Balanced Scales
Page 10
I slipped down the alley I needed to use to get home, hating how creepy it looked when it was dark. That was the city in a nutshell. Dark, creepy and unwelcoming. I planned to get out of here as fast as I could and not get stuck in any of the scuffles which had become a nightly occurrence. I didn't even know what they were all fighting about. Just that it was stupid and pathetic and they really needed to get over it. At least that's what I told myself when I curled up to sleep at night.
Checking over my shoulder before I did so, I hopped over the low wall and into the ruins I'd called my home for the past couple of weeks. I shouldn't stick around too much longer or else one of the other street dwellers might discover the place and take it from me. I'd learned it was best just to accept the loss and move on when that happened.
I ran into something hard and fell backwards, not catching myself in time and crashing to the floor in a heap. I blinked rapidly, trying to fight back the tears threatening to escape. I couldn't be this weak. I just couldn't. All I'd done was fall over.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there." The man's face held a horrified expression that suggested he actually was genuinely sorry.
I didn't wait to see. It was better if I turned away and started to make my retreat. Staying around anyone too long was a bad idea. They might figure out I belonged to no one and take advantage of that.
"Wait, where are you going?" He reached out and latched a hand around my wrist, stopping me from escaping.
"Let me go." A low growl escaped from me but he didn't take the message.
"Not until you tell me where you're going."
"Away from here," I replied through gritted teeth.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know you and it’s not safe for me to stay," I responded. "Now let me go."
"What if I proved to you I'm not dangerous?"
"You can't do that. Now please, let me go and I'll be out of your way. You can have this spot, I won't come back again." I tugged on my wrist but all I managed to do was move the two of us slightly.
Light glinted off something on his back and a gasp escaped me as I realised what it was catching the light. I hadn't encountered many faeries but there was no escaping what was stood right in front of me, not with the perfect set of his features too. If I was more of a girly-girl, I might have swooned. Thankfully, that wasn't me.
"You live here?" His eyes widened as they panned over the space I'd been calling home.
Shame welled up within me. There wasn't anything around except for dirt and rocks. Nothing comfortable. Nothing to make the place feel more personal. Just nothing. I didn't live here for that reason. Everything I owned, I kept in my backpack. Not that it was a lot.
"No. I spent a few nights here, that's all," I responded.
"Who are you?"
"Lina." My name slipped out before I realised what I was saying.
"Trent," he replied.
"Nice to meet you. Now if you don't mind, I have somewhere I need to be."
"Where?"
"None of your business." I dropped my weight down and forced him to let go of me.
Find out more here: http://books2read.com/goldenwings
Also by Laura Greenwood
Books in the Paranormal Council Universe
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The Paranormal Council Series (shifter romance, completed series)
The Dryad’s Pawprint (Audiobook Available)
The Vixen’s Bark
The Necromancer’s Prey
The Vampire’s Bite
The Witch’s Stripes
The Paranormal Council Boxed Set
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Fated Seasons: Winter (paranormal/fantasy reverse harem)
Saving Eira (Audiobook Available)
Reigning Eira
* * *
Fated Seasons: Spring (paranormal/fantasy reverse harem)
Chasing Aledwen (Audiobook Available)
Rising Aledwen (Coming Soon)
* * *
Thornheart Coven (witch romance)
Witch’s Potion (Audiobook Available)
Witch’s Spark (Audiobook Available)
Witch’s Web (Coming Soon)
* * *
Blessed (paranormal post-apocalyptic)
Wolf Blessed (Audiobook Available)
Fae Blessed (Audiobook Available)
Elf Blessed
Frost Blessed (Coming Soon)
* * *
Paranormal Criminal Investigations (paranormal mystery reverse harem)
Spell Caster
Spell Tamer (Coming Soon)
* * *
Stories From the Paranormal Council Universe (each story stands alone)
Frost’s Forfeit (Audiobook Available)
Death’s Choice (Audio Coming Soon)
Stories From the Paranormal Council Universe Collection (includes His Lost Bear, Spellbound, Under Her Spell, Catching His Ladybird, Snakes and Ladders, and Falling Ashes) (Audio Coming Soon)
Blood & Deceit
Other Books by Laura Greenwood
Ashryn Barker Trilogy (urban fantasy, completed series)
Shattered Illusions (Audiobook Available)
Broken Illusions (Audiobook Available)
Tarnished Illusions (Audiobook Available)
The Ashryn Barker Trilogy Boxed Set (Audiobook Available)
* * *
Forgotten Gods World (paranormal/mythology romance)
Protectors of Poison (Zodiac Shifters) (Audiobook Available)
Priestess of Truth (Zodiac Shifters Short Story)
Daughter of the Sun
* * *
The Afterlife Journeys (fantasy romance)
Reaper (Audiobook Available)
Fallen (Coming Soon)
* * *
Untold Tales (urban fantasy fairy tales)
Golden Wings (coming soon)
Balanced Scales
* * *
ME Contemporary Standalones (contemporary romance)
Sweet About Me (Audiobook Available)
Kneel For Me (Audiobook Available)
Heard From Me (Audiobook Available)
Laid By Me
Con With Me (Coming Soon)
If The Shoe Fits (Audiobook Available)
* * *
Rats: Tori (steampunk reverse harem, completed series)
Ruler of Rats
Collector of Rats
Yuletide of Rats
* * *
Standalones
Hidden (dystopian)
Glass Heart (urban fantasy)
Co-Written Books
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Twin Souls Trilogy, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal romance, completed series)
Soulshift
Soulswap
Soultrade
* * *
Dragon Soul Series, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal)
Torn Soul (Audio Coming Soon)
Bound Soul
Stray Soul (Coming Soon)
* * *
The Renegade Dragons Series, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal)
Fifth Soul (Audiobook Available)
Fifth Round
Fifth Flame
* * *
Seven Wardens, co-written with Skye MacKinnon (paranormal/fantasy reverse harem)
From the Deeps (Audiobook Available)
Into the Mists
Beneath the Earth
Within the Flames
Above the Waves
Under the Ice
Rule the Dark
Beyond the Loch (series prequel)
Through the Storms (to be read between From the Deeps & Into the Mists)
Below the Baubles (to be read between Above the Waves & Under the Ice)
Seven Wardens Boxed Set: Books 1-4
* * *
Mountain Shifters, co-written with L.A. Boruff (paranormal reverse harem)
Valentine Pride
Book 2
* * *
Harem of Misery, co-wri
tten with A.K. Koonce (paranormal reverse harem)
Pandora’s Pain
Pandora’s Envy (Coming Soon)
* * *
Standalones
Ocean’s Serenade (co-written with J&L Wells. Paranormal Romance)
* * *
Audiobooks: www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/audio.html
About the Author
Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary romance. When she's not writing, she can be found drinking ridiculous amounts of tea, trying to resist French Macaroons, and watching the Pitch Perfect trilogy for the hundredth time (at least!)
* * *
Website: www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk
* * *
Mailing list: www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/mailing-list-sign-up.html
* * *
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/theparanormalcouncil
* * *
Full Book List: www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/book-list.html
* * *
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-greenwood
* * *
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/authorlauragreenwood
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Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorlauragreenwood
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/lauramg_tdir