Storm Born

by Amy Braun

  Moving on was part of human nature, the same as breathing. It took a while to do, but once we wrapped our heads around it, the concept was easier to accept.

  Shame there was one thing my mind refused to wrap around.

  I tried not to see Hadrian every time someone with long black hair walked in, or when I looked at a customer with sharp blue eyes. I tried not to imagine his arms wrapping around me when I was cold, or wonder if he was watching me when I walked home alone from work.

  I really did try to forget him… But I couldn’t. Love wasn’t a switch that could be flipped on and off when we wanted or didn’t want to feel it. Love was a constant, powerful force that existed whether you chose to believe in it or not. It would take me a long time to grow out of my love for Hadrian, especially when I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  “Ava, honey, you okay?”

  I blinked out of my thoughts and looked over my shoulder at Maci. I smiled. “Yeah, I’m good. Just got lost in thought.”

  Maci returned my smile sagely. “It should be slowing down now. You can go clean up the tables, if you like and then go home.”

  I nodded. It was almost closing time before the curfew, and I was looking forward to helping mom cook tonight. She needed a break from the relentless nursing shifts, so she was making cookies for the SPU volunteers now that she had too many bags of sugar and flour. No way was I going to complain about that.

  I walked out into the emptied restaurant, amazed it had cleared out so quickly after we were swarmed earlier on. Just went to show how busy everyone was. They barely had time to sit down and enjoy a fresh meal before scurrying off to their next volunteer project or getting home to hold their families close.

  I was ready to do the same thing.

  Though by the sound of heavy footsteps stalking across the tile behind me, not everyone was ready to settle in for the night.

  Without turning, I said, “We’re closing up soon so you might have to be quick with your order.”

  “I know what I want.”

  I jumped near out of my skin when I heard his voice. At first I stood there, telling myself it wasn’t him. Just someone else who sounded like him and could move with that same, freakishly quiet grace.

  Though I wouldn’t be sure unless I turned around.

  The footsteps approached slowly, and I finally turned. My butt hit the table, but I hardly felt it. I could only see him, standing in front of me the way he had over a year ago.

  A brown leather jacket hung over his shoulders, covering the tight navy blue shirt and stopping at the belt of his dark jeans. His hair was neatly combed against his shoulders. Azure-navy eyes watched me with certainty, a small smirk tugging his lips.

  I tried to tell myself I was hallucinating or fantasizing– again– but he was too real to be a dream or a hope.

  I would recognize Hadrian anywhere.

  “Hadrian... what... um... Hi?”

  He made it very hard to concentrate when he was standing that close, and only moving closer.

  “Hello,” he replied.

  His eyes traced over my face, taking in every detail. It had been a year since I’d seen him, but it couldn’t have been that long for him. Time moved differently in the realm of the Stormkind and the Guardians. I didn’t know why he was looking at me like I was the one who’d disappeared.

  “You have no idea how good it is to see you again, Ava,” he told me.

  That one sentence sent my heart into overdrive. I could feel my pulse jackhammer through my veins while my brain scrambled to think of something to say that wouldn’t come out as a stutter. Something suave that would keep him here for just a little bit longer.

  Once I opened my mouth, the words tumbled out.

  “Why– Why are you here? I mean, it’s good to see you. You look great. Not that you don’t always look great, but I mean, you look cleaner and…” I grimaced.

  Suave, I snickered internally. Yeah. That was a great plan.

  While I mentally stumbled, Hadrian leaned closer. He smiled, but didn’t touch me. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to yet.

  “My duty is over. The remaining Stormkind have been returned to their cages until the next Centennial Storm. Corrina is being monitored, and she is a sufficient Guardian in my place.”

  “In your place,” I repeated.

  Hadrian nodded. “You might say that I have temporarily retired.”

  I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping. I had a hard time even thinking that he was telling me the truth. Being a Guardian was Hadrian’s life. Centuries of dedication and training had ensured he was one of the last ones alive. He lived for the action and excitement of his position. It was his everything. I couldn’t believe he’d given that up, just as I couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me.

  “What about the others? Zephys, Vitae–”

  “There was little they could do to stop me,” he smirked. “And when I explained my need for being here, they understood.”

  Hadrian stopped mere inches from me. I curled my fingers around the edge of the table, my pulse drumming through my veins.

  “I told them that because of your combination of gifts, it was important to stand by your side and support you.” He leaned down. “While that is true, I still lied.”

  “Why would you do that?” I breathed.

  He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he lifted his hand and let his fingers skim across my scalp, gently tugging my ponytail free. He curled my hair behind my ear, smoothing it with his hand.

  Hadrian’s smile was soft, warm, and only for me.

  “You didn’t let me finish that day,” he said. “When I learned that you loved me.”

  “Because... Because I didn’t think you wanted me for… me.”

  His thumb traced gentle circles behind my ear. “On that road, you undid me Ava. You broke through my defenses and saw me for who I truly am. And you did not run.” His thumb slid back to the side of my face. A welcome shiver surged through me. “I have much to atone for. You thought I would only care about you because you were a Stormkind, and I was honor-bound to protect you as such. You thought that was all I would see, and that I would not be able to look past the Stormkind to see the woman beneath.”

  Heat flushed my cheeks. I shrugged and smiled sheepishly.

  Hadrian leaned down and kissed me.

  I was so caught off guard that I didn’t react at first. Then I took a breath and fell into his familiar, salty musk. I unclenched my hands from the table and ran them up Hadrian’s arms, telling myself that he– that this– was real.

