Ever Wrath (20 page)
Shade’s Gift
Weeks later…
“YOU WANTED TO
speak to me?” Corb stood in the doorway of Shade’s room. His eyes were human blue, rarely looking like the mother of pearl coloring he’d had when he wasn’t bound to Shade.
“Yes, come in, Corb.”
He slipped in, and she closed the door behind him. He stood straight and tall, his long blonde-white hair immaculate and hanging straight down to his lower back. It used to be snow white, but being rendered near human had transformed him from the pale Ice King he had once been.
He still is and rightfully should be
, Shade thought. It was the reason she wanted to speak to him. It’d been weeks since the battle of the Withering Palace, and the sealing of the wards was finally complete. Still, many of the rogue faeries who’d escaped when they were down were still at large. Benton, along with Soap, was taking care of most of the bounty hunting to round them up, but she needed Corb to help them. He couldn’t do much without his powers.
Today
was the day before her wedding, and she had this unfinished business with Corb. She hoped it could be dealt with before her bonding ceremony with Dylan, the less to have on her mind.
The iron metal cuff on Corb’s wrist flashed in the warm rays of sunlight pouring in through the windows. The angry red flesh surrounding it hugged
its edges in a futile attempt to push it off. It was forged to his skin until his bond with Shade was broken, and he was set free once more.
“Corb, I need to ask you about our bind.”
His eyes flicked up and met hers. They followed her as she walked across the room and sat on one of the overstuffed couches, near the French doors leading out to the balcony. The palace was lavish, something that had taken her a while to get used to. Coming from a “normal” middle-class family, this was more than she’d ever imagined she could ever have.
“What did you want to know?” h
e asked quietly. She waved him over to join her, and he complied, slipping down on the couch and turning to face her. He’d always thought her beautiful, but he admired her strength, too. She was stronger than Kilara, and she didn’t even know it. It was a shame she was already spoken for.
“How do I undo it? How do I let you go? I don’t
want to bind you to me anymore. Your powers are yours and yours alone. I’ve learned that trying to control anything of Faerie and holding it too tightly will slowly destroy it until it dies. I don’t want to destroy anything. I was told once that there must always be a balance in the world, even in the mortal world. Here in Faerie, there must be a balance of magic, too. Good…evil…black and white. Otherwise, it can destroy us all.”
Corb watched her closely, his stoic features betrayed nothing
as his blue eyes took her in. Inside, he could feel a surge of emotion swirling about like a flutter in his stomach. No one stirred them up more than this part faery halfling. It was a wonder she could affect everyone around her so much. He doubted she knew of her enchanting charm. If Shade was willing to break the enchantment that held him to her, he’d be free to rebuild his palace in the north and resume his search for Kilara. Not that he was in much of a hurry to find her. If she wanted to be found, she’d turn up eventually.
Still, he wo
ndered if he really wanted the bond to be severed.
The halfling had grown on him
, and he found comfort in her presence. It wasn’t love the way Dylan loved her, and it wasn’t lust. There was just something about her that held everyone entranced, like moths to a flame. But she could burn if one got too close. No, she would embrace them and pull them close, share the warmth she provided, full of reassurance that the danger of the world would not come knocking on the door tonight. That was her allure.
Did he want to let it go?
“There is not just black and white in the world, Shade.” He never let his gaze leave her beautiful face. She listened intently, looking confused at what he said. “Yes, there must be balance, but that is only the base the rest of the world stands on. It’s mostly grey area, where love exists for monsters in the night. Even monsters like me.” He paused, hoping he wasn’t making it too awkward for her. “The grey is where most of us thrive and where hope lies, waiting patiently. Don’t let there be defined lines to anything. When there are boundaries in the world, that’s where things get cut and bleed out.”
“Fair enough.” Shade reached out and touched the metal cuff, pulling it up to study the shiny metal. “Tell me how to remove it, and I will
do it, Corb. I would do that for you, to keep boundaries away from this grey world.”
His face remained still, but his eyes shifted at her words. She spurred emotion in him, something he hadn’t felt for centuries. “A blood bind is sealed with blood and magic. It is only undone by the same, but the breaker of the spell must have a willing heart, with only true intentions. Otherwise, the spell remains. Along with that, if
it was sealed with the bind of the Land of Faerie, it too must be agreeable to dissolving it, or it won’t be undone.”
Shade nodded, drinking in his words. “Very well. I think it’s time.”
“Are you certain?”
“Never more certain of anything.” Shade smiled. His frozen heart melted just a bit.
“Very well.”
She reached over to the side table next to the couch, producing a s
mall dagger, which she used to cut her finger. Warm red blood oozed from the wound, beading up as it sat on her skin. She brought it to the metal cuff and smeared it along the seam.
