Love's Deadly Touch

Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2012 W. Lynn Chantale

ISBN:
978-1-77130-154-1

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor:
JS Cook

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING:
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or
in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

This is for my sister, Aleisha. Everyone should have a sister like you, but I’m glad you’re mine. I would like to take a moment to thank my editor, JoAnne. Thank you for all your hard work.

And to my Tim, Josh and CJ. Haha.

As always I thank God for blessing me with this talent.

LOVE’S DEADLY TOUCH

W. Lynn Chantale

Copyright © 2012

Chapter One

She was a menace. Those words echoed through her head even as Dana stared into the swirling dark waters below. A menace, a threat, someone to be feared, all because she could no longer control one power. One silly little power. The foamy waves crashed and collided, fighting with the large rocks when the river receded enough for them to be visible.

The Council compared her to the raging river. Worthwhile, beautiful, yet with a deadly calm lurking below the surface. She sniffled and swiped at the moisture drenching her cheeks. Even her brother, her twin brother, hadn’t come to her defense, instead choosing to remain passive.

She lifted a slim shoulder and dashed at the tears dripping down her chin. Things would be better all around if she were no longer part of this world. Closing her eyes, she gripped the thick rail, the metal hard and cold beneath her palms. Somehow the wrought iron seemed an inadequate barrier to the chaotic river below. Anyone with enough will could easily climb over and step into oblivion.

Crisp fall air lifted her chin-length hair and whipped it around her face. Half-turning, she stared at the traffic. Again, another tangle of wrought iron and chain-link fence seemed flimsy as a deterrent, but she guessed it worked.

With a sigh, she pressed her fingertips to her temples. Ever since the meeting her brother Danny kept trying to talk to her telepathically and she ignored him, but the effort to keep him from her thoughts was wearing down her resolve.

Everywhere she looked people were paired off. Groups of families, couples laughing or stealing affectionate kisses, even the homeless shuffling along the dim sidewalk had a partner to call his own.

And her...

She returned her attention to the water. Nothing. And after the fiasco at the Council meeting, her dream was even further out of reach.

Reach.

She stared at her hands. Her short, but slim fingers were encased in custom leather gloves. Specially made to keep her from hurting anyone. Yeah, thanks Danny. Despite the hand covering she could still feel the sizzle coursing through her veins, running beneath her skin like the current from a switch. If she could control her talent again, then she wouldn’t need to wear the damn gloves.

Once more she faced the street. Life ebbed and flowed. Enchantment shimmered in the air as tangible as the bright glittering diamonds hanging from the black canopy of the
sky. Filmy white tendrils splayed across the dull yellow moon, obscuring what little illumination it yielded. Brief flashes of color tugged at the corner of her eye and she glanced toward a mage demonstrating a light show with just the tips of his fingers. The spark and splendor was enough to garner ohhs and ahhs from the onlookers.

Her lips eased into a smile, yet it didn’t quite reach her heart. Magic vibrated and hummed in the air. In a city where humans and Others co-existed, she lived on the fringe of being an outcast. Her talent, while rare, set her apart, and her recent inability to focus it left her a target.

And there was no one to protect her.

Dana shifted her focus to the water, again. To whom much is given, much is required, were the words her parents lived...and died by. A tear dripped from her lashes.  Right now she’d give anything to have them back.

A soft whimper floated on the breeze, the wind seeming to hold its breath as she swung one leg over the rail. Life just hadn’t been the same since her parents died. She hadn’t been the same. Her gift hadn’t been the same and the one person she thought she could count on...

She tossed her other leg over the rail, balancing her weight on her hands and butt. Her feet dangled a few inches above the ledge.

The buzzing increased. The effort required to keep him out of her head was making her temples throb and if she didn’t answer him soon, she was headed for a nosebleed.

I really don’t want to talk right now, Danny.

What are you doing?
Tension and fear made his voice sharp and clipped.

She looked up at the sky, not wanting her brother to find her too fast. At one time she thought it was cool that her family, her entire lineage were given such a high-ranking seat on the Council. Her family were protectors of the innocent, entrusted with the safety of humans and Others alike.

