by Amade, Melle
Roman shakes his head and shoots me a look. “Use your power for good, not evil,” he says.
“She’s using it for good,” Aiden shrugs. “She’s relaxing.”
Henry tugs at the door, but it sticks against the rain swollen floorboards. I’m about to drag myself off the couch to help him when the door is pushed hard from the other side. Cold wind whips into the house, blowing embers off the fire and scattering them across the room. Zan and Roman jump up and knock the embers off the carpet and back into the fireplace. I’m on my feet and halfway to the door when I stop short.
Callum stands there, his black hair, windblown and wet, falls around his face. He’s focused on me as he steps into the room and shuts the door with a single push. Fire burns from my center and tingles electric over my skin. He shakes the water from his hair, droplets cool my skin. My cozy evening at home with my friends is disturbed, so disturbed, by Callum’s presence in my living room.
“Hi, cuz.” Callum smiles at me. I want to slap him, but he moves past me and into the room.
“What took you so long?” Aiden asks, unaware of how Callum lights desire in my thighs. “Still learning to fly in a rainstorm?”
“Getting this for Zan.” He reaches in his leather jacket and pulls out a small, leather-bound book, tossing it at Zan.
“Careful!” she screams, but she easily catches it midair.
“I found it in my grandmother’s library,” he shrugs.
“Is it another book on shifter law?” I ask.
He shakes his head with a slight smile aimed at Zan. She squeals as she opens the book. “First edition Washington Irving!”
“Who?” asks Aiden.
“Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” says Callum.
Zan smiles up at him and holds the book to her chest. “It’s what I wanted.”
“I know.” Callum places his hand on the book. I swallow my breath. It goes down hard.
“Nice ring, Ridder.” Aiden stands up and puts his arm around Callum.
“I’ve been called worse,” grins Callum as he settles himself down by the fire.
Aiden smiles. “Things are changing if they’re letting a sixteen-year-old be the Ridder.”
I’m awkward in the middle of my living room, but as I look at my friends settling in, my heart warms. This is what I’ve always wanted; a warm house full of family and friends.
Aiden throws himself back on the couch. “Anyone for The Birds?” he asks.
“Don’t you think we’ve got enough of those?” Roman grimaces.
I laugh, “beats watching the Titanic.”
“I love the Titanic,” Mom yells from the kitchen. “They fall in love then he dies.”
“Cheery, Mom,” I shake my head and my gaze falls on the empty sofa space between Aiden and Callum. I smile, relax, and settle in between them. No matter what happens, here in the warmth of the fire’s dying embers, is where I belong.
About the Author
Since I was eight I have been writing stories that capture the adventures in my head and the characters strong enough and flawed enough to have them. When I look at an empty field I see a formidable citadel. When I meet a vulnerable old man, I greet an emeritus warrior. When I walk through city streets I feel dimensions hiding around every turn. It has been my lifelong passion to explore these worlds that reveal the pain of loneliness, the joy or self-actualization, and the hope of magic.
I grew up in a place called Potter Valley where the Milky Way is held aloft by a circle of mountains and the central business district consists of a bait store and a saloon. At 19 I moved alone to London and spent the next ten years exploring the world, even becoming an Australian citizen, before I returned to California and found a new home in Los Angeles. My world revolves around my two wee children, storytelling, and my love of travel.
www.melleamade.com
Facebook: Melle Amade Author Page
Twitter: @melleamade
Acknowledgements
My greatest appreciation goes to God and my muse. Nothing is possible without them.
It is said that writing is a solo journey, but for me it has definitely been a team sport with embattled seasons over numerous years. Some seasons were winning and some… not so much. Through it all my family has been there so a deep and heartfelt thanks to my parents, my stepmom, my brothers and sisters, my nieces and nephews, my in-laws, and the outlaws who make up the mob that is collectively my family. You know who you are, we hang out at Christmas and Hanukkah. Also, a huge thank you to Alex, Armand, and Yasmine, who have put up with my constant writing and often mental absence as I work out some new detail in my head at the dinner table. And, of course, to the writing, editing, designing, marketing, supporting, and mastermind team that has seen this through to fruition: Ingrid Sundberg, Sheryl Scarborough, Kristen Kittscher, Michael D. Trozzo, Jackie Aaro, Dr. Julie Kokesch, Ross Brown, Derek Murphy, Anita Wright, Sandy Krakowski, Gary Vee, the Binders, the team at SCBWI, the resources of AWP, the articles of PW, and the information of WD. This wouldn’t have happened without you.
Thank you for reading my debut novel!
I would greatly appreciate if you would consider leaving a short review on
Amazon
or on
Goodreads
to let me know what you thought!
COMING SOON
Shifter Chronicles Book Two
REMNANT
For more information, please visit:
www.melleamade.com