“With a
n honest heart, I ask the Land of Faerie to condone undoing a blood bind made with its magic. Break this enchantment, and return this power to its rightful wielder.”
As the words left her mouth, the metal screeched loudly as the area where her blood had
been painted begin to sizzle and melt the iron away. Corb didn’t move his arm, even though it was apparent the removal was agonizing.
Suddenly, the
cuff split in half and clattered to the floor. The French doors slammed open, and the glass within them shattered into a thousand tiny shards as a cold wind rushed in and encircled them both.
Shade hugged her arms as crystals formed on her dress and clung to her hair. Corb closed his eyes as the rush of power slammed into him, filling him with the ancient magic once more.
As quickly as it had come, the roar of the wind died away, leaving the room a wreck. Shade shook the ice crystals off her body and ignited the elemental fire magic within her to warm her freezing skin. She turned to look upon Corb, whose transformation was shocking.
His hair was
luminous and snow white, as was his skin. The irises of his eyes were no longer blue with a black pupil in the middle, but wide saucers with no pupil and a shiny mother of pearl color swirling in them.
Ice magic radiated from him, leaving the room several degrees cooler. Corb stood, flexing his fingers in front of him as the power surged ins
ide. It felt good, like a form-fitting outfit, an old shoe. He turned back to Shade and gave her a moving smile.
“Thank you, halfling. You truly are a
mighty queen of Faerie. Blessed in so many ways.”
Shade nodded, elated that he had his powers back. “You’re welcome, Corb.”
“If you need me, just call to me. I will heed your call.”
Shade smiled, glad to have an ally in this tumultuous world.
Another roar of wind enveloped Corb, and he disappeared from the room in the blink of an eye, leaving Shade all alone once more.
Shade made her way toward the balcony. She looked across
her kingdom and smiled as the sun peeked out between the clouds once more. She toyed with the green vines wrapped around the bannister, growing thick and lush. Her curiosity got the best of her, and she called the Ice magic that was once hers to see if she still had some left.
The vine crystalized, ice shards grew and froze the vine into a cold, icy rope.
She still had Corb’s magic, even though he was freed of their bond. But how?
Swallowing the sudden fear in her chest, she took solace in the warmth of the sun as it slowly retreated
from the horizon, bringing the shroud of night with it. She’d assimilated every being’s magic who’d touched her with theirs. It was cold comfort to know she was capable of such things.
Maybe the Siphon Lord wasn’
t so wrong in what he did. Maybe everyone took little pieces of each other along the way, no matter how separated they became. There was still so much to do, but she was glad things were slowly returning to normal.
Well, in the Land of Faerie, nothing was ever normal
, and nothing was ever as it seemed.
Teleen
Ties
(The Wedding)
SWAT, SWAT!
“Ow!” Anna rubbed her reddened hand and glared at Shade. “I’m just tightening the ties. It has to be snug.”
“No, it’s alr
eady too tight!” Shade huffed. The pearly white corset top of her wedding dress was already stifling, and she was sure to faint from the squeeze it was performing on her lungs. Even her heart felt squashed. “I’m going to go hypoxic and pass out already. Leave it!” She pushed a loose curl back and stared at the stranger’s reflection in the mirror across from them. It was her, but she didn’t look like Shade.
Braelynn had done her hair in
to a mass of fancy curls that trailed down her back, half pinned up, and the other half over her shoulders. A diamond tiara sat pinned into the mass of curls atop her head. Anna had done her make-up, making the glistening brown of her eyes stand out even more. Her lips were a deep dusty pink, and her cheeks stood out with a pleasant flush. No, she didn’t look like herself one bit.
“Okay, I think I got every tie secured.” Anna smiled and stepped back, but not without fluffing up the long skirt of the wedding gown. “You look like an angel, Sis.”
“Thanks, Anna. I’m so glad you’re here with me. I don’t know how I’d make it standing up through it all if you weren’t here.”
Anna beamed. “What are little sisters for?” They laughed and came in for a tight hug. “Oh…
be careful you don’t ruin your makeup!” Anna backed away, handing Shade a handkerchief to dab her eyes with.
“Thanks. I don’t want to go through another makeup session again. Not that it was bad, I just don’t like makeup,
and you know that.”
“I know. You look stunning.” Anna clapped her hands together and flicked her eyes to Ilarial, who’d just joined them.
“Ready?” Ilarial placed a braided emerald green vine in Shade’s hands, looping it around so it wouldn’t drag on the floor when she carried it to the altar. Shade thanked her softly and turned to face the path to the location of the wedding. It would be held in the Scren Palace gardens, a walled area filled with every kind of flower, patches of flowing grass and great spreading trees.
Instead of bouquets, faery women held a twisted vine with flowers and jewels woven into it.
