Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Anabel (Keefe POV)

Keefe stared at his reflection in the mirror, fiddling with the cape clasped over his shoulders. He'd been wearing a generic pin instead of the Sencen crest, but was starting to wonder if he should take Alden and Della up on their offer to give him a Vacker crest.

He wasn't theirs, hadn't been adopted into the family, but they were his family nonetheless. And the fact that they loved him enough to want to give him a family crest pin proved that they felt the same way.

But then...if he wore the Vacker crest...

It would raise questions. People knew he was a Sencen. People would notice the Vacker crest and want to know why he was wearing it over his own family's crest. And he just wanted to keep as many people ignorant of his horrible childhood as possible. His friends knew, but that didn't mean the whole world had to.

But then, the world knew of his mother's treachery. He realized that most people probably wouldn't ask--would just assume that he stopped wearing the Sencen crest in order to distance himself from Lady Gisela Sencen. So maybe he should ask Alden to get him a Vacker crest.

Someday, when he got married, he could take on that family's crest.

And just like that...he imagined himself pinning a Ruewen crest onto his cape, Sophie by his side.

Stop, he told himself firmly. The last thing you need to do while getting ready for a date with Anabel is to daydream about being married to Foster.

Somehow, it seemed like bad manners, though Anabel would have no idea what he'd been thinking about before their date.

But he also needed to train himself to stop thinking so much about her. He needed to figure out how to see her as just a friend. And yet...he was still in her heart. And it was as strong as ever.

How could he possibly let go when he knew that there was still the possibility, however small, for more?

But was he really going to go on pining for a girl who might never choose him simply because there was a chance she eventually would?

Well...for tonight, he had a date. Anabel was interesting and beautiful. Surely she could divert his attention away from stupid, painful, all-consuming unrequited love.

Right?

Only one way to find out.

Deep down, he knew it didn't bode well that he was getting ready to head downstairs to meet his date feeling faintly queasy, sad and exhausted. He should be feeling nervous, jittery and excited.

So he tried to perk up as he left his room, heading down the spiraling stairs to meet Anabel.

She showed up a couple of minutes after he did, and he offered her a small smile. "You look nice," he told her truthfully.

"I know," she told him, looking slightly amused. "You do too."

He smirked. "I know."

She laughed. "It's a good thing we're both so humble."

"I could write a book on the virtues of humility."

Keefe relaxed a little. This was easy, it was even kind of fun. He didn't feel any spark, but maybe he was putting too much pressure on himself--and on Anabel. Couldn't he just enjoy her company and see where it might lead?

With that in mind, he offered her his hand. "You ready?"

As the entry point to Atlantis glimmered into view, Keefe released her hand and bent down to get a bottle containing the whirlpool that would take them to the bottom of the ocean.