  The ends of his hair tickled the back of my hand. The pads of his thumbs ghosted across my throat and stroked my cheekbones. When he drew back, I almost whimpered.

  Hadrian’s face was pressed close to mine, his lips tantalizingly close. His long eyelashes brushed against my face when he looked at me again.

  “But I did not fall in love with a storm or her power, or the tether that bound her to me. I fell in love with a woman who showed me kindness and honesty. I fell in love with a woman who gave my knife back to me because she was strong enough without it. I fell in love with a woman who stood in the rain and smiled.”

  I melted, my whole body becoming a mess of heat and hope. I smiled until my cheeks hurt.

  “Good to know we’re on the same page.”

  Hadrian was halfway through his laugh when I kissed him. I wasn’t afraid of what he would or wouldn’t accept from me. I didn’t doubt any longer. Hadrian had seen me as I was, and decided that I was worth a century long retirement.

  Since I had no intention to use my gifts ever again, I didn’t know how long I would live, if Stormkind could last as long as their Guardians. Certainly, Hadrian would live longer than I did.

  And I was okay with that. I would have maybe sixty, seventy years with him. More, if I turned out to be more Stormkind than human. I would have to stay with him, and see what happened.

  It would be worth it.

  Though I did have a question
…

  “What are you going to do now?”

  Hadrian nudged my forehead with his. “I have yet to consider all my options, but I suppose I ought to work with the Storm Protection Union, maybe even become a more formal storm hunter.”

  I laughed and looped my arms around his neck. “I’m sure they would love to hear about your work experiences and references.”

  Hadrian kissed me slowly, gently. Long enough for me to stroke the sturdy muscles of his arms and shoulders, to feel the heat of his body pressed against mine, to taste the salty sweetness of his lips.

  Too soon, he drew back and held my arms. “I am sure I will find a way to earn their trust,” he said wickedly. “For now, let me escort you home. You mentioned you have a younger brother that will like me?”

  I beamed, happily taking his arm when he extended it to me. We walked out of the restaurant together, the sun beginning to set across the growing structures and homes of West Palm Beach.

  There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

  THE END

  Acknowledgments

  The first round of thank-you’s go to my family. You’ve all been amazing with your interest and excitement (especially you, Mom), which pushes me to work harder and continue to surprise and impress you. I can’t thank you enough for all the love and support you give me, inside and outside of my writing life.

  To Kim and the fantastic team at Deranged Doctor Design, bravo yet again. Every person that’s seen this cover or the other promotional materials have told me how much they adore it, and you already know that I love it with all my heart.

  Thank you to my editor Eden Royce for her hard work. Storm Born was unlike any story I’ve written so far, but you helped me polish it to the story it is and helped give it the strength it needed to be published.

  Thanks to Kathy and Amanda of WritingGIAM Pro, Christina and the indie authors from Weekend Writing Warriors, and my inner circle of Kaitlyn, Kristi, and Beth. You’ve all been so wonderful and helpful with your encouragement and advice.

  Big, big thank you to all the reviewers who made time to read this little novel, especially Ivana and Nell of One Book Two and Cassandra of The Bookish Crypt. I honestly can’t accurately express how much it means to me knowing that I have readers excited and eager to receive my books to review them. You all rock!

  Lastly, I bow to you, dear reader, for giving this novel a chance. I was honestly nervous. The idea’s pretty bold and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t crazy nervous about it. But if you’ve gotten to this page, hopefully that means you’ve enjoyed Ava’s adventures and experiences with Hadrian and the Precips, and that you might come along with me on another adventure sometime soon. Until then, thank you. About The Author

  Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action. She is the recipient of April Moon Books Editor Award for “author voice, world-building and general bad-assery,” and the One Book Two Standout Award in 2015 for her Cursed trilogy. She has been featured on various author blogs and publishing websites, and is an active member of the Writing GIAM and Weekend Writing Warrior communities. When she isn't writing, she's reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, and struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction.

  Website: literarybraun.blogspot.ca

  Twitter: @amybraunauthor

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/amybraunauthor

  More From Amy Braun

  CURSED

  DEMON’S DAUGHTER

  DARK DIVINITY

  DAMNATION’S DOOR

  DARK SKY

  CRIMSON SKY

  STANDALONE NOVELS AND NOVELLAS

  PATH OF THE HORSEMAN

  NEEDFIRE

  ANTHOLOGIES AND COLLECTIONS

  THE MAKER OF MONSTERS in SPAWN OF THE RIPPER from April Moon Books.

  HELL TO PAY in LEGENDS OF SLEEPY HOLLOW: ORIGINAL TALES OF TERROR FROM AMERICA’S SPOOKIEST VILLAGE.

  SURVIVALISM in THE DEAD WALK: VOLUME 2 from FOF Publishing.

  DISMANTLE in THE STEAM CHRONICLES from Zimbell House Publishing.

  LOST SKY in AVAST, YE AIRSHIPS! from Mocha Memoirs Press.

  SECRET SUICIDE in THAT HOODOO, VOODOO, THAT YOU DO from Lincoln Crisler and Ragnarok Publications.

  BRING BACK THE HOUND in STOMPING GROUNDS from April Moon Books.

  HOTEL HELL in DEATH’S CAFE from Mocha Memoirs Press.

  CALL FROM THE GRAVE in TOIL, TROUBLE, AND TEMPTATION from Mocha Memoirs Press.

  CHARLATAN CHARADE in LOST IN THE WITCHING HOUR from Breaking Fate Publishing.

  DARK INTENTIONS AND BLOOD in AMOK! from April Moon Books.