“Iris decided to share them with me. I thought 549-628 would like to have one.” I tried offering up a smile of my own. I was certain it only looked like I was what the humans called constipated, judging by the look on Aria’s face.
A set of small hands shoved me. “My name is Theo not 549-628! Stop calling me that, 825 397!” the small cyborg spat.
My eyes widened. “How do you know my number? “I seethed through clenched teeth. I leaned down and let my shadow blanket the tiny one as I glared at him. Sensing danger, he darted back behind Aria’s legs.
A new set of hands shoved me. I reared up to see pale hands pushing against my chest. I dropped my jaw in shock. The feeling of Aria’s touch blanked out my circuits. “Don’t you dare scare him, you big gray bastard! I am the one who learned your number. I figured, since you refused to call Theo by his name, he shouldn’t have to call you by yours. It doesn’t feel nice to be reminded that you were just a thing once, does it?”
I didn’t think, my fingers grabbed Aria’s wrists, tearing them from my chest. Aria tugged, trying to yank her wrists free from my grasp, but I tightened my grip causing her to squeak.
A kick struck my shin. “LET HER GO! DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH MY HUMAN! SHE’S MINE 825 397! MINE!”
Another blow landed hard on the other shin. “Ow stop that!” I stepped back, out of firing range of his bullet-like feet. Aria tumbled back, grabbing the little one and hauling his body to hers to protect him.
I shook my head. “I would never hurt one of my own. He belongs to the cyborgs more than he belongs to you!” I shouted, anger and frustration causing me to lash out. I regretted the words as soon as they were out of my mouth.
Aria’s face drained of color, her face going as gray as the little cyborg she clung to, as gray as the one who stared at me every time I looked in the mirror. Fuck! I was always messing this up. I tried to do something nice only to lose my temper and ruin it. I despised failure, but every time I turned around that’s all I was doing lately.
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. Theo is very lucky to have you. There was no one for me. My arrival in the world—fully formed but brand new to everything. They left me alone to face whatever came. Forgive me.”
“I think you should go,” Aria’s voice trembled, and I wanted to kick my own ass.
“Of course.” Turning to go, a hand shot out snatching the stuffed shark out of my fingers.
The little cyborg smiled. The door slammed in my face and I rocked back on my heels. Standing alone in the hallway I wondered how I had got here. Let a few humans in your life and things go to hell. I was the leader of the fucking cyborg rebellion. Now a tiny blonde and the small cyborg she had claimed as hers had arrived in my life turning it upside down.
I was a military model. I had been born and bred for war.
Bring it on tiny female. I will never fall.
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
Okay so Dash would have NEVER been POSSIBLE without the SUPPORT from some AMAZING PEOPLE!
First off, my incredible hubby who endlessly listened to every new idea, new cyborg and all my worries and freak outs. Thank you for your patience and for always encouraging me to write the books that make my heart happy. You are forever my Prince Charming.
The talented and awesome Daisy St. James who has been my sprinting partner, cheerleader and treasured friend. I remember the day I told you we should write what made our hearts sing. Dash and Phoenyx In Flames are both the end of that idea and the beginning. I can’t wait to write the rest with you!
Amanda Milo...who would have guessed when I gathered enough courage to say hey I’m in love with your books, here’s a teaser, we would be here? You are the sweetest, kindest, most supportive person and I am lucky to call you a friend. I nearly passed out after I sent you the first few chapters of Dash to read and then I got this back in response-*grabs your shoulders and gives you the rounded eyes* DON’T LISTEN TO THE VOICE WITH THE AWFUL THOUGHTS. IT’S A FUCKING LIAR. I’ve kept this in my head and every time I thought about giving up on Dash I reminded myself that AMANDA MILO SAID THIS! Yep...a part of Dash will always be yours!
My PA Julie LaFrance. You have loved Dash from the beginning. Thank you for always having my back and pushing me forward when I wanted to hide instead.
Stacey Jones and Kate B. You read Dash when it was a hot mess lol. I did betas before the editor and you put up with it and helped make it a better book. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!
Lastly, I want to THANK THE READERS! YOU MADE DASH POSSIBLE! I started this story intending to keep it to myself. I had wanted to write about cyborgs for forever but was scared to take the leap. Then one day I decided just to go for it and Dash as born. So, if you are reading this THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Thank you for taking a chance on my blue cyborg and I so hope you enjoyed Dash’s story. I have many more cyborgs in my head and I can’t wait to share them with you!
THANK YOU EVERYONE FROM MY BOTTOM MY OF LITTLE HAPPY HEART! I wish I could send everyone chocolates...and cyborgs!
IF YOU WANT TO FIND ME/STALK ME
-Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Author-Kelsey-Nicole-Price-118875432109873/
Email:
[email protected]
WHAT’S NEXT-
I HAVE SO MANY CYBORGS in my head! They all want their books written now! The next one if you haven’t guessed by the epilogue will be Reaper and Arias. Then Acers and Daxs. That’s what I have planned anyway. My characters own me and they do what they want so they might decide to mess with the order lol. BUT Reaper will be next that I know for sure.
AND JUST FOR FUN-DASH’S PLAYLIST
I Get to Love You- Ruelle
I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing- Aerosmith
Broken Doll- Anna Nalick
Breathe- Astrid S
Things I’ll Never Say- Avril Lavigne
I Got You- Bebe Rexha
I Love You Always Forever- Betty Who
Better- Britney Spears
Breathless- The Corrs
Runaway- The Corrs
Heaven- Dash Berlin
Steal You Away- Dash Berlin
I Believe in a Thing Called Love- The Darkness
Waiting for Superman- Daughtry
Run- Delta Rae
How Your Love Makes Me Feel- Diamond Rio
Thank You- Dido
Hey, Hey, Hey- Delta Rae
Here with Me- Dido
Devotion- Ellie Goulding
Starry Eyed- Ellie Goulding
Your Song- Ellie Goulding
Whatta a Man- Salt N Pepa
You Found Me- The Fray
Beautiful with You- Halestorm
Shameless- Garth Brooks
Sledgehammer- Fifth Harmony
Your Star- Evanscence
Nothin at All- Heart
Alone- Heart
Sparks- Hillary Duff
Bonfire Heart- James Blunt
Bones- James Blunt
In My Head- Jason Derulo
Unconditionally- Katy Perry
Finding You- Kesha
Be There- Krewella
For Keeps- Lily Kershaw
You’re Mine- Lea Michele
My Baby Loves Me- Martina McBride
Like A Virgin- Madonna
The Way You Make Me Feel- Michael Jackson
Speechless- Rachel Platten
Kiss Me a Thousand Times- RAIGN
Lonely No More- Rob Thomas
I Knew I Loved You- Savage Garden
Underneath Your Clothes- Shakira
Hooked on a Feeling- Blue Swede
Come and Get Your Love- Redbone
Untouched- The Veronicas
Always- The Veronicas
Born Bob Dylan- The Veronicas
Shut Up and Dance- Walk the Moon
Let’s Hear it for the Boy- Deniece Williams
What’s Left of Me- Nick Lachey
r /> Kelsey Nicole Price, Dash
Dash Page 19