It would be used to bind the marrying couple’s wrists together as they took their vows of eternal marriage before the Land of Faerie. It was always done outside, in a clearing nearest the forests, or if that wasn’t possible, a place that was open and as near to nature as possible. A circle built of flowers, grasses and mushrooms or a stone circle was created beforehand for them to go to and link their entities of power. Their rings would fuse to their skin as a show of eternal love, and they would forever be linked.
It was an unbreakable vow and only vanished when one of them died. Only then could a faery remarry. Most times, the one left behind withered from grief before they chose another. Sometimes not, but the bond was that strong.
Shade nodded and let Ilarial drape a thin veil over her face. It was made of gossamer threads and felt incredibly light, as though it wasn’t even there. It was nearly see-through but opaque enough to cover Shade’s features. Ilarial took her hand and led her to where she would continue to the circle alter alone, where Dylan awaited her.
She wished her mother was there to send her off, and the thought made tears prickle behind her eyes. She held them back and sighed in relief as Lana spoke inside her head, calming her nerves. Lana assured her Jade was in the spirit world, bound to Shade and watching her even now. Sh
ade hoped she was proud of her, which Lana quickly confirmed with a warm nudge. Even thoughts of Verenis floated across her thoughts, knowing he was probably watching her somehow. Spirits of her ancestors notoriously never left her alone.
It was enough to get her moving. Ilarial’s hand slipped away from hers
, and she waved her forward, down a small path toward the circle.
The rest of her family and many of her friends stood just outside it
, including Corb, Jack, Evangeline, Ursad, Camulus, and even Sary. Even the long hiding Raven Queen Aluse was in attendance with some of her soldiers and stood at the front, beaming as they watched the celebration. They were all smiling and whispered happily to each other as they watched the bride approach. Everyone she’d befriended was there, old and new friends.
Even Rowan stood toward the rear of the group, twitching her fingers nervously as she watched the procession. Her eyes kept darting about as though she was watching out for snipers. No one would ever understand why she was that way, but most dismissed the crazed Ancient with nothing but flitting glances and hushed gossip.
If she wasn’t nervous before, she was nervous now, especially when she spotted Dylan standing just outside the circle, waiting for her. He wore traditional Teleen clothing with soft leather armor strapped to the outside of the tunic. His hair was down past his shoulders with small braids throughout, weaved with thistle and tiny blue topaz and sapphire jewels. They brought out the sparkle of gunmetal in his eyes, and his smile was so wide, she was sure his facial muscles would be hurting later.
Still, it made hers grow even wider.
Reaching the circle, she turned to face him.
“
Ready?” He held out a hand, which she accepted. They stepped into the faery circle and felt the world close off from them. The circle filled them with the pure magic of every element. It was euphoric and reminded her of the Santiran Fountains, her first mission in Faerie. She’d been there with Dylan and had known from that point on that his disarming charm would never let her go.
They moved to the center and turned to face each other.
The vines came to life, snaking around both their wrists and up their arms as they laced their fingers together and watched the vines encircle them tightly.
Once they were done, Dylan began his vows to Shade.
“Shade, from the moment I met you, I knew you were going to change everything I knew about the world. I fought it at first, yet you broke through my barriers, like no one
else ever could. Every day I look forward to living each breath with yours, in harmony and as one. Today I make my vow of love to be your life partner for all eternity, before the Land of Faerie. May it bind me to my words and serve to guide our love, even in the darkest of times. Whether good or bad, we are forever bound in magic and in love.”
It was more than enough to start the tears flowing, and Shade was barely able to speak her own vows to Dylan.
“Dylan. I’ve been told how much I’ve been blessed and when I look at you and feel your love, I know that it’s true. No one holds my heart more securely than you do, warming it with your inner fire and keeping it safe from all harm. Your magic is all I crave and need. Today, I make the vow of love to you, my life partner for all eternity, before the sacred Land of Faerie. As it binds my words to our love, I know it will keep us safe in the darkest of hours. In magic, in blood, and in love, we are forever bound.”
The moment she finished, the vines whipped to life once more, snaking along to encircle around them, glowing with powerful faery magic, fusing their vows to them and to the land before they disappeared in a flutter of sparks. Their link to each other was now forever emblazoned onto their souls.
The crowd cheered, sending
sprays of flower petals over them. It was a flurry of petals, filling the sky with a heavenly scent. They made their way back toward their friends and family, beaming with the magic surging through them.
Then…it
was over, just like that. It was but a brief moment in time for them, but they were forever changed. Shade didn’t want to let go of her beloved and flourished in his warm aura. There was no place she’d rather be than there, with Dylan and her family and friends surrounding her with the best magic in the world… love and faith.
