Forgotten Visions (The Divinities Book 1) by Lia Davis Read Free Book Online Page B

She let Khloe suck up all the extra interest with grace and ease.
    “So, what about you?” Ayden asked just as the waitress came with their lunch.
    “What about me?” Kalissa asked, crinkling up her nose. She hated to talk about herself.
    Ayden waited until the waitress had left them alone again before replying. “What have you been doing since high school? I mean, I know you took over your father’s cafe, but what else?”
    Kalissa shrugged. “I got my degree in Business Management and went to work at the diner as the day shift manager. That’s about it.”
    “You never married?” Kalissa tensed up at the question. She knew he’d picked up on her tension because he asked, “I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?”
    She shook her head and spoke softly. “My fiancé died when we were seniors in college.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    She studied Ayden and didn’t miss the tic in his jaw. Was he jealous? Of a dead man? “It was a long time ago. Don’t be sorry, you didn’t kill him.”

Chapter 7
     
    They reached Dahlonega by 4:00 pm. Ayden drove straight to The Wheel, parked the Jeep, and sat there for a few moments, unsure what to do. Or what to say. His head was still whirling with the knowledge that Kalisssa had been engaged. Jealousy engulfed him but dissolved as it sank in that her fiancé was dead. A mixture of pain and guilt had hung thick in her voice when she’d spoken of it.
    Changing the subject to when they were kids, he quickly found out that wasn’t any better. Every time he asked a question or brought up a time that involved only the two of them, she got confused or rubbed her temples as if she had a headache. Could the memory loss be the cause of her conflicted and painful expressions?
    He filed what he’d learned away for later, eager to get to the cabin so he could call his grandfather. He hoped Noah would have more information to share, as well.
    “Should we go in to see if they’re in there?” she asked.
    Ayden broke from his train of thought and shrugged. “We can go in to check now and maybe come back?”
    “Okay. Wanna order dinner? I’m sure there isn’t much at the cabin.”
    He looked at her and smiled. “Sure. We could wait around for a little while to see if they show.”
    They climbed out of the Jeep and went inside the diner, spotting a wooden booth with red-cushioned seats not far from the door. He scanned the small restaurant before sliding into his seat. There were only two other couples inside the restaurant.
    “Do you think they’re coming?” Kalissa asked after they’d placed their orders.
    “I don’t know.”
    “How long should we wait?”
    “Not sure.”
    “How do we know they will come?”
    “I don’t know,” Ayden said sternly, setting his water glass down on the table hard enough that it made Kalissa jump. Fear jetted off her.
    She sat back in the booth and turned to look out the window. Ayden silently cursed himself. Her emotional roller coaster was wearing on him. The more time they spent together, the more in tune with her he became.
    Because we’re magical partners. It was the natural course that prepared them for bonding. 
    But the heightened fear that surrounded her now was triggered by his anger. One thing came to mind that caused that type of reaction. If that dead ex-boyfriend was the cause, then Ayden was going to find a necromancer to bring the bastard back to life so he could tear him part, piece by piece.
    He stretched his hand across the table, palm up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just…” He trailed off. A part of him was still hurt and angry with her. Why was it so hard for him to just let it go?
    “You’re just what?” Kalissa asked, still sitting back against the seat as far as she could from his outstretched hand. Fear still leaked out of her, and that worried him.
    He would have to probe Zach for more information on the ex-boyfriend.
    Ayden dropped his shoulders and sighed. “I’m tired from the drive,