by AE Jones
She read the text again. Alyssa wanted to meet. Meet! Sheila’s heart stuttered. It would be so wonderful to see Alyssa again, but she couldn’t. She wouldn’t risk the possibility of Alyssa being caught with her.
She searched her brain for the word “no” in their special language, sent the text, and held her breath. Seconds later, another text arrived. Sheila read it, typed “no” again and stuffed the phone in her desk drawer to escape it. But now her office walls closed in on her, and she needed to escape.
She rushed out of her office, through the rear door of the building, and into a small courtyard. Sheila kicked off her shoes and dropped down, letting the grass cushion her knees. She placed her hands palms down, fingers spread in the grass, and concentrated on the energy pulsating from the earth.
After a moment, the blades of grass lengthened, caressing her hands and giving her strength. Her rapidly beating heart calmed down. She’d thought she had finally accepted the fact that she was a pariah to her people.
Many she didn’t care to see ever again, but Alyssa… No! She’d chosen this path and wouldn’t destroy anyone else’s life because of it.
Sheila took a deep breath and filled her lungs with the scent of fresh earth and grass. Everything would be okay. But as much as she told herself it was for the best, her little voice screamed in protest. She glanced over her shoulder when tingling ran along her spine. Was someone watching her?
She couldn’t let paranoia take over her life. But that wouldn’t be easy to do after reading the last text message from Alyssa. It had taken her rusty brain a couple of seconds to translate it, and she wished she hadn’t. Now the words blinked in her brain like a neon sign.
You’re in danger.
* * *
From This Fae Forward is available now on Amazon
Acknowledgments
I am so excited to be launching a new series with new adventures. As always, I have a bunch of people to thank.
To Faith, my incredibly resilient editor. Thanks for putting up with me through this one. Three hundred and twenty-nine drafts later, I think we finally nailed it!
To Val, the “most awesomest” beta reader/content editor ever. Thanks for rolling up your sleeves and letting me know what needed work. It wouldn’t be half the book it is now without your suggestions.
A special shout out to Richard O’Donnell, one of my critique partners. Thanks for giving me the idea for the wedding scene toward the end of the book. That ‘feathered rainbow’ makes me laugh every time I read it!
Thanks to Sandra Owens, my other beta reader extraordinaire. You always have my back in a pinch.
And finally hugs and kisses to my Golden Heart sisters, the Luckies. Such support! And extra smooches to Sandra, Lark, Krista, Miranda, Gail, Leslie and Sharon for agreeing to beta read my first chapter when I was having a minor meltdown. I always know who I can turn to!
About the Author
Growing up a TV junkie, AE Jones oftentimes rewrote endings of episodes in her head when she didn’t like the outcome. She immersed herself in sci-fi and soap operas. But when Buffy hit the little screen, she knew her true love was paranormal. Now she spends her nights weaving stories about all variation of supernatural—their angst and their humor. After all, life is about both…whether you sport fangs or not.
AE won RWA’s Golden Heart® Award for her paranormal manuscript, Mind Sweeper. Mind Sweeper was also a RWA RITA® finalist for both First Book and Paranormal Romance.
AE lives in Ohio surrounded by her eclectic family and friends who in no way resemble any characters in her books. Honest. Now her two cats are another story altogether.
AE Jones: In Sickness and In Elf
Copyright © 2016 by Amy E Jones
Publisher: Gabby Reads Publishing LLC
Cover Designer: http://theillustratedauthor.net
Editor: http://www.demonfordetails.com/
Formatter: http://www.authorems.com
ISBN-10: 1-941871-12-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-941871-12-6
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without expressed written permission from the author.
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.