The End
Read on for an excerpt of the next book in A Dark Faerie Tale series….
History of Fire
(A Dark Faerie Tale Series Spin-
Off Novel #1)
Blurb:
No one knows the secrets he keeps.
No one knows of the worlds that exist right alongside ours.
Benton is human, but he walks the line between two worlds: the mundane and the supernatural; the commonplace and the extraordinary. As a rare Fire Elemental Warlock, he finds himself in trouble more often than he cares to admit. It doe
sn’t help that his sister is a faery queen of the Summer Seelie Court.
This is Benton’s story as he makes his way between the mortal world and a world where magic reigns. Do you dare follow? Do you dare see what lurks just beyond the edge of perception?
Excerpt:
“What kind of a name is Benton?”
I wrinkled my nose and pushed my shades back into place, glaring at the girl as I pondered what to do next. “What kind of a name is Zena?”
“My mom, she’s in
to that new age stuff, you know? She’s weird like that.”
“Yeah
, well, we all got our family quirks.”
Peeking over my shoulder, I could feel her eyes
growing wider as she watched me mutter a few words over the dead faery’s corpse, holding out my empyrean blade in case it decided to reanimate before I was done. A blast of wind and the body exploded into a pile of ash, dissipating into the wind in flurry of flakes.
“What did you do?”
“It’s funeral.”
“But…
how? Did you use… magic?”
My patience was gone
, and I stood up to meet her eye to eye. She was a cute little redhead, but her bold blue eyes were filled with terror, edged in a more dangerous curiosity.
“How do you know about magic?” Shaking my head, I realized this had already gone to
o far. “Doesn’t matter. Go home, Zena.” A thank you would’ve sufficed for saving her butt. How could she even fathom that the fallen faery had been this close to chomping on her waif-like body with its razor sharp teeth for lunch? Darn mutated pixies.
“No! I won’t go until you tell me what happened and that…
that thing! What is it? One minute it attacked me, the next you’re pulverizing it into a pile of specks! What the hell is going on?”
She was shaking so hard, I thought I might have to catch her before she passed out right there in front of me.
Reaching out, I touched her forehead with one finger. “Calm down,” I hissed.
Instantly, her body stilled
, and her widened eyes drooped into a dreamy gaze. “Where am I?” she asked. Her entire demeanor seemed nonchalant, as if standing in a garbage-filled alleyway next to a warlock was commonplace.
“You’re nowhere. Don’t come back here, you hear? It’s time to go home.” I slapped her fallen purse into her arms and turned, marching away in disgust
for having had to make such a ruckus and involve an innocent human girl in the mess. I was going to have to be more vigilant while hunting down the rogue Unseelie faeries, which were now mucking up the streets of Portland since the breach of the Faerie wards. I’d already had to mind wipe at least three non-magics, and it hadn’t been any fun. I was all about fun, and killing unauthorized Unseelies in the mortal world kept me quite busy.
Release Date: TBD 2014
Acknowledgements
Thank you first always to God for being the one almighty and pulls me from the situations I find myself in. Thank you for everything!
Special Thanks to the following people who without their help, I wouldn’t be here writing my 7
th
novel! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Xoxo:
Amy Conley, Ella James, Michael K. Rose, Emily Walker, J.T. Lewis, Melissa Pearl, Anna Dase,
Stacy Szczepanski, Jacquie Talento, Juana Andrade, Shelley Custer, Emily Walker, Kendra Gaither, Raven Williams, Amber Riddell, Michelle McQueen, Beth Shelby, Michelle Bost.
To everyone in my Street team, I love you! I’ve never met so many awesome people in one place, you guys are super heroes!
A very super special thanks to my girls in Indie Inked. There really isn’t anyone else like you guys and I’m privileged to get to hang with you guys! You rock!
About the Author
Alexia currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada—Sin City! She loves to spend every free moment writing or playing with her four rambunctious kids. Writing has always been her dream, and she has been writing ever since she can remember. She loves writing paranormal fantasy and poetry and devours books daily. Alexia also enjoys watching movies, dancing, singing loudly in the car and eating Italian food.
