Begin Again (Book One Of The Kingston Series)

Chapter Eleven: Anna and Candice

Chapter Eleven: Anna and Candice

"People change. The past doesn't."

Anna

Kaden

The Morning Before Jasmine's First Day

My eyes flash open and I blink. I sit up looking around my dark blue room. My walls are black, my bed green. I sit up, running my fingers through my hair. I push the blankets off and stand. My mirror catches my eye.

My attention is drawn to my journal in the reflection. I walk over to it. Opening it up, mostly for nostalgic purposes. Going to the first entry has my eyes dimming.

November 20, 1890

Dear Anna,

How can I write this without breaking?

How can I put this into words?

I loved.

And I loved.

And I lost you.

I had written that after the curse had set in fully. I write the whole thing like a letter to her. I filled the whole thing, never got the courage to send it though. I clench my jaw. The pain of that has been fading now. Jasmine isn't at all similar to Anna. Complete opposites. Anna's blonde long hair floods into my mind. The feeling of waking up next to her. Her brown eyes blinking and focusing on me. She would have this sleepy smile, it always made me happy to see her like that. At her most vulnerable, truly happy state.

"Den!" Anna shrieks as she giggles. I had thrown her on my shoulder when she wouldn't get out of bed. I get to the table and set her down in a chair. I settle in next to her.

"Anna," I drawl pouting at her. "They gave you all the chocolate chips!"

"It seems they have." She winks at me and starts eating her pancakes.

"If I didn't know any better," I start moving towards her. "I'd think you were having an affair with the kitchen boy!"

She gasps dramatically. "I would never! The pool boy suits my tastes to a tee."

I growl at her. Pouncing on her neck with my teeth in a playful move. Fake biting the soft skin. She erupts into loud giggles.

"Den! Den! Stop! That tickles!" She grins. I chuckle into her neck, about to pull back. Suddenly, like a flash I feel the breath from my lungs yanked away. Then a burning starts in the center of my chest. It lasts only a few moments but it hurts me so badly. The pain is a burning from the center of my chest, expanding to my entire body in an almost fatal sweep. I blink back tears shoving away from her. I grasp her face.

"Are you okay?!" I shout. Only knowing of one thing this excruciating pain could come from. When your mate dies. I feel no sparks on my hands. She is crying.

"I can't feel you!" She shouts. Panic laces through my bones.

"I can't feel you either!" I kiss her hard on the mouth, wanting the sparks. She tries for a moment before pushing me away.

"I-I thought you were my soulmate!" She bursts. I hold her to me.

"I thought so too."

My eyes brim with tears and I look away. I put my journal away and turn to my drawers. Putting a practiced smile on my lips. I pull out a graphic tee and a pair of jeans. Wanting to see Jasmine. Zara could never curse us again I console myself. Killian made sure of that.