**********
“I was just coming to look for you,” I said in surprise as the back door burst open before I’d reached the handle.
The twins were sleep, and I’d checked on Jonas who lay sleeping, spread eagle, across the Pernickle’s bed. I hadn’t wanted to wake him, so I’d retrieved my coat and borrowed another pair of Jo Pernickle’s boots, ready to go search for Roman.
“I don’t trust her,” he muttered as he shook a few snowflakes from his hair before unzipping his coat.
“Ranger!” I exclaimed as a small round head came into view, his chubby cheeks tightening as he gummed a smile in my direction. “He doesn’t look sick at all…”
“He probably wasn’t…she just wanted more money…”
“You walked all the way over there…!”
“I took the four-wheeler…you left it out…” Roman shrugged as he handed the baby over, leaving his coat to dry on the back door.
“Before you go…” I said suddenly, catching him just as he was about to leave the kitchen. “I need to talk to you…”
“You’re leaving…with him…” Roman stated more than asked, his dark brown eyes empty as he looked past me, rather than at me.
“They’ve adopted me Roman… Do you understand what that means? I might never get out of here. Martin…”
“If he ever touches you, I would…”
“I know you would…” I nodded once, warmth spreading through my chest at the conviction in Roman’s features. “…But…when you’re gone…”
“You could run away with me…why him…? Why now…?”
“He needs my help…”
“So help him and let him go…”
“It’s not that simple…”
“Then explain it to me Alana! Explain how that freak…!” He stopped as I cringed, my eyes lowering from his before he could continue. “…That guy…” He corrected, huffing as he said the words. “Tell me how you found him in the woods. He’s half man, half fish for crying out loud! Which part of that doesn’t freak you the hell out!?”
“Merman…” I whispered.
“Whatever!” Roman roared now, his hands thrown in the air. “Do you see how ridiculously crazy this is?! Do you know how much it took out of me, not to go straight down to the police station and bring them back here!?”
“He wouldn’t hurt you…or me…” I tried, my voice low as I looked past him down the hall.
I was afraid that our raised voices had probably woken Jonas and he was listening to everything we said.
“How do you know? How long have you known him?” Roman asked now, his eyes narrowing as he continued without giving me a chance to answer. “How long have you known me? Why would you go with him? Where is he taking you?”
“Altonia…” I sighed out, shifting Ranger from one hip to the other.
“Al…Altonia…?” Roman repeated, confusion in his features now.
“It’s where he’s from…the Atlantic…”
“As in the ocean! Are you crazy!??!?!”
“Shhhhhh….”
“Don’t tell me to Shhh!” Roman’s voice rose another octave as he backed away from me.
“Then tell me what to do? Tell me how I won’t end up dead here or miserable for the rest of my life, like you!” I screamed back now, the baby jumping in my arms, his lower lip curling downward into a pout that I knew would be followed by a long wail.
I watched as Roman pushed his hair from his eyes, his face stony as he let his gaze settle on me.
“I thought I already did…run away with me…not him…”
“I can’t…”
“Then you’ve made your choice…”
“Roman…!” I cried now, my voice catching as his back turned to me, his head hung low as he stalked down the hallway and into his room.
What had I done… I wasn’t this person… I wasn’t myself. I owed him an apology.
END OF SNEEK PEAK!!!!
The Gifts: (Vol 1-The Gifts Trilogy)
Nine gifts were stolen from a mythical man with wings ages ago. Those nine gifts found themselves transferred into human eggs, delved out through in vitro fertilization. These newly made beings were born into the world unbeknownst to man. There are dark spirits searching for those gifts, ready to reclaim them from the humans who have been created to bear them...
When twenty-one year old Nahla Marks decides to start her junior year at Wake Forest University as an education major instead of continuing on the path to pre-med, everything seems to fall apart. Her world is turned upside down as this strange "thing" begins to manifest within her. Nahla fears she is losing it until she meets Gideon, the man with the silky smooth voice and chocolate brown hair, who seems to understand exactly what Nahla is going through.
Gideon knows the answers, but can Nahla trust him as her body begins to betray the fact that she may not be quite as human as she thought? Will Gideon be able to save Nahla from the dark spirits that are hunting them both?
Three months ago no one even knew her name, but now, bound by a curse and on the run, there was no one else she could trust…but him.
Acknowledgements:
Cover Design: Author Christine M. Butler
(The Awakening Trilogy)
www.moonlitdreams.org
Twitter: @m00litdreams
*Thank God I met you when I did! You are an amazing person, and our friendship came along at just the right time. You are an amazing author/writer, cover designer, book reviewer, and everything else that you do. SUPER WOMAN. Thank you so much for all of your help and support!
Editor: Tonia Louden
*Once again, I just have to give my sincere thanks for all your hard work on this project. You’ve taken time out of your busy life as a wife and mother to help out a friend and I love you for that. You certainly inspired me to push forward and get it done, and I’m glad that you are a friend that I can count one. Thank you for always having my back and being there when I felt like giving up. Much Love your way and I can’t wait to keep sending you more and more books to read and edit for me!
Proofreader: (Shoutout to my “bad girl”) Delia Williams!
The kindness of people that I’ve met on the internet in the last few months, never ceases to amaze me. You have really went above and beyond anything I ever expected from a reader, giving me excellent feedback, and helping me make my work as flawless as possible, so that it can be even more enjoyable to others. Sending a big thank you, your way for the time you’ve taken out to help me become a better writer. I truly appreciate it.
Recommended Books!
The VooDoo Follies by Author Christine M. Butler
I am Seraphine LaLande, VooDoo Priestess!
Well, not quite.
In order to be a priestess I have to first successfully raise a zombie, make it do my bidding, and then tuck it back in for the eternal dirt nap it was supposed to have to begin with. Of course, being me, things don't go according to plan. The trouble all started when my zombie ran off into the night...
It's funny how one mistake can change your life forever. That one zombie led me to new friends, new love, and... well... everything that came in between.
https://voodoofollies.moonlitdreams.org
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-VooDoo-Follies/103509293083597?sk=app_197602066931325
https://patriadunn.moonlitdreams.org
www.facebook.com/TheGiftsTrilogy
www.moonlitdreams.org
Contact the author at:
[email protected]
Smitten: Part I-Zerrin Page 11