Connect with Alexia Purdy
@AlexiaPurdy
Alexia Purdy’s Facebook Fan Page
Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale) Facebook Fan page
Reign of Blood Series Facebook Fan Page
Novels:
Reign of Blood
Disarming (Reign of Blood #2)
Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale #1)
Ever Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #2)
Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3)
Short Stories:
Evangeline (A Dark Faerie Tale #0.5)
The Cursed (A Dark Faerie Tale #3.5
The Faery Hunt
Never Say Such Things
Poetic Collections:
Whispers of Dreams
Five Fathoms
Anthology:
Beyond the Never
Soul Games
Faery Worlds
AVAILABLE via Amazon.com
ALSO CHECK OUT THESE
EXTRAORDINARY AUTHORS & BOOKS:
Angela Orlowski Peart ~ Forged by Greed
Tabatha Vargo ~ On the Plus Side
Kiss of Fire ~ Rebecca Ethington
Lizzy Ford ~ Dark Summer (Witchling Saga #1)
Tara West ~ Visions of the Witch
Heidi McLaughlin ~ Forever Your Girl
Fire ~ T.G. Ayer
Komal Kant ~ Falling for Hadie
Cornerstone ~ Kelly Walker
Sneak Peek:
GOLDEN BLOOD
Time Spirit Trilogy
Book 1
Melissa Pearl
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches on the soul
And sings the tune without words
And never stops
At all
Emily Dickinson
They were an enigma. Throughout the ages there had only ever been rumors of these mysterious people who appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly, whispers of swirling gold dust, unexplained piles of abandoned clothing left in dark alleys. Only a select few had glimpsed the reality and they chose not to speak of it. They knew the truth needed guarding. These people were special…chosen. Created for the sole purpose of changing history.
Chapter One
St. Augustine, Florida - 2011 AD
Gemma Hart pulled on her jeans and zipped the fly. Grabbing her shirt off the toilet seat, she threw it on and struggled to do it up. Her hands were shaking and still rippling with pins and needles. She bunched them into fists and shook them out before attempting her buttons again. Her fingernails shone gold, but that would only take another moment to fade.
She straightened her shirt, pulled on her black hoodie, and quickly assembled her long hair into a ponytail. Smoothing back any lumps, she fisted her hands for the last time. Flexing her fingers, she held them steady in front of her and examined the red knuckles on her right hand. They were still swollen, but the grazing was already healing. She ran a light finger over them, still feeling the man’s jaw crunch beneath her fist.
She frowned. It had been her only choice.
The phone in her back pocket dinged. With an irritated huff, she ignored the tone of the message and replied.
IM FINE. WHEN IS DEBRIEF.
She touched SEND and drew in a deep breath. The bell would ring soon and she didn’t want to be late for class. Gathering her bag from the floor, she checked her phone and made a mental note to be home by 5 p.m. Being late to class was one thing, but being late for a debrief was not worth the drama.
Unlocking the door, she peeked her head out of the stall and crept into the bathroom. She washed her hands and leaned against the basin, studying her weary reflection. She knew her body would soon be fully energized again, but it felt like the older she got the longer it took.
She snorted out a cynical laugh. Seventeen and already worrying about aging? Yeah, she had issues.
The bathroom door banged open. Gemma’s body snapped straight and her gaze dropped to the floor. She could feel the curious glances. No one ever just skimmed over her. She was always studied from a safe distance, never approached. But that was her fault, right? She wasn’t exactly the friendliest girl at St. Augustine High School.
Clearing her throat, she lifted her bag, grabbed her binder, and turned to look directly at the two bug-eyed freshman. They both looked to the ceiling. Gemma rolled her eyes and squeezed past them. What was the point?
The hallway was crowded. The chaotic symphony was rising in a steady crescendo as students loitered near their lockers, expecting the post-lunch bell to ring at any moment.
Dana Monroe and her posse of girls giggled their way past Gemma. She paused to let them go by. Getting noticed by the gossip queens was painful. They had enough rumors on her to start their own paper and she didn’t need another headline.
She waited until their perfect curls and tiny waists were four lockers away before moving into the human traffic and turning the opposite direction. She’d take the long route to English class. Not the best option, but better than the girls turning to see her then bunching their heads together. She hated the way they did that. It’s not like she couldn’t still hear their whispered insults. So she was rude to Dana once, the girl had no idea what she was trying to protect. The only reason the petite brunette even invited her out was because Gemma met her pretty friend criteria and she had an older brother who was smoking hot.
Gemma did not have the luxury of cozying up to a bunch of girls. Girls talked, shared secrets…and there were things she was never allowed to say. Her no-close-friends policy had been working well for the last two-and-a-half years. She hadn’t expected to have absolutely no friends, but be rude to a gossip queen once and your social life was over.
Gemma shook her head. Dana had actually done her a favor. Being alone was easier and she was happy that way. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.
Turning the corner, Gemma came across a loud group of fellow juniors who were jostling over some poor freshman’s bag. Intervening for the skinny kid, whose face could be mistaken for a page of Braille, was the right thing to do, but that would illicit unwanted attention and more gossip. Despite this, her steps slowed as she pictured exactly how she could end the torment, taking down each player with swift precision.
I really shouldn’t, but how I can just walk past?
Her indecision was taken away when her hulking brother sauntered around the opposite corner. He was six-foot-three and built like a Mac truck. He spotted the problem and hollered at the boys. Silence descended. Every head turned toward the drama, but none was provided. The bullies scampered like puppies.
