his initial intent, but it isn’t why he keeps it now.”
I was amazed at the lackadaisical air he had on the subject. There was no way Jett could actually like Rowan. “He’s probably just scared my dad will go off on him for messing with us.”
Jett shook his head. “That’s not why he’s doing it.”
“Why, then?” I asked. He clearly seemed to know something I didn’t.
“He’s protecting you.”
“Protecting me from what?” I asked, unable to believe what I was hearing.
“From feeling my and Seth’s pain. He’s blocking a wall of massive turmoil and keeping it from affecting you. He’s choosing to carry the burdens of all three of us to spare you.” Jett stared at me. “He’s felt every second of grief you and Seth experienced over my rumored death.”
I stared at Rowan, suddenly seeing him in a completely new light. “So, you’re saying he’s a good guy?”
“I’m saying he really loves you a lot.”
“Then why is he sheltering you and Seth? I’m pretty sure he’s not in love with either of you.”
Jett grinned, and my heart skipped a beat. His smile was dazzling. I’d missed it so much. “Actually, Rowan and I are a lot closer than you’d think these days. We’ve become . . . like brothers, of a sort.”
“I’m afraid to even ask you to clarify that.” I really was. It was starting to feel like I was still stuck in an alternate reality.
A small laugh escaped before Jett’s features changed, growing somber, giving me the feeling I wasn’t going to like whatever I heard next. “Your dad used Rowan’s blood to complete my change and save my life.”
Nausea rolled through me. “You were changed using Fae blood? Wouldn’t that make you go—”
“Crazy?” he supplied before I could say it. “Yes. I went very crazy. If I didn’t have this tattoo, I’d still be insane. The ink is made from Fae blood. It will never fade.”
“Was Rowan’s blood also used for the tattoo?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes. As you might imagine, your dad had quite the ax to grind with him.”
“That couldn’t have been very pleasant for him.” I couldn’t even imagine the rage my father must’ve been in to feed on Rowan the way he had. That was some straight-up vengeance on his part.
“Are you mad at your Dad?” Jett asked, his eyes never leaving mine.
I shook my head. “No. His actions saved your life. I could never regret that.”
“Are you sure? Your life would be a lot easier right now if I stayed dead.”
“Don’t you ever say that to me again. Losing you was the absolute worst thing I’ve ever experienced. I would never want you dead. Losing you was like—like suddenly being unable to breathe. It was an agony that gripped me harder than any pain I’ve felt.” My emotions were rising, threatening to get the better of me. Swallowing hard, I attempted to rein them in. “I need you to be alive. I can’t lose you that way. It’s too much.”
Jett leaned closer, but I shifted away.
“Let’s just focus on getting away from here, please,” I begged. “We can hash things out afterward.”
Nodding, his eyes traveled down my face, pausing briefly on my lips. “Can I ask you one more thing?”
“Anything,” I encouraged, squeezing his hand.
“Will you kiss me one more time? I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but I can face it better if I could just kiss you one more time. Then I won’t ever ask you again. Can we just pretend that we’re back in that cave for a moment?”
The room shimmered and began to melt away, replaced with our little honeymoon place. Suddenly, Jett winced loudly and grimaced, biting his lip. The image disappeared. “That stung.”
“But I saw it!” I exclaimed, completely amazed. “The room changed. I couldn’t even get a flicker on the flame when I tried to use my powers!”
Seth and Rowan both stirred, raising their heads to stare at us.
“What’s going on?” Rowan asked, swiping some of his long locks away from his face.
His eyes narrowed in on me, but I didn’t hold his gaze, instead glancing at Seth. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes traveled to where Jett’s and my hands were still clasped. My cheeks heated, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted right now.
“Jett just made one of his illusions happen!” I said excitedly.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Jett said, casually releasing my hand. I immediately felt the loss but was sure he’d done it for Seth’s benefit. For that, I was grateful. “It only lasted for a second,” Jett continued, “and then whatever spell is on this place snapped me pretty hard.”
“But don’t you see?” I stared between their blank faces. Clearly, they didn’t. “It might be enough time to trick one of the guards and give us some time to escape.”
“You seem to have forgotten these chains the rest of us are in,” Seth said, lifting his leg with a rattle before dropping them to the floor. “They’re magickally enhanced as well.”
That did pose a problem. “So maybe we can use the time to grab one of the guard’s enchanted keys. I mean, I assume they’re enchanted keys since the chains are. It only makes sense.” I looked at all three of them as they stared at me. “Yes, I’m rambling, I know. Come on, let’s put our heads together and figure this out. If we can get out of here, we can find my family. Maybe they’re in cells nearby. Aren’t you all ready to go home?”
Seth smiled, his love for me shining in his eyes. “I know I am.”
“Me, too,” Jett echoed.
“Well then, quit bellyaching, and let’s do this!” I said excitedly, punching a fist into the air.
“The cheerleader just arrived,” Seth chuckled.
“Yeah,” Jett drawled. “I saw it, too.”
“What is a cheerleader?” Rowan asked, and we all laughed.
For the first time in a while, I started to feel some hope.