The wind buffeted her face. But not her. Her talents didn’t extend to tracking and shutting down Others who abused their gifts or worse, vanquishing those who could not be redeemed. Oh she could read minds, and move things with just a thought, which was common. She even had some empathetic abilities or could bend someone’s will to hers. Those things she could handle.. She’d honed those skills until they required little effort on her part. But her talent, the one that set her apart was rare, coveted and deadly.

I had my reasons.

She rolled her eyes. So he was going to justify pulling his support with reasons.
I don’t care. You made your choice.

Dana.

Danny.
She infused as much weariness in her voice as she could.
Just tell the Council I won’t be a problem anymore.

A shudder of sadness rolled through her. His gasp was enough to kick at her guilt, but he had Telly to watch over him.

Before he could send any more thoughts, she disconnected their link and slammed the door shut.

“I’m sorry,” Dana whispered.

The wind picked up, tugging at her clothes like invisible fingers jerking at the back of her jacket to keep her from going over the edge. She paused. This wasn’t Danny. A flutter of joy sang through her veins and she quickly squashed it. No. There was no match for her, no man willing to brave her wayward gift.

Even if she could regain control, why should she? The price of using her powers left her vulnerable and with it being so near to Halloween she couldn’t afford to use her gift, at least not this year.

Then don’t.

Startled, she nearly fell off the rail. Once again she had the sensation of hands holding her in place. Definitely not Danny. Her brother was powerful, and most of the time protective, but this, this energy left her edgy, expectant and craving more, like something she’d missed her entire life and was now getting a glimpse of. A flutter of hope knocked at her heart and she dismissed the notion. There was no one for her, no matter how much she yearned for someone.

A ripple, a presence—not unfamiliar, but definitely unexpected—brushed her mind, embraced her. She was helpless to resist his allure, but she fought anyway.

Get outta my head.

He chuckled, the soft sound unfurling, chasing away her earlier melancholy and warming her right down to her toes. If she could bask in the sensation for longer than an eternity the time still wouldn’t be enough.

Not until you get off the ledge.

The pull at her back was more insistent and Dana tightened her grip on the rail. How had he known where she was? She glanced around. No one was paying her a lick of attention, yet she felt his presence.

And if I don’t?
She tilted her chin in defiance.

Energy crackled and swirled around her. She sucked in her breath. For a second the image of a man wavered before her vision. Her heart skipped a beat.

Broad shoulders encased in black, his shoulder-length ebony hair was held back at the nape with a leather tie. A sigh parted her lips. Very few were able to astral project and given her state at the moment she was surprised he attempted.

Still, as his strong square jaw and slightly crooked nose formed beside her, her pulse quickened. He’d defended her.

“Simon?” She spoke aloud, too stunned to do otherwise.

He nodded, the wind teasing a loose lock of hair. She longed to reach out and smooth it back in place.

“In the flesh.” He grinned. “So to speak.”

She looked away. Now that he was standing next to her, could she go through with her plan? She edged closer to him, inexplicably drawn to him in this form even as she had been earlier in the evening. What was wrong with her? There was something about being in his presence which gave her peace. She pursed her lips. That couldn’t be right.

“I can read your mind.”

She glanced at him, then at the water. “Thank you for what you said.”

He nodded.

“How did you find me?”

He smiled, his teeth bright against the bronze of his skin. “You touched me.”

She cringed. Every time she used her gift a little piece of her remained, at least for a little while. He shouldn’t still share a connection with her, at least not enough where he could find her at will. There was one other possibility, but once the seed settled in the back of her mind, it was hard to uproot. Maybe if it were someone else, a human or an Other not on the Council.

But Simon? God. He was the reason the Council went nuts on her and her brother didn’t even put up a fight. That was probably the most damning of all. Even her brother didn’t think she was worth protecting.

“I’m sorry.” The water seemed much more inviting.

“Dana.” He switched to telepathy.
Please.
His bright green eyes implored her.

She squeezed her eyes shut. If he hadn’t been so powerful, if the Elders and the Wise Widows hadn’t been present. If she had control of her gift.

It wasn’t your fault.

But it was
. If she hadn’t touched him, he wouldn’t need to astral project right now.

I wouldn’t be here period.