With the prospect of Dominic Hart pounding a bunch of juniors no longer an offer, the milling bystanders lost interest and turned back to their conversations.
Collecting the bag that had been thrown sky high, Gemma pulled it back into shape and handed it over. The boy mumbled a quick thank you, shot Dominic an “I want to be just like you when I grow up” smile, and took off down the hall.
“Nice going, loud mouth.”
“Thanks, slim.” He lightly punched her arm then picked up her right hand. Rubbing a thumb over the knuckles, he squeezed her fingers and winked. “Nice work today.”
“See you at five.”
He dropped her hand and walked backwards singing, “I’ll be there.”
Laughter bubbled up Gemma’s throat, but it was cut off by the sight of Harrison Granger. His blonde hair flashed into view as she turned and Gemma’s lips warred between a smile and a frown. Pulling her binder close to her chest, she raised it to cover her mouth and silently watched him.
He was with Darren Kidman as usual. They were laughing about something. Darren slapped Harrison on the shoulder and pushed him into the lockers. Harrison countered with a fake punch to the head that didn’t connect.
His brown eyes were playful. Harrison dropped his bag on the floor and ran a hand through his scruffy waves of hair. He did that a lot.
Darren was shaking his head as Gemma walked past. “That is such crap. You are full of it, Granger.”
Harrison grinned and opened his locker. “I’m not, I swear.”
“I won’t believe it till I see it. You are coming over on Sunday and it’s on. There is no way you can score that high on…”
The bell let out a shrill ring. Gemma missed the name of the game she assumed was to do with Darren’s XBox. There was a reason why that guy didn’t have a girlfriend.
She hadn’t pegged Harrison for the gamer kind, but there was a lot she didn’t know about him. A lot she never would. Forcing herself not to turn back, she let out a disappointed sigh and hurried off to English.
English was delivered in its usual monotone, the discussion questions answered with limited enthusiasm. Gemma sat in the back and took her usual silent observer role. When the bell finally rang, she collected her books and headed to History, her stomach a tight ball of vibrating nerves.
She loved and loathed the subject.
It was by far her favorite class. Mr. Lomax was a cool teacher who was passionate about any era but the present. Unlike most of the student population, he took a liking to Gemma. For once, she was sure it had nothing to do with her looks and everything to do with the fact she excelled in History.
“Okay, let’s get started. Now, what were we doing yesterday?” He scratched his receding black curls and flicked through the textbook on his desk. “That’s right!” He clapped his hands together. “Eighteenth Century socialism. Let’s get excited, people. This is a fascinating subject. Now who can tell me… Mr. Granger, hurry up and take your seat, sir.”
“Sorry, Mr. Lomax.”
Harrison grinned and slouched over to his seat. Gemma admired the way his tall, lanky frame folded into the chair. He shuffled back in his seat, exposing a flash of red boxers, then swung around to borrow a pen from the girl behind him.
Harrison’s smile was warm as he said thank you. Gemma glanced away when it brushed over her, her heart skipping three beats.
There sat the reason for hating this class. Fifty-five minutes of pining for someone she could never have equated to the cruelest type of torture.
Gemma flicked open her textbook as commanded and found her place. The text on the page blurred. She bit down hard on her lip. At least tomorrow was Saturday. She could go a whole two days without having to encounter her forbidden fruit. Not that she’d know what to do if he ever did talk to her.
Chapter Two
St. Augustine, Florida - 2011 AD
Harrison Granger knew he shouldn’t be running. Pride should have made him stand his ground and take the pounding, but the situation was so ridiculous, he didn’t think it warranted a black eye.
Ducking around an elderly lady admiring the antique storefront, he threw a glance over his shoulder and swore. Picking up his pace, he wove through a clump of tourists and tried to make it back to the safety of his car.
Jordan Monroe was a frickin’ idiot if he thought Harrison was after Dana. One false move with that vindictive gossip and the rep he’d been building over the last four months would be terminally tarnished. Not that he needed to be the most popular guy in school or anything; he just didn’t want to be the lone freak again.
Besides, he’d promised himself no more relationships. At the age of seventeen he’d had one that he considered worthwhile and ending it had been painful. Admittedly, he’d been a fourteen-year-old lovesick puppy, but it was enough to swear off girls for the rest of high school. Having a mother with the irritating compulsion to move all the time was hardly conducive to settling in.
It wasn’t his fault that girls kept throwing themselves at him. It’s not like he’d led Dana on; if anything, she was struggling to grasp the meaning of the word “no.”
Harrison paused beside a huge gumball machine and crouched low. When he’d tried to calmly explain his stance to Jordan, the guy’s face had turned beet red and his three gorilla buddies had bunched their fists. Harrison rolled his eyes. This was hardly the way he’d planned to spend his Saturday morning. He’d fled the house in a bid for peace. His stepsister and his mother were in the throes of an all-out war over the state of her bedroom and the four males of the house had wisely retreated.
“Granger! C’mere, you weed.”
His pulse jumped before his feet did. Skirting around a couple with backpacks, he pushed through a bunch of boys and threw himself around the corner. His car was only three blocks away, but if they caught him there he couldn’t guarantee that his prize possession would remain safe during the scuffle. Deciding not to risk it, he turned left down a quiet lane and plowed straight into an unsuspecting girl.
“Sorry, sorry. Oh crap, I’m sorry.” Harrison reached out a hand. The girl ignored his gesture and stood up on her own, brushing the dirt from her jeans. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Her voice was a soft murmur. She collected up the new book and DVD that had flown from her bag, keeping her gaze on the pavement.
Harrison glanced behind him, quickly assessing if he had time to linger. Turning back to the girl, he faced her for one final apology and recognized her.
“Oh hey. Gemma, right? We’re in History together.”
Her smile was fleeting. Flicking her long, glossy ponytail back over her shoulder, she bit the corner of her mouth and nodded. He’d often wondered about her. She was a strange girl, never talked to anyone and always spent her lunchtimes holed up in the library. Her stunning beauty was intimidating. When he’d first noticed her he’d been swiftly warned off by his new friends. According to them she was a total freak, an expert snob, and the meanest girl in school.
“Oh great.” She frowned.
Harrison glanced behind him and swore. Jordan and his buddies were coming around the corner.
Gemma’s green eyes were a mix of curious amusement at his reaction.
“Come on.” He pointed to Camilla’s Closet, a secondhand clothing store. The bell tinkled loudly as they entered. He shone the lady behind the counter a smile and grabbed a couple of things off the nearest rack. Gemma followed him to the change rooms.
Glancing back, he saw Jordan scowling outside the store window then nodding to the others. They branched away, entering stores in what looked like a systematic search. Grabbing a couple more things from the next rack, he led Gemma to the nearest change room and locked the door behind them.
Harrison hung the clothes on the hook and pressed his ear to the door.
“I don’t think they saw us. It won’t take them long to check in here though.”
Gemma was leaning against the wall, studying him with that intense gaze of hers. Her full lips twitched as she pulled the top of her shirt closer together. He smiled, hoping to make her more comfortable.
“So, I take it since you followed me in here that you don’t like running into Jordan Monroe.”
Her lips toyed with a smile. “I can’t afford to.”
He tipped his head and raised his eyebrows.
She let out a short sigh. “He’s always trying to hit on me and it gets really annoying. Before you know it he’s running home to Mommy with a bloody nose and I get a week’s detention.”
“You…you beat up Jordan Monroe?”
Her cheeks turned red and she lowered her gaze. “It’s not that hard if you know what you’re doing.”
“And you do?”
“My father does a little martial arts. He showed me a few moves.” She flicked her hand in an obvious bid for casualness.
“You’ll have to show me sometime. I hate running.”
“It can be the better option. I don’t think less of you for doing it.”
Harrison gave her a slow smile. She jerked her collar together with a frown.
The bell tinkled loudly and Harrison tensed, suddenly aware that their feet were obvious if anyone stooped to look under the change room doors.
“Quick.” He jumped up onto the seat and beckoned Gemma to do the same.
Her hesitation was subtle, but he noticed. He moved aside to give her room to step up. With not much space, he tucked her against the wall and placed his arms either side of her head.
Sure the close proximity was making her uncomfortable, he turned his head and locked his eyes on the door. Her soft breath tickled his chin and he was soon unable to resist. He gazed down at her, struck like he was the first time by her stunning beauty. Her smooth skin was a light cocoa, making her green eyes a powerful contrast. Her petite straight nose and full lips were perfectly proportioned on her long oval face and he didn’t even want to get started on the body that he knew lived beneath her baggy clothing. He’d watched her train. She was a cheetah on the track and there’s no way a girl like that didn’t have a fine figure. Dana’s constant griping from the bleachers had to be out of sheer jealousy.
Heavy footsteps approached the door and they both went still. They waited in breathless silence until they heard a string of curses followed by a sharp command to leave the store. A moment later the bell tinkled, followed by a heavy slam of the door.
Harrison let out his breath and chuckled. He knew he should be jumping from the seat and helping Gemma down, but he didn’t want to move. He was surprised by how much he liked having the school’s freak this close to him.
Gemma’s eyes rose to meet his. “What?”
He kept his smile in place. “I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to talk to you.”
“Is that a line?”
“No,” he chuckled and ran a hand through his hair.
Her eyes went stormy and she bit her lip. Flustered, she pushed him away and jumped down. She collected her bag and reached for the lock. “I gotta go.”
“No, wait.” He grabbed her hand and froze. His skin was on fire. Looking down at his fingers, he felt warm licks of flame curl up each digit and spread over his hand.
Gemma’s eyes were huge as she jerked away and rubbed her thumb over her fingertips.
“What was that?”
She shook her head with a frown and backed away from him, crashing into the door. With fumbling fingers she undid the lock and burst out, weaving around the clothing racks and shooting out the door.
Harrison leaned against the frame to watch her. He curled his fingers into a fist then flexed them straight. The warm lick of flame was rapidly cooling. His disappointment surprised him.
Harrison reached his car without incident. Jordan and his thugs were either lost in the maze of streets still looking for him or they had given up. A black Ducati bike grabbed his attention as it tore past. Harrison recognized Gemma’s sleek frame. He couldn’t believe the girl owned such a powerful machine. What kind of parent buys their kid something like that?
His definitely wouldn’t.
He ran his hand over the roof of his beloved 1978 Corvette Stingray. He’d found it in an old junkyard and his stepfather, Bryan, had convinced him to go for it. They’d hauled it home to much laughter, making Harrison seriously doubt Bryan’s ability as a mechanic, but piece-by-piece they had worked on it and he now owned a well-tuned classic. Dropping into the driver’s seat, he ran his hands over the wheel and smiled as the engine rumbled to life.
As usual, the drive home was the best part of his day. He hadn’t admitted it to his mother yet, but he loved Florida’s eastern coastline. Driving over the Bridge of Lions, he headed south down the waterfront. The sun-kissed ocean sparkled like diamonds. It was a far cry from the inner cities of Pittsburgh and Atlanta. He could almost forgive his mother for uprooting them yet again. Maybe this time it would be worth it.
He thought of Gemma as he pulled into his street, how in awe he’d been when he’d first seen her. He didn’t want to believe the rumors for a second, but when four or five of his best smiles earned him nothing more than a sharp frown, he decided to give up. But now…
He rubbed his fingertips together. The fire feeling had gone, but not the simmering in his brain. For the first time since he was fourteen, he felt that yearning. His forehead creased with a frown.
Pulling into his driveway, he turned off the engine and gazed up at his house. It was a large, white, two-story box. A smaller, white one-story box sat next to it and was Bryan’s beloved double garage. The house could not be plainer, but it was functional, sunny, and starting to feel like home. They all seemed happy here.
The front door slammed with a vibrating force. An irate Rosie marched down the steps with a garbage sack in each hand. Her blonde bangs flicked back and forth and her lips moved in a torrent of words that weren’t allowed inside the house.
Harrison grinned at his stepsister as he stepped out of the car.
She paused. “Welcome to the tyranny that is this house!”
“I told you not to ask Mom for any favors before ten am, but you just couldn’t wait, could ya?”
“Shut up.”
He tipped his head with a gentle smile. “Need a hand?”
She sighed and grinned. He helped her lift the heavy bags into the trash cans against the garage wall then followed her through the glass kitchen door. As soon as they entered the house her scowl returned and she stomped past her stepmother and up the stairs.
Helen smiled serenely at the huffy fourteen-year-old, then folded a pair of shorts from the huge pile of washing overtaking the kitchen table. The kitchen smelled fresh from frenzied cleaning, another reason to flee the house on Saturday mornings. Harrison closed the door behind him.
“How do you do that, you little tin-ass freak?” Justin’s loud voice shot from the living room.
“I am not. You just can’t handle being beaten by a six-year-old!” Sam yelled back.
Harrison threw his keys into the bowl on the counter as Helen let out a groan and Bryan sauntered into the kitchen.
“Tin-ass freak? Honey! They get that from you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, sweetie.”
“I’m not thanking you, you big oaf!” She threw the towel she’d just folded at him and laughed.
He grabbed it off his head and jumped around the table, wrapping his arms around her waist and raspberrying her neck. She giggled like a schoolgirl. Harrison folded his arms and leaned his hip against the counter, watching with a smile.
Bryan had brought his mother back to life. Harrison had been nine when Bryan came on the scene, before that they’d just been a duo. His father died before he was born.
Harrison had wanted to hate the guy and his two annoying kids, but fell in love with them before he could stop himself. Two years later Sam was born and his mother officially became Mrs. Helen Chatsworth.
Harrison’s cell phone beeped, pulling the canoodling couple apart.
“Oh hey, sweetie. How was town?”
“Good.” He slid open his phone.
Rosie crashed down the stairs and into the kitchen. “Okay, I’m done. Can I have my life back now?”
